Treatments for Fibromyalgia

 

Important Note
If tests show that you suffer from any of these abnormalities / dysfunctions, you can view the treatment options available and discuss them with your own medical doctor or consultant.These treatments can only be undertaken with the permission and supervision of your own medical doctor

 

  • Go to a Neurologist and Rheumatologist. They can advise on appropriate medical treatments. They will also need to liase with your medical doctor. Both should be informed about and supervise all your treatments. The book Reviving The Broken Marionette: Treatments For Cfs/Me And Fibromyalgia by Maija Haavisto, has some very good advice about medical drug treatments for the many abnormalities and dysfunctions found in ME and Fibromyalgia patients.
  • Fibromyalgia solved; A pathology, not in the mind. The National Biotechnology Information Center (NBIC) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the USA recently released the findings of research that claim to have discovered a pathological (the science of cause and effect) cause for fibromyalgia.
    • Micro circulation abnormalities
      Some ME patients have benefitted from Vitamin B12 injections, with does ranging from 4,000 to 6000 mcg per day. This along with omega 3 fatty acids and magnesium resolves the abnormal blood cell structure commonly found in ME patients according to studies by Mukherjee and Simpson
      Simpson LO. Myalgic encephalomyelitis. Letter. J R Soc Med 1991;84:633.
      L. O. Simpson, 'The Role of Nondisocytic Erythrocytes in the Pathogenesis of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome',
      The Clinical and Scientific Basis of ME/ CFS [Ottawa, Ontario: The Nightingale Research Foundation, 1992], p. 597
      Mukherjee TM, Smith K, Maros K. Abnormal red-blood-cell morphology in myalgic en-cephalomyelitis. Lancet 1987;2:328-329.20. Simpson LO. Nondiscocytic erythrocytes inmyalgic encephalomyelitis. N Z Med J 1989;102:126-127.21.
      Simpson LO, Murdoch JC, Herbison GP. Red cell shape changes following trigger finger fatigue in subjects with chronic tiredness and healthy controls. N Z Med J 1993;106:104-107
    • Medication to resolve :
      Defects and dysfunctions of the AV shunts linking veins to arteries. Inability to remove wastes from muscles and nerves, and supply oxygen and nutrients to mucles and nerves, and for excessive build up of lactic acid.
      Lowered Flow-mediated dilatation. Post-occlusive reactive hyperaemia is significantly lower. ME patients have significantly higher levels of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and triglycerides and lower levels of serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
      (Newton DJ, Kennedy G, Chan KKF, Lang CC, Belch JJF, Khan F. Large and small artery endothelial dysfunction in chronic fatigue syndrome. International Journal of Cardiology, 2012 Feb 9; 154(3):335–6       )
      Damage to the endothelium in veins and arteries.
  • Mitochondria Repair
    Mitochondrial dysfunction  (Antioxid Redox Signal, Sept 2012). Mitochondria dysfunction is a major factor in Fibromyalgia. This causes high levels of lactic acid to build up in muscles and joints causing constant pain. The lack of ATP causes exhaustion and exercise intolerance, brain fog, and many other symptoms.
    Mitochondria membrane repair and cell membrane repair
  • Address the Tryptophan deficiency in Fibromyalgia. Supplement with 5-HTP or other tryptophan tablets and foods containing tryptophan. Some studies show promising results:
    Puttini PS, Caruso I. Primary fibromyalgia syndrome and 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan: a 90-day open study. J Int Med Res 1992;20:182-189
    Caruso I, Sarzi Puttini P, Cazzola M, Azzolini V. Double-blind study of 5-hydroxytryptophan versus placebo in the treatment of primary fibromyalgia syndrome. J Int Med Res 1990;18:201-209
  • Small Fibre Neuropathy (SFN) is being found in high percentages of Fibromyalgia patients. Get a Neurologist to test for Small Fibre Neuropathy (SFN) and administer medical treatment and drugs for this condition.
    • Objective evidence that small-fiber polyneuropathy underlies some illnesses currently labeled as fibromyalgia.Oaklander AL, Herzog ZD, Downs HM, Klein MM. Pain. 2013 Jun 5. pii: S0304-3959(13)00294-7
    • Evidence of small-fiber polyneuropathy in unexplained, juvenile-onset, widespread pain syndromes.Oaklander AL, Klein MM. Pediatrics. 2013 Apr;131(4):e1091-100
    • Mass. General study identifies useful diagnostic tests, points to appropriate treatments
  • Intravenous immunoglobulin to treat IgG subclass 1 and 3 deficiencies and other IgG deficiencies
  • Medical drugs to reduce histamine levels. There are several drugs available. Doxepin elixir (Sinequan) is one drug which can reduce histamine levels in the body, and is recommended by Dr. Cheney.
  • Medical drugs which can normalise the mast cells. There are several drugs available. Ketiotifen is one drug which can normalise mast cell activity and levels in the body. Neuroprotek is a supplement which is very effective.
  • Spanish ME and Fibromyalgia groups and patients from Spain and South America have had great success treating Fibromyalgia with Alfred Blasi's protocol. Info at http://www.alfredblasi.net/ index.php . This protocol may work for some people and not for others.
  • Homeopathy
    • The Homeopathic remedies TOXEX spag., and apo-RHEUM spag. and INFLAMYAR spag. help reduce rheumatism, pain and inflammation and detoxify the body.
    • If liver also involved add apo-HEPAT spag.. If sluggish lymph system involved add ITIRES spag. If kidneys involved, then add RENELIX spag. drops.
  • Anti-Inflammatory foods
    • Turmeric and it's active ingredient Curcumin has been found to have some anti-inflammatory, neuro-protective and neuro-regenerative properties.
    • Fish oils
    • Quercetin (found in red apples, tea and onions and supplements). And Quercetin rich foods - Red onions, tea, red apples, red wine
    • Licorice
    • Foods containing Luteolin
    • Cayenne pepper reduces Substance P, a known inflammation agent.

  • Do you eat foods containing high levels of toxins and inflammation agents ?

    • hot dogs
    • sodas and fizzy drinks
    • foods containing MSG
    • foods containing hydrogenated fats
    • foods containing saturated fats
    • mucous forming foods such excessive potatoes, french fries (chips), cookies and sweets
    • diet drinks containing aspartame
    • sausages and cured meats containing nitrosamines
    • chlorine in bathing / swimming water
    • foods containing additives and flavourings with E numbers
    • foods containing toxin residues from the land (arsenic in some rice)
    • flouride in drinking water ?
    • un-filtered drinking water
    all of these increase toxin load on the body, and inflammation, with adverse effects on the body, in particular the immune system, the DNA, the mitochondria, the endocrine system and the brain and nervous system. Eliminate these foods and drinks from the diet.
  • According to Dr. Edward Conley and others, many Fibromyalgia patients are deficient in the minerals Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium, Vitamin D and amino acids. Supplement with Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium, Vitamin D and amino acids. Ensure you have normal stomach acid levels and digestive enzymes to digest proteins and amino acids.
  • Electrolyte normalisation and mineral normalisation may be beneficial
    • Himalayan salt
    • Seaweeds
    • Magnesium, Potassium, Calcium, Iodine, Copper, Zinc, Manganese supplements
  • Dr. Hauser (http://www.caringmedical.com) who has years of experience in treating Fibromyalgia recommends Prolotherapy and tests for multiple chemical sensitivities, hypoglycemia, Candida infections, viral infections, chronic insomnia, thyroid and adrenal gland tests, intestinal permeability, nutrient deficiencies and poor tissue oxygenation. Many of the diagnostic tests for biological abnormalities in ME/CFS apply to Fibromyalgia also.
  • Lectures by medical experts

    Lecture on Fibromyalgia Causes, Diagnosis and Treatments by Dr. Byron Hyde


    Lecture on Fibromyalgia by Dr. Sean Mackey, Stanford University Medical Center

Identifying Infections and Biological Dysfunctions and Abnormalities in Fibromyalgia

  • Vitamin C, Glucosamine Sulphate and Knox Gelatin can help repair and build collagen and cartilage, and can be effective in Fibromyalgia.

  • Stimulation of Serotonin in the brain and nervous system:
     A medical doctor should closely supervise this neurotransmitter therapy. Some medical drugs gently increase Serotonin levels in the brain. Molipaxin 75 -100mg  or  Doxepin Elixir (10mg/ml) or L-Tryptophan  1 hour before bed-time.
    OR
    5-HTP 200mg, 2 hours before bedtime at night. Take on an empty stomach.
    Tryptophan rich Foods
    Take tryptophan-rich snack(s) during the day and before bed-time.
    turkey, milk, banana, avocado, wheatgerm, pumpkin seeds, chicken, tofu.
    Tryptophan is converted into Serotonin in the brain.
    and
    Take vitamin B-Complex and Fish oils / Omega-3 oils. This helps convert Tryptophan into Serotonin in the brain.
    and
    Get 8-10 hours of direct sunlight every day. In Winter use a special light box. Include walking and stretching in the direct sunlight. Sunlight stimulates the production of Serotonin in the brain. Walking and Stretching improves nerve conduction.
    - some ME clinics use this (1)

  • Re-designating old medical drugs for CFS Treatment
    CFIDS Association of America has got Biovista ( http://biovista.com ) in the USA to engage in research and data mining of thousands of medical drugs (including some which are currently out of use) and find matches between them and the symptoms, abnormalities and dysfunctions found in ME. They are compiling a list of these medical drugs. Safety guidelines, side effects, clinical reports and general efficacy and other factors will also be taken into account for each medical drug
  • Stress Reduction
    In addition to getting medical treatment for immune system, krebs cycle and methylation cycle dysfunctions, infections and other biological abnormalities and dysfunctions one should also get Stress Reduction treatment as all physical illnesses including Cancer, AIDS, ME, Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, autoimmune illness, Cardiac related illnesses, advanced Diabetes, etc. causes great stress for patients. Click here for Stress Reduction treatment
  • Accessibility for disabled patients: Learning from other countries - International Standards & Excellence

    It is important to learn from the experiences of other developed countries. Over long periods of time, other countries have tried and tested many different options, and refined and improved succesful ones, while also innovating and developing new technologies, new systems, new laws and regulations. Some countries provide models of excellence in certain areas of disability rights and social inclusion.

    - Guide to Home Remodeling for Disability: http://www.expertise.com/home-and-garden/home-remodeling-for-disability-and-special-needs
    - National Council for Disabled People (NCPD) http://galway.ncpd.ie

 

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