Fibromyalgia
What if you never seemed to sleep well, your muscles were sore and achy, and you were tired all the time? If it sounds like you, you could be one of the estimated 5 to 10% of the population with fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is characterised by muscle pain, non-restorative sleep, fatigue, and multiple tenderpoints. Digestive problems, and/or mood disorders are common. Three out of four people with fibromyalgia are women: most are between 20 to 60 years of age. Many symptoms overlap with those of chronic fatigue, and may be different manifestations of a similar disorder.
Fibromyalgia probably has a number of different causes. Fibromylagia may start after an injury or as a cold or flu that never goes away. It can be associated with allergies, stress, hormonal imbalances or physical trauma. There may be no identifiable triggering incident. It can progress, or relapse, and for some it eventually resolves entirely.
Naturopathic medicine can be very useful in helping people with fibromyalgia to feel better, and sometimes to recover entirely. The approach is multi-faceted. Nutrition is very important. Many people with fibromyalgia find that certain foods adversely affect how they feel, so determining a good individualised diet is helpful. As well, general improvement in nutritional status can improve energy and the body's ability to repair.
Specific nutritional supplements such as magnesium and malic acid can be very helpful for many with fibromyalgia. The serotonin pathway seems to be affected in a large subset of people with fibromyalgia, and careful supplementation of serotonin precursors and cofactors can normalise serotonin levels and alleviate symptoms in this group. The adrenal glands, which deal with stress, are often affected in fibromyalgia, particularly because of disrupted sleep patterns and mood disorders. Optimising adrenal function can improve both sleep and mood.
Exercise, in the form of gentle, regular stretching, and a gentle aerobic exercise program can help with improving mobility and flexibility, and decreasing pain long-term. Often there is a problem with toxicity. Gentle cleansing programs, such as constitutional hydrotherapy, can be very useful in improving digestion and the body's own ability to cleanse and heal. For some, acupuncture is very helpful as well.
Counselling, and an understanding support network are also very helpful. Friends and family need to know that although a person with fibromyalgia may look fine, they may not feel well at all, and often are limited in what activities they can participate in. As some days tend to be better than others, and understanding support people can go a long way to helping people with fibromyalgia cope. Counselling can help release any emotional blocks to healing, as well as help in developing coping skills, and nurturing hope.
Copyright 2000 Dr. Isis van Loon.