Fibromyalgia - "Symptoms of a cause"

What is fibromyalgia?

Called a syndrome, fibromyalgia is the second or third most common disorder treated by rheumatologists.    557% of RA patients and 24% of psoriatic arthritis patients have FM symptoms. Fibromyalgia has many symptoms in common with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and these two syndromes may turn out to be one and the same.

Associated with low dopamine / Reduced gray matter.   According to a study published in The Journal of Pain, fibromyalgia is linked with reduced gray matter, possibly resulting from low DOPAMINE production in the areas of the brain that process pain. 

Who is more likely to have fibromyalgia?

• 9 times more common among women than men.   Usually between the ages of 40 and 60
• More common in Caucasians than other races

Causes of fibromyalgia?

Infection

Well documented connections exist between fibromyalgia and several infections:

• Mycoplasma  GL Nicholson, NL Nicholson, Diagnosis and Treatment of Mycoplasmal Infections in Persian Gulf War Illness - CFIDS patients, Int. J Occup Med Immunol Tox 1996; 5: 69-78.
• Chlamydia pneumoniae.    Antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae have been found in 78.3% of rheumatic patients with FM or 67.4% for unselected rheumatic patients tested. I Machtey, Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies in Myalgia of Unknown Cause (including Fibromyalgia)
• Hepatitis C.   A Spanish study found 15% of 112 FM patients had Hepatitis C viral Infection (HCV). Rivera J, De Degio A, Trinchet M, MonforteAG, Fibromyalgia-associated Hepatitis C Virus Infection, Br J Rheum, 1997;
• Parvovirus B19.    30-60% of the general population test positive for Parvovirus B19, which incidence increases with age. AM Berg, SJ Naides, RW Simms, Established Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Parvovirus B19 Infection, J Rhu, 1993; 20: 1941-1943.
• HIV.    Up to 25% of HIV patients have fibromyalgia symptoms. D Buskila, DD Gladman, P Langevitz, S Urowitz, HA Smythe, Fibromyalgia in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection, J Rhu, 1990; 17:9, 1202-1206.
• Epstein-Barr.  D Buchwald, DL Goldenberg, JL Sullivan, AL Komaroff, The "Chronic Active Epstein-Barr Virus Infection" Symdrome and Primary Fibromyalgia, Arth & Rhu, 1987; 30:10, 1132-1136.

The following infections are zoonotic (i.e. can be transmitted between wild or domestic animals and humans).   Of the 1,415 pathogens known to affect humans, 61% are zoonotic - usually from ticks, but also fleas, lice, and mites. According to Dr. Hines, a naturopathic doctor, master herbalist and endocrinologist, 70% of his patients with fibromayalgia or CFS had one or more of the following zoonotic infections:

• Fibromyalgia may be caused by spirochetes.   "After entering the body through a tick bite, spirochetes burrow into the muscles where they take up residence.
• Spirochete bacteria are very resilient and can adapt to resist attack.   Yhe spirochete can take a cyst form,untouchable by most antibiotics. It also hides in the joints of the body, in areas of poor circulation, and possibly within immune system cells. Long-term antibiotic use has shown some success against fibromyalgia, but not without the antibiotics creating their own set of problems, including kidney and liver damage, and gallbladder and other digestive problems.
•  Living in a community, it multiplies and poops producing toxins in muscles and joints.   These toxins are attacked by the immune system, which leads to chronic inflammation and pain, with accompanying destruction of muscles and joints.
• Spirochetes are difficult to diagnose.   Since they are not in the blood
• Lymes disease.   Caused by the spirochete Borrelia Burgdorferi, which is a microphile. i.e. requires low-level oxygen; 25-40% of long-term Lyme's disease patients develop fibromyalgia-like symptoms;
• Leptospira.   Another disease caused by spirochetes, possibly the most common zoonotic infection worldwide
• Babesiosis.   Commonly coexists with Lyme's Disease, caused by the blood parasite Babesia, of which there are over 100 species. Disease typically occurs in cattle, dogs, horses, sheep and swine.
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever  -an infection caused by rickettsii.   A parasite found in fleas, ticks, lice, and mites, transmitted by bite to vertebrate hosts, including humans. It is characterized by high fever, pains in joints, bones, and muscles, and a skin eruption. First reported in the Rocky Mountain area, but now widely spread throughout the U.S.. This infection is the most lethal and most frequently reported rickettsial illness in the U.S.
• Cat Scratch Fever.   Caused by a viral infection resulting from the scratch or bite of a cat. It is characterized by fever and swelling of the lymph nodes.

Spirochetes

Malabsorption problems

Chronic stress is #1 initiator of malabsorption.   Acute stress necessarily shuts down GI tract function to divert all energy to the muscles in the 'fight or flight' response. However, chronic stress intereferes with necessary GI function, and leads to inflammation and decreased stomach acid production. This in turn can cause increased intestinal permeability, which leads to problems such as:

• Gluten Sensitivity / Other food allergies
• Nutrient Deficiencies.   Especially of Vitamin B12
• Autoimmune Diseases
• Stomach Infections.    E.g. H Pylori Bacteria and Intestinal Candida

Some common nutrient deficiencies cause pain

Magnesium Deficiency.    Muscle spasms can be partly attributed to a severe magnesium deficiency -a common problem for many people. The microspasms that occur in Fibromyalgia are so severe that some researchers refer to them as 'Tetany'. The constant muscle spasming not only causes pain, but uses up the muscle energy stores making your muscles feel weak. Stress plays a major role in depleting the body's magnesium. Be aware that blood tests for magnesium are not helpful in determining magnesium status.

Magnesium - Missing Miracle Mineral

Vitamin D Deficiency.    Can be partly responsible for pain, since it can cause osteomalacia by preventing calcium absorption into the bones. As bone cells lose calcium, the ensuing bone demineralization leads to osteoporosis. A 'gelatin-like' substance inside bones becomes more porous, absorbing water, and as it expands, it pushes on the thin living layer covering the bone, called the perosteum. The many nerve fibers running through the perosteum respond by what we feel as pain, sometimes widespread all-over body pain.

Vitamin D -The Sunshine Vitamin

B-12 Deficiency.   B12 is needed to build myelin, and its deficiency can cause myelin sheath damage affecting neural transmission of pain, seen in fibromyalgia, M.S., and peripheral neuropathies

• A vitamin B12 deficiency can present as:
  • Soreness and weakness in legs and arms
  • Pain - including back pain
  • Mental symptoms / illness - including depression, dementia , Alzheimer's. "Brain Fog"
  • M.S. and other degenerative neural disease
  • Infertility - can effect ovulation, cause recurrent miscarriage and reduce male infertility PubMed, PubMed
  • Blood disorders - E.g. Macrocystic Anemia
• Possible causes of a B12 deficiency,  include:
  • Being vegan.   Since animal products are the only significany B12 source and even though the liver stores up to 3 years of the small amounts of B12 obtained from vegetables, it may stil not be enough.
  • H. Pylori infection.   Responsible for stomach ulcers, it can also cause increased intestinal permeability, resulting in B12 (and vitamin D ) malabsorption
  • Low stomach acid.   The real problem for those with heartburn; also responsible for H. Pylori infection
  • Intestinal by-pass surgery.   Commonly a cause of B12 (and Vitamin D) malabsorption /deficiency
  • B12-depleting drugs, include:
    • Nitrous oxide.  "Laughing Gas"used for anaesthesia at the dentist.
    • Metformin .  Sommon diabetic drug
    • Nipride.    Used in ICU
  • Lack of intrinsic factor.    Needed for B12 absorption. Although possible, the other causes listed are more likely culprits.

Oxidative stress

Oxidative stress produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) (free radicals.    Can cause inflammation and tissue damage.

Oxidative stress can originate from many sources.    Including toxin overload,emotional stress, too much sugar, damaged fats and much more

Where do the body's ROS Come from?

The antidote to oxidative stress.   Eliminate its source or counter it with antioxidants

Mitochondrial dysfunction

Lowered cellular energy production is involved with fibromyalgia.    Crucial nutrients used by the cell's mitochondria to produce energy include:

• Magnesium
• Carnitine
• Coenzyme Q10
• Selenium

Hypothyroid condition ?

Fibromyalgia (and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) may be a manifestation of a hypothyroid condition

Hypothyroidism

Adrenal gland fatigue

Adrenal gland fatigue is a well-researched component of fibromyalgia.   Several stressors can wear out the adrenals to the point of you feeling exhausted. However, chronic inflammation, a symptom of fibromyalgia, may well be initiating the adrenal fatigue, rather than some other stressor.

Fibromyalgia may also stem from adrenal glands that are smaller than average - according to some studies. Ref?

Symptoms of fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia presents as one or more of several symptoms:

• Overactive Nerves
• PAIN In muscles, joints, tendons
• Fatigue
• Morning stiffness
• Fibromyalgia trigger points.   Tender areas, mostly on the back part of the body above the hips, that are 'tender' or painful when they are pushed or pressed. There are 18 tender point locations located where the ligament attaches the muscle to the bone. Sensitivity at 11 points defines a diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
• Difficulty Sleeping
• Migraine headaches
• Raynaud's-like syndrome/ Numbness, tingling
• Brain Fog / Depression / Anxiety
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Treatment options for fibromyalgia

Magnesium

Use magnesium "oil" transdermally over painful areas

• This therapy is enhanced by combining with 70-90% DMSO gel (99.99% pure).   DMSO is used to drive the magnesium more effectively into body tissues

Transdermal Magnesium Chloride

DMSO - Medicine Carrier / Cell membrane penetrant

Manage Stressors

Balance your adrenal glands

Balance your adrenal glands - "Stress Management Glands"

Iodine

Take Iodine to counter a possible hypothyroid condition.   Iodine is typically under-supplied in the West, given our current diet and environmental conditions

Iodine - The Universal Medicine

5-HTP

5-HTP is a precursor for SEROTONIN and MELATONIN.   These alleviate pain and aid sleep - both symptoms of fibromyalgia.

5-HTP -"SSRI Alternative"

Antioxidants

Antioxidants for fibromyalgia patients include:

• Lipoic Acid
• Selenium
• Ubiquinol (CoQ10)
• Vitamin C

Food / SupplementalAntioxidants

Detoxify the body / Energize your cells using electrotherapy

 The Beck Protocol is probably the simplest, generally affordable method to detoxify the body available to us today.   Electrotherapy provides the ONLY method of reaching microbes, such as spirochetes, that have burrowed into tissue. Microcurrents and electromagnetic pulses produced by 2 small devices are used non-invasively on and near the body to detoxify the blood, lymph and organs of microbial infection. One of the machines can also be used to make ionic colloidal silver to further aid the detoxification process. Most testimonials report improvements after about 3 weeks and complete success after a couple of months of applying the Beck Protocol

PEMF therapy.   Not cheap, but has had some good feedback for fibromyalgia. E.g. using the iMRS or Bemer units.

PEMF Therapy

RIFE THERAPY.   Another effective electrotherapy, but more expensive than the Beck Protocol

Rife Resonance Frequency Therapy

VITAMIN B12

Take B12 (Methylcobalamin) supplement

Vitamin B12 - Energy Vitamin

NIR class 4 laser therapy

NIR class 4 laser therapy is an effective healing frequency therapy in the infrared range (~700-1000 nanometers) obtainable at reasonable cost at clinics throughout the U.S.   Not only stops the pain, but also affects a cure:

• Reduces pain
• Reduces inflammation
• Enhances tissue healing

NIR class 4 laser therapy

Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)

"Off-label" use of the drug Naltrexone has been showing great promise in the treatment of autoimmune diseases when administered in non-customary low doses.   Although not considered to be an autoimmune disease, fibromyalgia has many symptoms in common with autoimmune disease, and LDN has been found effective in reducing fibromyalgia symptoms

Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) - Immune regulator for Auto-Immune Diseases

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