Is this the research we've all been waiting for?

[itsjustme123]

theguardian.com/science/201...

I was amazed to find this article last night and would love to hear what some of you think. Trish.

[Mdaisy]

Very interesting and if research continues this could help them better understand Fibromyalgia pain and many other well known chronic pain disorders.

Thank You for sharing

[itsjustme123 in reply to Mdaisy]

Thanks for your reply - I just had to share, it wouldve been wrong not to.

[bobbybobb]

How very interesting, It is difficult to see how pain would be managed, I can't see how they would be able to shut the system down to better manage pain.

[itsjustme123 in reply to bobbybobb]

Its possible that rather than shutting it down, research could concentrate on how to optimise its efficiency - it could be down to a chemical/nutrient imbalance and really easily rectified. Finding it exists is a wonderful first step and as BadBessie says, I really, really hope the funding is there for further research!

[bobbybobb in reply to itsjustme123]

yes, they say it's a new organ' not just a cell. So I'm assuming it covers the whole body like the skin or am I reading it wrong. I often do that.

[itsjustme123 in reply to bobbybobb]

Oh so do I, especially with fibro foggy days lol but not this time, you read it right and that it has tendrils like octopus legs would account for the pain deeper than skin deep... Perhaps also, a chemical imbalance in this one 'organ' could be leading to some of the many other symptoms we have to endure...

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to itsjustme123]

does not read to me like an organ in the typical sense. They have seen the nerve cells being wrapped and this wrapping and the nerve cells are being referred to as the new organ. But the mesh network that they talk about may already be affected by existing treatments as some pain modification methods operate in an unknown way.

This may give better understanding but translating from mice to humans may be troublesome and certainly lengthy.

Edit: Added an important not to the statement above.

[itsjustme123 in reply to desquinn]

Theres already lots of research into glial cells though so with combined research, results could be in sooner than anticipated - ever the optimist haha...

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to itsjustme123]

there is indeed with some initially highlighted with regard to LDN but that did not progress from what I remember. And recently harvard talking about inflammation of cells in the brain.

When studies are done they need to be replicated so that they can be confirmed and then expanded on.

Also with things like this are the effects due to fibro or chronic pain or because you have had it for a while. Could meds cause changes that are then picked up and are these different than the condition.

[bobbybobb in reply to itsjustme123]

I read research way back, where they discovered that the activation of glial cells causes inflammation in the brain of Fibro sufferer's. The source of the inflammation was unspecified. Maybe this new finding is a possible trigger.

[bobbybobb in reply to desquinn]

that makes more sense now.

[Greenpeace in reply to bobbybobb]

Hi, the skin is the largest organ in the body as defined in Anatomy. The Liver is the largest internal organ.

This is a very interesting article, and I hope it can be further investigated.

GP 😊😊

[bobbybobb in reply to Greenpeace]

yes, any new research is helpful when trying to find answers to chronic and acute pain. Pain is just so miserable it snatches days away from you. We all know what it's like. These structures must be super over sensitized in people with Fibro and other chronic and acute pain conditions. Maybe.

[Badbessie]

Obviously of great interest to the group. Sadly this research may take many years to turn into anything practical. This research looks at only one very small area and leaves many questions unanswered. In reality by altering or blocking this cell they still do not know the affects on other areas by doing this. Hopefully the money for further research is available and will continue.

[itsjustme123]

I reckon its possible that comparing the cells from a non fm body with those of a sufferer could yield interesting results... Its as you say though, it always comes down to the finances and I really hope there are funds quickly available to take this research much further.

[Badbessie in reply to itsjustme123]

The main problem with Fibromyalgia is that there is no definitive cause. There are a number of theories but from my understanding no complete answers. There is some very good research showing nerve changes etc but no answers why. My own opinion is that a better treatment would be found if we understood the cause and nature of the condition rather than concentrating on treatment of symptoms.

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to Badbessie]

research opens pathways. New research, treatments or to underlying cause. Also the path may be a dead end and the need to form a new hypothesis.

The pathway may not be obvious when you start the research and you would not want to abandon a potential treatment if you were looking for the cause.

[Badbessie in reply to desquinn]

Of course there have been a number of discoveries made by reverse engineering a problem. Perhaps looking at the end result may result in why there is a problem at the start. I think part of my problem with fibromyalgia is accepting a condition without knowing the reason why.

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to Badbessie]

I agree with you but I find that issue is one that is not worth throwing my energy at defining cause will help greatly but that will come when it is ready.

[RayB]

May have a link,, the thing is Fibro commonly has so many other problems concurrent with the pain,, but it would be great if there were an effective pain med that was not toxic or held the nasty effects that most of the current meds do!

[johnsmith]

The article explains some of the things complementary therapists have found that have been dismissed by main stream medicine.

[RayB in reply to johnsmith]

John have no doubt in my mind that fibro is primaraly caused by stress.

When I say that people assume mental stress as the do not recognise any other forms of stress,, namly the systemic and physical which are huge and all encompassing in todays world.

When we look at the environmental stresses around today including food,, sprays,, perfumes,, Radio Frequency and Radiation ,, EMF,, Wifi,, Mobile phones,, air borne polutants and toxins then we look at the mental stress's, exams,, finance,, mortgage,, family and the boss always wanting more for less it is constant.

We have to look at everything that goes into or onto the body including vaccines, I think some can cope for longer or with more than others!

I do believe the HPA axis theory is on the mark.

Alopathic medcine is at last getting a run for it's money by some of the so called "Complementy or Alternitive" practioners as they are really getting there act together and no longer prepaired to take the supperssion and abuse they have been getting in the last number of years.

They will not be able to seperate every part of the body into seperate units and must look at not only the body but the sum total of the envoronment that people live in today including whatever they choose to stick into there paitents..

Ray

[johnsmith in reply to RayB]

I believe "I believe the HPA axis theory is highly inaccurate as it fails to take into account physical feedback mechanisms. It is also a theory which leaves one asking how did they measure the hormone levels in the brains of patients. I know of no one who would happily submit themselves to having a needle placed in the brain.