© Samuel Verghese, Ph.D., BCIA-EEG, DAAPM, DAAPM, BCIAC
Symptoms | Causes |
Diagnosis | Treatment |
Supplements
Dietary &
Lifestyle |
Exercises & PT
Symptoms
Chronic fatigue; chronic pain in muscles,
ligaments, joints and tendons; achy muscular pain throughout the
body, in neck, back of head, entire spine, shoulders, upper chest,
hips; morning stiffness; headaches; sleep abnormalities; mood
changes; sensitivity to light and sounds; anticipatory anxieties of
emotional stress; worry; depression; difficulty focusing and
concentrating; restless leg syndrome; sleep apnea; and bruxism.
Causes
The underlying cause of fibromyalgia is unknown.
It’s often considered to be an immune disorder accompanied by
rheumatic and many other symptoms, and identified with Epstein-Barr
virus (EBV) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Most people with
fibromyalgia also suffer from brain-chemical disturbances,
anxieties, depression and sleep disorder (known as EEG anomaly).
Sleep patterns are disturbed by episodes of waking-type brain
activity, causing sleep interruptions. Women are affected by
fibromyalgia 10 times more frequently than men.
Diagnosis
According to the American College of Rheumatology,
the chronic widespread pain and other symptoms must last three
months, and localized pain should be present when pressure is
applied to 18 characteristically tender point locations (trigger
points). There must be at least 9 of the 18 pairs of abnormally
painful sites identified. Of course, a diagnosis is based on the
exclusion of other disorders.
Treatment
Alternative Medical Treatment
The nutritional goal is to correctly nourish the
immune system to assist the body in recovering from the imbalance.
Nutritional Supplements Recommended for our
Patients
- Immune
Enhancer I and Immune
Enhancer II (Nature’s Hospital).
- Brain Food
and Brain Igniter
(lower-priced and better than SAMe),
Neuro Complex and
Neuro Balancer (if
depression, including “bipolar” and dysthymia, is present)
(Nature’s Hospital).
- Natural Joint
Integrity when there is joint pain and/or swelling (Nature’s
Hospital).
- Heart
Prolongevity supplement is added after two or three weeks (one
or two a day) to boos tissue oxygenation, blood flow and immune
functions. This supplement includes CoQ10, Alpha-Lipoic Acid,
L-Carnitine and much more (Nature’s Hospital).
- 5-HTP or
Natural Sleep supplement
is added, two capsules at bedtime. You may need additional sleep
formula if unable to enjoy a complete rest.
- Magnesium and Malic acid 500/100mg once or more
times daily has shown to relieve pain and discomfort. Take these
supplements with food.
- If you have difficulty swallowing pills, you
may take Ultimate Complete Nutritional Mix.
Homeopathic medicines are very effective when
prescribed by a trained healthcare provider.
Other customized supplements, including
Liver Detox & Regenerator and bloodstream-cleansing formulas, are provided
based on your special needs.
Biofeedback or
neurofeedback therapy has demonstrated to be effective in the
management of fibromyalgia.
Dietary and Other Lifestyle Recommendations
- Don’t take supplements every day for more than
three weeks; skip two days a week and then take only as needed.
The idea is not to overdose on these supplements. After complete
recovery, take supplements only as needed for maintenance.
- Avoid colas, white flour, processed foods,
refined carbohydrates and high sugar intake.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Drink plenty of filtered or steam-distilled
water.
- Eat steamed vegetables, rather than raw, unless
they are organically grown.
- Eat a variety of foods.
- Install a shower filter.
Conventional Treatments
Your physician may prescribe a course of
antibiotic treatment. Treatment frequently involves over-the-counter
analgesics and antidepressant drugs, and injection of a local
anesthetic or corticosteroids locally into the achy sites of the
body. Homeopathic injectables such as “Traumeel” into trigger point
sites can help relieve pain. All above procedures relax the pain
reflex and allow for a more effective exercise program.
Exercises and Physical & Occupational Therapeutics
- Aerobic exercise
- Post-isometric relaxation
- Ischemic compression
- Herbal essential oil massage
- Topical natural sprays and creams like
“Traumeel vapo-coolant” decrease pain to help increase
muscle-lengthening exercises
- Deep muscle massage with herbal oils
- Transcutaneous-electrical stimulation
- Low-intensity ultrasound
- Biofeedback or
neurofeedback therapies
(excellent)
- Acupuncture with or without electrical
stimulation
- Active stretching and strengthening
- Swimming, walking
- Yoga, tai chi, etc.
- Bike riding
If you have been sedentary for a period, return to
exercise slowly.
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