In spite of the fact that up to 8 million people in this country suffer from symptoms of fibromyalgia, many in the medical community insist that the disease does not exist — except in the minds of the “hypochondriacs” whom it affects. In fact, even the person mainly responsible for defining fibromyalgia as a disease, Dr. Frederick Wolfe, has now altered his position to claim that fibromyalgia is simply a reaction to stress. The reason for all this denial centers around the fact that the disease offers little that physicians can observe or measure — patients complain about experiencing acute pain all over their bodies as well as profound fatigue — but lab tests yield nothing.
The symptoms associated with fibromyalgia include:
- Multiple tender areas (muscle and joint pain) on the back of the neck, shoulders, sternum, lower back, hips, shins, elbows, and knees
- Fatigue
- Sleep disturbances
- Body aches
- Reduced exercise tolerance
- Chronic facial muscle pain or aching
What causes fibromyalgia? No one knows for sure, although researchers have identified certain “risk factors,” including:
- Sex. 85% of all fibromyalgia cases occur in women.
- Age. Fibromyalgia tends to develop during early and middle adulthood.
- People with sleep disorders, such as nighttime muscle spasms in the legs, restless legs syndrome or sleep apnea, have a higher incidence of fibromyalgia.
- Family history. You may be more likely to develop fibromyalgia if a relative also has the condition.
- Rheumatic disease. If you have a rheumatic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or ankylosing spondylitis, you’re more likely to have fibromyalgia.
Leave it to the pharmaceutical industry to find a way to make money in the midst of all the controversy about the etiology of fibromyalgia. Yes, as reported in the New York Times, the pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, has launched an ad campaign to publicize its new fibromyalgia drug, “Lyrica.” Does Lyrica treat fibromyalgia? Of course not! It merely suppresses nerve pain. But that doesn’t stop Pfizer from publicizing the drug as the first step in getting fibromyalgia recognized as a real disease. Could it be that once fibromyalgia becomes acknowledged as a “real disease,” more doctors will prescribe Lyrica to treat one of the disease’s symptoms? Ah, but I’m just being cynical.
“For patient advocacy groups and doctors who specialize in fibromyalgia, the Lyrica approval is a milestone,” says the Times article. Pfizer says it hopes that Lyrica and two other drugs that may be approved this year will legitimize fibromyalgia, just as Prozac brought depression into the mainstream. And, it seems that the FDA is on board. But this entire push to get Lyrica out there is stuff and nonsense. In these drugs, there is no understanding or treatment of fibromyalgia as a disease — only isolated, unrelated symptoms. There is no attempt to treat underlying causes — just isolated manifestations, causes be damned.
What can you do about fibromyalgia? As it turns out, quite a bit — the same, in fact, as you do for any other systemic condition with multiple symptoms and multiple suspected causes. It’s a perfect candidate for a Baseline of Health Program type approach.
- You have to clean out all of the toxins (heavy metals, xenoestrogens, chemical residues, etc.) that are poisoning your body. Anytime that you have a disease more prevalent in women than men, look to correct an estrogen imbalance caused by exposure to chemical estrogens.
- You have to provide all of the systems and cells in your body with the nutrients they require (vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, antioxidants, phytochemcials, etc.) for optimum vitality and regeneration.
- You’re only as strong as your weakest link. Unlike what many marketeers pushing pills would like you to believe, there is no “magic bullet” to optimum health. You can be taking all the vitamins in the world, but if your body is loaded with mercury, it won’t help.
Bottom line: You must do everything, and do it all at once. Fibromyalgia is a systemic disease with multiple unknown causes. Treat it that way by treating your whole body, and stay away from drugs like Lyrica. Oh, by the way, did I forget to mention that Lyrica may cause serious allergic reactions such as swelling of the face, mouth, lips, gums, tongue or neck; rashes, hives, blisters, and difficulty breathing? Truly an advance in the treatment of fibromyalgia.
:hc
I was trying to explain my wife’s challenges with fibro to a friend and I know she was having a challenge with it. My wife also has restless leg, a sleeping disorder, and depression so she is on an interesting cocktail of drugs.
Others wants to suggest food allergies (gluten allergies are quite popular now) and are stumped when I explain that my wife has undergone a battery of food allergy tests. And yes, she has tried yoga, and electro shock therapy and yes, she’s taking vitamins, and avoiding caffeine and ……. …. No. It’s no in her head. She’s in real pain right now.
On another note: Hope you don’t mind. I started a social network for fibromyalgia over on Ning. http://fibromyalgia.ning.com. Let me know what you think.
you are so right on this jon, i’m a 42 yr old female who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 5mos ago. on my follow up visit to the rheumatologist she was ready to give me four presciptions! an anti-depresssant pill which she say’s can block some of the pain, one to help me sleep, thou i don’t have a problem with this yet. one to help with some fatigue and lyria! i told her i’m a stay at home mom with 3 young kids how would i funtion with all those pills? i told her i was going to do your detox program, she told me to let her know how it went at my next visit. also she say’s there is a connection between low levels of vitamin D and fibromyalgia. i did test for low vitamin D. what do you think? well i plan to detox as soon as i get our income tax money!! can’t wait to feel good again. thank-you for you wonderful website.
kathy
i was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and CFS some years ago and i returned to good health under the guidance of God and a good holistic physician – for me it was very important to address systemic yeast, food sensitivities, low thyroid/adrenal, mineral and vitamin deficiencies, etc. – my spiritual beliefs also needed re-examining (I was challenged by a Tibetan medical practitioner who said “God does not permit the disease without first providing the cure.”)
I have had Fibromyalgia since about my teens; I am now 34 years old. I was diagnosed with it when I was discharged from the Military. Since then I have researched and read as much as I can about the disease. I also have CFS or so I am told. Some days I can barely get out of bed, let alone walk up stairs. I have a high tolerance for pain and the main test they use for fibromyalgia is digital palpation to press a finger to points of the body to where the nail barely turns white. I go in to the Dr’s office in pain and I am already keyed up to it, so getting them to accept that fact when they perform the test is like pulling teeth. I had one Dr. tell me “well I am only supposed to press until I see white in my nail and if that happens and you don’t respond then I can’t say you have sensation or advancement in that area’. I was prescribed wellbutrin for pain and depression, a few opiates, some sleeping pills. I am have never been a pill person and leery of using something to just ignore or block a sensation, have tried some of the pills, but when you take high doses of ambien or triazodone and cant sleep or only get 1 hour of sleep you know something is amiss. I could go on and on about my symptoms and pains but reframe for reasons of space.
Getting FM truly accepted as a mainstream disease would be a great thing, as I am sure many millions of people would not feel ostracized or that they have an underlying mental condition and hypochondriacs. However to get this recognition through the launch of new drugs is wrong on so many levels. Jon I applauded the work that you do and that you watch both sides of the fence of both mainstream medical and holistic, and people that speak out against them. Your reports are fair and balanced and the information you provide is educational and allows one to make an informative decision.
I am currently planning on taking action to take control of my body with knowledge gained from your site. I truly believe that we have it in us to heal ourselves if we but know the proper way to do so, and I think you’re on the right track to illuminate that way.
I will gladly share my experiences and how your information has helped with anyone interested.
There’s some interesting research done by Dr Lowe, involving inadequate thyroid hormone regulation…apparently he is able to metabolically rehabilitate patients with a 75% effectiveness rate…however, this rate is not the same for individuals already on narcotics…just thought I’d mention this. I believe Jon Barron’s Baseline for Health is definatley in order, because it’s a full spectrum way of addressing health issues by helping the body to heal itself once it is given the ability to do so (detox of heavy metals, chemicals, supplementation with minerals and vitamins etc.) Great article!
I do not have fibromyalgia, but there is so much I see in descriptions of it that brings to mind symptoms of magnesium deficiency (muscle pain, sleep disturbances, restless leg syndrome…). I agree absolutely that “doing everything” is ideal, but magnesium is an easy thing to try that can yield very fast results in some situations.
Jennifer:
I’m a big fan of magnesium. http://www.jonbarron.org/barron_reports/04-01-2003.php. For most people, it’s far more important to supplement with magnesium than calcium. However, I think you will find that supplementing with magnesium will not work as a magic bullet solution for fibromyalgia. It’s certainly worth doing, and may indeed help lessen some of the symptoms, but fibromyalgia is more complex than a simple vitamin deficiency.
Yes, absolutely. I only meant to suggest that it might, as you say, alleviate some of the symptoms…a “low-hanging fruit” approach. For someone who is suffering, feeling a little bit better can help provide the strength and motivation to make some of the harder changes. Thanks for your response.
Fibromyalgia often mimics
Fibromyalgia often mimics symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis. For sure, a wide variety of different nutrients one could be deficient in could be the cause. And, then there is the possibility of chronic dehydration, to the point that joints are not being lubricated, brain tissue is affected, and body energy is depleted. Everyone should read “Your Body’s Many Cries For Water” by Dr. F. Batmanghelidj M.D. Water should be considered a cure for fibromyalgia, and so much more!
Brenda:
Yes, dehydration could be a contributing factor. That issue is covered, of course, in Chapter 11 of “”Lessons from the Miracle Doctors.”” You can download a free copy on this site — or listen to it — at http://www.jonbarron.org/book/book.php. Again, when it comes to fibromyalgia, you need to do it all — all at once. Don’t look for magic bullets.
This is all very interesting to me as I was originally told I had Ebstein Barr when I was 14 in 1982. Then I was told I had chronic fatigue. When I was around 19 I was told that I had this new thing alternative doctors were discovering called Fybromyalgia. Most doctors never heard of it and many would laugh at me if I told them this was what I was diagnosed with. Around the same time my thyroid completely shut down. I began joining local Fybro support groups and reading every book I could get my hands on. I had 2 babies in 2 years and I got really sick. Everything just started shutting down. One thing I must say is all the books, experts ,doctors and support groups just got me more confused and more angry. I finally ended up walking with a cane and mostly bed ridden and convinced that the doctors were right that it was in my head. But the only thing that was actually in my head was common sense and still some intelligence. And after over 20 years of observing myself and others I came to the conclusion that this was more of a symptom than a diagnosis. So I took control of my own health and started at square one-my diet first and I have slowly worked through caring for my “”whole body”” I got to the point of having almost no symptoms. Then I had a series of heavy stresses and a change of circumstances which made it difficult to take as good of care of myself and I have had a reoccurance of many of my symptoms.
For whatever this is all worth, I know what I have learned is similar to what I am hearing through the information from Jon.
And I truly believe that you cannot treat each person with Fybromyalgia with the same treatment. I believe each person is suffering for different reasons.
I’m no expert but I should be. 🙂
My biggest problem is I have a daughter that is sicker than I am so I put most my money and energy on trying to help her first. So I do my best.
I am also one of many people suffered much pain of Fibromyalgia. I went from doctor to doctor to look for answers regarding my condition. It’s really difficult to lead a normal life having this kind of illness and others even doctors thinking I’m crazy.
Treating fibromyalgia is difficult because each patient is different, and many times the approach of each doctor is different. Considering the fact that, there is no known cure for fibromyalgia. But eating healthy food and having various of therapies can help them relief the pain. One effective way to cure Fibromyalgia is by having a massage therapy. Massage therapy is where a patient undergoes various massages that help relax the tensed muscles and then reducing the inflammation and pain.
Rid Fibromyalgia developed a comprehensive system for you to achieve fibromyalgia pain relief. This system includes many different approaches that includes diet, exercise, vitamins and supplements, acknowledging the benefits of acupuncture, and also educating yourself on the medications that may help you and those that you may be better served to not try at all. When you put all of these approaches together you can do away with much of the discomfort, fatigue, depression, and even anxiety that you feel right now. If you truly believe that you do not have to live this way you can use the information contained in this eBook to transform your life.
The Rid Fibromyalgia provides an eBook entitled “Heal the Body” that will teach you the best diet that will allow you to eat your way to wellness, it will also document which vitamins and supplements will target and reverse the illness, how to achieve pain relief through acupuncture, what exercises are safe and will work, and what type of medications may make you sicker, and what will work. This eBook takes a step by step approach in showing you how to rid yourself of the pain naturally so that you can take back your life.
Rid Fibromyalgia helps people suffering from Fibromyalgia or has symptoms of Fibromyalgia to enjoy life pain free. It teaches simple techniques on how to detox, rejuvenate, maintain, and live a life free of this debilitating syndrome.
I too have been labeled as having fibromyalgia. To say the least the last 5 years have been frustrating. I developed a dependency to pain killers, which I had to kick on my own, and then convince my doctor to never give me them again! He instead injected my back 6 times with Kenalog, a steroid, last month, which has left me with a face full of extreme acne and I have been gaining a lot of weight. What I would love to know, is HOW to detox, and exactly what program is best, and which vitamins and minerals to get. I have lyrica, I have sleeping meds, migraine meds, depression meds, anxiety meds…I would love to drive by the doctors office and throw them all out the window! I had never even taken a tylenol until my car accident in 2003, and now I am out almost $500 a month in pills! So if someone could tell me a detox program that works, I would be game to try. But I also don’t want to hurt myself…I think I have let my doctor do enough of that.
I think a good way to detox
I think a good way to detox from heavy metals, paraites, fungus, plastics is using terramin clay. I buy it in powder form and drink a tsp. of the clay in an 8 ounce glass of water. be sure to drink lots of water during the day to help flush away the toxins. This is a very easy way to detox in my opinion without having to go days with water or juice fasting. Also be sure your diet is clean. I follow a plant based diet which eliminates meat, fish, dairy and eggs.. Eat lots of vegetables, greens, beans and whole grains, fruit, nuts and seeds.
Hi there , sorry to hear your
Hi there , sorry to hear your in the same situation as myself and millions of others , like yourself i have had enough of pumping my body with all these pills and still in pain
I was wondering if you or anyone else who has found a good detox programme that has worked for them. I need to know where to buy the vitimims and detox cleans as warned that some aces sell detox cleans that are not strong enough to make any difference. I so suffer b12 deficency and ulcerative colitis but doing research it seems they all seem from the gut. I really need to start cleaning as I am slowly withdrawn from these horrendous pills. Please if anyone can help I’m at witts end. Bless you all x
Great! Have you seen our
Great! Have you seen our detox center? We put together the strongest full body detox you can get:
Detox Program: A Total Body Cleanse
Gretchen, Everything you want
Gretchen, Everything you want to know about detoxing can be found at https://jonbarron.org/program/full-body-detox-program. And all the information is free.
Need detox recipe for sever
Need detox recipe for sever fibromyalgia very sick signed desperate for life
Everything you want to know
Everything you want to know about detoxing can be found at https://jonbarron.org/program/full-body-detox-program. And all the information is free.
I had fibromyalgia and cured
I had fibromyalgia and cured myself by detoxing. It took a year and I had faith that it would work, and I’m now fibro-free.
I couldn’t find an appropriate category to post my question, but it includes fibromyalgia, so here goes:
A friend of mine is in the midst of a pharmaceutical nightmare. I see these all the time in my work with westerners, but this one’s unique. She’s had her colon totally removed and replaced with a j-pouch. This procedure seems to me totally barbaric, but i guess it’s getting more common. Anyway, this makes prescribing a protocol much more difficult.
Basically, she is currently diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, depression, and fibromyalgia. She also had ulcerative colitis and IBD, which she says were ‘cured’ by her colectomy. Now she is medicated to such a degree that she can’t function in her life. Pain killers + antidepressants is what they call a ‘speed-ball’ on the streets. It’s a highly damaging and addictive combo, and it’s been prescribed by her doctors! Simply put, she’s lost the plot, and the medical ‘help’ she’s receiving is only making things worse.
So, I’m looking for ways to support her addressing the chronic acid state in her tissues, and helping her rediscover peace without the need of pharmaceuticals. I’ve known people who recovered from every disease you can imagine, but they all had their organs intact. Any suggestions on tissue cleansing for someone with a missing colon?
Thanks so much!
Fibromyalgia is a form of generalized muscular pain and fatigue that affects approximately 3.7 million Americans. The name fibromyalgia means pain in the muscles and the fibrous connective tissues (the ligaments and tendons). Fibromyalgia lacks laboratory abnormalities; instead, the diagnosis depends mostly on a person’s report or complaints and feelings. Pain is the most prominent symptom of fibromyalgia. It generally occurs throughout the body, although it may start in one region, such as the neck and shoulders, and spread to other areas over a period of time.
A majority of people with fibromyalgia experience moderate or severe fatigue with lack of energy, decreased exercise endurance, or the kind of exhaustion that results from the flu or lack of sleep. Sometimes the fatigue is more of a problem than the pain. Headaches, especially muscular (tension headaches) and migraine headaches, are common in fibromyalgia. Abdominal pain, bloating and alternating constipation and bladder spasms and irritability may cause urinary urgency or frequency. A person’s skin and blood circulation can be sensitive to temperature changes, resulting in temporary changes in skin color.
As a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist, I take a different approach to the treatment and prevention of fibromyalgia. After a thorough neurological exam, I determine which part of the nervous system is not functioning properly. In many fibromyalgia patients I may find a high mesencephalic output.
There are three parts to the brain stem: top, middle and lower. The mesencephalon is the top part of the brain stem. A high output of the mesencephalon will cause an increased pulse and heart rate, the inability to sleep, or a waking, fitful sleep. Other symptoms might include urinary tract infections, increased warmth and sweating, andsensitivity to light.
Along with a high mesencephalic output, the fibromyalgia patient may present with a decreased output of the cerebellum. The cerebellum controls coordinated movement and all of the muscles of the spinal column.
No matter what the condition, it is imperative that the chiropractic neurologist performs a thorough and comprehensive exam to determine the exact nature of the patient’s condition.
Fibromyalgia patients, as with all chronic (symptoms longer than six months) type patients must be monitored closely, before and aftertreatments (blood pressure, pulse SpO2). If the patient is not monitored, it is possible to over-stimulate or exceed metabolic capacity. Since the upper part of the brain stem (mesencephalon) is firing at an abnormally high rate, I will want to utilize modalities that will lower the mesencephalic output.
Levi and all other vets: I read your comment on February 3, 2008 12:26 PM. I am also retired military (Nov 08), I did my VA claim before I was retired and at the time Fibromyalgia was not on the VA list of conditions they gave a disability rating to. In Nov 08 the VA decided to give it a rating so I have re-filled for more disability. If you need help filing find a VA service rep in your area and they can help you. If you would like to contact me my email is [email protected].
I have had Fibromyalgia for about 2 years now and have been on many different drugs without much relief. I had someone recommend Xango. Has anyone had any experience with this product?
Hi All,
I am 60 now and at 20 I was diagnosed with “”fibrositis””. At 30 it became “”Spastic Colon”” (now called IBS) and at 42 it was calles “”Chronic Fatigue””. Like many of you I was considered a hypochondriac. Through much research at 45 I diagnosed myself with Fibromyalgia and upon discussing this with the doctor and after some tests, he agreed that I was right.
I suffer the symptoms in spells from a few months to 2 years. Cold weather, stress (worries) and my mentruation (still!) make it all worse but sunshine and being less worried definitiely helps improve the pain and my feeling of well-being.
However a few months ago after reading everything I could and convinced by Jon Barrons articles on enzymes, vitamins and minerals I started a concentrated effort of taking these everyday PLUS 8 glasses of water!!!. And what happened? After a month I felt fantastic, no pain except my thumbs (keyboard typing every day?) and totally unexpectedly my skin, which had become dry , saggy and wrinkled, just plumped up looked thicker, juicier and younger!
I grew younger and happier by the day and for 3 months life was great until last month when I ovulated I started feeling ill. I lost my motivation to keep taking my supplements/water and I have just gone back to square one, old, dry and sore.
The moral thus for me is that I can feel better if I stick to feeding my body what it needs. I feel now that I do have control over it to a great degree and so it is up to me to either help myself or be in pain.
Just thought I would let you all know – a little ray of hope in the darkness! Best wishes for a recovery to you all!!!