Guest guest Posted December 11, 2006 Report Share Posted December 11, 2006 Dear Member, To paraphrase a familiar advertising slogan: Is it real, or is it fibromyalgia? Turns out, it's real, AND it's fibromyalgia. ----------- A secret in the brain ----------- The typical symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) involve inflammation or pain in joints and muscles, often accompanied by fatigue. And because these symptoms are impossible to measure, FMS is often misdiagnosed as a form of arthritis, or the patient is told that the pain is "all in your head." In the e-Alert "Get Real" (3/2/05), I told you about rheumatologist Daniel Clauw, M.D., of the University of Michigan, who gave FMS patients what they'd been waiting for: confirmation that their condition is not imagined. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Dr. Clauw observed that the area of the brain that registers pain showed an increase of blood flow when FMS patients were given a low-pressure stimulus. The identical stimulus showed no change in the brains of control group subjects. Finally, here was visual evidence that FMS patients really do experience pain differently than people who don't have the disorder. ----------- Passed on down ----------- Dr. Clauw's breakthrough - significant as it was - is just one important step toward acceptance of FMS as a recognized medical condition that affects an estimated four percent of the population. The next important step is documented in the December 2006 issue of Current Pain and Headache Reports. And again, the effort is led by Dr. Clauw and his University of Michigan colleague, Richard E. Harris, Ph.D. In this newest round of research, Clauw and Harris reviewed recent studies that examined pain, brain activity, and genetics in FMS patients. Their review included several neurobiological studies that confirmed the presence of abnormalities within central brain structures in subjects with FMS. And the latest genetic research supports the theory that inherited gene mutations are the most probable cause of FMS brain abnormalities. (I can back that up with a personal observation: I know exactly two people with FMS - a mother and her daughter.) In a University of Michigan press release, Dr. Harris stated: "It is time for us to move past the rhetoric about whether these conditions are real, and take these patients seriously." ----------- Where to turn ----------- FMS treatment generally focuses on pain management measures that include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antidepressants. Less conventional treatments include aerobic exercise, massage therapy and dietary adjustments. But FMS patients have still more alternatives, which I've covered in several e-Alerts. "Get Real" (3/2/05) http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealerts/ea200503/ea20050302.html Some years ago, doctors noticed that pregnant women with FMS often experienced temporary relief from their symptoms. The reason: relaxin, a naturally occurring hormone that becomes active during pregnancy. In addition to information about an oral form of relaxin (called Vitalaxin), this e-Alert also examines details about a botanical formula, shown to relieve the degenerative effects of FMS and lupus. "Getting the Point" (9/8/05) http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealerts/ea200509/ea20050908.html Mayo Clinic researchers recruited 50 subjects with persistent FMS symptoms. Pain, fatigue, and anxiety were significantly relieved in subjects who received acupuncture. "Easy Green" (9/27/04) http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealerts/ea200409/ea20040927.html Chlorella (a freshwater algae that contains a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and amino acids) stimulates immune system function and has been shown to improve pain, sleep, and anxiety in FMS patients. E-Alert Week in Review (3/18/05) http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealerts/ea200503/ea20050318.html HSI members with FMS talk about natural therapies that have worked for them. If you know someone with fibromyalgia, please share this e-Alert with them and let them know that a team of researchers at the University of Michigan is working diligently on their behalf. "Get off your ass and take your government back." ~Rocky Ward Everyone is raving about the all-new Mail beta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Environmental Medicine by: Sherry A. Rogers, M.D. Northeast Center for Environmental Medicine Syracuse, New York • • • • • The Fibromyalgia Fiasco Out of the Garbage Can Well, there is a new " catch-all, " or " cop-out " of just plain garbage term in medicine. As you know these terms are merely an excuse for not looking for environmental triggers or biochemical defects as causes. So instead, symptoms are collected and given a mysterious new name or label and then drugs are prescribed to mask the symptoms. Chronic fatigue syndrome, PMS and many other disorders fit this description. They have no known cause, no known treatment, and no diagnostic tests to prove them. The new kid on the block is fibromyalgia. What it means is that we don't know why you ache and hurt all over, and we don't look for environmental triggers, and we don't look for biochemical defects. Therefore, it is diagnosed by a history of bizarre aches and pains that can move over the body or stay in certain places and no amount of medication seems to help them. Usually there are trigger points that are very sensitive and out of proportion to anything that has happened to the body, and these can be found by palpating in different areas. The treatment is usually a parade of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs from Motrin to Deldene to Anaprox, Tolectin, Nalfon, Aleve, Naprosyn, Relafen, Voltaren, you name it. These of course, don't do anything to help isolate the cause nor to get rid of the disease. They merely mask the pain and don't do a very good job at that. But the real irony of the whole situation and the reason that it is such a fiasco, is that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can also cause fibromyalgia. So the very drug that is used as the main-stay of treatment actually causes the disease to get worse. How do NSAIDs cause fibromyalgia and make it get worse once it has started? These drugs cause widening between cells in the intestinal or gut lining. This is called intestinal hyperpermeability or the leaky gut syndrome. These large spaces allow toxins, bacterial products, and foods that the body normally does not see, pass into the bloodstream. When it sees these new or foreign particles, it mounts an attack and starts making antibodies to them. Hence, food allergies, for example can surface. The problem is that when the body makes antibodies against bacterial and food products, these happen to have antigenic sites that are similar to many of the body's proteins. So when you eat a certain food, the antigens that are made against large particles of this food going across the leaky gut, then find similar-looking antigenic sites in the body, such as on muscles and bones, and they start attacking those areas, causing an inflammatory reaction and the resultant pain and body aches so classic of fibromyalgia. But since wheat, for example, never caused you to ache before and you've eaten it every day of your life, it is the last thing you are suspicious of. Furthermore, the bacterial toxins that leak through can damage the liver and reduce its ability to handle other chemicals in the environment. So now you have chemical sensitivities all of a sudden as well, like finding it difficult to concentrate around certain perfumes or stores. People vary tremendously in the causes of their fibromyalgia. If I look at the last 12 cases of " untreatable, " " incurable " fibromyalgia that became well, we find a common thread among all of them. Most of the people have hidden dust, mold, and pollen allergies and often they have headaches, sinusitis, asthma, or postnasal drip as a milder symptom for which they normally would not have consulted a physician. All of the people without fail, have had vitamin or mineral deficiencies when we test them. This makes sense because whenever you have a sick body with any type of symptom there has to be biochemical deficiencies that accompany this, otherwise, you would not have succumbed to symptoms. And they have hidden food and chemical sensitivities. Also, most of the people have leaky gut syndrome or intestinal hyperpermeability which can be proven with urine tests. Sometimes the cause of the leaky gut is overgrowth of a yeast called Candida albicans from years of sweets or antibiotics. Other times, it can be caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat other conditions, or prednisone, other medications, or undiagnosed food allergies can be the cause. The diagnostic test relies on determining the kinetics of how two dissimilar ingested sugars pass through the intestine. They are measured in the urine. The treatment varies with the individual's history, symptoms, and severity of disease. There are numerous ways to heel the gut, from very sophisticated medication down to many over-the-counter remedies. And even very humble beginnings like chewing food more thoroughly can be an effective measure. And more difficult cases need specific detoxification programs of enzymes, probiotics, enemas, and juicing. The important point is that we now have the tools with which to diagnose and treat the causes of fibromyalgia. For no longer do you have to be a diagnostic dilemma, forever living on drugs. It is no longer a mysterious Motrin deficiency. Fibromyalgia can come out of the garbage can and into the era of molecular and environmental medicine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 Anyone with FM should be trying to eliminate chemicals and toxins in their home, and bodies. Eat organic, use naturally based products, have air purifier. Chemical overload could be a serious factor in FM. I have a friend with FM who uses naturally based products and has seen a difference in the aches and pains of FM. If anyone wants some info on her please email me. Vanessa , " bluegreensolutions " <bluegreensolutions wrote: > > Environmental Medicine > by: Sherry A. Rogers, M.D. > Northeast Center for Environmental Medicine > Syracuse, New York > • • • • • > The Fibromyalgia Fiasco Out of the Garbage Can > > > Well, there is a new " catch-all, " or " cop-out " of just plain garbage > term in medicine. As you know these terms are merely an excuse for not > looking for environmental triggers or biochemical defects as causes. > So instead, symptoms are collected and given a mysterious new name or > label and then drugs are prescribed to mask the symptoms. Chronic > fatigue syndrome, PMS and many other disorders fit this description. > They have no known cause, no known treatment, and no diagnostic tests > to prove them. > > The new kid on the block is fibromyalgia. What it means is that we > don't know why you ache and hurt all over, and we don't look for > environmental triggers, and we don't look for biochemical defects. > Therefore, it is diagnosed by a history of bizarre aches and pains > that can move over the body or stay in certain places and no amount of > medication seems to help them. Usually there are trigger points that > are very sensitive and out of proportion to anything that has happened > to the body, and these can be found by palpating in different areas. > The treatment is usually a parade of non-steroidal anti- inflammatory > drugs from Motrin to Deldene to Anaprox, Tolectin, Nalfon, Aleve, > Naprosyn, Relafen, Voltaren, you name it. These of course, don't do > anything to help isolate the cause nor to get rid of the disease. They > merely mask the pain and don't do a very good job at that. But the > real irony of the whole situation and the reason that it is such a > fiasco, is that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can > also cause fibromyalgia. So the very drug that is used as the > main-stay of treatment actually causes the disease to get worse. > > How do NSAIDs cause fibromyalgia and make it get worse once it has > started? These drugs cause widening between cells in the intestinal or > gut lining. This is called intestinal hyperpermeability or the leaky > gut syndrome. These large spaces allow toxins, bacterial products, and > foods that the body normally does not see, pass into the bloodstream. > When it sees these new or foreign particles, it mounts an attack and > starts making antibodies to them. Hence, food allergies, for example > can surface. > > The problem is that when the body makes antibodies against bacterial > and food products, these happen to have antigenic sites that are > similar to many of the body's proteins. So when you eat a certain > food, the antigens that are made against large particles of this food > going across the leaky gut, then find similar-looking antigenic sites > in the body, such as on muscles and bones, and they start attacking > those areas, causing an inflammatory reaction and the resultant pain > and body aches so classic of fibromyalgia. But since wheat, for > example, never caused you to ache before and you've eaten it every day > of your life, it is the last thing you are suspicious of. > > Furthermore, the bacterial toxins that leak through can damage the > liver and reduce its ability to handle other chemicals in the > environment. So now you have chemical sensitivities all of a sudden as > well, like finding it difficult to concentrate around certain perfumes > or stores. > > People vary tremendously in the causes of their fibromyalgia. If I > look at the last 12 cases of " untreatable, " " incurable " fibromyalgia > that became well, we find a common thread among all of them. Most of > the people have hidden dust, mold, and pollen allergies and often they > have headaches, sinusitis, asthma, or postnasal drip as a milder > symptom for which they normally would not have consulted a physician. > All of the people without fail, have had vitamin or mineral > deficiencies when we test them. This makes sense because whenever you > have a sick body with any type of symptom there has to be biochemical > deficiencies that accompany this, otherwise, you would not have > succumbed to symptoms. And they have hidden food and chemical > sensitivities. > > Also, most of the people have leaky gut syndrome or intestinal > hyperpermeability which can be proven with urine tests. Sometimes the > cause of the leaky gut is overgrowth of a yeast called Candida > albicans from years of sweets or antibiotics. Other times, it can be > caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat other > conditions, or prednisone, other medications, or undiagnosed food > allergies can be the cause. > > The diagnostic test relies on determining the kinetics of how two > dissimilar ingested sugars pass through the intestine. They are > measured in the urine. The treatment varies with the individual's > history, symptoms, and severity of disease. There are numerous ways to > heel the gut, from very sophisticated medication down to many > over-the-counter remedies. And even very humble beginnings like > chewing food more thoroughly can be an effective measure. And more > difficult cases need specific detoxification programs of enzymes, > probiotics, enemas, and juicing. > > The important point is that we now have the tools with which to > diagnose and treat the causes of fibromyalgia. For no longer do you > have to be a diagnostic dilemma, forever living on drugs. It is no > longer a mysterious Motrin deficiency. Fibromyalgia can come out of > the garbage can and into the era of molecular and environmental medicine. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 --- casevc5_school <casevc5 wrote: > Anyone with FM should be trying to eliminate chemicals and toxins in > their home, and bodies. Eat organic, use naturally based products, > have air purifier. Chemical overload could be a serious factor in > FM. I have a friend with FM who uses naturally based products and > has seen a difference in the aches and pains of FM. If anyone wants > some info on her please email me. > Vanessa Please also investigate food allergies. Within a week of eliminating several foods a blood test at the naturopath's office showed, my morning aches and stiffness disappeared. Within a month, I was no longer retaining water, my skin had cleared up, my brain fog and fatigue were gone, and almost all of my " mysterious " aches and pains had vanished. Three months without my problem foods and my " mysterious " neuropathies are almost all gone. Note that before I eliminated my problem foods, other supplements (except l-glutamine) and therapies were of limited effect. For MY body, the food allergies were the primary problem. Once that was gone, then the supplements/etc were really able to kick in and help. Jent " The greater part of what my neighbors call good, I believe in my soul to be bad, and if I repent of anything, it is very likely to be my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well? " -Henry David Thoreau ______________________________\ ____ Music Unlimited Access over 1 million songs. http://music./unlimited Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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