Qigong vs. Aerobic Exercise in the Treatment of Childhood Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
Muscular DiseaseFibromyalgiaThis study is comparing two different exercise programs, Qi Gong (gentle stretching, and breathing) with an aerobics program (boxing and dancing) to see if children with chronic pain or fibromyalgia are able to take part in the program. We would also like to know if it is easy to take part in an exercise program. We hypothesize that children with chronic musculoskeletal pain and FM, who engage in Qigong fitness training, will be more compliant, and have an equivalent or possibly superior improvement on measures of motor function (peak power, endurance, and metabolic efficiency) compared to children given an aerobic fitness exercise program.
Study of Milnacipran for the Treatment of Fibromyalgia
FibromyalgiaThe purpose of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of milnacipran at a dosage of 100 mg/day in the treatment of the fibromyalgia syndrome or the pain associate with fibromyalgia.
Study of Duloxetine Versus Placebo in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia Syndrome
FibromyalgiaTo assess the efficacy of Duloxetine compared with placebo in the treatment of pain in patients with Fibromyalgia syndrome, with or without major depressive disorder.
Effectiveness of Acupuncture in Relieving Pain Due to Fibromyalgia
FibromyalgiaThis study will determine the effectiveness of acupuncture versus a placebo in altering brain activity and relieving pain due to fibromyalgia.
Safety and Efficacy Study of Pregabalin in Fibromyalgia
FibromyalgiaThe purpose of this research study of pregabalin and fibromyalgia is to see if 1. pregabalin reduces the pain of fibromyalgia and if this effect lasts for six months and 2. to see if different dosages work better (reduce pain and mild to no side effects) for different people.
Levetiracetam for Treatment of Pain Associated With Fibromyalgia
FibromyalgiaThe purpose of this study is to assess the safety and effectiveness of levetiracetam in reducing the pain of fibromyalgia when compared to placebo. Levetiracetam, an anti-seizure drug, is currently FDA-approved and marketed for use in patients with seizures. Levetiracetam may relieve pain by reducing abnormal activity in the nervous system. A placebo is an inactive substance.
A Controlled Pregabalin Trial In Fibromyalgia
FibromyalgiaTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of pregabalin compared with placebo for the relief of pain associated with fibromyalgia and improvement of function of patients with fibromyalgia
Supporting Effect of Dronabinol on Behavioral Therapy in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Back Pain
FibromyalgiaBack PainIt is known, that a so called "pain memory" usually evolves in chronic pain syndromes which both aggravates the disorder and modifies the patients pain perception. Thus, the principal object of pain therapy is to "delete" this dysfunctional pain memory. The combination of medication, physiotherapy and psychological therapy seems to be the most effective treatment. This study investigates the effect of a concomitant Dronabinol medication (Cannabinoid) on the effectiveness of behavioral therapy. It is hypothesized that the combination of behavioral therapy and Dronabinol will be most effective in deleting the pain memory.
Intravenous Micronutrient Therapy (IVMT) for Fibromyalgia
FibromyalgiaThe purpose of this study is to determine if intravenous micronutrient therapy (IVMT) is effective in the treatment of fibromyalgia, as assessed by validated functional and pain measures.
Efficacy of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia
FibromyalgiaFibromyalgia (FM), one of the most common rheumatic conditions, is a condition of unknown etiology characterized by widespread muscle pain and stiffness. Treatment is generally unsatisfactory and most randomized, controlled treatment trials have been unable to demonstrate a sustained effective intervention. A single, brief trial of electroacupuncture demonstrated remarkable improvement among patients with FM, although lasting effects were not evaluated. Nonetheless, the recently published National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Statement on Acupuncture says "musculoskeletal conditions such as fibromyalgia, myofascial pain ....are conditions for which acupuncture may be beneficial". Thus, 96 patients will be recruited from a referral clinic for fatigue for a 12 week (24 treatments) trial. These patients will be randomized into 3 control groups and 1 "true" acupuncture group. The control groups will consist of a group receiving acupuncture treatment for an unrelated condition (morning sickness), a group receiving needle insertion at non-channel, non-point locations, and a "true" placebo group. This latter group will have acupuncture needle guides tapped on the skin, then needles tapped. Thus, the specific aims of this study are to 1) evaluate the short and long term efficacy and side effects of a 12 week randomized, controlled trial of bi-weekly acupuncture in the treatment of FM; 2) establish the most useful and scientifically sound control group for studies of acupuncture using FM as a model for conditions characterized by chronic pain; 3) use both subjective and objective measures of overall health and pain to determine the optimal time length of treatment; and 4) examine the concordance of allopathic and acupuncture-based measures of outcome. For the purposes of this study, subjects will be asked to complete a unique set of study measures at enrollment, at 4, 8, and 12 weeks, and then again at 1 and 6 months post-treatment. Our primary outcomes will be patient global assessment, subjective pain, and mean number of tender points. Secondary outcomes will be pain threshold, analgesic use, physician global assessment, functional status, sleep, psychological distress, and fatigue. Thus, this trial will have both immediate and longer term implications for the scientific study of acupuncture as well as the clinical care of the estimated 5 million patients with FM in the US. From a methodological point of view, the proposed trial will establish the most appropriate methods for choosing a control group should larger trials be conducted, suggest the optimum duration of treatment, and evaluate the utility of diverse allopathic and alternative outcome measures. Of equal importance, however, this research will test and potentially establish the effectiveness of acupuncture.