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Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are illnesses that often coexist and affect millions of Americans.
Post Gulf War Syndrome and Toxic Exposure have almost identical symptoms, affecting the same area of the brain. These syndromes affect the autonomic nervous system and consist of a number of symptoms. Symptoms may include severe fatigue; sleep disturbances, cognitive problems, commonly called brain fog, muscle pain, intestinal problems and multiple infections.
Greater than 4 million people, in this country, currently have a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia.
It does not discriminate; children, those in the prime of their lives, elderly, men, and women have been diagnosed with this condition.
Fibromyalgia is a condition that produces chronic pain of the soft tissues that may include the muscles, ligaments and tendons.
It also may produce a number of other symptoms including temperature sensitivities; numbness and tingling that may travel throughout the body, fatigue, insomnia, concentration problems, gastric upset, headaches, joint discomfort and depression.
Diagnosis is difficult.
Currently there is not a commonly used medical test that will clearly diagnosis the condition. Fibromyalgia does not provide a clear physical, visual trait that can easily be recognized by a physician. Many patients suffer with symptoms for years before receiving a definitive diagnosis. Currently, diagnosis is based on patient history and tender point sensitivity. 18 sites on the body have been classified as "Tender Points". Extreme sensitivity upon palpation of at least 11 of these 18 points as well as a history of widespread, chronic body pain for at least 3 months provides the most definitive diagnosis at this time. A 24-hour Holter monitor will indicate a suppressed autonomic nervous system, which is present with fibromyalgia patients.
The underlying cause of Fibromyalgia is unknown.
Research is ongoing to understand the exact cause and new management options. To date, researchers agree that Fibromyalgia patients have an enhanced pain sensitivity and response originating from the central nervous system. Traumatic illness or injury may trigger the condition. In addition, research is continuing to determine if other factors may lead to the development of Fibromyalgia including: genetics, environmental factors, autoimmune dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies and connective tissue disease.
Frequency, degree and location of pain vary from day to day for Fibromyalgia patients.
It is important to understand that on any given day a Fibromyalgia patient's level of discomfort may range from mild muscle stiffness to extreme, radiating pain so severe they feel completely debilitated and unable to carry out simple daily activities.
Treatment is focused on managing the symptoms.
Conventional treatment focuses on managing the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. Pain management is most always part of treatment for this group of patients. Although there is no simple answer and management of this condition, Medical Foods are now available to help manage these disease states. The Medical Food products that have been most helpful and effective are; Theramine (for pain), Sentra PM (for sleep disturbances), and Sentra AM (for cognitive dysfunctions). Medical Foods replenish the body with the proper nutrients that are lacking in this patient population. There as been an 80% response rate in patients using Medical Foods to manage their fibromyalgia; compared to a 2 – 3 % response rate to conventional treatments.
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