This study examined the factors influencing the use of complementary therapies in patients with fibromyalgia. A postal questionnaire was sent to 90 patients who had attended a rheumatology out-patient clinic in West Yorkshire for their diagnosis or treatment of fibromyalgia. Seventy-one percent of fibromyalgia patients had used or were using complementary therapies. Patients who were using complementary therapies were of a higher socio-economic group (p < 0.001). The most popular therapy was oral supplementation. The duration of complementary therapies ranged from 3 months to 26 years (median = 3). The number of therapies used by each patient ranged from 1 to 10 (median = 3). The duration of fibromyalgia was associated with both the duration of complementary therapies (p < 0.001) and the number of therapies used (p < 0.05). The most popular source of advice for the decision to use complementary therapies was from a magazine (40%). Patients using complementary therapies were less likely to be satisfied with their current hospital treatment and turned to complementary therapies in the chance of relief from their fibromyalgia. The relatively high cost and lack of information on complementary therapies appeared to dissuade those patients who chose not to use it.
The association of OA with increased bone mass is controversial. This study measured BMD at the hip and spine and total body bone mineral (TBBM) by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and BMD at the distal forearm by single photon absorptiometry in 20 post-menopausal women with primary generalized OA. The data were compared with those from 89 normal controls. Osteoarthritic women had significantly increased BMD at the spine (P < 0.001), distal forearm (P < 0.05) and increased TBBM (P < 0.01), but no difference was seen at the femoral neck. These differences were not explained by obesity. The influence of mobility is discussed.
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