Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a functional diagnosis, for which conventional medicine has identified no causative mechanism; its cause may be multifactorial, with multiple contributing factors.

Although fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome appear to share many of the same symptoms and causative factors, they appear to be distinct disorders with different treatments. Hence, careful differential diagnosis based on history, signs, and symptoms is necessary for effective treatment [Liptan2016].

It is also possible that a patient may present with diagnoses of both fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Complimentary and alternative treatments for fibromyalgia that are considered below include:

• Immune System Balancing
• Low Dose Naltrexone
• Neuro-Gen High Performance Neuromodulation (HPN)
• Conventional Neuro-feedback
• Neurotransmitter Balancing

The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but among the theories that have been advanced, post traumatic-stress reaction [Liptan2016] appears most credible. In a nutshell, psychological or physical trauma induces a self-perpetuating cycle of sympathetic nervous system arousal ('fight-or-flight') that triggers and sustains prolonged abnormal muscle contraction. This prolonged elevated muscle tone in turn depletes muscle-mitochondrial energy stores, resulting in increased levels of lactic acid being produced. Lactic acid is responsible for the characteristic "burn" an athlete normally feels after a set of strength-training exercises. But whereas in normal athletic training, the lactic acid dissipates after the workout, in the case of fibromyalgia, the muscle tension never relaxes, and the lactic acid can never dissipate. Unfortunately, the pain causes a reflex feedback cycle in which the neurological system is driven further into sympathetic arousal, and muscle tension is further increased.

In addition to driving painful muscle contractions, the elevated sympathetic nervous system arousal also disrupts the fibromyalgia-sufferer's sleep, resulting in a hypervigalence that has been characterized as "sleeping with one eye open." This state prevents the patient from achieving the deep sleep state necessary for physical and mental repair. The end result of this unrestful sleep is daytime fatigue and mental fog.

Other contributing factors may include mitochondrial dysfunction. Note that Dr. Weyrich has argued that mitochondrial dysfunction may be secondary to overgrowth with yeasts and fungi, and [Shaw2008] has pointed out that elevated urinary levels of tartaric acid and other markers of overgrowth with yeasts and fungi are associated with fibromyalgia [ORWJr: however, it is not clear that these findings are not better associated with a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome].

• Widespread muscle pain.
• Fatigue.
• Brain-fog.

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  Organic Acid Test (elevated markers for
gut dysbiosis).
• Basal Body Temperature (depressed if hypothyroid or mitochondrial dysfunction)
• Heavy metal urinalysis with provocation (possible cause of mitochondrial dysfunction).
• Measures of inflammation, such as Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, High Sensitivity C Reactive Protein, and Homocysteine.

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  chronic fatigue syndrome [Liptan2016].
• Vitamin B12 deficiency [Pacholok2011].
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  Lyme Disease .

Please see conventional, complimentary and alternative medical treatments for important background information regarding the different types of medical treatments discussed below.

Naturopathic, Complimentary and Alternative Treatments