Fibromyalgia Recovery Center

Fibromyalgia affects an estimated 5.8 million Americans, and 500,000 more live with chronic fatigue syndrome. Here you'll find in-depth information about the real causes of fibromyalgia, peer-reviewed medical diagnosis and advanced medical treatment options not found anywhere else.

 

Overview You hurt all over and you frequently feel exhausted. Even after numerous tests, your doctor can't seem to find anything wrong with you. Your physician has you on anti-depressants and you wonder why in the world you can't get well. Life as it once was is no more. You are simply existing. You know something is wrong but nobody has pinpointed the problem. Tests after tests have revealed no major diseases.

On one hand you are happy that no one has found anything seriously wrong but on the other hand, you're upset because you are still hurting and know deep down that something is definitely wrong. In fact, you feel like a burden and hate going back to the doctor because you simply feel they may think you're crazy. If this sounds familiar, you may have fibromyalgia.

People with fibromyalgia are often misdiagnosed and go from doctor to doctor in search of help. Conventional medical therapies are usually unsuccessful. They fail to address the possible underlying causes of the illness.

SYMPTOMS

The typical symptoms include: widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, achiness, morning stiffness, disturbed sleep patterns, localized tenderness, depression, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, Raynauld's syndrome, TMJ problems, tender lymph nodes, sensitivity to cold and hot, dizziness, anxiety, dizziness, palpitations, environmental/chemical sensitivity, allergies, joint stiffness. The symptoms may vary from day to day, ranging from moderate discomfort to severe disability. A specific set of diagnostic criteria for FMS has been set forth by the American Rheumatology Society. Classification of Fibromyalgia

CAUSES

Despite what many people have been told, there are many events that may be related to its onset. Unless you have had the following causes investigated, you can be certain that your problem has not been fully evaluated. Some of the events that should be considered as possible triggers or causes include:

• Infections (viral or bacterial)
  
• Physical trauma such as an automobile accident
  
• Leaky gut syndrome
  
• Hypothyroidism
  
• Alterations in the metabolism and regulation of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.
  
• Research has discovered that a pain neurotransmitter called Substance P. Substance P has been found to be elevated threefold in the spinal fluid of fibromyalgia patients
  
• Patients with fibromyalgia have also been found to have abnormal levels of cortisol and growth hormone.
  
• Recent research has investigated the theory that a deficiency of a hormone known as relaxin. In women, relaxin is secreted from the ovaries, uterus, and breast tissue. Relaxin is a hormone that helps regulate muscle, tissue, and organ function in many areas of the body. Women who are menopausal, or those who have had a hysterectomy, oophorectomy, tubal ligation, or extended use of oral contraceptives, which suppress ovarian functions, may be at greater risk of developing fibromyalgia because their relaxin production has been severely diminished.
  
  ADVANCED CLINICAL LAB ASSESSMENTS
  
  Good doctoring is much like being a good forensic detective. You must have the right tools to help solve the case. Prior to DNA testing, many cases went unsolved. However, DNA testing is now considered a "staple" ingredient in the world of good police work. Much the same way, a physician using the right tools will have a much better chance of uncovering what may be causing your health problem. This of course would lead to better treatment and likely a resolution of your health challenge.
  
  The following tests are considered the DNA of medical diagnosis. More and more physicians are discovering the tremendous value in using advanced medical lab testing to help "crack" the case. If you are suffering with fibromyalgia and have not had any of the following tests performed than I can say with a high degree of certainty that the cause of your problem has been missed.
  
  Again, for a medical detective to say that he is unable to solve a crime when simply testing the criminal's DNA would put him/her behind bars is a crime in itself. Ask your physician to do some advanced medical detective work and order the following tests. You just may be in for a pleasant surprise when your physician finally discovers the "key" reasons for your suffering and helps you get well. 
• Chemistry Profile (Blood) This profile generally includes the following tests: Albumin, Alkaline Phosphatase, Aspartate Aminotransferase, Bilirubin, Calcium, Creatinine, Lactate Dehydrogenase, Phosphorus, Total Protein, Urea Nitrogen, Uric Acid, and may contain others.
  
•  Fibromyalgia and Cellular Energy: Optimal health and well-being requires proper functioning of the cells within our bodies. Within each cell is something called the mitochondria which has been “coined” main "power plant." The primary function of this crucial cell component is to efficiently produce the energy we require to live active, vital lives. When problems occur in the mitochondrial, it can trigger energy shortages for muscles and other important body tissues, leading to chronic fatigue and neuromuscular disorders. Fibromyalgia and Adrenal Hormones: The adrenal glands are considered your master stress organs and are responsible for producing two important hormones: Cortisol and DHEA. An imbalance of these hormones are found to be a common finding in patients with fibromyalgia
  
• Fibromyalgia and Amino Acids: Amino acids are the important building blocks of protein. The body requires balance of these acids in order to function. Evaluating amino acids can indicate important information about the status of nutrient metabolism throughout the body. It can also help identify abnormalities that may be causing or contributing to pain, fatigue, and mood symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.
  
  For instance, high levels of the amino acid homocysteine are associated with fibromyalgia, which indicates possible chronic B vitamin deficiencies. Other amino acid imbalances may provide valuable information for physician interested in checking serotonin, an important neurotransmitter and hormone that modulates mood, sleep, and pain.
  
  One study found that fibromyalgia patients with lower serum levels of the amino acid tryptophan, which the body uses as source material to produce serotonin, tended to experience more pain.
  
  Because cumulative evidence suggests that a variety of amino acid imbalances can be associated with symptoms of fibromyalgia, testing is important to identify which dysfunctional patterns might be addressed in each patient, in order to achieve best clinical results.
  
•  Fibromyalgia and Element Imbalances: Individuals with fibromyalgia often have biochemical nutrient deficiencies and toxic exposures. Exposure to heavy metal toxins have been found to play an important role in triggering or exacerbating chronic symptoms of fibromyalgia. 
• Fibromyalgia and Thyroid Hormones: Thyroid imbalances can affect virtually every metabolic process in the body including mood and energy level. In fact, thyroid dysfunction has been called "the Great Imitator" for the wide range of conditions it can mimic. Some researchers have reported that as many as 80% of FMS patients who don't respond well to conventional therapy may suffer from a form of subclinical hypothyroidism. Not only is it important to evaluate for thyroid hormone dysfunction by measuring thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free serum thyroxine (fT4), free triiodothyroine (fT3), reverse T3 (rT3) but the measuring of thyroid antibodies (anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-TG), and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO), may provide a missing piece of the puzzle. This test can provide important clinical clues for treating patients with treatment-resistant fibromyalgia which may be partly caused by thyroid dysfunction. Researchers suggested that for patients with chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain, thyroid autoimmunity, rather than thyroid hormone dysfunction, may be an important factor to address.
  
• Fibromyalgia and Detoxification: The healthy function of the detoxification system is a must in order for the body to process harmful chemicals, toxic pollutants and drugs. A glitch in the liver's normal detoxification mechanisms can cause an increase toxic burden on the body, setting off chronic disease processes linked to fibromyalgia and fatigue/immune dysfunction. Patients with fibromyalgia may be more sensitive to toxins because their systems are less able to break these substances down and eliminate them from the body.
  
• Fibromyalgia and Allergy: A hidden sensitivity to foods or inhalants could set off an inflammatory immune cascade that leads to many classic symptoms of fibromyalgia 
• Fibromyalgia and Gastrointestinal Function: GI health and its relation to serotonin has been exhausively researched by such prominent physicians as Michael Gershon M.D. In his groundbreaking book titled "The Second Brain", Dr. Gershon has discovered that problems in the GI system will play havoc with one's emotional health.
• Treatment Options Conventional Anti-inflammatory Drugs:
  
• Fibromyalgia generally does not respond to the anti-inflammatory drugs that are used to treat other rheumatic conditions such as NSAIDS, aspirin, and corticosteroids.The tricyclic antidepressants alprazolam and amitriptyline have been used with some degree of success. These drugs apparently improve sleep patterns and induce a level of analgesia due to their effect on serotonergic and noradrenergic synapses. Nutritional S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) S-adenosylmethionine is a compound with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antidepressant effects. Studies have shown that SAMe reduced the amount of pain and number of trigger points. Researchers state that SAMe, "seems to be an effective and safe therapy in the management of primary fibromyalgia." Magnesium and Malic Acid An increasing number of patients with fibromyalgia report significant reductions in pain using a combination of magnesium hydroxide and malic acid. Pain levels are commonly reduced within 48 hours and symptoms of fatigue tend to improve within two weeks. Magnesium and malic acid both play important roles in the mitochondrial biochemical pathways leading to the production of ATP. This combination of magnesium and malic acid has been shown to reduce lactic acid levels which is a source of the chronic muscle pain 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) 5-HTP has been documented to improve the serotonin-melatonin pathways commonly effected with fibromyalgia suffers. Both 5-HTP and tryptophan are responsible for the body's ability to make serotonin and melatonin. When these precursors are used in the treatment of fibromyalgia, patients report improvements in symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and body pains. Appropriate lab testing will help identify low serum tryptophan and serotonin levels. Melatonin It has been found that patients with fibromyalgia syndrome had nighttime melatonin levels that were 31 percent lower than placebo controls. In a therapeutic trial, patients were given 3mg of melatonin daily at bedtime and after only one month had a significant improvement in sleep, a decrease in tender points and a overall reduction in the severity of pain
•  Lactobacillus acidophilus Studies have shown low levels of the healthy flora in the gut. Increasing the healthy flora has been seen to benefit patients suffering with fibromyalgia
  
• Digestive Enzymes Often beneficial for patients whose disease state involves gastrointestinal problems. Since a significant number of patients with fibromyalgia fall into this category, supplementation with a full range digestive enzyme may provide relief from bloating and other GI symptoms.
  
•  Vitamin B1 Thiamine known as thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) is a coenzyme in the production of energy in the Krebs cycle. The symptoms of thiamine deficiency are similar to many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia such as fatigue, depression, apathy, confusion, paresthesia (numbness or burning in the hands and feet), low blood pressure, low metabolism, and shortness of breath. A dose of 10mg twice daily is a usual dose. Best results are obtained by doing laboratory analysis with the RBC erythrocyte test which will provide the amount of thiamine required to normalize this enzyme function. 
• Natural Herbal Remedies
• Turmeric
• Astragalus
• Cordyceps
• St. John's Wort
• Kava Clinical Notes The most important aspect to consider for fibromyalgia suffers is that there are a number of influences that are most likely contributing to their syndrome. Looking for the chain of events is of primary importance in determining the course of action. Diet, food selection, gut integrity, adrenal function, and metabolic support are the first areas to consider. Heavy metals, thyroid, adrenal, and other hormonal imbalances as well as gut integrity are significant clues that could be disrupting the whole process of cellular metabolism as it relates to lactate build up, energy production, and fatigue.



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Before starting any self treatment Dr. Grisanti recommends that you consider consulting with a doctor trained in functional medicine. Visit www.FunctionalMedicineUniversity.com to find doctors thoroughly trained in functional medicine

Functional medicine embraces the totality of the regulatory functions of the body. It encompasses all of the biophysical, biochemical, enzymatic, endocrine, immunological, and bioenergetic regulatory capacities.

Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., D.A.C.B.N., M.S.