Fibromyalgia Overview
The term fibromyalgia first appeared in 1976. Research shows that symptoms suspiciously similar to current descriptions have been with us for a long time. "Depression haunts my days. My weary nights are filled with pain as though something were relentlessly gnawing at my bones." (Book of Job). Florence Nightingale became ill while working on the front lines and never really recovered. She was virtually bedridden much of the rest of her life with pain and fatigue resembling fibromyalgia until her death in 1910.
Fibromyalgia Means Fibrous Tissue and Muscle Pain
The term fibromyalgia was coined to bring clarity to the wide range of symptoms but with a few common ones related to physical muscle pain and tenderness. Other names commonly used were hysterical paroxysm, muscular rheumatism and fibrositis. Fibromyalgia refers to fibrous tissue, my-for muscle and algia referring to pain.
In 1990 the American College of Rheumatology developed a diagnostic criterion for doing fibromyalgia research, and the term fibromyalgia gained wide usage.
Fibromyalgia Diagnosis is Clinical
Fibromyalgia syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion. This means there is no specific blood test or exam finding that confirms a fibromyalgia diagnosis. Doctors rule out other conditions like polymyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and others before doctors can give you a fibromyalgia diagnosis.
Pain is one characteristic of FMS or fibromyalgia syndrome. FMS is considered a syndrome because other signs and symptoms are frequently found together like severe fatigue, sleep problems, joint stiffness, difficulty swallowing, bowel and bladder problems, numbness and tingling, cognitive compromise and depression or anxiety.
FMS Affects 2-8% of U.S. Population
It is thought that the underlying mechanism involves neurochemical imbalances and activation of central nervous system inflammatory pathways. FMS is thought to affect somewhere between 2-8% of the U.S. adult population. The ratio of women to men affected is about 7:1.
Treatment Will Vary
Here at OVitaminPro.com we approach FMS as we do many other types of conditions, that is with as much testing as possible. There is no substitute for having a comprehensive blood profile and then begin addressing the issues that appear. We also like to see a detailed analysis of the T-cells as done by Spectra-Cell as this gives us an overview of micronutrients over the last 4-6 months.
If any anxiety or depression is part of the syndrome, a neurotransmitter test is called for.
We would also want to run some basic food sensitivity tests. At this time, we can help you with testing in Nevada and California. Give us a call if you would like to get testing but are in another State.
Basically, if we can support your body's overall health, you will be in a better position to resist the negative effects of fibromyalgia or any other disease process. Who knows, maybe your symptoms are the result of a simple deficiency. Of course you won't know that without testing.
Most conditions like fibromyalgia can be effectively managed with targeted nutritional measures. We would certainly want to pay attention to vitamin D levels and glutathione levels and other antioxidants (Spectra-Cell analysis).
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