| Fibromyalgia is a common cause of chronic muscle | | | | have gone through my work-ups show up with |
| pain and fatigue which is becoming more and | | | | one or more chronic infections that indicate |
| more common. It is estimated to affect more | | | | disturbance in their immune systems. The most |
| than 4% of the general population. There is also | | | | common of these are chronic viral infections such |
| a tremendous overlap between fibromyalgia and | | | | as Ebstein-Barr, Cytomegalovirus, Human Herpes |
| chronic fatigue syndrome with more than 70% of | | | | Virus 1,2 and 6, chronic bacterial infections such as |
| people diagnosed with FMS meeting the diagnostic | | | | Mycoplasma, Chlamydia and Streptococcus and |
| criteria for CFS. The conventional treatment of | | | | chronic fungal infections such as Candidiases. In |
| FMS is almost entirely focused on controlling | | | | order to treat this condition effectively the |
| symptoms with medications such as pain killers, | | | | immune system has to be repaired and these |
| muscle relaxants, sleep agents and | | | | infections have to be controlled. |
| antidepressants. However, fibromyalgia has | | | | Numerous other factors such as sluggish blood |
| many different facets that have to be addressed | | | | flow through affected tissues causing a reduction |
| that are often overlooked in order to treat this | | | | of oxygen delivery, impaired detoxification, |
| condition effectively. The only effective | | | | intestinal digestion and absorption problems, |
| approach to treatment of this condition is with a | | | | increased heavy metal loads, food allergies, sugar |
| holistic approach that takes into account not only | | | | metabolism problems and nutrient deficiencies also |
| the physical symptoms but also the emotional, | | | | have to be addressed. Nutritional |
| mental, social, spiritual and environmental aspects | | | | supplementation is essential in the treatment of |
| of this disease. | | | | FMS. Many patients unfortunately can not absorb |
| There are numerous lifestyle issues that have to | | | | or assimilate these nutrients well from the |
| be addressed including diet, physical activity (which | | | | intestinal tract initially because of their intestinal |
| is difficult for most FMS sufferers to increase | | | | tract dysfunction and may benefit from nutrients |
| without exacerbating this condition) and stress | | | | given via alterative routs such as intramuscular or |
| management. From a physical health | | | | intravenous. Various strategies are also used to |
| perspective, it is important to realize that many if | | | | facilitate more rapid detoxification i.e. by improving |
| not most people with this disorder, have | | | | gut elimination, liver function and cell |
| underlying contributing factors such as | | | | detoxification. Again, the bottom line is that this |
| hypothyroidism and low adrenal function that is | | | | condition usually responds very well to this kind of |
| not always apparent from routine blood tests. | | | | holistic treatment approach whereas conventional |
| Abnormal immune function also contributes greatly | | | | approaches fail on average 80% of the time to |
| to this disorder. All patients that I have treated | | | | get this condition resolved. |
| for this condition (hundreds of individuals) and that | | | | |