| Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by diffuse | | | | "no," Try to maintain a daily active schedule. Try |
| pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well | | | | stress management techniques, such as |
| as fatigue. Multiple tender points or "trigger points" | | | | deep-breathing exercises or meditation. Massage |
| are present throughout the body. These are sensitive | | | | therapy may be beneficial. |
| areas on your body where slight pressure causes | | | | 2. Get enough sleep. Getting sufficient sleep is |
| pain to the individual. | | | | essential. In addition to allotting enough time for |
| Fibromyalgia occurs in approximately 2 percent of the | | | | sleep, practice good sleep habits, such as going to |
| population in the United States. It is more common in | | | | bed and getting up at the same time each day. |
| women versus men, and the risk of fibromyalgia | | | | 3. Exercise regularly. At first, exercise may increase |
| increases with age. Fibromyalgia symptoms frequently | | | | your pain, but exercising regularly often decreases |
| begin after a physical or emotional trauma, but in | | | | symptoms. Appropriate exercises may include |
| many cases there is no triggering event. | | | | walking, swimming, biking and water aerobics. A |
| Patients with fibromyalgia often describe pain as a | | | | physical therapist can help you develop a home |
| constant dull ache, typically arising from multiple | | | | exercise program. Stretching, good posture and |
| muscles. To be considered widespread, the pain must | | | | relaxation exercises are helpful. |
| occur on both sides of your body and above and | | | | 4. Pace yourself. Maintain a steady pace that allows |
| below your waist. | | | | you to follow a daily routine with the understanding |
| Fibromyalgia is characterized by additional pain when | | | | that you will have good and bad days. The right |
| firm pressure is applied to specific areas of your | | | | attitude will keep you more on the positive side. |
| body, called tender points or trigger points. The | | | | 5. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eat healthy foods. Limit |
| American College of Rheumatology has established | | | | your caffeine intake. Do something that you find |
| two criteria for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia: | | | | enjoyable and fulfilling every day. |
| 1. Widespread pain lasting at least three months | | | | 6. Analgesic medications are frequently used in the |
| 2. At least 11 positive tender points - out of a total | | | | management of pain with fibromyalgia patients. While |
| possible of 18 | | | | this may be necessary at times it is my opinion that |
| Tender point locations include: | | | | more natural treatments may be just as beneficial |
| Back of the head | | | | without the side effects that accompany prescription |
| Between shoulder blades | | | | medications. I am not saying that prescription |
| Top of shoulders | | | | medications are unnecessary. I do believe however |
| Front sides of neck | | | | that it is better to use the body's own healing |
| Upper chest | | | | response if possible. |
| Outer elbows | | | | 7. Scientific Articles:a. Sendur and colleagues in the |
| Upper hips | | | | Rheumatology International Journal (2008 Oct 14) |
| Sides of hips | | | | showed us that Serum glutathione and catalase levels |
| Inner knees | | | | were significantly lower in fibromyalgia patients than |
| People with fibromyalgia are often fatigued, even | | | | controls. They concluded, "These findings support |
| though they may get enough sleep. Some experts | | | | other studies, we assume that these two |
| believe that these people rarely reach the deep | | | | antioxidants might have impact on the pathogenesis |
| stages of sleep. Sleep disorders linked to fibromyalgia | | | | of fibromyalgia disease.b. Bagis and colleagues in the |
| include restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea. | | | | Rheumatology International Journal (Volume 25, April, |
| Some patients with fibromyalgia have other | | | | 2005) reported that oxidant/antioxidant balances |
| associated conditions such as: chronic fatigue | | | | were changed in fibromyalgia. Increased free radical |
| syndrome, depression, headaches, irritable bowel | | | | levels may be responsible for the development of |
| syndrome, lupus, osteoarthritis, post traumatic stress | | | | fibromyalgia "These findings may support the |
| disorder and rheumatoid arthritis. | | | | hypothesis of fibromyalgia as an oxidative disorder."c. |
| The diagnosis of fibromyalgia can be difficult to make | | | | Parcell in Alternative Medicine Review (2002 |
| initially especially in view of the multiple presenting | | | | Feb;7(1):22-44) discussed the role of sulfur-containing |
| symptoms. See your physician for a complete | | | | amino acids including cysteine that can help increase |
| physical examination, lab work to rule out other | | | | the level of glutathione which may be effective in the |
| disease conditions and imaging studies as your clinical | | | | treatment of fibromyalgia and other disorders. |
| situation dictates. This process is necessary but can | | | | Recommendation: |
| be very frustrating for the patient. Rest assured this | | | | Glutathione is an essential antioxidant necessary to |
| is a real condition; do not worry about negative test | | | | fight free radicals. Free radicals may indeed play a role |
| results. If you are not happy with the process it is | | | | in the pathogenesis of fibromyalgia. Glutathione and |
| OK to seek a second opinion, usually with a | | | | catalase levels were significantly lower in fibromyalgia |
| rheumatologist. | | | | patients. This information has led me to conclude that |
| Strategies to manage your fibromyalgia: | | | | daily use of Max GXL, a glutathione accelerator and |
| 1. Reduce stress. Develop a strategy to avoid/limit | | | | Max N-fuze should be considered in patients with |
| overexertion and emotional stress. Schedule times to | | | | fibromyalgia providing there is no contraindication. |
| relax each day. That may mean learning how to say | | | | |