It might be called the “mystery disease.”  While fibromyalgia might seem to cynics as the latest “fad” disease for everyone to be diagnosed with, it is very much for real and very common among our clients at Pacific Health Center.

            Dr. Don Goldberg, Chief of Rheumatology at Newton-Wellesley Hospital and Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, estimates that there are three to six million Americans affected by fibromyalgia.  Typically, victims are between the ages of 26 and 35, with 86% of them being women.

FIBROMYALGIA SYMPTOMS

            Common symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

* Muscular pain, aching and/or stiffness

* Chronic fatigue

* Disturbed sleep

* Depression

* Anxiety

* Headaches

* Irritable Bowel Syndrome

* Raynaud’s phenomenon (hands white/blue and cold)

Though many suffer from generalized muscular aching and pain, these symptoms are only considered “Fibromyalgia Syndrome” (FMS) when the aching is also accompanied by pain in 11 out of 18 tender point sites when pressed.

SOUNDS LIKE CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME

            Many researchers and practitioners, including myself, feel that fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are basically two names for the same problem.  A 1993 study found that at least 75% of the people diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome also met the criteria for fibromyalgia.  From my perspective which it is called pretty much depends on whether the muscle aching or the fatigue symptoms predominate.

            Both conditions affect primarily young adult females, are unknown in cause, are chronic, have normal lab tests, normal pathological findings, and are disabling.

FIBROMYALGIA CAUSES

            Though conventional medicine generally regards fibromyalgia as “cause unknown” and typically offers no treatment, most natural medicine practitioners see it a little more clearly.  Several problems, or more likely a combination of them are often associated with fibromyalgia:

1. Adrenal Exhaustion — At my clinics we virtually always find adrenal weakness in fibromyalgia clients.  Adrenal exhaustion is characterized by two primary symptoms — fatigue and muscular achiness — the same primary symptoms as fibromyalgia!  Going along with this, fibromyalgia sufferers are “stressed out”, thus weakening the adrenals.
2. Immune Depression — People with fibromyalgia usually have had something compromise their immune system with chemical, heavy metal or dental toxins being common.
3. Candidiasis — Overgrowth of the common yeast organism, Candida albicans, is generally noted with most of our fibromyalgia clients.  Carol Jessop, M.D. of San Francisco, reported in a 1990 symposium that of 880 patients tested, 82% had yeast present in stool samples and 30% had parasites.  Most had a history of recurrent antibiotic and oral contraceptive use, both of which typically cause candidiasis. But does Candida albicans cause fibromyalgia, or is it the result of fibromyalgia?  Candida, parasites, Epstein-Barr virus, and the like, I believe, are best understood as opportunistic organisms that gain a foothold when the body is weak.  More on that later, though.
4. Food and Environmental Sensitivities — Virtually all of the fibromyalgia clients I’ve seen always test out with a lot of food and environmental allergic sensitivities.  Conversely, fibromyalgia clients usually experience symptomatic improvement from getting off the foods they’re sensitive to and taking homeopathic desensitizing drops. The allergic sensitivity reactions weaken your immune system, making your body more vulnerable to fibromyalgia.  A 1992 study at East Carolina University School of Medicine found that about half those studied with hayfever and allergic rhinitis also fit the criteria for fibromyalgia.  It again might be argued that an already weakened body and immune system results both in the fibromyalgia and the allergy symptoms.

5. Chemical Sensitivities — There seems to be a strong chemical sensitivity link with fibromyalgia.  Some type of toxic contamination may have triggered the condition.  Professor Gunnar Hauser, M.D.  of UCLA states: “Toxic exposure doesn’t always occur in factories.  There are many chemicals in our everyday environment (as well as those acquired from medical and social drug usage) that can lead to serious health problems, including household cleaners, new carpets, perfumes and certain types of paints.” We could again pose the question, “Did the chemical exposure compromise the immune system and cause the fibromyalgia, or did an already compromised immune system open the door for greater allergic reactivity?”

6. Breathing Problems — Breathing irregularities often produce anxiety symptoms, and fibromyalgia sufferers are more likely to experience anxiety or panic symptoms, especially when in a stressful situation.  Though we end up with the question of whether the stress produced the breathing difficulty, or the breathing difficulty produced the stress, here’s a possible scenario: First, a person breathes shallowly in response to a stressful situation.  This breathing pattern becomes habitual, even when sleeping.  Breathing muscles, which connect the neck and head with the upper ribs, become overactive, tense, and painful.  Headaches may develop from this, sometimes associated with lightheadedness.  This breathing pattern can expel too much carbon dioxide causing the blood to become too alkaline.  This alkalinity can lead to anxiety or panic symptoms, as well causing nerve endings to become more sensitive.  The insufficient oxygenation of the muscles and retention of acid wastes makes muscles painful. Osteopathic physician Leon Chaitow notes in his book, Fibromyalgia and Muscle Pain that he has seldom, if ever found a fibromyalgia sufferer without some degree of breathing problems.

7. Serotonin Deficiency — The neurotransmitter, serotonin, is often deficient in people with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.  This imbalance will affect sleep, pain, and depression or anxiety symptoms.
8. Impaired ATP Synthesis — Without getting too heavy into biochemistry, ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, is a basic component of our metabolism via the Kreb’s cycle.  Increased lactic acid and other changes can result from this deficiency, which in turn could produce muscle pain.
9. Aluminum Toxicity — Aluminum toxicity can have a role in magnesium deficient fibromyalgia sufferers, since magnesium is necessary to blocking its toxic effects.
10. Magnesium Deficiency — Magnesium is one of the most frequently deficient nutrients in general and with specific problems like fatigue, depression, PMS, menopausal problems, and muscular aches and pains.

CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH

            Basically, there is no conventional medicine approach to fibromyalgia.  Ibuprofen has been found in a study to be no more effective in relieving fibromyalgia pain than a placebo.  Amitriptyline anti-depressants have provided short-term relief, but are also associated with serious side-effects—heart attack, stroke, arrhythmia, coma, seizure and allopecia.    Gout medications, which increase the urinary excretion of uric acid reportedly help some people.  Overall, conventional medicine pretty much looks at fibromyalgia as “no known cause and no known cure.”

NATURAL MEDICINE APPROACHES

            As with any health problem, our approach at Pacific Health Center would begin with a complete electro-dermal testing evaluation to determine nutrient deficiencies, allergic sensitivities and toxicities, and then checking compatible supplements and remedies for correcting all of the above.  Avoiding foods that test sensitive and taking the homeopathic desensitizing drops is particularly important.  Other possible supplements (subject to whether or not they test compatibly) might include:

1. CFS Support Formula — This is a multi-vitamin/mineral oriented toward Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  It is basically our Ultra Preventive III formula with additional herbal and other ingredients for immune system stimulation.  Since CFS and FMS are probably just two names for the same basic condition, it seems to work well with fibromyalgia.
2. Malic Acid + Magnesium — This is probably the most specific supplement we use with fibromyalgia clients.  Magnesium deficiency can be very significant with both fatigue and muscular pain.  In addition to the aluminum detoxifying effect of malic acid, it also has a relationship with decreased cellular oxygen (hypoxia) and phosphate levels.
3. Adrenal Formula —           A bovine adrenal glandular supplement is frequently helpful for building up exhausted adrenals.  Less often, herbal supplements like licorice root or ginseng may be helpful.
4. B Vitamins — B vitamin supplementation is appropriate with many problems, including generalized fatigue.  Again, most fibromyalgia clients we see have significant B vitamin deficiencies.  Testing dictates which  supplements are appropriate.
5. Serotonin Supplements — We regularly use a homeopathic supplement of serotonin called Serotonin-Dopamine Liquescence.  This has a natural anti-depressant effect, as well as helping sleep and reducing pain.
6. Candidiasis Supplements — If Candida albicans yeast overgrowth is indicated, dealing with this is essential to overcoming fibromyalgia.  Acidophilus, homeopathic remedies, caprylic acid, oil of oregano, or other supplements may be helpful.
7. Anti-Oxidants — Several anti-oxidant supplements can help by stimulating the immune system.  Pycnogenol and Grape Seed Extract are the most common.  While we occasionally use these, they do not as often test compatibly.
8. Alkaline Diet — Muscular pain can be related to over acidity.  Acidic end products of metabolism like lactic acid, uric acid, and pyruvic acid have been shown to contribute to fibromyalgia.  Acidic foods like fried foods, wine, coffee, alcohol, tea, vinegar and too much grains or meats will tend to make your pH more acidic. Alkaline forming foods like vegetables and fruits (except cranberries, prunes, corn, and artichoke) can help restore the right pH balance.

            Above all, remember there is hope for fibromyalgia.

Better Health Update is published by Pacific Health Center, PO Box 1066, Sisters, Oregon 97759, Phone (800) 255–4246 with a branch clinic in Portland, Oregon.  E-Mail:  drkline@pacifichealthcenter.com.   Monte Kline, Clinical Nutritionist, Author.  Reproduction Prohibited.

 

DISCLAIMER:  The information contained in this publication is for educational purposes only.  It is not intended to diagnose illness nor prescribe treatment.  Rather, this material  is designed to be used in cooperation with your nutritionally-oriented health professional to deal with your personal health problems.  Should you use this information on your own, you are prescribing for yourself, which is your constitutional right, but neither the author nor publisher assume responsibility.