Fibromyalgia and the Collagen Connection

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Good Morning!

 

Fibromyalgia and the Collagen Connection

 

Suffering from pain day in and day out, all over the body plus

fatigue, anxiety and depression are problems that are encountered.

 

There is no firm physical evidence of disease that can be detected by

blood tests or X rays. It's estimated that 3 million to 6 million

Americans are living with this musculoskeletal disorder two thirds

of them women, most of them white and most between 20 and 50 years

old when first affected.

 

I have noticed that fibromyalgia has become a general area into which

all kinds of symptoms are attached, without much understanding of

them. Doctors diagnose fibromyalgia by testing 18 " tender points, "

starting between the shoulders. If your friend has the condition,

they probably are tender all over the body, but these areas, all

where muscles attach to ligaments or bones, tend to have pain with

just the pressure of a thumb.

 

Overall, the body may feel sore, stiff, burning or achy. Fibromyalgia

is something you can learn to manage. The best recommendation is a

steady program of moderate aerobic exercise, at least 30 minutes a

day.

 

This may seem overwhelming at first, because the pain can increase

over the first few weeks they try this and they may need to cut back

and build up endurance more slowly. This is one instance where they

really should " work through the pain. " Eventually, it will lessen.

 

Activities like jogging or basketball aren't a good idea. But

swimming, walking, using a treadmill or riding a bicycle are better

because they are less pounding on the joints and framework.

 

Aspirin will help the pain, but be careful not to develop dependence

on painkillers.

 

Ginger is a good alternative to aspirin. Try this: Steep one

teaspoon of the grated Ginger root in eight ounces of boiling water

for 10 minutes. Strain and add honey if you like.You also can try

taking one to two grams of powdered ginger a day (in capsules, with

food).

 

Avoid resorting to sedatives, especially in the benzodiazapene class,

which include valium, halcion and atarax. They produce a dependency

and interupt the very type of sleep that we need most.

 

You MUST change the belief system about this dis-ease. Also

changing the perception of pain using mind-body methods. Since stress

seems to be a major factor in this disease, relaxation techniques

such as meditation, yoga, progressive relaxation and breathing

exercises are critical.

 

An important element of Pain management states that you can reduce

pain by changing the way you think about life.

 

By learning to recognize negative ways of thinking and converting

them to a more positive perspective.

 

Acupuncture is tremendous for pain management of fibromyalgia, as

well. I encourage patients to see someone who practices TCM

(Traditional

), which combines both acupuncture and herbs. Often

with the

added use of herbal formulas there is a more sustained response.

Another

technique which may prolong a beneficial response is the use of

magnets or

stimulating beads taped over some of the acupuncture points.

 

Nutrition and diet should be utilized to reduce inflammation.

 

*Exclude polyunsaturated vegetable oils and sources of trans-fatty

acids such as margarine and hydrogenated oils from your diet.

 

*Add gamma-linolenic acid (GLA, from black currant oil or evening

primrose oil, 500 milligrams twice a day) and omega-3 fatty acids

from sardines (two to three servings a week)

 

*Add Flax seeds, one to two tablespoons a day, sprinkled over food.

 

I am unaware of any research documenting the efficacy of Calorad or

any other

hydrolyzed collagen product in the treatment of fibromyalgia.

 

There is some research suggesting that there is a disorder of collagen

metabolism in fibromyalgia patients. (See research below). Perhaps

this is why

Calorad appears to be helpful in some fibromyalgia patients. You may

want to try

the product for two to three months. If you haven't noticed a

dramatic change in

that time frame it's probably not worth continuing to spend the money

for this

product. Also you might check at the local health food store to see

if they have

a comparable product that is less costly.

 

If you haven't already read Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum's book, " Fatigued to

Fantastic "

I would encourage you to do so. There is a lot of useful information

in this

book for people affected by fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

 

RESEARCH

 

Abstract: Collagen and muscle pathology in fibromyalgia patients

 

Rheumatology (Oxford). 2003 Jul 16 [Epub ahead of print]. Gronemann

ST,

Ribel-Madsen S, Bartels EM, Danneskiold-Samsoe B, Bliddal H. The

Parker

Institute, Department of Rheumatology, Frederiksberg Hospital, H:S

University

Hospital.

 

OBJECTIVE: To measure collagen concentration and search for muscle

pathology in

muscle non-tender-point areas from fibromyalgia (FM) patients.

 

RESULTS: The FM patients had lower hydroxyproline and lower total

concentration

of the major amino acids of collagen than the controls. No significant

difference was seen in the concentration of the major amino acids of

myosin or

of total protein. Electron microscopy showed no significant

differences between

FM patients and controls although atrophied muscle fibrils occurred

in FM

patients only, but frequencies were not significantly different.

 

CONCLUSION: Fibromyalgia patients had a significantly lower amount of

intramuscular collagen. This may lower the threshold for muscle micro-

injury and

thereby result in non-specific signs of muscle pathology.

 

 

Consider these websites for research information:

 

http://www.peacefulmind.com/ailments_frame.htm

 

http://www.fibromyalgiasupport.com/library/articlelist.cfm

 

 

I want to stress again, that what may not work for someone else, may

just work

for you! The healing process is as individualized as we are.

Experimentation

with different modalities or combinations there of, can be the key to

unlock the

healing mechanism inside.

 

Stay the course!

 

I hope this helps.

 

Andrew Pacholyk LMT, MT-BC, CA

Peacefulmind.com

Alternative medicine and therapies

for healing mind, body & spirit!