I am weary of reading about studies on the cause of fibromyalgia pain. Theories about altered pain perception, disordered sleep and immune dysregulation, etc might be interesting to a medical scientist but they are not particularly helpful for a person suffering from fibromyalgia. What is needed is a list of strategies that are helpful for patients keeping in mind that each person is unique and what might help one person may not help another. There are no absolutes when it comes to health and this is particular true of complex conditions such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. My suggestions are based on my personal experience of living with fibromyalgia pain for twelve years and ultimately finding treatments that resulted in significant reversal of my symptoms, communicating with others from my blog “Fibro Friends” for the past seven years, and sharing information with other patients I met at a fibromyalgia clinic where I spent three months.
1. Rest & Pacing
Most fibromyalgia patients report improvement from symptoms from resting and not “over doing” it physically. This is easier said than done because the threshold of activities that one can “get away with” varies from day to day and set backs occur after the fact. Nonetheless learning to pace one’s activities and adhering to a schedule of activity interspersed with rest is a good strategy. I personally adhere to a strict bedtime and meal schedule and take a short nap every afternoon after lunch.
2. Avoid Drugs
Impaired detoxification is common in persons with fibromyalgia and avoidance of stimulants, depressants, pharmaceutical drugs and toxic chemicals can make a big difference in feeling better. This includes alcohol, caffeine, sugar, pain relievers and additives in processed food. Unfortunately many physicians prescribe drugs for pain, depression and sleep, which become less effective with time and in the long run make a patient worse. Particularly dangerous are the drugs Lyrica and Neurotin, which cause cognitive impairments and have severe withdrawal symptoms.
3. Treat Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
Many Persons with fibromyalgia have gastrointestinal issues or Irritable Bowel Syndrome caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. SIBO creates a condition of toxemia that overwhelms the liver’s detoxification capacity and leads to nutritional deficiencies and is a major cause of fibromyalgia pain. It is diagnosed with a breath test that measures hydrogen and methane gas and is treated with specific antibiotics, diet and prokenetic drugs to stimulate gut motility. For more information on this disorder go to: http://www.siboinfo.com and read my post http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/2014/07/small-intestine-bacterial-overgrowth-a-complication-of-chronic-fatigue-and-fibromyalgia-syndromes.html.
4. Serotonin Deficiency
Many people with fibromyalgia have low levels of serotonin. This can be diagnosed with a laboratory test that measures neurotransmitters (Pharmasan Labs). Low levels of serotonin impair gut motility, disturb sleep, affect mood and appetite, cause fatigue and affect cardiovascular function. Supplementation with 5HTP can increase serotonin levels. Recommended dosage is 100 mg. 3X/day for 5 weeks to see improvements.
5. Gentle Physical Therapies
Traditional deep tissue massage is often too strong for fibromyalgia patients but more gentle forms of physical therapy can be helpful. I recommend BowenWork and Feldenkrais training. Both therapies are very gentle and remarkably effective methods of relieving pain and improving physical function. Bowen Work stimulates healing through subtle moves that release tension in specific areas of the body and Feldenkrais addresses patterns of movement and posture that can cause pain. For more information and to locate a practitioner go to: usbr@bowtech.com and www.feldenkrais.com.
6. Hydrotherapy
Warm showers finishing or alternating with brief cold showers can take the edge of fibromyalgia muscle pain and help with circulation. When I was sick with fibro I took 4-5 showers a day and when I had a bad night I would get up in the middle of the night and take an additional shower. It was especially helpful for me take a shower before bedtime, a practice I still maintain. Whole body cryotherapy in a cryosauna is also very effective at relieving symptoms. Some people report benefits from taking warm baths and infrared saunas.
7. Temperature Regulation
Many people with FSM are sensitive to temperature extremes and vacillate between feeling too hot or cold. It can be helpful to wear layers of clothing to help regulate one's body temperature, to avoid temperature extremes and drafts. Wool is a particular good fabric for regulating body temperature. I sleep with a wool filled comforter and on a wool filled mattress pad, and sleep in wool long underwear made by Ibex, which is very soft.
8. Chiropractic Adjustments
Many fibromyalgia patients benefit from regular chiropractic adjustments that provide some relief from muscle and nerve pain.
9. Low Histamine Diet
Studies show that many people with fibromyalgia have problems with mast cell activation and are particularly sensitive to histamine. Avoiding foods with high levels of histamine can make a big difference and prevent fibro flares as well as migraine headaches. These foods include alcohol, black tea, fermented foods, cured and aged meats and cheeses, tomatoes, pineapples and citrus fruit. Some people have low levels of diamine oxidase or DAO, the enzyme that breaks down histamine in foods. Along with following a low histamine diet, taking a DAO supplement 15 minutes before each meal may also be helpful
10. Supplements
The supplement industry is rife with claims of various supplements for Fibromyalgia Syndrome. There are only three supplements that I know of that are truly beneficial for fibromaylgia patients. They are magnesium, which helps with constipation and tense muscles, malic acid found in apple cider vinegar, which can help reduce small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and ginger root, which helps digestion and is also a potent antihistamine that can help sleep.
11. Exercise
Exercise is a tricky and sometimes impossible activity for persons with fibromyalgia depending on the severity of the condition. Overdoing it can result in a flare-up of symptoms and compound pain and exhaustion so one needs to try to stay withing one's threshold of tolerance. Stretching is particularly bad for the adhersions that build up in the connective tissues in fibromyalgia however mild exercise and movement such as walking, Tai Chi or Qugong well within the limits of one's capacity for exertion can be beneficial. Wearing compresion garments while exercising may be helpful. I also highly recommend The Miracle Ball Method, a program of "unexercises" developed by Elaine Petrone to heal chronic pain. www.elainepetrone.com
12. Hormone Replacement
Fibromyalgia Syndrome occurs frequently in women who are perimenopausal or postmenopausal. Declining estrogen levels are associated with lower production of diamine oxidase, the enzyme that breaks down histamine in foods, and a decreased ability to utilize magnesium that is essential for muscle function and recovery. Some women with fibromyalgia experience improvement in their condition by taking the female hormone estrogen.
13. Oral Systemic Balance
Many persons with fibromyalgia have TMJ symptoms and breathing difficulties. Specially designed oral appliances fabricated and adjusted by dentists can improve breathing, restore balance to the nervous system, improve posture and relieve TMJ and body pain. The therapy is very expensive and time consuming however I believe that it addresses a key source of stress for those suffering from both Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Syndromes. For more information go to: http://www.oralsystembiology.com and read my post http://fibrofriends.typepad.com/fibro_friends/oral_systemic_balance/