fibro patients can fight back

[Guest guest]

Fibromyalgia sufferers can fight back

TARA PATRIQUIN

FIBROMYALGIA SYNDROME (FMS) causes chronic pain in muscles, ligaments and

tendons. But what causes FMS is another story. It is a mysterious syndrome,

affecting four-times more women than men, with no apparent physical cause.

Some of the more obvious factors that are considered likely to be causes

include injuries, accidents, surgeries, other illness or infections that

compromise the immune system, and stress.

While there are no specific diagnostic tests to label this disease with 100

per cent certainty, it can affect nearly every part of the body. So when

testing for it, doctors will check 18 tender points. The majority of these

points cluster around the upper body including the neck, shoulders, chest,

elbows and mid back. The lower body gets attention around the hips, thighs

and buttocks.

Some associated symptoms with fibromyalgia include irritable bowel and/or

bladder, strange sensations of the skin, headaches, insomnia, TMJ,

dizziness, sleep disorders, chronic fatigue, digestive upset and

malabsorption, anxiety or memory impairment.

To further complicate things, the correlation between FMS and its " symptom "

of depression, is a little blurry.

The question remains, which came first? The chicken or the egg?

Daily activities like lifting, walking up stairs, and — for some severe

cases — even sitting, are often very difficult and painful. As if chronic

pain isn't enough to reckon with, when it interferes so much with daily

routine, it isn't surprising that depression takes hold.

New research is tackling FMS from an emotional standpoint. We can't

discredit the fact that our stress response doesn't know the difference

between physical, chemical or emotional trauma. Each can have the same heavy

impact on overall health and wellness.

This concept is perhaps why some researchers think that the correlation is

so strong that they are willing to name emotional trauma or depression as a

leading cause of FMS. This approach is getting some attention from the

treatment side of the issue too.

While such treatments as chiropractic, osteopathy, massage therapy,

physiotherapy and acupuncture are well accepted protocol, a special kind of

treatment is taking the limelight. EFT is a form of acupuncture specially

designed to treat psychological issues.

This is not to imply that the pain is " all in the head " in an imagined way,

but more on a psychosomatic — or psychophysiological — level. We know that

what is in the head can affect the body in a very real and damaging way. It

is important to understand and manage the mind-body unity with proper

emotional and psychological support.

With the mind and body at war with each other, it's no wonder that sufferers

find it difficult to fathom taking on an exercise routine. But this might be

one of the tactics to help lessen the effect of the syndrome.

In fact, lack of exercise can worsen the symptoms. If a person avoids

exercise, the muscle will atrophy, making pain worse in the long run. It is

important to pain management that the joints and muscles stay active, supple

and mobile.

There is a fine line, however, between moderate exercise and overexertion.

This line is unique to each person based on the severity of their condition.

In general, you want to get light exercise everyday, not like some other

fitness goals that say you need moderate to heavy exercise every other day.

Cardiovascular exercise is important for circulation and mobility. Endurance

and low impact exercises are the best. So the steadfast things like walking,

swimming or cycling are good options.

But don't shy away from strength training. A growing amount of research has

shown that exercise can actually reduce pain. It has also been proven to

relieve some of the other debilitating symptoms of fatigue and mood swings

and it improves overall strength and function.

While it might seem counterproductive at first — to fatigue already sore and

tired muscles — a properly designed regimen can have long-term benefits. As

one researcher put it, sufferers are already in pain, so they can have sore,

weak muscles or sore, strong muscles.

A routine should focus on core and functional strength, to improve overall

strength and endurance. Generally, an athlete would train the muscle to

failure for optimal strength training results. For a person struggling with

FMS, this type of fatigue might occur just from walking to the gym, let

alone getting the workout done.

Light-resistance weight training is an option, but Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi or

any other low impact strength/stretch routines work nicely too.

A gentle stretching routine must be incorporated into the daily routine,

ideally after the workout while the muscles are still warm. Stretching is

vital to maintaining good range of motion through the joints and muscles and

to reduce any chance of cramping. You can also ease some of the post workout

strain with a soothing hot epsom salt bath.

You can further service the body by avoiding aggravating foods, such as

those that contain solanine. This component interferes with enzymes in the

muscles, potentially leading to pain and discomfort.

You can also ensure proper intake of protein and carbohydrates to help

energy production. When the body doesn't have enough fuel it will start to

rob the muscles of essential nutrients, causing muscle wasting and pain.

It's a good idea to keep a diary and log all your activity, rest, diet and

treatments. You can gain a general perspective on what is helping versus

hindering you in your holistic healing regimen.

Please e-mail questions, comment and suggestions to the address provided.

Stay healthy, stay happy!

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Happy Holidays from me and my family to you and yours!