Airing Pain 29: Fibromyalgia

Living with fibromyalgia, and the medical research offering hope for the future

This programme was funded by Pain Concern’s supporters and friends.

Fibromyalgia affects an estimated 2.7 million people in the UK, yet it is a condition which is poorly understood leaving the people with it often facing ignorance and prejudice. Producer Paul Evans, who has fibromyalgia himself, talks with Lexy Barber about her experiences of coping with it. We also hear from Professor Ernest Choy and Prof Dwight Moulin about advances in medical knowledge of the condition and possible ways of managing symptoms.

Issues covered in this programme include: Fibromyalgia, medical research, psychology, chemical imbalance, misconceptions, addressing misinformation, muscle pain, fatigue, memory, headaches, migraines, back pain, dizziness, heart palpitations, mental illness, irritable bowel syndrome, hypersensitivity, exercise, video games, Nintendo Wii, restorative sleep and brain signals.

Contributors:

• Professor Ernest Choy, Professor of Rheumatology, Cardiff University
• Professor Dwight Moulin, Professor in the Departments of Clinical Neurological Sciences and Oncology, University of Western Ontario.