Physical therapy modalities for treating fibromyalgia, 2020, Araujo et al

[Andy]

So these authors are happy to accept that FM causes actual pain but all the other symptoms are psychosomatic

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterized by generalized chronic musculoskeletal pain, hyperalgesia in specific points, and psychosomatic symptoms, such as fatigue, sleep disturbances (waking unrefreshed), anxiety, depression, cognitive dysfunction, headache, and gastrointestinal disorders. Investigations with non-pharmacological therapies, focused on physical therapy, have increased in recent years as alternative therapies for the treatment of fibromyalgia. The purpose of this review is to summarize the main physical therapy modalities used to treat fibromyalgia.

Open access, https://f1000research.com/articles/8-2030/v1

 

[Milo]

Well, there is progress.

 

[rvallee]

Despite years of investigation in FM, no definite cause or pathophysiology has yet been discovered

In summary, articles about the effectiveness of non-pharmacological (physical therapy modalities) resources in individuals with FM show considerable variability, varied treatment protocols, and methodological quality problems22. These facts have led to low evidence quality and hampered the process of choosing better treatment protocols

Despite the diversity of symptoms and heterogeneity present in individuals with FM, few outcomes were investigated in the studies, which resulted in the small number of articles included in the meta-analyses.

Weird how all of those maligned, stigmatized diseases that have all suffered from meagre low-effort unmotivated, often contrarian or even openly denying the seriousness and actual features, research efforts have not produced results. So surprising! When I pay two randos who promise to build me a house on the odd week-end for a few hundreds bucks I expect this house to meet the highest quality standards, have high power efficiency and all the modern amenities and roominess of a millionaire's mansion delivered by the end of the season.

The problem with research on most chronic diseases is that it's not cumulative, it doesn't build on itself, it's more like an endless series of false starts, disconnected from one another. Like building a house but laying stuff at random and with no one in charge. There's a piece of the basement in the lake down the street, electrical cabling has been stripped for parts and the copper sold while most of the roof sits in a storage room somewhere on another continent, maybe. Almost every piece of effort exists only for the purpose of existing, does not relate to a broader understanding and certainly does not add to it.

Seriously once a breakthrough occurs in any of those diseases it will be necessary to completely start from scratch, essentially wipe the slate clean, dismiss most of the past efforts delusional and counterproductive. This is like having found the best, more efficient way of failing and sticking to it. I don't get it, this process has almost no chance of producing anything of value.