Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic, diffuse pain and tender points, often accompanied by extreme fatigue and other complaints. Beyond that, there’s a lot we don’t know about it. There are no definitive blood tests for diagnosing fibromyalgia and no consistently effective conventional treatments—symptoms rarely respond to the usual pain meds. We don’t know what causes it, although it’s believed that something’s going on in the central nervous system to alter pain perception. Some doctors don’t think fibromyalgia is a real disease, and others believe it’s merely a physical reaction to stress, depression, or anxiety (which explains why antidepressants and other psychotropic drugs are often prescribed).
I certainly don’t have all the answers, but I do know that when I sit down with a patient who has fibromyalgia, her pain and fatigue are real. And I have no doubt that one reason we have good success at the Whitaker Wellness Institute treating this condition is because we don’t make patients feel like it’s “all in their heads.”
What we do first is look for underlying conditions that may be causing symptoms. People with diffuse pain often have low levels of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiencies can cause a bone disorder called osteomalacia, which mimics fibromyalgia’s aches and pains. Low levels of this vitamin are also associated with depression and weight gain, other common coexisting conditions.
In addition, we test for heavy metals. Middle-aged women, the group most likely to suffer with fibromyalgia, may have a high body burden of lead or other toxins. In some cases, a course of chelation dramatically improves symptoms. The same goes for hormone levels. Women of pre- and postmenopausal age are low not only in estrogen and progesterone but oftentimes in thyroid and adrenal hormones. Addressing hormonal deficiencies has profound effects on a wide range of symptoms.
Reenergize With the Right Supplements
Next, we start patients on a comprehensive nutritional supplement program. People with fibromyalgia and its common sidekick, chronic fatigue syndrome, often have below-normal levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy that fuels your cells, as well as a reduced ability to manufacture ATP in muscle cells. To improve cellular energy, we prescribe coenzyme Q10, L-carnitine, magnesium, and ribose.
Though all of these nutrients are involved in cellular energy, ribose may be the most important for people with this condition. Texas researchers gave 41 patients with fibromyalgia and/or chronic fatigue syndrome 5 grams of ribose three times a day. After four weeks, nearly 70 percent of the participants had significant improvements in symptoms and quality of life.
Beyond Supplements
Patients with fibromyalgia also respond well to acupuncture, massage, reflexology, and another alternative therapy called Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM). FSM is helpful for all types of chronic pain. During a typical session, you recline comfortably while a technician uses a device to deliver painless low-frequency currents to tender areas. These currents increase ATP production, stabilize cells, and reduce inflammation, resulting in sometimes remarkable pain relief.
I want to close with one final recommendation: LDN, a nontoxic prescription drug that is garnering rave reviews from patients with autoimmune disorders, cancer, and other problems. Many patients report dramatic improvements when they take 3-4.5 mg of LDN at bedtime.
As you can see, there’s no one-size-fits-all treatment for fibromyalgia, and I can’t say exactly what might work for you. I can promise, however, all of the therapies discussed above are safe, and they will likely have a net positive benefit on your overall health.
