Archive for Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia: Dietary Guide
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition affecting multiple body systems is not limited to any one aspect of health. Because of this, there is no ONE diet that works the same for all FM patients. Since most dietary guidelines that address FM are based on general healthy eating principles utilized for many conditions such as hypoglycemia, diabetes, food allergies, headaches, digestive disorders, and fatigue, let’s review some of the most popular and successful dietary approaches that have been reported regarding FM.
Basic Guidelines:
- Carbohydrates: AVOID all refined carbs (white flour products). Eat whole grain bread, oatmeal, granola, nuts. Avoid artificial sweeteners and limit sugar intake to a max. of 40g/2000 calories. Eat roughly 14 grams / 1000 calories consumed of soluble dietary fiber such as apples, oats, and legumes vs. insoluble fiber such as bran. Your total carb intake from all sources should be between 30-55% of your total calories.
- Fats: AVOID saturated fats (these clog up circulation, lead to inflammation and pain). That means <10% of total calories consumed, so limit or eliminate foods such as cheese, beef, milk, oils, ice cream, cakes, cookies, mayonnaise, margarine, chips and chicken skin. Eat mono- and poly-unsaturated fats and include regular amounts of omega 3-fats. Eat < 300mg/day of cholesterol; Try to avoid ALL trans fats such as cakes, cookies, crackers, pies, bread, margarine, fried potatoes, chips, shortening. Take omega 3 fatty acids like alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) as these help make other omega 3 fats like EPA and DHA, and are very helpful for the brain. ALA is found in flaxseed, linseed oil, or cod liver oil. Limit total fat intake to 20-35% of calories consumed.
- Protein: Go easy on red meat as they are high in saturated fat. Instead, eat more fish and vegetable protein (legumes and soybeans are great). When eating meat or poultry, remove all visible fat and skin before eating. Maintain protein at 20-40% of total caloric intake. AVOID: processed meats, especially salt-cured, smoked or nitrate-cured.
- Fruits & Vegetables: Whole fruits are superior to juices. Include blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, kiwis, peaches, mango, cantaloupe melon and apples. Some FM sufferers cannot tolerate citrus fruits but if you can, fruits like oranges and grapefruits are great. Vegetables are crucial. Good choices include carrots, squash, sweet potato, spinach, kale, collard greens, broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts. These foods reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases (diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancers).
- Dairy Products: Choose organic varieties of milk. This also applies to yogurt and cheese.
- Healthy drinks: Drink 8 glasses of water a day or diluted fruit juices, or herbal teas. Drinking water helps flush out toxins. Avoid coffee, tea, and alcohol as these increase fatigue, increase muscle pain and interfere with normal sleeping patterns. Limit or eliminate alcohol.
- Healthy Snacks: Chopped vegetables, unsalted nuts and/or seeds; AVOID ALL commercial snack foods (except salt-free air-popped popcorn) as these are high in trans fats & salt. Avoid chocolate and candy.
- Junk Food: Regular consumption of this is BAD for FM patients due to the high levels of fat, sodium, calories and general lack of nutrition.
- Artificial Sweeteners: AVOID them! Examples: aspartame, NutraSweet, & saccharine.
- MSG: (monosodium glutamate (MSG) and Sodium (Salt) can aggravate FM!
- QUANTITY: Eat smaller light meals, especially in the evenings.
We recognize the importance of including chiropractic in your treatment planning and realize you have a choice of providers. If you, a friend or family member requires care for FM, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.
YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR FIBROMYALGIA! FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW WE TREAT FIBROMYALGIA LOG ON TO : WWW.STOPYOURFIBRONOW.COM
Treatment Alternatives for Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a condition that usually affects different organ systems in the body, causing a number of symptoms. Some of these include:
1) The muscles (the musculoskeletal system): tender, achy, stiff, tight muscles, trigger or tender points all over the body;
2) The nerves (the nervous system): headaches, light headedness, sleep disruption, depression, anxiety, numbness/tingling (overlaps with the cardiovascular system);
3) The stomach and intestines (the gastrointestinal system): diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel, leaky gut, heart burn, lack of appetite, abdominal cramping;
4) Breathing (the respiratory system): hyperventilation, rapid / shallow breathing patterns;
5) The heart (the cardiovascular system): racing heart rate – palpitations, feeling cold all the time, numbness/tingling (overlaps with the nervous system);
Because of the multiple systems involved, there are many challenges to managing Fibromyalgia. Studies suggest a balance between several approaches works best. Some of these approaches include biomedical treatments, organ-specific treatments, and cognitive interpersonal treatments. Within these categories, the following can be broken down further:
1) General – those treatments directed at the whole body such as anti-inflammatory measures. These include (but are not limited to) medications (corticosteroids, NSAID’s – such as Advil, Aleve) and nutrients (ginger, turmeric, boswellia, Vitamin D, and others). Other anti-inflammatory measures include diet, such as the Paleo Diet or “caveman diet.” This diet eliminates grains or flour-based products from the diet. That means no more breads, pastas, crackers, cookies – anything made with flour. This approach emphasizes consuming fruits, vegetables, grass-fed lean meats and fish. The main ingredients in grains that are of concern in the Paleo Diet are gluten and lectins
2) Central – those treatments directed at the chemical factors in the brain that control mood, depression, anxiety and so on. These include (but are not limited to) medications (tricyclic antidepressants, muscle relaxers like Cyclobenzaprine, SSRI, SNRI and Trmadol) and certain nutrients (neurotransmitter support such as 5-HTP – tryptophan, DHEA and others).
3) Psychotherapy and active behavioral therapy – treatments that are supportive of nervous system such as cognitive behavior therapy, aerobic exercise, patient education, multidisciplinary therapy, hypnotherapy, biofeedback, and strength training.
4) Passive physical intervention – chiropractic therapy, massage therapy and other forms of manual therapy, and acupuncture.
The goal of this article is to look at fibromyalgia from a holistic perspective so that those struggling with FM and similar conditions can better appreciate the concept of multidisciplinary treatment, of which chiropractic care plays a significant role. Coordination of care and finding the “right” health care providers cannot be over-emphasized.
We recognize the importance of including chiropractic in your treatment planning and realize you have a choice of providers. Chiropractic care can be a life changer for fibromyalgia sufferers, choosing one with experience treating FM is very important. If you, a friend or family member requires care for FM, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.
YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR FIBROMYALGIA! Log on to www.stopyourfibronow.com
Can Car Accidents Cause Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is one of those diagnoses that is pretty loose. The name itself doesn’t mean much. Fibromyalgia translated into English means muscle pain. So if you have aches and pains all over, your doctor may tell you, “you have fibromyalgia.”
There is a diagnostic criteria that has been developed that says if you have 11 of 18 common tender points, you have fibromyalgia. The problem is, you can have 11 of those points become tender for a variety of different reasons. So fibromyalgia may not be the most accurate diagnosis.
This brings me to my point about car accidents and fibromyalgia. Neck injuries sustained during car accidents can cause pain in the muscles all through the body. It effects mainly the neck, but you can get pain in the back, arms, head and legs. The pain can travel from day to day and it can vary in intensity. If the injuries from the car wreck are not treated properly, they can lead to a lifetime of pain.(1)
Typically these neck injuries are called whiplash. But that diagnosis is only made during the first few months after the injury. This is because many doctors have been trained to think that whiplash will heal itself within a few months after the injury. This idea is totally false according to the vast majority of scientific medical evidence.
So, you may show up at a doctors office years after your injury, telling him/her that you have pain that started after the crash. Over the years it may have gotten progressively worse. The doctor will diagnose you as having fibromyalgia, because there is no diagnosis code for chronic whiplash. Even if there was, he/she wouldn’t look at it that way, because of their training.
In my experience, in successfully treating fibromyalgia, a minimum of 2 out of 3 cases have been whiplashed. It could be from a car wreck, a fall or even a sports injury.
To find out more about how I treat fibromyalgia log on to: www.stopyourfibronow.com
For more information regarding car accident injury treatment, go to: www.thechiropracticimpactreport.com.
(1) “The Fluctuation in Recovery Following Whiplash Injury”, Injury, Volume 36, Issue 6, June 2005, pages 758-761
Ice or Heat for Fibromyalgia Pain?
Fibromyalgia patients often ask me if they should use ice or heat on their painful areas. When I tell them not to use a heating pad, sometimes their faces will turn white. The person will then tell me that they have been using a heating pad all the time because it “feels good.”
Using heat on sore muscles tends to feel pretty good, especially in cold weather areas like Wisconsin. However, heat makes tissues swell. The swelling can cause damaged tissues to take twice as long to heal.
People suffering from fibromyalgia tend to have inflammatory issues already. The inflammation comes from a variety of reasons too lengthy to go into in this blog. But, heat will make the inflammation worse.
Generalized heating of the body that comes from a hot bath or shower does not seem to be harmful. Its the heating pads that seem to cause the most trouble. The localized heat causes blood vessels to open up and increase circulation. The increased circulation to an already swollen area, causes more swelling.
If you are experiencing symptoms where your skin is very sensitive to the touch, discontinue the use of a heating pad immediately. This is a sign that you have too much swelling and you are getting over sensitive.
I normally suggest ice in order to bring swelling down. However, I know from experience that many fibromyalgia patients cannot tolerate ice. The cold makes them feel too achy. But ice is the best thing to do, if you can handle it.
If you like the heat because it gives you temporary relief of pain, then take a shower or bath. Limit the time to 20 minutes. This will keep you from overheating. If you take a warm bath, you may try using Epsom salts. The magnesium in the Epsom salts has been found to be beneficial for fibromyalgia sufferers.
To find out more about how I treat fibromyalgia, log on to www.stopyourfibronow.com
How Do You Know If You Have Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition where there is widespread / whole body pain that is often difficult to diagnose. Some patients may spend years of going to different doctors, undergoing many tests (of which most, if not all, are “negative”), and they may be diagnosed with different conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, or mononucleosis before a diagnosis of FM is finally given. Needless to say, this process can be very frustrating!
The reason for this dilemma is that there is no single diagnostic test (blood test, x-ray/image finding, etc.) that verifies the diagnosis of FM, leaving doctors in a position to “rule out” all other possible “diagnose-able” conditions first, before considering FM as “the” diagnosis. Another challenge is the fact that FM symptoms vary widely from one person to the next and even vary within the same person at different times of the year. There are a few “guidelines” doctors can use to help secure the diagnosis of FM.
One such guideline is from The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) which requires that “widespread” pain be present throughout the body for at least 3 months (“widespread” is defined as pain on both sides of the body, above and below the waist). The ACR also has identified 18 points on the body of which at least 11 of the 18 “tender points” must be present to secure the diagnosis of FM. There is debate as to the accuracy of this rather stringent criteria as FM symptoms can come and go and vary, making the 11 of 18 tender point findings sometimes change between visits. Hence, widespread pain above/below the waist on both left/right sides of the body for at 3 months has become a more accepted indicator for diagnosing FM.
Yet another challenge in pinning down the diagnosis is that the FM sufferer may experience signs and symptoms seemingly unrelated to FM, such as stomach ache/digestive problems or headaches. This can lead the doctor down other paths before considering FM as a diagnosis.
Fibromyalgia can be primary (no other condition caused it) or secondary (other condition(s) lead to the development of FM). Hence, the diagnosis process focuses on identifying conditions which can be identified through standard diagnostic tests, often overshadowing the diagnosis of FM. Testing for conditions such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, sleep apnea, diabetes, Crohn’s Disease, and/or others, often makes sense to both you and your doctor, but adds to the delay in diagnosing FM. Here are some suggestions to help your doctor through this diagnostic maze:
- Ask questions: Ask about what each test is for and what the next plan is if the tests are negative. By increasing your understanding, this will reduce your frustration in this process.
- Keep records: Obtain a copy of EVERY test you have and share the information with any new doctor or specialist. This can save time and money!
- Find the “right” doctor: Find a doctor you can trust and “talk to.” Not all doctors “believe” FM exists and some are close minded to considering it. Try to locate a doctor with a lot of experience with FM cases and is willing to “…work with you.”
- Build a good relationship: Be open, honest and avoid anger, skepticism and don’t be confrontational. Be upfront about what is frustrating you about your symptoms.
- Take care of yourself: Ultimately, “success” of treating FM demands a “team” effort between you and your doctor. Managing stress (eg., deep breathing exercises), obtain care that works (eg., chiropractic, massage), eat a healthy diet (eg., gluten-free), exercise regularly but don’t overdo it, and get plenty of sleep and rest.
We recognize the importance of including chiropractic in your treatment planning and realize you have a choice of providers. If you, a friend or family member requires care for FM, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.
For more information on how we treat fibromyalgia, log on to: www.stopyourfibronow.com
Why We Hurt?
A book I highly recommend to anyone who deals with chronic pain is called Why We Hurt by Dr. Greg Fors.
He wrote the book after his daughter was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. He is a doctor of chiropractic and he was broken hearted watching his daughter crawl up the stairs to bed because she couldn’t walk. He thought “how could this be ? She has eaten nothing but organic food her whole life and she has been receiving good chiropractic care. Why would she have this problem.”
So, he did a lot of studying. He learned from some of the best experts in the country. He was able to find out what was wrong with his daughter and cure it.
What was the problem ? She had a claustidium infection in her small intestine that was spilling toxins into her system. The toxins caused her to hurt all over like she had the flu. Once the infection was treated properly, the pain went away.
The book is a great read. The information in it is fantastic for both patients and doctors. Though it is written for patients. It outlines many different testing procedures that are helpful in finding out what is wrong and how to fix it.
Due to an arrangement I have with Labcorp Labs and Genova Diagnostics, I am able to order and analyze all the blood, urine and stool tests outlined in the book. Because I have taken seminars with Dr. Fors, I have access to him if I have any questions, which is a huge help. He’s a great guy.
If you are suffering from chronic pain, fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue, then this book would be a great thing for you to have. You can get it at Amazon.com.
To find out more about how I treat chronic pain, log on to www.stopyourfibronow.com or go to my web-site www.painfree-greatposture.com.
Why Fibromyalgia Can Kill You!
I have been treating fibromyalgia for about 8 years now and it has been an adventure to say the least. Unfortunately, many medical doctors don’t even think it exists. The average fibromyalgia patient that comes to see me has seen four other doctors. When I started eight years ago it was six.
The story is always the same. Pills, pills, pills. No results. Live with it.
When treating a fibromyalgia patient I’ve always tried to focus on what might be causing the widespread pain. I’ve found that about 80% of fibromyalgia patients have a particular type of misalignment in the spine that can be corrected. When the misalignment is corrected, most of the pain goes away.
I say most, but not all, because I have found that for about half the fibromyalgia patients, spinal adjusting is not enough. They need help with other problems as well. These problems can lead to other more serious diseases like Alzheimer’s, heart disease and cancer.
The problems have to do with inflammation (swelling) that comes from oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a term used to describe what happens when the body is overwhelmed by toxic foods and drugs. As the body tries to process these toxins, it gets swollen and damaged. The swelling is systemic, meaning that it happens all over. It affects the heart, brain, liver, kidneys and digestive tract just as much as the muscles and joints.
The all over pain of fibromyalgia is really a warning signal that more serious problems are going on.
The good news is that it is treatable. If the body is given the nutrients it needs, it will repair itself. The pain will go away and many other illnesses can be prevented.
How do you find out if you are one of the fibromyalgia patients that needs nutritional therapy ? You need to get your blood checked for signs of inflammation. These are the same tests your MD would use to look for cardiac inflammatory problems. Tests like CRP, homocysteine and fibrinogen.
In an MD’s office, they would treat the inflammation with drugs. In my office, I order the blood tests and then I treat the problems with nutrition. The side effects are non-existent, it works better and the body gets what it really needs.
To find out more about how I treat fibromyalgia, log on to www.stopyourfibronow.com
Reference: “Why myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) may kill you !: disorders in the inflammatory and oxidative and nitrosative stress pathways may explain cardiovascular disorders in ME/CFS” Maes M, Twisk FN. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2009;30(6):677-93.
Fibromyalgia – Does This Sounds Familiar?
“I am exhausted and hurt all over. I can’t get to sleep at night and when I do, I wake up at the drop of a dime. I went to my doctor and they ran some blood tests and took some x-rays and said that nothing was wrong. I just don’t know what is wrong or what to do about it.”
This is a classic history obtained from a patient suffering from fibromyalgia or FM. Because the onset of fibromyalgia is slow and gradual, it is common for patients to postpone visiting their health care provider until the symptoms are quite significant. The diagnosis may also be delayed as many healthcare providers do not feel fibromyalgia is a legitimate medical condition and minimize the symptoms frequently categorizing them as “depressed,” which postpones an appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
The classic definition as defined by the American College of Rheumatology includes at least a three-month duration of symptoms with the presence of 11 out of 18 potential tender points although diffuse, widespread pain not necessarily restricted to these exact locations may also represent an appropriate diagnostic finding in fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is more common in females and affects approximately 2% of the population in the United States. The risk of developing fibromyalgia increases with age, usually developing during early and middle adulthood but can also develop in children and older adults. Other risk factors include a positive family history where one may be more likely to develop FM if a relative suffers with the same condition.
A major risk factor of developing fibromyalgia includes is disturbed sleep pattern and this remains controversial as to whether sleeping disorders are a direct cause or simply the result of fibromyalgia. However, in either case, people with FM cannot obtain deep “restorative” sleep and feel fatigued and tired upon waking in the morning. Sleep disorders including sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome are often present in patients with fibromyalgia.
Certain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, hypothyroid, and other endocrine/hormonal conditions may preceded the onset of fibromyalgia in which case the condition is considered “secondary fibromyalgia.” Hence, a diagnostic evaluation usually includes a blood test for hypothyroid, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, and a complete blood count to rule out infections and/or anemia. In most cases, these tests prove negative and the diagnosis is made by excluding other possible primary conditions.
Other causes can include physical and/or emotional trauma where a high-level of stress can trigger this condition. Although experts still debate why patients with fibromyalgia hurt so intensely, the current explanation centers around a theory called central sensitization. This is essentially a lower pain threshold where patients with FM feel pain much sooner than those without it because of increased sensitivity in the brain and/or spinal cord to incoming pain signals.
Treatment of FM relies on a multidiscipline, multifactorial approach including stress reduction, obtaining enough sleep, exercising regularly, pacing yourself, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise. Other highly effective treatments, according to the Mayo Clinic website, include chiropractic treatment, massage therapy, and/or acupuncture. The concepts of chiropractic treatment includes restoring movement in restricted spinal joints resulting in improved nerve function and subsequently, improved overall function and reduced pain. Chiropractic care also includes cold laser, nutritional counseling and patient education. We recognize the importance of including chiropractic in your treatment of FM and realize you have a choice of providers. We would be honored to be part of your management team.
YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR FIBROMYALGIA! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 262-251-8306
Blood Tests for Fibromyalgia
While there are no blood tests that definitively tell you whather you have fibromyalgia, there are tests that tell you some critical information if you want to get better.
A large percentage of fibromyalgia patients have problems related to chronic inflammation. The inflammation is caused mainly from poor nutritional practices and intake of toxic drugs. This leads to pain in the muscles and joints, and can also lead to depression and skin sensitivity.
Two tests that you should seriously consider having run, if you have fibromyalgia are a Homocysteine test and a C-reactive protein test (CRP).
Homocysteine is a toxic amino acid that can damage the linings of your arteries and increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. It is also present in people who suffer from chronic pain and can be a primary cause of inflammation.
What causes Homocysteine to be high ? A detoxification process called methylation isn’t working properly. It isn’t working properly mainly because of nutrient deficiencies in the diet.
CRP is a special protein that is formed when there is inflammation in the body. High levels are seen when you have a cold or flu or even if you have arthritis. It may be responsible for some of the all over achy feelings some fibromyalgia patients feel.
These problems can be fixed and they can be a real key to getting out of your chronic pain. Medical doctors try to treat them with drugs, but this approach has two big problems. First, the drugs have all kinds of side effects, including stomach bleeding, liver disease, strokes, heart attacks and kidney disease. Second, the drugs don’t fix the nutrient deficiency and can actually cause your body to burn up more nutrients to detoxify the drugs.
The best way to work on this is to use vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants that work on getting these inflammatory toxins out of the body. And, working with a doctor who is familiar with fibromyalgia and can prescribe doses that will actually work for you based on blood testing.
For more information about how I treat fibromyalgia, go to www.stopyourfibronow.com. You will learn about some of the methods that have helped my patients get out of pain fast.
Fibromyalgia – Important “Fibro Facts”
So you think you may suffer from Fibromyalgia (FM) and you’re trying to find out more information about FM…..but where do you start? Certainly you can “Google” the word “fibromyalgia” and spend the rest of the day, week, or maybe month reading about the symptoms, clinical signs, the many treatment options and the different types of doctors who treat FM patients. You will certainly learn a lot! But you will still most likely remain confused as to what to do about it.
First, what is fibromyalgia? It is a chronic (long standing) painful condition resulting in widespread pain throughout the body and it’s usually difficult to isolate a cause or reason for such significantly disabling symptoms. It is very common, affecting 3-6% of the general population (global) and 6-12 million Americans (2-4% of the US population). Woman are affected more than men (75-90% are women), and it is typically diagnosed between 20-50 years of age. It affects people physically, emotionally, and socially. The symptoms can fluctuate but it never completely disappears. The cause, though still debated, points to the central nervous system in which a “minor” pain signal reaching the brain is somehow magnified and perceived as more intense (this is called “central sensitization”). This makes the FM patient hypersensitive to normal stimulations like a hug or a when hitting a bump in the road with the car.
How is it diagnosed? Prior to 1987, it was not recognized by the AMA as an illness or cause of disability. In 1990, The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) reported the initial criteria for diagnosing FM. There are no blood tests, x-rays, biopsies, EEG’s, EMG’s or other tests for FM. Hence, a thorough history (frequently revealing fatigue, sleep problems, mental fog, depression, headache, and bowel problems) and examination ruling out other disorders is appropriate. Diagnosis includes a history of widespread, chronic pain and the presence of multiple tender points (at least 11 of 18) located all over the body.
What is the treatment? Pain management has been the focus and this can include medication, ice/heat, exercise, lifestyle adjustments, counseling when anxiety/depression are issues, dietary strategies, sleep management, but perhaps most important is education – about FM and how to “live with it.” That is, learning how to “control it” since no one has found the “cure.” Exercise in short durations of time by walking or swimming (not too strenuous). Expect post-exercise soreness so don’t overdo it initially, or you’ll be “convinced” you shouldn’t be exercising. Diet – avoid glutens/grains and emphasize fruits, vegetables, lean meats (grass fed chicken, beef, and fish), and consider nutritional support from a multiple vitamin, calcium/magnesium, fish oil (omega 3 fatty acids), Vit D3, and Co-Q10. Find a good “team” of doctors – chiropractic, family doc, and rheumatologist who YOU are comfortable with and who will work together for you. Don’t expect miracles – it may lead to disappointment.
We recognize the importance of including chiropractic in the team to help those suffering with FM. If you, a friend or family member require care for fibromyalgia, we would be honored to offer our services.
YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR FIBROMYALGIA!
For more information log on to www.stopyourfibronow.com