In my office practice, I frequently offer complementary lectures on various topics. But many people live out of state and would like to learn more about these topics from an alternative/ integrative medicine point of view. So, for all you Meridian readers that live outside of Utah, here’s my take on fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is not only a pain in the neck [pun intended] and shoulders; it may also be located on specific points on the arms, legs and buttocks. The associated symptoms may be worse than the pain, which include (but may not be limited to):
- non-restorative sleep,
- chronic fatigue,
- restless legs,
- mood disorders and
- brain fog.
It’s Not “All in Your Head”
Many of my patients come to me after having been told that fibromyalgia symptoms are “all in their head,” or that “they are depressed and need to be on an antidepressant.” However well meaning physicians are, the solution can come only once we have identified the cause(s). I feel it is important to really listen to what my patients tell me. They know their bodies better than anyone else, and if they’ve experienced a dramatic change in their health, I had better listen!
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
The potential causes are legion, which is why fibromyalgia is so hard to treat. It’s even a huge challenge to identify the trigger(s). To make matters more complicated, the trigger (the final cause that manifested the symptoms) may not be the true cause, which is the underlying condition(s) that permitted the trigger to make it manifest (I hope you can follow that sentence and understand it).
So, here is a list of possibilities:
- Toxicity exposure — chemicals and toxic metals (mercury)
- Immunologic breakdown — virus, vaccinations, allergies/sensitivities
- Genetic predisposition
- Cervical (neck) trauma
- Stress — mental, emotional, physical
- Hormonal disruption — perimenopausal, thyroid, growth hormone
- Structural breakdown — hypermobility (of joints), overuse, postural, short leg
- Vertebral or disc problems (back pain)
There are treatments you can do at home, but many of the most effective treatments require the supervision of a trained integrative medicine practitioner.
What You Eat Affects How You Feel
If you suffer from the pain of fibromyalgia, you can take some proactive steps.
- First and foremost, your diet must be real food. The junk food, sugars, pop, processed foods have got to go.
- Even with the best of food, you will need to be using potent multivitamins and good essential fatty acids.
- Vitamin D levels need to be in the 50 to 70 range. All too often, I find that my patients who are suffering are low in vitamin D.
How an Integrative Medicine Practitioner Can Help
A trained integrative medicine practitioner has the ability to diagnose and treat with considerably more options than most conventional medical doctors have at their disposal.
- Toxic metals can be diagnosed and treated with any number of chelating agents.
- Medications that put a stress on the body may be withdrawn.
- Laboratory levels of various hormones can be obtained, and bioidentical hormones can be prescribed.
- Mitochondrial support may help the fatigue, perhaps by using CoQ10, L-carnitine, ribose, magnesium.
- Use of Frequency Specific Microcurrent can be helpful if cervical trauma is suspected.
- Energy work, such as acupuncture, Jin Shin Jyutsu, or massage therapy, can be effective.
- Intravenous therapies may also alleviate symptoms: nutritional high dose vitamin C, Chelation therapy.
- Allergy desensitization, utilizing a technique called NAET or a hybrid technique I call Alldesen, which I offer in my office.
As a medical doctor who has spent over 30 years helping people get better, I have some additional, significantly effective tricks up my sleeve, but they necessitate a personal phone call. I will be happy to visit with you personally. Contact me via this email address, and I’ll send you some compelling information to help you: [email protected]
In the subject box or body of your email, let me know you want information. Make sure you include your name and email address, and if you’d like a personal phone call, include your phone number and best times to contact you.
Fibromyalgia can be improved, and in some cases patients can experience total relief. But it does take time, patience, and effort to identify the probable causes and treat each one.
To your dynamic health and energy!
Dr. Stan
