Fibromyalgia Community Petition the UK Government for NICE Guidelines & Effective FM Pain Management
- by: Tracy Thorogood
- recipient: UK Government
FMA UK describe Fibromyalgia as a chronic condition of widespread pain and profound fatigue. The pain tends to be felt as diffuse aching or burning, often described as head to toe. It may be worse at some times than at others. It may also change location, usually becoming more severe in parts of the body that are used most. The name fibromyalgia is made up from “fibro” for fibrous tissues such as tendons and ligaments; “my” indicating muscles; and “algia” meaning pain.
Fibromyalgia (FM) patients are receiving ad hoc treatment across the UK and NICE Guidelines for the treatment of FM are needed urgently within the medical community to ensure that all FM sufferers are treated appropriately and consistently.
The Fibromyalgia Community are looking for answers and a proactive approach by the Government. We are seeking solutions to allow us to manage these conditions and better our quality of life. By sourcing non-medicated pain management strategies, the Fibromyalgia Community are seeking effective pain management solutions that reduce the requirement for prescription medicines that are costly; require increase in dosages to be effective; are not fit for purpose and/or not licensed within the UK for the treatment of Fibromyalgia.
During the summer of 2014, 140 Fibromyalgia sufferers (from an online support community) took part in 7-day trials into the effectiveness of Actipatch on their pain levels and were asked to complete surveys following the trial.
Actipatch is a non-medicated, electro magnetic device which helps to reduce pain and inflammation in the body. It can be used alongside medications and topical treatments without side effects or counterindications. Actipatch is retailed over the counter in the UK and is CE marked
The 7-Day Actipatch Trial Results:
On a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of 0-10 an average baseline pain of 8.71 decreased to 5.83 - a drop of 2.88 or 33%
79% reported a decrease in pain. A 1.2 decrease in VAS is established as clinically significant.
When removing a VAS decrease of 0 or 1, the efficacy rate was 69% with a 4.14 average VAS point decrease - a 47% drop from baseline levels.
A 47% decrease in pain from baseline levels in 7 days is outstanding - something that could significantly affect the pain levels and quality of life of Fibromyalgia sufferers across the UK.
We, the undersigned, call on the UK Government to roll out a cohesive plan for the treatment and management of Fibromyalgia in patients, including the following:-
1. Produce NICE Guidelines for the treatment of Fibromyalgia
2. Arrange for Clinical Trials of the Actipatch device, following on from the 7-day trial results conducted by Fibromyalgia sufferers in the online support community.
3. Following on from successful clinical trials of Actipatch, to arrange for the Actipatch device to be available on prescription for the treatment and management of Fibromyalgia pain.
UK Health Ministers (UK Government)
FMA UK describe Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition of widespread pain and profound fatigue. The pain tends to be felt as diffuse aching or burning, often described as head to toe. It may be worse at some times than at others. It may also change location, usually becoming more severe in parts of the body that are used most. The name fibromyalgia is made up from “fibro” for fibrous tissues such as tendons and ligaments; “my” indicating muscles; and “algia” meaning pain.
Fibromyalgia (FM) patients are receiving ad hoc treatment across the UK and NICE Guidelines for the treatment of FM are needed urgently within the medical community to ensure that all FM sufferers are treated appropriately and consistently.
The Fibromyalgia Community are looking for answers and a proactive approach by the Government. We are seeking solutions to allow us to manage these conditions and better our quality of life. By sourcing non-medicated pain management strategies, the Fibromyalgia Community are seeking effective pain management solutions that reduce the requirement for prescription medicines that are costly; require increase in dosages to be effective; are not fit for purpose and/or not licensed within the UK for the treatment of Fibromyalgia.
During the summer of 2014, 140 Fibromyalgia sufferers (from an online support community) took part in 7-day trials into the effectiveness of Actipatch on their pain levels and were asked to complete surveys following the trial.
Actipatch is a non-medicated, electro magnetic device which helps to reduce pain and inflammation in the body. It can be used alongside medications and topical treatments without side effects or counterindications. Actipatch is retailed over the counter in the UK and is CE marked
The 7-Day Actipatch Trial Results:
On a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of 0-10 an average baseline pain of 8.71 decreased to 5.83 - a drop of 2.88 or 33%
79% reported a decrease in pain. A 1.2 decrease in VAS is established as clinically significant.
When removing a VAS decrease of 0 or 1, the efficacy rate was 69% with a 4.14 average VAS point decrease - a 47% drop from baseline levels.
A 47% decrease in pain from baseline levels in 7 days is outstanding - something that could significantly affect the pain levels and quality of life of Fibromyalgia sufferers across the UK.
We, the undersigned, call on the UK Government to roll out a cohesive plan for the treatment and management of Fibromyalgia in patients, including the following:-
1. Produce NICE Guidelines for the treatment of Fibromyalgia
2. Arrange for Clinical Trials of the Actipatch device, following on from the 7-day trial results conducted by Fibromyalgia sufferers in the online support community.
3. Following on from successful clinical trials of Actipatch, to arrange for the Actipatch device to be available on prescription for the treatment and management of Fibromyalgia pain.
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