Fibromyalgia - A Summary

Lets review what we have learned about the fibromyalgia syndrome. We'll summarize by building a model and sequence of events which can explain how this distressing and debilitating condition can so totally wreck lives. As we have stated, the precipitation of fibromyalgia can be seen to occur when immune system dysfunction begins. We showed the analogy of the kettle and how different factors can have an additive effect until the kettle is full and the immune system is left with no reserve capability to meet any additional challenge. We demonstrated how one or more additional challenges such as (1) an infection (2) physical trauma or (3) severe emotional trauma can be the overwhelming event which causes the kettle to overflow. Thus the downward spiral into fibromyalgia begins.

A toxic state begins from the immune system's inability to perform its normal functions of cellular repair and removal of cellular debris and toxins. Muscle pain becomes noticeable and sleep patterns begin to be disrupted. We saw how quickly this can happen during an experiment in which healthy subjects, when deprived of deep sleep for just three nights, began to display symptoms similar to what the fibromyalgic experiences. The regulation of the metabolism of that important neurotransmitter, serotonin, is adversely affected because that regulation occurs during deep sleep. Thus one enters into what is called the "low serotonin syndrome."

This syndrome causes further disruption of immune function because activation of natural killer (NK) cells, our first line of immune defense, depends upon serotonin. One of many viscous cycles begins. Serotonin helps regulate deep sleep. Lack of deep sleep interrupts serotonin metabolism, resulting in even less serotonin to regulate deep sleep, which…!!!

More and more toxins build up in tissues. More and more symptoms begin to develop such as increased muscle pain, morning stiffness and cognitive impairment (the dreaded "FIBROFOG"). The production of ATP needed for energy production begins to decline, resulting in the onset of unrelenting fatigue. Lowered energy production disrupts the normal churning and propelling action of the intestinal tract. This results in the development of the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which can then result in "leaky gut syndrome" (LGS). LGS allows harmful macromolecules and toxins along with harmful micro-organisms to be absorbed through the now permeable intestinal mucosa. This causes more immune system stress as the already dysfunctional immune system tries to remove these micro-organisms and toxins.

The immune system also often mis-identifies some of the inappropriately absorbed macromolecules, resulting in a mis-directed antibody response toward certain of our own tissues, resulting in auto -immune disease symptoms. Inappropriate absorption also places great stress on the liver as it attempts to oxidize the toxins absorbed, causing an extremely high rate of formation of free radicals which cause further cell damage and therefore even more stress on the immune system. The intestinal mucosal cells themselves become disrupted and their ability to absorb essential nutrients such as magnesium is impaired, resulting in nutrient deficiencies. Lowered magnesium absorption compromises multiple systemic systems such as further disruption of ATP production which exacerbates the feeling of fatigue which has now become so prevalent in the fibromyalgic.

The decreased total magnesium level contributes to the already present muscle pain and stiffness, to headaches which become more common and severe, and to such symptoms as TMJ syndrome and urinary spasms, excessive menstrual pain, amplification of PMS symptoms, restless leg syndrome, and cardiac arrhythmias and palpitations.

Physiologically, one is now in a full blown, immune system dysfunctionally produced fibromylagia. The many other signs and symptoms listed on the "Signs and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia" area of this site may also start to appear, adding to the total body distress suffered by the fibromyalgic. And to think --- many have said "it's all in your head!!". May they walk in your shoes for a day, if you are able to walk at all on that day. As stated earlier, a wise healer has said that if given the proper nutrients and sufficient time, the body has an astonishing ability to heal itself. Let's now discuss those nutrients that the fibromylagic so desperately needs.