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Fibromyalgia is a common but poorly understood disorder
characterized by chronic muscle pain, nonrestorative sleep, and
profound fatigue. Diagnosing fibromyalgia can be difficult unless
your physician is specifically looking for it. Blood tests and
X-rays do not detect it, and its symptoms can be very similar to
those of other disorders, particularly chronic fatigue syndrome,
rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and depression.
To distinguish fibromyalgia from other conditions, a doctor will
apply pressure to 18 specific body sites called tender points.
These points are mainly areas where fibrous tissues tie muscles
to bones. The points are located at the base of the skull and on
the neck, shoulders, ribs, upper chest (near the collarbone),
elbows, knees, lower back, and buttocks. Light pressure on a
tender point can cause a person with fibromyalgia to cry out or
flinch in pain.
Fibromyalgia affects women more often than men, especially
women between the ages of 20 and 50. Although fibromyalgia
sometimes appears to be triggered by physical trauma, such as
whiplash, longstanding chronic emotional stress seems to
predispose many people to developing this condition.
Goals of Naturopathic Treatment:
Naturopathically, the following would be addressed - toxin
accumulation, imbalanced brain chemistry/low serotonin, sleep
disturbances, infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or with the
fungus Candida Albicans, food allergies, emotional stress,
adrenal exhaustion, nutritional deficiencies, heavy metal
toxicities and hypoglycemia. All of these can cause or contribute
to fibromyalgia. They approach these problems from a root
cause perspective, rather than just easing symptoms.
characterized by chronic muscle pain, nonrestorative sleep, and
profound fatigue. Diagnosing fibromyalgia can be difficult unless
your physician is specifically looking for it. Blood tests and
X-rays do not detect it, and its symptoms can be very similar to
those of other disorders, particularly chronic fatigue syndrome,
rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and depression.
To distinguish fibromyalgia from other conditions, a doctor will
apply pressure to 18 specific body sites called tender points.
These points are mainly areas where fibrous tissues tie muscles
to bones. The points are located at the base of the skull and on
the neck, shoulders, ribs, upper chest (near the collarbone),
elbows, knees, lower back, and buttocks. Light pressure on a
tender point can cause a person with fibromyalgia to cry out or
flinch in pain.
Fibromyalgia affects women more often than men, especially
women between the ages of 20 and 50. Although fibromyalgia
sometimes appears to be triggered by physical trauma, such as
whiplash, longstanding chronic emotional stress seems to
predispose many people to developing this condition.
Goals of Naturopathic Treatment:
Naturopathically, the following would be addressed - toxin
accumulation, imbalanced brain chemistry/low serotonin, sleep
disturbances, infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or with the
fungus Candida Albicans, food allergies, emotional stress,
adrenal exhaustion, nutritional deficiencies, heavy metal
toxicities and hypoglycemia. All of these can cause or contribute
to fibromyalgia. They approach these problems from a root
cause perspective, rather than just easing symptoms.
© Marni Ross ND 2004-2012
Fibromyalgia
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