Fibromyalgia Details

Expanded Description

Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain sensitivity to light touch.

Prevalence

157.0 ( Per 100,000 Population ) [Source]

Causes

How do people GET Fibromyalgia?

“ROUTES” – Four main “ROUTES” bring people to this syndrome:

1. VIRAL

Many have a history of cold sores > mononucleosis > Epstein Barr > Chronic Fatigue that led to Fibromyalgia.

Millions of Baby Boomers were exposed to these viruses in their teens and early twenties. The long term outcome has been the onset of FMS now in middle age.

Many with Fibro report that they had a “really bad flu” at some point that just dragged them down.

(Dr. Lerner’s website: http://www.cfsviraltreatment.com/ is of great interest if you are in this group.)

2. ABUSE / STRESS

The stress of physical, emotional or sexual abuse can result in FMS. The body is just not able to maintain health under those circumstances.

3. TRAUMA

An accident, difficult pregnancy / delivery, terrible emotional shock, drastic change in lifestyle, traumatic surgery, and even severe or extended stress, are known to trigger the onset of FMS.

4. REAR END CAR ACCIDENTS

There has always been a question about how and why this group gets FMS if they didn’t have chronic viral infections, prior trauma or a history of abuse.

When the body is slammed by the impact of the accident, it may have a detrimental effect on the LIVER, (similar to Shaken Baby Syndrome) affecting its production or processing of Hyaluronidase.

Any of these things can result in the body’s internal environment getting out of balance. Too acid, too alkali, temperature not normal, impaired liver function, etc.

For Enzymes (in the case of FMS, Hyaluronidase) to work at 100%, the body’s internal environment must be correct.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyme has a good overview of Enzymes.

Hyaluronan (HA) is the clear fluid throughout the body. It feeds, lubricates and rinses all the cells. It must flow constantly and unrestricted.

If Hyaluronidase is not fully able to act on Hyaluronan throughout the body, the HA can become too thick. It can correctly leave the Arterial Capillaries, enter the body tissue, but not exit through the Lymphatic Capillaries. This is the cause of Fibromyalgia symptoms.

More females than males have FMS, most likely because of a physiological difference in their bodies’ use of HA in the reproductive system.

Disorder Symptoms

FIBROMYALGIA

(Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / Restless Leg Syndrome)

+ Indicates most prevalent

+ Brain Fog
trouble concentrating – can’t recall words (anomia) / names – using wrong word – memory lapses – lose track of present location – overwhelmed performing multiple tasks – low mental acuity – varies from day to day

+ Pain
usually both left and right side – in soft tissues – feels like “bones hurt” – generalized – radiating – gnawing – numbness, tingling, prickling, “pins and needles” – aching / burning in hands, arms, feet, legs, and sometimes face / jaw – some pain always present – firm touch can cause discomfort – worse in morning, improves throughout day, worsens at night – affected by activity level, weather, sleep patterns, stress, and foods – burning skin

+ Stiffness
worse on awakening and after sitting or standing in one position
muscle tightness / lack of flexibility, especially legs, back, shoulders

+ Fatigue
chronic – moderate / severe / extreme exhaustion – disabling – muscle twitching – muscle weakness – shakiness – long periods of sleeping – strong need to fall asleep / a quick nap often refreshes, but unrelenting fatigue returns

+ Exercise intolerance
too much or wrong exercise may worsen FMS symptoms

+ Emotional / Seritonin Reuptake
“Seritonin Reuptake Cluster of Symptoms” :
anxiety / panic – depression – obsessive compulsive – procrastination.
Not all Fibros have these, but if have one of them, and it came with FMS, they usually have the cluster of all four. Caused by Seritonin Reuptake. Can be effectively treated by taking a good SSRI med – at night. (An over-the-counter alternative is 5HTP.)

Emotional lability (change) – - easily irritated / dissatisfied with work, home and life in general – “negative minded”, depersonalization (world feels vague, not real), trouble recognizing faces

+ Weakness
body wide – suddenly drop objects – clumsy hands – poor grip – extreme weakness all over

Coordination
impaired – can be in all areas – can’t pick feet up

+ Mobility
forward body posture / typing, desk sitting, assembly line work can cause chest and upper body (thoracic) pain / dysfunction. unable to move body if severe

+ Dysequilibrium / balance
tilting causes disorientation / nausea – dizziness – light-headedness – not able to adjust quickly

+ Tender Points
painful, sensitive locations on the body corresponding to branching of the arteries

Restless Leg Syndrome
periodic limb movement disorder – during sleep or awake

+ Sleep
trouble falling asleep – waking at all hours – not rested when awake – easily awakened – abnormal sleep patterns

+ Sensitivity
over-sensitive to smell, noise, bright or flickering light – normal sounds can be excruciating
certain foods, medicines – change in weather – feeling cold or hot when others are not
“paresthesia” = abnormal neurological sensations
“hyperesthesia” = increased neurological sensations

+ Hair
thinning – dry – dull

+ Fingernails / toenails
soft and break – ridges

Skin
itch – rash – small “ricelike” bumps – nicks bleed more easily – greasier skin -
deep painful blemishes on face, torso, arms and legs – nose tender / outbreaks on the sides sub-cutaneous, painful swelling that can’t open to surface. Blisters on scalp. Pilomotor phenomenon (goose bumps).

Perspiration
insufficient is more common, but some FM’s sweat profusely

+ Hands / Feet
numbness, tingling – not flexible – palms and soles of feet blotchy – poor hand-eye – calluses and corns on feet more painful and irritating – dry – in severe FMS hands can lose all activity and turn back toward arms, palms first

+ Swelling
sensation of swelling (edema) in hands and feet – ankles – throughout body

+ Headaches
chronic – “ice pick” – muscular (tension) and severe migraine headaches – often from trapped HA in narrow passages in sinus. It swells, creating severe pressure.

Eyes
problems with focus / skeletal tracking muscles of the eyes – “visual confusion” and nausea

+ Eyes
vision not clear – like looking through Saran Wrap – frequent prescription changes – don’t sparkle

+ Eyes
dry or burning

Ears / Hearing
reduced acuity – feel stuffy – tinnitus (ringing or whining in ears) – waxier – may feel damp inside

+ Sinus
chronic problems – closed-up feeling in nose and sinuses – sinus infections – easily catch colds and flu – chronic runny nose – non-allergic rhinitis = nasal congestion / discharge and sinus pain – post nasal drip causes throat problems

+ Mouth
tongue sore / swollen tastebuds – tender gums / backside of lips and roof of mouth blistered – dry – white coat on tongue like soft sand grains as tastebuds shed abnormally – excess mucus – yellow scum on teeth

Saliva
very acidic – pH test may show 4.0 before treatment. Ideal body pH is 7.40

+ Teeth
grinding and clinching during sleep – splitting /cracking – require caps

TMJ – Temperomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome

Throat
trouble swallowing – weak, coarse voice – choking – spasms if food too dry

+ Acid Reflux / GERD
often not relieved by proton pump inhibitor meds – ulcerated esophagus

+ Irritable Bowel Syndrome
alternating constipation and diarrhea – spastic colon – cramps – bloating – ulcerative gastritis

+ Urination
very frequent – incontinence / leaking – urgent – typically in the absence of a bladder infection – odd odor or color, female urethral syndrome

Heart
rapid or irregular heart rate – congestion can mimic heart blockage symptoms

Orthostatic Intolerance – click here to read
drop in BP and heart rate on standing – tilting backward causes disorientation

Lungs
shortness of breath – wheezing – deep hard cough

+ Neck
stiff – cracks & pops – sore with movement – grinds

Spine
bulged / herniated discs in lumbar – stiff – sore – back “goes out” – weakness – pain

+ Axial skeletal pain
in cervical spine, anterior chest, thoracic spine, or low back

Stenosis of Spine
(narrowing inside spinal canal)

Carpal Tunnel
EMG tests will show this, but with treatment for FMS may clear up immediately

+ Cartilage
grinds down – knees, etc. noisy, rough, painful
Costochondralgia (costochondritis) / pain where ribs meet sternum, mistaken for heart disease

+ Weight gain
puffy all over – gain for no reason

Pelvic / Female Reproductive Problems :
no periods – skipped periods
Dysmenorrhea – difficult and painful menstruation – cramps
Dyspareunia – painful sexual intercourse
Dysuria – painful urination

Bladder Infection
Endometriosis – tissue resembling uterine mucous membrane occurs in pelvic cavity
Vulvadynia – unprovoked burning, stinging, irritation or rawness of the female genitalia

Infertility

Hysterectomy

Libido (physical passion) – can be low or non-existent

Vaginal lubrication – can be inadequate or non-existent

Manifestation of symptoms: severity, presentation and location lead to separate diagnosis, although believed to be related to FMS:

Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS)
very painful spots (trigger points) form in taut bands in muscles or other connective tissues

Sleep apnea

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP)
one of the valves of the heart bulges during a heartbeat – causes click or murmur

Raynaud’s phenomenon
intermittent bilateral attacks of ischaemia (low oxygen state) of fingers, toes, ears or nose, marked by severe pallor, paraesthesia and pain. Cold or emotional stimuli triggers it / heat relieves. A circulatory problem affecting the small blood vessels of skin.

Sicca
dry mucous membranes, as of the eyes and mouth

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndromes

Ulcerative Gastritis

Ulcerated Esophagus

Name	Description
Brain Fog / Trouble Concentrating	Can’t recall words (anomia) / names – using wrong word – memory lapses – lose track of present location – overwhelmed performing multiple tasks – low mental acuity – varies from day to day
Pain usually both left and right side	Pain usually both left and right side – in soft tissues – feels like “bones hurt” – generalized – radiating – gnawing – numbness, tingling, prickling, “pins and needles” – aching / burning in hands, arms, feet, legs, and sometimes face / jaw – some pain always present – firm touch can cause discomfort – worse in morning, improves throughout day, worsens at night – affected by activity level, weather, sleep patterns, stress, and foods – burning skin
Stiffness	Stiffness worse on awakening and after sitting or standing in one position muscle tightness / lack of flexibility, especially legs, back, shoulders
Chronic fatigue	Moderate / severe / extreme exhaustion – disabling – muscle twitching – muscle weakness – shakiness – long periods of sleeping – strong need to fall asleep / a quick nap often refreshes, but unrelenting fatigue returns
Exercise intolerance	Too much or wrong exercise may worsen FMS symptoms
Emotional change	Easily irritated / dissatisfied with work, home and life in general – “negative minded”, depersonalization (world feels vague, not real), trouble recognizing faces
Weakness	Body wide – suddenly drop objects – clumsy hands – poor grip – extreme weakness all over
Impaired coordination	Can be in all areas – can’t pick feet up
Tender Points	Painful, sensitive locations on the body corresponding to branching of the arteries
Restless Leg Syndrome	Periodic limb movement disorder – during sleep or while awake
Trouble falling asleep	Waking at all hours – not rested when awake – easily awakened – abnormal sleep patterns
Sensitivity or over-sensitive to smell, noise, bright or flickering light	Normal sounds can be excruciating certain foods, medicines – change in weather – feeling cold or hot when others are not – abnormal neurological sensations – increased neurological sensations
Thinning hair	Thinning hair
Soft fingernails	Soft fingernails and toenails that break easily
Chronic headaches	Muscular (tension) and severe migraine headaches – often from trapped HA in narrow passages in sinus. It swells, creating severe pressure.
Eyes	problems with focus / skeletal tracking muscles of the eyes-"visual confusion" and nausea

Diagnosis

No diagnosis information has been added yet.

Diagnostic Tests

These two tests define the nature of your FMS, and determine the most effective way to treat it.

Thyroid test. Blood test your doctor does.

Saliva pH test. Inexpensive test and monitoring you do yourself.

We don't have any tests yet.

Disorder Treatments

No treatment information has been added yet

We don't have any treatments yet.

Prognosis

No prognosis information has been added yet

Tips for Living with the Disorder

Name	Description
Painful bumps on tongue	These are usually inflamed taste buds – swollen with serous fluid and blood. Get your pH up to normal and they will go away on their own.
Night Sweats	Eat a little piece of Swiss Cheese or other slow-burning protein not long before bedtime, so it lasts all night.
Pain and Stiffness	For short term, temporary use – apply a small amount of Camphor Spirit to areas that are stiff, painful or feel congested. Wipe on like sunscreen. Very small amount.
“Ice Pick” Headaches	Spray 4-Way Brand Nasal Spray (or any house-brand 1 % Phenylephrine decongestant) into both nostils. Wal-Four is Walgreen’s house brand. Hold nose closed, tilt head back a little bit and apply air pressure to the nose and sinuses. Works almost instantly.
Can’t fall asleep or can’t stay asleep	Wear an eye mask and ear plugs to block out all light and all sound – at your head. We are overly sensitive to light and sound. The least amount keeps us from getting to deep restorative sleep. Having a fan or tv may help us get to sleep, but will also keep us from getting to deep sleep. When you get enough good sleep, Restless Leg will stop also.
Itchy or burning skin	Very common symptom for Overly Acidic Fibromyalgia. Especially where skin creases or clothes stay in close contact. Very acidic perspiration causes it. Don’t wear clothes more than once, especially bras. The acid can be absorbed by the band and build up even worse. Wipe the area with a warm wet washcloth and most of the acid will be removed.