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Fibromyalgia

     Syndrome

It is a dysfunctional systemic neurotransmitter condition with a disrupted adrenal-hypothalamus-pituitary axis.  In layman’s terms it is a disorder of brain chemicals, characterized by  chronic diffuse body-wide muscle pain, stiffness, fatigue and sleep disturbances.

Fibromyalgia is non-progressive. (Progressive means that left untreated you will die. ie: Cancer)  Fibromyalgia is non-degenerative. (Degenerative means destruction of tissue ie: osteoarthtitis)  Fibromyalgia in itself is non-inflammatory.  It is responsible for body-wide pain and TENDER points that hurt, but do not refer pain.  The symptoms of FMS do get worse.

Fibromyalgia is NOT:

Measurable, observable, a mental illness or imagined.

Systems which are affected include:

Neurological (nerves),

Cardiovascular (heart),

Gastro-intestinal (stomach, colon),

Endocrine (hormones and biosynthesis of

chemicals needed for proper body function),

Lymphatic (immune system),

Limbic (emotional system),

Muscles, Joints and Bones.

Signs and Symptoms of FMS:

1.      Diffuse widespread pain for more than three months duration.

2.      Sleep disturbances: trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, non-restorative sleep, morning mental and physical fatigue and morning stiffness lasting greater than 30 minutes

3.      Nervous system:  Paresthesias (numbness), tingling, burning, especially in the arms/legs, sciatica, abnormal sweating, intolerance to alcohol, sensitivity to chemicals-including medications, weight gain or loss, low grade fever (99-100 degree range)

4.      Bone, joint, muscle pain: can be localized/diffuse, swelling, chest wall/rib pain, Costochondritis, muscle twitching, spasms, cramping

5.      Gastrointestinal system (esophagus, stomach and bowel): abnormal appetite-either too much, or too little, Dysphasia (trouble swallowing), nausea, heartburn, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, excessive bloating and flatulence (gassiness), lactose intolerance, rectal pain, IBS

Genitourinary (reproductive): frequent urination, excessive nocturia (urinating frequently in the night), urinary incontinence, PMS, severe menstrual

1.      cramping, irregular menstrual periods, Endometriosis, sexual dysfunction or decreased interest, difficulty with orgasm, pain with erection.

2.      Skin symptoms: dry skin, itching, flaky skin, redness in toes, hands and cheeks, Raynaud’s Phenomenon, color changes in the hands and feet, peeling of the skin, reddish rashes on nose and cheeks

3.      Lymph nodes: swollen, tender, mostly in the neck, armpits and/or groin

4.      Reactive Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

5.      Visual problems: blurred vision, floaters

6.      Auditory problems: ringing, decreased hearing

7.      Respiratory dysfunction: shallow breathing, asthmatica, allergies, bronchitis and multiple chemical sensitivities

8.      Cognitive (memory) deficits: brain-fog, difficulty with word finding, losing things, disorientation, acquired dyslexia

9.      Hypersensitivity to noises, odors, heat or cold

10.  Clumsiness: dropping things abruptly, running into things frequently, depth perception problems