It didn't surprise me to have another interruption to my daily routine after I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. My back began to ache in my upper and lumbar spine with added stinging and jabbing jolts to add more effect.  I was baffled in the beginning wondering will all these new manifestations ever suppress?  

They didn't and new symptoms continue to evolve sending me to new specialists yearly.  But this back syndrome was one that stayed with me until it continually worsened and my neurologist sent me for an MRI and EMG two years after my initial diagnosis with fibromyalgia.  

When the results were in, I had degenerative discs and nephropathy in the the upper spine.  He mentioned an interesting point, "I'm not sure if the fibromyalgia caused this or this caused the fibromyalgia."  That is because there is not a lot of concreted evidence out there linking the two. But he also added, "Most of my fibromyalgia patients have nephropathy and degenerative discs." 

Cervical degenerative disc disease is a common cause of neck pain and radiating arm pain. It develops when one or more of the cushioning discs in the cervical spine starts to break down due to wear and tear. There may be a genetic component that predisposes some people to more rapid wear. Injury may also accelerate and sometimes cause the development of the degenerative changes.

How Cervical Discs Can Degenerate

Normally, there are six gel-like cervical discs (one between each of the cervical spine’s vertebrae) that absorb shock and prevent vertebral bones from rubbing against each other while the neck moves.

Each disc is comprised of a tough but flexible outer layer of woven cartilage strands, called the annulus fibrosus. Sealed inside the annulus fibrosus is a soft interior filled with a mucoprotein gel called the nucleus pulposus. The nucleus gives the disc its shock absorption property.

​In children, the discs are about 85% water. The discs begin to naturally lose hydration during the aging process. Some estimates have the disc’s water content typically falling to 70% by age 70,1 but in some people the disc can lose hydration much more quickly.

As the disc loses hydration, it offers less cushioning and becomes more prone to cracks and tears. The disc is not able to truly repair itself because it does not have a direct blood supply (instead getting nutrients and metabolites via diffusion with adjacent vertebrae through the cartilaginous endplates). As such, a tear in the disc either will not heal or will develop weaker scar tissue that has potential to break again.

​The Course of Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease

Cervical degenerative disc disease is not technically a disease, but rather a description of the degenerative process that discs located in the cervical spine go through. Essentially all people who live long enough will develop degenerated discs.

Studies show that a plurality of adults have no symptoms related to degenerative disc disease, even though a high percentage of these adults still shows signs of disc degeneration on an MRI somewhere on the spine. One study found that about half of people start showing some signs of disc degeneration on an MRI by their early 20s. Another study found that about 75% of people under age 50 have disc degeneration while more than 90% of people over age 50 have it.

​When degenerative disc disease develops in the cervical spine, it can occur in any of the cervical discs but is slightly more likely to occur at the C5-C6 level.

In cases where cervical degenerative disc disease does cause pain, it can happen in various ways. In some instances, the disc itself can become painful. People are more likely to experience this type of discogenic pain in their 30s, 40s, or 50s.

When symptoms from cervical degenerative disc disease become chronic, the pain and/or symptoms are likely related to conditions associated with disc degeneration, such as a herniated disc, osteoarthritis, or spinal stenosis. Depending on the cause, the pain may be temporary, or may become chronic. To give an example, pain from a herniated disc is likely to eventually go away on its own, but pain from osteoarthritis may require treatment on a chronic basis.

​Risk Factors for Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease

While nearly everyone eventually gets cervical degenerative disc disease with age, there are some factors that can make it more likely to develop sooner and/or become symptomatic. These risk factors could include:

• Genetics. Some studies of twins indicate genetics play a bigger role than lifestyle in determining when cervical degenerative disc disease develops and if it becomes painful.
• Obesity. Weight has been linked to risk for developing degenerative disc disease.
• Smoking. This habit can hinder nutrients from reaching the discs and cause them to lose hydration more quickly.

I can tell you I fall under none of the above categories.  So I must be an anomaly or my predisposition may be linked with fibromyalgia.  Despite several recent studies out there confirming there is no link to fibromyalgia. There was an interesting addition added to The Journal of Physical Science: 

​Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a clinical presentation commonly seen in the middle age women, which is accompanied by psychosomatic complaints such as widespread pain and chronic fatigue along with sleep disorder or non-relaxing sleep, paresthesia and subjective swelling of the hands, migraine-type headache, irritable bowel syndrome and dysmenorrhea. Although musculoskeletal pains are generally localized in the neck, interscapular region and low back, they may also spread to the arm and to the chest. During the examination, objective findings other than sensitive points cannot be detected and laboratory analyses have normal results.

Most common reasons of the pain spreading to the neck and to the arm include cervical spondylosis and cervical root compression. Pains that result from the disc herniations located in the cervical region are generally radicular and they may be accompanied by neurologic deficits, such as loss of strength, paresthesia, reflex defect and atrophy. Moreover, in some cases, Raynaud-like swelling and vasomotor changes may be integrated in the clinical presentation.

Patients with fibromyalgia continuously present for a visit and for the periodic controls with the complaints of neck, shoulder, arm, low back and knee pains. The patients resist to the therapy and they ask why they cannot be healed.

It may be very difficult to convince the patients to be treated. Some patients are not so happy despite all therapeutic methods and the doctors may hesitate about the diagnosis with some patients. A cervical MRI may be necessary to elucidate the patients and to eliminate our doubts in the patients that raised a hesitation. In both diseases, cervical and arm-shoulder pains are similar and the laboratory values are normal.

Interestingly enough, they found a VERY HIGH rate of those suffering with fibromyalgia were diagnosed with disc degeneration MORE SO than the average population thought before to have the disease present normally.

Yet, many patients suffering from fibromyalgia are not sent to the usual MRI and EMG testing to note if such issues are present.  Be certain to ask for such testing if you feel you may suffer from such problems. Therapy is available for relief.   

If you have someone that is dairy-free than this soup is a must to try.  Thick and creamy with bold mushroom flavor, you can make this in just a few minutes.

This keeps well in the refrigerator for one week.  Bit of advice though, don't place in small containers and freeze.  Almond milk does not freeze well and separates easily.  

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 tablespoons cornstarch
4 cups unsweetened almond milk

In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and onion; cook and stir until tender, 8-10 minutes. Add garlic, salt, vinegar, thyme and pepper; cook 1 minute longer. Mix cornstarch and almond milk until smooth; stir into saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, 3-4 minutes.

Jane Hawk faces the fight of her life The No.1 New York Times bestseller and master of suspense Dean Koontz returns with a blockbuster new thriller featuring rogue FBI agent Jane Hawk. 'I could be dead tomorrow. ​

Teresa's life begins to fall apart when the family that employs her decides to sell their house.

​The plus-size, teenage daughter of a former beauty queen signs up for her mum's pageant as a protest that escalates when other contestants follow in her footsteps, revolutionising the pageant and their small Texas town.

Celebrity chef Pete Evans takes audiences on a flavour-filled journey back to the way our ancestors ate with insights from nutritional experts and recipes you can make at home. This is nutrient dense food.  

When a mysterious force decimates the population, only one thing is certain -- if you see it, you die. The survivors must now avoid coming face to face with an entity that takes the form of their worst fears. Searching for hope and a new beginning, a woman and her children embark on a dangerous journey through the woods and down a river to find the one place that may offer sanctuary. To make it, they'll have to cover their eyes from the evil that chases them -- and complete the trip blindfolded.

Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler) is an honorable family man, until the day his wife and daughter are murdered in a home invasion. He hopes for justice, but a rising prosecutor named Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx) cuts a deal with one of the killers in exchange for testimony. Ten years later, that man is found dead and Shelton coolly admits his guilt. Then he hands Rice an ultimatum: Fix the broken legal system or suffer the consequences.

​When people lead busy lives, their homes sometimes become cluttered with things piling up over time. In this series, renowned tidying expert Marie Kondo tries to help folks declutter their homes -- and their lives. Whether she's helping a harried couple with young children become more organized or showing a retired couple how to reclaim their space, Kondo assists her clients in clearing out the clutter and choosing joy in a series of inspiring home makeovers.

In the near future, global warming turns parts of the American Midwest into a desert. In its attempt to take hold of the economic recession, a government agency called the Humanity Bureau exiles members of society deemed unproductive, and banishes them to a colony known as New Eden. An ambitious and impartial caseworker Noah Kross investigates a case appealed by a single mother and her son. Knowing the unjust fate of the innocent boy, Kross sets off to save the lives of the mother and child.

In the 1960s, four scrappy young men from New Jersey -- Frankie Valli (John Lloyd Young), Bob Gaudio (Erich Bergen), Nick Massi (Michael Lomenda) and Tommy DeVito (Vincent Piazza) -- have the magic sound that propels them from singing under streetlights to singing in spotlights. With songs like "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Walk Like a Man," the quartet finds itself at the top of the charts. However, personal and professional problems threaten to tear the group apart.

​Retired talent manager Al reconnects with former client Buddy, a comedian who gave up performing decades ago, and urges him to go back out on the road.

​A foreign exchange student becomes the target of a stalker. Seeking refuge, she accepts an invitation from her roommate to stay at her family home in an idyllic town. But it proves to be far from a safe haven. Deadly Switch

​Schoolteacher Jessica Martin (Kim Basinger) is abducted by ruthless crook Ethan (Jason Statham) and brought to a remote hideout, where she finds a broken cell phone. Unfortunately, when she tries to use the malfunctioning phone to contact the authorities, she accidentally reaches college student Ryan (Chris Evans) instead. The young man wants to help Jessica, but she has no idea where her captors have taken her, and Ryan must scramble to figure out where she is before his cell phone goes dead.

Here's something we don't discuss here often. Back Pain. Yet several past studies have noted that as many as 90% of fibromyalgia suffers have encountered back pain in one form or another since their diagnosis.
​  
When you have fibromyalgia, it may seem as if you just can’t get a break from the pain — which may include an aching back. As many as two-thirds of people with chronic low back pain also have fibromyalgia. Looking at the numbers from the other direction, up to 49 percent of people with fibromyalgia have lower back pain. In fact, back pain is so prevalent among people with fibromyalgia that it was once one of the symptoms doctors looked for in making a fibromyalgia diagnosis.

There’s no doubt that living with fibromyalgia is challenging enough on its own, let alone when you have back pain. But it may make you feel a little better to know there is an explanation for the intensity of the pain you’re going through.

“Both back pain and fibromyalgia belong to a group of disorders called central hypersensitivity syndromes,” says pain management specialist Ronald Staud, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Although the roots of the two conditions differ for example, back pain could be caused by a damaged vertebral disk — the pain experiences of the two conditions bear some similarities. Among them is the sense that these chronic pain conditions cause you to be on a “high alert” setting of sorts (doctors call it hyperarousal). And then, to top it off, the pain wears you down, causing fatigue, depression, and anxiety that make living with fibromyalgia and back pain all the more draining.

“The hyperarousal is really a normal response,” says Dr. Staud. Normal, yes, but it throws a monkey wrench into finding the right combination of treatments to ease two very painful problems.

One essential is getting an accurate diagnosis of your back pain. According to Staud, many physicians who treat fibromyalgia can also assess back pain’s possible causes. However, ask for a referral to a pain specialist if you have any concerns about your doctor’s ability to parse out the factors contributing to your back pain and prescribe the appropriate medical treatment.

Treating Fibromyalgia and Back Pain

Pain medication is usually part of the prescription for fibromyalgia symptoms but often isn’t enough for most people, especially if a back condition is involved. Putting together a multipart pain plan is a must, says Staud. This is even more true if you need specific therapy for your back. Consider these additional ideas to create a comprehensive treatment strategy that may combine traditional and alternative approaches:

• Lifestyle changes. Both back pain and fibromyalgia symptoms may improve as you work on a healthier lifestyle — adjusting your diet, increasing exercise, and losing weight if needed.
• Mental health treatment. Anxiety, depression, and trouble sleeping can all make pain feel worse. Comprehensive treatment strategies may include therapy and medication targeted to depression and anxiety, says Staud.
• Physical therapy. “Back pain is the mainstay of physical therapists,” says Staud. Physical therapists can teach you how to move through your day more effectively and show you stretches to ease back pain and perhaps make living with fibromyalgia easier.
• Alternative treatment approaches. Acupuncture, biofeedback, and music therapy can help ease back pain. According to Staud, pain management specialists are well-versed in the complexity of pain treatment and will be open to any questions you might have about alternative approaches. Talking with your team about options you’re considering will also help you avoid any interactions between alternative treatments and prescription medications.
• Education. Finally, a little knowledge can go a long way toward easing some of the anxiety you may be feeling. Talk with your medical team about the physiology of pain and the complex factors that influence your perception of pain when you are facing conditions related to hypersensitization.

When you’re struggling with low back pain and fibromyalgia, you might feel as though you’re fighting two battles. But a combination of therapies — some aimed at fibromyalgia, some aimed at the back pain, and some aimed at both — is more likely to bring you symptom relief.
​
The most important thing to remember is that we are subjected to a myriad of strange pains. In fact, we become so accustomed to pain that we are unsure if those various pains could be significant.  If you have insurance, push that testing.  Get that MRI and EMG if you feel that something is just not right.  Don't just be lining up for that fastest drug on the clinic dispense list for relief.  

Last week I shared an emotional recent accident with you. What I didn't share is I have Aflac.  I'm not an agent, so you can't get it here, but I'd like to share a few pointers with you, and if you have the ability to sign on - do it.

There is a 24 hour direct deposit option when you sign on with Aflac.  Yes, you can easily file a claim (also by app), snap pics of your diagnosis from a health care facility, and Aflac with drop money directly into your bank account - usually within 24 hours.  

I pay $8.68 twice a month to Aflac.  It is taken directly from my pay.  No worries, no bills.  I decided to download the app for easy "file a claim".  There is a "Wellness Option".  The month I signed on, I had a primary care visit (other doctor visits are acceptable, too).  I filed a claim (in less than a minute), and they dropped $60 into my bank account just for following my well-care routine.  

I quickly uploaded my claim for my foot injury.  Within 24 hours, Aflac direct deposited $290 into my bank account.  $200 for the emergency room visit and $90 for the sutures (less than 5 centimeters - more if it is a larger cut).  On my follow up visit to my primary care physician I received another $40 when the stitches were removed.  Yes, within a week I received $330.

Why I love Aflac: No hassles, no worries, they are honest-to-goodness decent people who don't argue your claim.  

If I have to see my primary for ANY reason due to an accident related injury it is $125 just to walk in the door.  There are so many other options.  Here is a guide of what to expect for reimbursements.  Many of the rates have increased since this printing.  

The reason I chose Aflac is simple- peace of mind.  I have never felt such peace just by signing onto a supplemental insurance company.  It is as if someone is paying ME for my pain and suffering.  I'm certain many of you can relate.  We drop things, slip, and our brains get foggy.  Just knowing that there will be some form of reimbursement when I'm down and out can really throw a bit of a positive spin onto an already dark situation.  

I decided to opt out for the affordable short term disability.  What happens if I can't work?  At least I know for only $16.58 twice a month I have a six month policy that will help me through the financial struggles while I file for disability.  My hopes certainly are that I will not need it.  But the reality always kicks me in the ass wondering, "How will I pay the bills if I relapse?" As bills are paid, I plan to boost up to a full year short term disability.

Fibro is often about fear.  How will I pay the bills if I can't work any longer?  How long will this recent accident lay me up for?  That fear causes wide spread pain.  What if you can take just a part of that away with some reassurance?  Think that will make a difference?  You bet it will!  Best of all it's affordable.  I can't even begin to describe the comfort I have now knowing that there is some reassurance when things go south.  

One last thing.  Aflac is cheaper through your work.  If you don't have it offered at your job, find out if they can bring an agent in.  You only need three employees to sign up.  And, my friends, it is worth more than its weight in gold - that I can tell you.