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| Article: FIBROMYALGIA: WHAT IT IS AND WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT - by Dr. Carolyn Chambers Clark | ||
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FIBROMYALGIA is a chronic disorder. It includes widespread pain in your
muscles and bones, fatigue and multiple tender points in the neck,
spine, shoulders and hips. If you suffer from this condition, you might
also have morning stiffness, anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome, sleep
disturbances, malabsorption problems, and even depression. Because of its many symptoms, this condition will be difficult for your physician or health care provider to diagnose. Although most people with fibromyalgia show no changes in laboratory tests, you may be asked to have them anyway just to rule out another condition. The cause of fibromyalgia isn't known. There are several theories. Some scientists believe it is caused by a trauma or injury that affects the central nervous system. Another explanation is that the syndrome is triggered by a virus, but to date, no agent has been found. The thyroid may be involved and so may a disruption in healthy intestinal flora, a dysfunction in the liver, and most of all, high stress. A common situation that can precede fibromyalgia is abuse as a child or current abuse in a relationship. A common thread in fibromyalgia development is the presence of hidden food and chemical sensitivities. One of my clients discovered that after she ate in a Chinese restaurant, her symptoms doubled! This is not unusual because MSG is an excitotoxin that excite neurotransmitters and lead to neurotoxicity when used in excess. What can you do? The first thing to do is to find the cause of your fibromyalgia. Keep a daily food/stress diary for at least two weeks. Write down everything you put into your mouth and all environmental chemicals, dust, mold, and pollen you are exposed to. Note when and how you feel thirty minutes after exposure. Note what situations get you upset and how that affects your pain, fatigue, sleep, etc. Begin to notice patterns. One of my clients noticed that after she cleaned her tub with a cleanser, her pain increased. Another found that eating wheat made her weak and bloated. Another noticed that when she started to think about the abuse she'd suffered, her symptoms quadrupled! Each person's story is unique. That's why you have to keep a diary. If, after two weeks, you haven't noticed any patterns, keep on the diary for another two weeks. There are many actions you can take to reduce fibromyalgia symptoms depending on what your food/stress diary shows. One of my clients found that if she stopped eating meat and dairy products, the inflammation in her bones and muscles decreased. Another found that by avoiding foods that contained solanine (green peppers, eggplant, tomatoes and white potatoes), her pain became manageable. Supplements can also help, but they should be used in concert with a health care professional who is knowledgeable about holistic treatment. SAMe is helpful to some sufferers because it protects cartilage and provides pain relief. Magnesium malate (300 to 500 mg a day) and other vitamins and minerals can help, too. Borage oil or evening primrose oil capsules helped one of my clients reduce her pain. One of my clients with a sluggish thyroid, found that small amounts of vitamin A and B-complex helped tune it up. Herbs can help, too, but shouldn't be mixed with over-the-counter or prescribed drugs. Again, find a holistic practitioner who is knowledgeable in both medical and holistic health methods. Some of the more useful herbs are milk thistle (protects the liver), garlic (removes parasites that can be a problem in fibromyalgia) and cayenne powder and wintergreen oil (applied on the skin to relieve muscle pain). You will also want to begin an exercise program. If you're in pain and feel fatigued, this may be the farthest thing from your mind, but it is one of the most helpful things you can do. Swimming, walking and low-impact aerobic dancing or bicycling can reduce pain and stress. Start with a few minutes a day and build up to 15-20 minutes. Work in concert with your health care provider to make sure the exercise you choose is safe for you. Find a counselor if you're stressed, someone who can teach you relaxation and meditation strategies and help you use self-hypnosis and guided imagery to heal. If you tend to catastrophize situations and "fly off the handle" or "get emotional" find a cognitive-behavioral therapist to help you learn how to become more focused and balanced. If you've been sexually, physically or emotionally abused, you must obtain treatment to resolve the holdover of feelings that continue to affect your body. One of my clients suffers from no pain or other symptoms now that she has resolved her anger, grief and lack of forgiveness for the victimization she endured. You may need to find a postural trainer. People with pain syndromes tend to use "guarding" postures to protect them from pain. Over time, these postures interfere with breathing, circulation and other body functions that only add to pain. Use affirmations (positive thoughts to balance the negative self-talk you use) can help. One of my clients reached a stage of forgiveness for being abused by saying the following statement 20 times a day: I lovingly release the past It took her several months, but eventually she did forgive her tormentor and moved on with her life. She used to say the phrase while taking a shower and driving to work. Sometimes she just thought or pictured the words in her mind during boring household or work tasks. For more information on self-care for this condition and 19 other chronic conditions, refer to Dr. Clark's book, THE AMERICAN HOLISTIC NURSES' GUIDE TO COMMON CHRONIC CONDITIONS: SELF-CARE OPTIONS TO COMPLEMENT YOUR DOCTOR'S ADVICE, available at wiley.com and amazon.com |
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Dr. Carolyn Chambers Clark is an advanced nurse practitioner,
board-certified in holistic practice, who has a doctorate in education from
Columbia University. She is Director of Wellness Resources and has a holistic
practice near Sarasota, Florida. She has published 17 health-related books. Her
latest is THE AMERICAN HOLISTIC NURSES' GUIDE TO COMMON CHRONIC CONDITIONS:
SELF-CARE OPTIONS TO COMPLEMENT YOUR DOCTOR'S ADVICE (Available at
www.amazon.com or
www.wiley.com) |
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