Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia

Overview
Fibromyalgia, like chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), which it is often associated with, is a poorly understood disease condition that can manifest in a variety of ways and which has many symptoms, making accurate diagnosis difficult. Also like CFS, the onset of fibromyalgia, which is sometimes called fibrositis, usually follows exposure to infectious microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and/or viruses, or after times of trauma. The chief difference between CFS and fibromyalgia is that the dominant symptom of CFS is fatigue, while in fibromyalgia it is chronic muscle pain throughout the body. As a whole, conventional medicine has achieved limited success in treating fibromyalgia, and in many cases conventional physicians fail to detect it altogether, despite the fact that it is now known that as many as 6 million Americans are affected by it, the vast majority of whom are women and primarily between the ages of 34 and 56. Symptoms of fibromyalgia can be so severe that approximately one out of every four people who suffer from it are unable to go to work.

In 1990, the American College of Rheumatology created an official diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia, which stated that for a diagnosis of fibromyalgia to be given, a patient must first exhibit pain for at least three months in the majority of the following muscle sites: back part of the skull on either side, the lower vertebrae of the neck (C5-C7), the upper back (trapezius), the shoulder blades, the second rib, the femur (top of the thigh bone), the buttocks, and the knees.

Though often considered a new type of health condition, fibromyalgia was in fact first written about in 1816, and received official medical confirmation as being a separate and distinct disease in 1904. It was not until 1987, however, that the American Medical Association finally recognized it as a disabling disorder. Even today, however, many conventional physicians fail to realize that fibromyalgia is not due to physical inactivity, which can cause muscles to atrophy and weaken, but most commonly occurs in highly physically active people. In addition, many conventional doctors misdiagnose fibromyalgia patients, telling them that they are suffering from psychological conditions, such as depression, and that their symptoms are "all in their head." By contrast, practitioners of alternative medicine take fibromyalgia very seriously, and employ comprehensive treatment programs specifically tailored to the needs of each of their patients so as to most effectively address fibromyalgia's many underlying causes.

Types of Fibromyalgia
There are two classes of fibromyaglia: primary fibromyalgia, which occurs for no known reason; and post-traumatic fibromyalgia, which typically occurs as a result of trauma, such as back strain, a fall, or whiplash. Both types of fibromyalgia typically exhibit the same range of symptoms.

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
The primary symptom of fibromyalgia is muscle pain throughout the body that can often be severe, sometimes to the point of debilitation. Typically, the pain occurs due to tightening and thickening in the thin tissue, known as myofascia, that support your body`s muscles. Fibromyalgia pain is not limited to the muscles alone, however. It can also affect the joints and manifest as headache and carpal tunnel syndrome. The areas of the body most affected by fibromyalgia pain include the upper back, hips, knees, neck, and rib cage, all of which can become even more painful when touched.

Like CFS, fibromyalgia is usually associated with multiple other symptoms, as well. These most commonly include allergies, anxiety and depression, generalized body stiffness, dizziness, fatigue, gastrointestinal disorders (including irritable bowel disease), insomnia and other sleep problems, and irritability and mood swings. Other symptoms can range from dry and/or watery eyes and heightened sensitivity to cold, light, smells, and sounds to sensation of numbness or tingling in the body and a pronounced intolerance to exercise and physical activity. In women, dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) can also be part of fibromyalgia syndrome.

Causes of Fibromyalgia
There is not one specific cause for primary fibromyalgia. Certain common features among fibromyalgia patients provide a better idea as to the primary factors that are involved in its onset, however. These include dental amalgam fillings, hormone imbalances, infection, neurotransmitter imbalances, sleep problems, problems with the thalamus gland, and physical trauma. Other factors that can play a role include chemical and food allergies and sensitivities, chronic stress, and dysfunctions in muscle metabolism. Breast implants can also contribute to fibromyalgia because the materials implants contain weaken the body`s immune system.

Dental Amalgam Fillings: Dental amalgam fillings are composed of 50 percent mercury, a highly toxic compound. An abundant amount of scientific research, primarily conducted in Europe, where many countries have banned the use of mercury amalgams, proves that such fillings greatly increase the likelihood of heavy metal poisoning in the body`s glands and tissues due to how mercury vapors escape from the fillings each and every day to settle into various areas inside the body. Once in the body, mercury can cause a wide range of health problems, including fibromyalgia. If you have dental amalgams, consider having them replaced by a holistic (biological) dentist trained in their removal.

Hormone Imbalances: Many people with fibromyalgia also exhibit diminished levels of human growth hormone (HGH) and cortisol. HGH, which is produced by the brain`s pituitary gland, is important for a wide range of health issues, including the health of the muscles. Although your body`s production of HGH started to decline at an average of 14 percent every ten years after age 20, people with fibromyalgia can also be experiencing imbalanced daily production of HGH, which primarily occurs during the first hours of sleep.

Cortisol, which is produced by the adrenal glands, is sometimes referred to as the stress hormone because it is during times of stress that it is most frequently secreted. During times of chronic stress, excessive amounts of cortisol can be produced by the adrenal glands, leaving them exhausted and unable to sufficiently regulate your body`s energy supply. Cortisol imbalances can eventually cause chronic fatigue, muscle pain and stiffness, immune problems, and sleep disorders, as well as diminish HGH production. All of these symptoms are also common with fibromyalgia, with research now showing a correlation between imbalanced cortisol and fibromyalgia.

Infections: Many cases of fibromyalgia occur after infections caused by harmful microorganisms. Two types of viruses that are often associated with fibromyalgia are influenza type A, which primarily affects the autonomic nervous system and the lungs, and hepatitis C. Other infectious agents include bacteria, fungal infections such as yeast, (Candidia albicans, which causes candidiasis), parasites, and bacterial infections caused by abscessed teeth and gastritis.

Neurotransmitter Imbalances: Research has shown that people with fibromyalgia have higher than normal levels of Substance P, a neurotransmitter that helps mediate the body`s response to pain, and lower than normal levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that acts as a natural painkiller. On average, Substance P is 200-300 percent higher than normal in fibromyalgia patients, causing them to experience pain in situations where pain would not be experienced by normal, healthy people. The lack of serotonin further exacerbates this problem and also interferes with the ability of fibromyalgia patients to experience deep, restful sleep.

Sleep Disorders: People who suffer from fibromyalgia often exhibit abnormal brain wave patterns during the deepest stage of dreamless (non-REM) sleep. This stage of sleep is essential for proper repair of your body`s tissues, as well as the production of antibodies to protect against infection, and the secretion of human growth hormone. The inability to enter into this deep, restful sleep stage is considered one of the most significant contributing factors for fibromyalgia.

Thalamus Dysfunctions: People with fibromyalgia also often suffer from imbalanced functioning of the thalamus gland. Located in the brain, the thalamus gland regulates and integrates how your body senses internal and external stimuli. When it doesn`t function properly, it can result in normal feedback signals from the body to the brain to be falsely interpreted as pain.

Alternative Professional Tests for Fibromyalgia
Practitioners of alternative medicine rely on both conventional and nonconventional diagnostic tests in treating fibromyalgia patients, to ensure that they are able to determine all of the causative factors involved in its onset. Conventional medical tests include blood, stool, and urine tests; stress tests; and testing of the thyroid gland. In addition, they will usually employ tests to determine their patients` nutritional profile, checking for imbalances and deficiencies; hair analysis, DMSA challenge test, functional liver detoxification profile, and other tests, to assess the toxicity of the body`s cells, glands, and tissues; and stress and hormone tests, to determine overall functioning of the endocrine system and possible hormonal imbalances.

Two other nonconventional tests that are often used are darkfield blood analysis and electrodermal screening (EDS), both of which are capable of revealing health issues that other diagnostic tests can miss. Darkfield microscopy involves the use of a darkfield microscope. Unlike traditional microscopes, a darkfield microscope is specially adapted to be able to examine live blood cells that are then magnified onto a video screen. This allows physicians trained in this diagnostic technique to detect evidence of illness via distortions in the walls of the blood cells, and to spot harmful microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses in the bloodstream, where they do not belong. Such microorganisms are commonly found in the bloodstream of fibromyalgia patients.

Electrodermal screening is a noninvasive diagnostic technique that measures the electrical output of specific points on the hands, face, or feet that correlate to acupuncture meridian points at the beginning or end of energy meridians. The electrical signals given off at these points provides information about the health status of the body`s organs and organ systems, and can also be used to detect the presence of toxins, energy and hormonal imbalances, and harmful microorganisms. In the hands of a highly skilled EDS practitioner, EDS can often detect hidden contributing factors for fibromyalgia, even when other sophisticated testing methods fail to do so because of the fact that both health and disease are first and foremost the results of balanced or imbalanced energy.

Natural Cures

Conventional physicians treat fibromyalgia primarily through the use of painkiller medications. Such an approach fails to address the multiple causes of fibromyalgia, and also carries with it the risk of serious side effects. In addition, this symptom care approach is typical of conventional medicine`s failure to properly understand chronic health conditions such as fibromyalgia, which explains why it so often fails to successfully treat such conditions. Practitioners of alternative medicine, on the other hand, focus their treatment approaches on the multiple factors involved in fibromyalgia in order to eliminate them, while simultaneously stimulating the body`s ability to repair itself. What follows is an overview of some of the most common therapies they employ in order to achieve those goals.

Acupuncture: Acupuncture can significantly reduce the pain associated with fibromyalgia because of its ability to increase blood flow into the affected joints and muscles. This, in turn, provides the joints and muscles with increased levels of oxygen and nutrients. Acupuncture also helps to regulate the brain`s production of neurotransmitters, helping to reduce over-active production of Substance P while simultaneously stabilizing serotonin levels to further reduce pain symptoms.

Aromatherapy: To soothe acute muscle pain, massage the affected areas with the essential oils of black pepper, birch, or ginger. To help ease fatigue, clary sage, lavender, marjoram, and rosemary can all be helpful.

Bodywork: Bodywork is another excellent therapeutic approach for treating fibromyalgia because of its ability to alleviate the chronic muscle tension that so often accompanies fibromyalgia. Bodywork also improves blood circulation throughout the body, causing joints, muscles, and their surrounding tissues to eliminate stored cellular wastes that can worsen pain. Other benefits of bodywork include improved nerve function, restoration of muscle balance (tense muscles tend to be either shortened or stretched too long) and function, and the shutting off of pain "trigger points" that keep the body in a constant state of heightened sensitivity to pain, as well as other external stimuli, such as cold, light, and sound.

Among the most beneficial types of bodywork for fibromyalgia are Deep Tissue Massage, Lymphatic Massage, Acupressure, Bowen Therapy, Feldenkrais, myotherapy, Rolfing, Shiatsu, Therapeutic Touch, and Trigger Point Therapy.

Diet: Proper diet is essential for effectively dealing with fibromyalgia. This means eating only foods that support your immune system, and avoiding all foods that tax your energy and impair healthy digestion. Consider adopting an organic, vegetarian diet, which researchers have shown can help improve fibromyalgia symptoms such as joint and muscle pain, body stiffness, and sleeping problems. Emphasize fresh, organic vegetables and fruits, eating a large daily serving of dark leafy greens, and select servings of healthy vegetarian oriented protein such as organic, free-range eggs, small quantities of raw dairy products, tempeh, tofu, beans, quinoa and wild caught fish that are low in mercury. Avoid all farm-raised fish, as they are high in antibiotics and dyes, and avoid shellfish, which have a higher concentration of mercury and toxins. For sustained energy, also include complex carbohydrates in the form of whole grains, legumes, red potatoes, squash, and yams. Limit your overall carbohydrate intake to 30 percent of the foods you eat at each meal. This means increasing your vegetables and protein if necessary to balance out the complex carbohydrates. Also, be sure to consume adequate amounts of essential fatty acids in supplement form alternating between fish oil, evening primrose oil and healthy free flowing oils such as extra virgin olive oil, high lignin flaxseed, and coconut butter/oil. Additionally, drink at least half an ounce of pure, filtered water for every pound you weigh.

Avoid all foods to which you are allergic or sensitive. Common allergy-causing foods include milk and dairy products, chocolate, corn, and wheat and wheat products. In addition, eliminate all "junk" and commercially processed foods, sodas, commercially prepared juices, all sugars and simple, refined carbohydrates, and minimize your intake of alcohol and caffeine. If you also suffer from candidiasis, follow the dietary recommendations for candidiasis, including avoiding all fruits, except berries, green apples and grapefruit.

Energy Medicine: Energy medicine involves harnessing or stimulating the body to heal by interacting with the bioenergy field that surrounds all living matter. Energy medicine has two basic categories: energetic therapies that are similar to the Biblical concept of "laying on of hands," such as Reiki, Healing Touch, and Therapeutic Touch, all of which can significantly improve fibromyalgia pain symptoms, and which can be taught to patients as a form of self-care, as well as being provided by professional energy healers.

The second category of energy medicine involves a number of energy devices that emit energetic frequencies capable of stimulating healing and pain relief, which can be very useful for fibromyalgia. One of the best devices is either the Zapper or the Rife which may help to eliminate the condition completely.  Another well-known of these devices is the TENS Unit, which stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, and was developed by pioneering holistic physician and researcher C. Norman Shealy. The TENS Unit is a small, portable device that transmits varying electrical frequencies to areas of pain via electrodes that are attached to the body. Not only do TENS Units help to alleviate pain, they are also capable of blocking pain signals and may also stimulate endorphin production, enhancing feelings of overall well-being. In addition, TENS Units can be used as a form of self-care by patients once they are taught how to use them, making them especially convenient for people with fibromyalgia.

Two other useful energy devices for treating fibromyalgia are the Electro-Acuscope

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from Natural Cures