Fibromyalgia sufferers know weakness, inflammation, fatigue, and muscle pain all too well. With no known cure and no systems to measure diagnosis, a Fibromyalgia diagnosis can feel like a dead end that no one knows how to get to the root of. However, there is always hope to improve symptoms of fibromyalgia.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic and widespread pain, trouble sleeping, fatigue, and cognitive disturbances. Studies also show that people who have fibromyalgia experience low pain tolerance. This chronic disease largely affects women, but it can happen to anyone. A National Health Interview Survey showed that almost 80% of fibromyalgia sufferers experience some level of pain almost every day which greatly affects their quality of life. At this time, there are no known tests or cures for fibromyalgia.
Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia
Typically, fibromyalgia was diagnosed by a physician or rheumatologist who would interview the patient about their health history, their symptoms, and the severity and duration of their pain. They would also identify and count pain or trigger points to reach a diagnosis. Today, some physicians have moved to a different method of diagnosis including the Widespread Pain Index and pain areas instead of trigger points.
To reach a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, the patient must have four out of five pain areas and score on the Widespread Pain Index which is thought to be more accurate than the trigger points.
Trigger Points for Fibromyalgia
- Lower neck
- Edge of upper breast
- Arm near the elbow
- Knee
- Base of the skull in the back of the head
- Hip bone
- Upper outer buttock
- Back of the neck
- Back of the shoulders
Today, to receive a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia you must have pain in at least 4 of the following areas:
- Middle region (back, chest, neck, abdomen)
- Upper left region (shoulder, arm, jaw)
- Lower left region (hips, legs, butt)
- Upper right region (shoulder, arm, jaw)
- Lower right region (hips, legs, butt)
What is the Root Cause of Fibromyalgia?
The cause of Fibromyalgia is still unclear, but researchers believe that there are a number of contributing factors. Although sleep disturbances are typically a symptom of fibromyalgia, it can also be a trigger of the condition, along with genetics, hormonal imbalances, injury, viral infection, and surgery. Fibromyalgia can also be triggered by stressful events such as a death, broken relationships, or trauma.
The causes of this condition will vary from person to person and unfortunately, in some cases, there is no obvious trigger.
Some other conditions that are associated with fibromyalgia and are possible risk factors are osteoarthritis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and TMD.
What are the Common Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
No matter the trigger of Fibromyalgia, the symptoms are typically the same and are experienced on a near-daily basis. Depending on the individual’s stress level and even changes in weather, their symptoms can be better or worse.
Exercise or level of physical activity also plays a factor in how severe the following symptoms are:
- Pain in the muscles or bones
- Tenderness
- Fatigue
- Trouble sleeping
- Somatic symptoms
- Depression and anxiety
- Eye problems such as dry eyes
- Bellyaches
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
How to Improve Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
Since there is no cure for Fibromyalgia, physicians will typically try to treat the symptoms with antidepressants, painkillers, and therapies. Fortunately, lifestyle changes, especially exercising and stress-relieving techniques (since most people with fibromyalgia also have mood disorders such as depression and anxiety) can help to relieve symptoms without harmful drugs.
The following lifestyle changes can make a difference in fibromyalgia symptoms and overall health!
1. Anti-Inflammatory Approach to Eating
The best way to improve your overall health is to get the inflammation under control with an anti-inflammatory approach to eating. With the challenge and advanced training in the Livingood Daily Lifestyle area, you can learn how to get your inflammation under control with the foods you eat.
2. Omegas + Turmeric
To deal with muscle and bone pain, people with fibromyalgia are prescribed painkillers or use over-the-counter painkillers such as NSAIDs. However, constant use of these medications can wreak havoc on your system, especially on your gut lining. A non-toxic way to reduce pain and inflammation is with omega-3s and turmeric.
They are two of the most powerful anti-inflammatory herbs available. Livingood Daily Omegas + Turmeric combines these two herbs into one powerful supplement!
3. Address Nerve Damage
Often with Fibromyalgia, nerve damage may be present. In some cases, the curvature in the neck may be completely gone. It’s important to seek proper corrective chiropractic analysis with X-rays and measurements to understand structurally where you are. Our muscles show what symptoms we have but our brain controls our muscles.
Our brain and muscles communicate through our spinal cord. Messages are sent through our spinal cord and fired out to the nerves. If there is structural damage present, it would essentially cause a roadblock preventing those messages from reaching the nerve which then communicates to the muscle. Corrective chiropractic care may be necessary.
4. General Exercise for Muscle Pain
Working your muscles may seem counterintuitive when it comes to dealing with muscle pain. But gentle exercises such as walking, biking, swimming, stretching, or rehabbing will help to encourage blood flow which may help with stiffness and pain. It may be painful at first but it will help not only your muscle pain but also your mental health.
5. Detoxification Benefits
Once you get into a rhythm with anti-inflammatory eating, gentle exercise, chiropractic care if necessary, and natural inflammation reducers, a gentle detox would be a good next step. Studies have shown a link between toxicity and fibromyalgia. Doing a gut reset to pull all of those toxins out of your system may do a lot of good for your Fibromyalgia symptoms and for your overall health.
Our Advanced Gut Reset Protocol will address your whole digestive system in a 21 to 60-day, 6-step program. Addressing and cleansing your digestive system in this 6-step process will also renew the function of your entire system, and your cells, reduce inflammation, remove toxins, and teach you what to eat and when to eat for better health.
Summary
Chronic pain and the symptoms that stem from it is a challenging conditions to tackle every day, but with lifestyle changes, there is hope for improving symptoms and there is hope for a better quality of life.
