Research Brief
New research suggests that a biological measurement of premature aging may be linked to fibromyalgia pain.
In the study, researchers examined the length of telomeres, which are specialized structures at the ends of chromosomes that deal with replication and stability of genetic material. Telomeres shorten over time and thus are regarded as a marker of the aging process.
When comparing telomeres from women with fibromyalgia to those of healthy women, researchers discovered that the fibromyalgia telomeres tended to be slightly shorter, but not to a significant degree. However, they said high pain levels were associated with shorter telomere length. Those with high pain and high depression scores had the shortest ones, with the difference being approximately equal to six years of aging.
Additionally, shorter telomeres were linked to higher pain sensitivity and lower gray-matter volume in brain regions dealing with pain.
Researchers concluded that premature cellular aging appears to be linked to chronic pain, which implies that chronic pain is a more serious condition than has typically been recognized.
What Can We Do About It?
Because of the high interest in slowing the aging process, a fair bit of research has gone into which nutrients help keep your telomeres long. (We don't yet know for certain if this slows the aging process, or whether it would slow premature aging due to illness.)
Nutrients that appear to affect telomere length include:
Omega-3, B12 and D3 are among the most commonly recommended supplements for fibromyalgia.
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I feel like a walking billboard for this article.
I feel like I’ve aged 20 years instead of 6. The idea that researchers could “see” this related symptom is hopeful.
Thanks for posting.
I wonder if that means ‘pain that is actually experienced’, or the ‘body’s underlying capacity for releasing pain signals’. Under the mask of my medication, I have extremely high levels of pain and sensitivity.
- My pain is controlled, so what does that mean for the health of my telomeres?
It’s an important distinction – might change the way doctors perceive the need for pain control. Pain is often viewed as an inconvenient, albeit disabling symptom, but it’s never really regarded as being important because it isn’t thought to have an impact on mortality rates. It’s one of the reasons why other diseases get taken more seriously, and fibro gets brushed aside.
This was just a small study, but seems to be a really important study – It might completely change the way we look at pain. Looking forward to seeing what happens next.
I read this last week and have been excited to see additional bits of scientific data validating that something is physically different about “us”.
Eventually all of the data will add up to no doubt that we are truly suffering physically, and will be that much closer to a prevention/treatment/cure.
I find it so fascinating that the belief that chronic pain can impact our health, our lifespan, our functioning, is doubted. Pain has always been such a perceived sign of weakness. I have to say that I am pretty stinking strong to keep trucking, maintaining much functionality, and not just curling up to surrender!
No matter how much or how little pain you experience,no matter what your health situation,always remember,pain is your body’s way of telling you something is not right….!!!…Someone said that to me when I was in my 20′s – waaaay before I ever had symptoms that anything was wrong with me on the inside,and because of it,I listen to my body probably a lot more than other people I know…..I’m sure they all think I’m a hypochondriac,but I’m not – There is plenty I keep to myself simply because i know they’ll never understand what I’m trying to tell them unless they’ve been through it too………
Broken bones,pinched nerves,fever,headaches,toothaches,joint pain,cut skin,torn muscles and ligaments…Just a few of the things you body talks to you about in pain language….We who have Fibromyalgia are experiencing magnified pain because something’s wrong with our pain relay system to the brain….We know that,now someone needs to figure out why,and how to possibly prevent it,or how to get it back to normal levels….I hope it’s in my lifetime (I’m 59),I’m sitting here experiencing my pain as I type,(and trying to ignore it for now) and I’m tired of hurting all the time,like everyone else….I haven’t been professionally diagnosed (can’t afford that,can’t afford Drs and insurance) but I definitely know what I have…..I’m quickly learning and setting my new limits with this condition,and adjusting my lifestyle,even if no one believes there’s something wrong with me….Because
i don’t look like it……I KNOW..!!!
I just want to know why and how I got it,even if there is never a way to stop it,so I don’t have to feel like a mutant of some sort……Even if it turns out I am,according to research…LOL……Until then,I’ll continue to listen to every tiny thing my body says to me in plain pain talk…!!
Pain should never be ignored. Think about it. If you are having pain, then there is stress in your body. Stress can cause damage to your body. And the more stress you have in your body, the more chances for damage to occur.
There is a reason that people who are first diagnosed with FM seem to get sicker and sicker. FM pain deteriorates the body unless we find ways to destroy the pain signals.
There are ways to kill pain signals without using drugs. But it takes an effort to get into the habit of using those ways.
Oh how I know I am aging faster ! My mom is 86 and I am 66 and people ask if we are sisters ???I honestly cannot imagine living another 20 yrs feeling as bad as I do every day ! Ihave been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia for 13 years ago and since then have had 2 knee replacements and a hip replacement-numerous spine injections and nerve ablation for pain relief-and I still require Moorphine for pain control.
Pam, et al….Did you have a traumatic experience in your life? I believe that when I dived in a pool and hit the bottom with my head (when I was thirteen…I’m 52 now) I think that was the start of something bad. I was temporarily paralized but then I came out of it. Weird things started happening to my body at age 18 and I was finally diagnosed in 2000 at age 40. Research has shown that Fibro can possibly be caused by an accident of some type to the body or any major trauma so I was wondering it you had anything happen to you of this nature. My biggest worry is trying to find work in this economy…needing to make money but not being able to work outside the home. I wonder if there are any legitimate companies that offer “work at home” positions?
Good luck all….I’m right there with you all….Hugs, Sharon
Very interesting. Could you post the research references for this specific topic.
Thanks
Elena
Thanks to an amazing rheumatologist in Perth who I heard about through the Fibro support group, I had adrenal gland function tests which showed massive adrenal stress and that the glands were not working. My Vit D was also extrememly low. I was prescribed DHEA for the adrenals and I take 5000 IUD of Vit D 3 every day. This has helped my p;aid and fatigue consideraby as an ongoing management. I fyou have not had these tested then I really recommend that you do so.
A friend and I both have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, but we don’t seem to have as severe pain as others do. My friend’s doctor has told her that she looks very healthy for someone who is so sick. We both look younger than our age — possibly because of higher collagen levels.
And I also have several other Fibromyalgia symptoms, but not too much pain, so maybe the research is pretty accurate judging by my friend’s and my experiences.
I’m curious as to whether this is related to fibromyalgia patients and lack of exercise…
Sharon…I never thought about it until I read about some doctors who think Fibro might be caused by nerve trauma…
..Before my problems started,I hadn’t even been sick…In an accident 20 yrs. ago,had whiplash so mild in my Dr.’s opinion, he didn’t put me in a collar,just said to take it easy for a couple of days…About 30 yrs. ago, slipped on ice and was knocked out,for how long,I don’t know….Had amnesia for a few hours from that one, my Dr. just got a head Xray,told me I had a concussion,and again, take it easy for a few days..
..About 5 years ago,woke up and could barely walk,shuffling my feet because I couldn’t make actual steps…Thought I had strained my back,it lasted a couple of months,then disappeared…Couldn’t afford insurance or doctor’s care,so didn’t think much of it…A few months later,I developed psoriasis on areas of my face,flares up at times..
..About a year ago, developed unexplainable body pains…One feels like being hit on my arms-legs randomly with a bat,it attacks whenever-wherever every few minutes,no pattern,one arm,opposite thigh,then opposite arm,then opposite shin,etc…Another feels like joint pain when it hits…A finger joint,or the wrist,or foot,or toes or hand,etc…About a month ago,I developed pain only on my upper arms,feels like very warm stones held on my skin,comes and goes, longest episode of lasted a full 48 hours..
(Continued to Sharon)…..
..One hip is so painful,it feels broken,not sure if connective tissue is being damaged,or the joint itself,used to come and go,now the pain never ends, has lasted about 6 months now…My eyes get dry and sort of itchy-scratchy at times,comes and goes,I hear white noise in my head all the time,(“fuzzy sound” like when TV reception is lost)…Have recently, forgotten what I was going to say,or a word…Get foot cramps at times,and go through periods of feeling cold when it’s 78 in my house..
..Sick more times last year with colds-flu type stuff than in my whole life,totally not me..Am exhausted 24/7 and constantly ache like a bad case of flu..Yeahh..I definitely think something’s wrong with my
I have read several places that major trauma whether it be psychological or physiological can cause fibro or CFS. I have been through sexual assault twice back in the mid and late 70′s. I also went through a moderate car accident in 1978. I am 56 and in my early 20′s developed lower back pain that became exceedingly worse. In 1995 I went through another moderate car accident. Doctors aren’t sure which accident (or incident) caused what. In late 2006 I had a total hysterectomy because of excruciating periods due to fibroid tumors and some endemetriosis. I had hoped my back pain would be reduced yet matters became much worse instead in the months that followed. I lost my job during a corporate buyout in 2007. After being unemployed for several months I went to the VA for medical care as I no longer had insurance. Through them I found out first I had degenerative disc disease of the lower back, neck, and right shoulder. In early 2008 my back started becoming more painful and the ugly orchestra of fibromyalgia pain started its “gig” throughout my body and joints. I would be diagnosed with fibro in 2009. This is a quick summary of what I went through as a result of trauma. I must note however, that even as a small child I was often sick with a cold. As I became an adolescent this tendency continued especially with stress. As an adult I have far less colds yet have never tolerated stress well even before the other traumas occurred. Something has been off with my physical system since a very early age. I believe we had a predisposition genetically that stress really sets off though nobody on my mother’s side had this condition and I know little about my dad’s side as my parents divorced soon after I was born. We all need to hang in there as research will eventually come up with the truth that will set us free.
I agree! Have been dx for about a year.am 38 @ feel much older body wise…having lap band later this year in an effort to help with weight loss and pain..I also have inflammatory arthritis
What I find interesting for myself is that I always get the comment “But you look so good! ” Well, yes, on my good days I do look good for my age despite having a severe case of fibro for 11 years. Or rather than despite the FM, it is *because* of the FM that I think I ‘look ‘ younger than I am. On the inside I ‘feel’ 90 years old, but on the outside I look in my 20′s (I am 38). The fibro has forced me into such a limited life existence that I don’t have the same outside aging factors as most people. I have gone to great lengths to limit the amount of stress in my life. I can’t drink or party or eat unhealthy things like most people. My lifestyle is about as clean as you can get – healthy foods, no gluten, no sugar, no alcohol, no smoking, little stress, little exposure to environmental stressors like sun or pollution because I hardly leave my house. But on the inside, I’m sure my body has advanced aging compared to my outside looks. The lack of exercise and healthy social relationships and fun activities takes a toll in addition to the extreme pain. Would I trade my “good looks” for a life without fibro – Absolutely! I would look even 20 years older than I am if it meant no pain or fatigue. But, , it’s not to be, so I settle for telling myself that I look good even when I don’t feel good. It’s all I’ve got.
I read several comments here, and everyone has spoken what I have been thinking about myself for many years.; Accidents, several bike accidents, in the 50′s, no helmets! I am 62, and I feel I will not live a long life, not with chronic pain every day. I had two operations, tonsils and total hysterrectomy when I was 46. I have been to numberous chriproctors, and more pain. I was finally diganosed with Fibro, chronic pain three years ago. Tried the new designer drugs and they worked for a short period of time, but made my depression worse. Now all I want is some pain pills, nerve and anxiety meds. I never go anywhere, do not work. I went out to dinner with family last night, an hour out of town. Pain, uncomfortable, and I assume it showed on my fae becasue the waitress asked me if I was alright and having a good time, as my husband was singing on stage.. embrassed, and guilty..
Thank you so much for sharing this information. I am so glad to see that there are good supplements for the damage being done from chronic pain. What I find very interesting is that they “know the markers through scientific research” and yet say there is no medical test to confirm Fibromyalgia. There is an MRI brain scan and now I see that there are some shortened telomeres as markers of chronic pain that could be used to help determine our medical circumstance and pain. Are we not worth the effort or medical cost of these tests? So many doctors and other medical personnel still believe that Fibromyalgia is some psychological affliction. There are indeed psychological components like anxiety/depression due to the high pain level and multi-complex syndrome effects we must cope with but it is not a psychological manifestation of chronic illness even though negative stresses can indeed escalate our pain.