I have been disabled from CFS and Fibromyalgia for 20 years now. I try to keep up with new things, many don't work. Natural is the best way, any more suggestions. USANA Technical Bulletin
Disclaimer: The information provided in this technical bulletin is strictly educational and not intended as medical advice. For diagnosis and treatment of medical disorders, consult your health care professional. This information may be copied and freely distributed only if all text remains intact and unchanged.
Fibromyalgia
Description
Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes pain, tenderness, and stiffness in the muscles, tendon insertions and soft tissue structures. Criteria for diagnosis of Fibromyalgia are widespread pain in combination with tenderness in 11 or more of the 18 specific tender points1.
Causes
The etiology is not known. Fatigue, poor sleep, stress, anxiety or can trigger the problem.
Types
There are no clear and distinct stages of the disease, though the symptoms may worsen at different times.
At Risk
The condition occurs primarily in females. It may be induced or intensified by physical or mental stress. It is estimated to affect 3-5% of the population in the US2.
Prevention and Management
General:
There is no known prevention strategy for fibromyalgia. However, people diagnosed with fibromyalgia may be advised to participate in non-impact aerobic exercise and gentle stretching. Cardiovascular training has shown to decrease pain and stiffness.
It is also suggested that patients get plenty of sleep to help decrease fatigue2.
Nutritional Influences:
Nutritionally, it is recommended that Fibromyalgia patients increase their intake of fresh fruits and vegetables3.
Low levels of magnesium have been found in patients with Fibromyalgia4 and supplementation with magnesium has been beneficial. In a double blind, placebo crossover study, 12 out of 15 patients benefited from supplementation with Mg5.
Additional Information
Disclaimer: These websites, addresses and/or phone numbers are provided for information purposes only. USANA, Inc. makes no claim, actual or implied, regarding the content or validity of the information obtained from these outside sources.
Fibromyalgia Network
PO Box 31750
Tucson, AZ. 85751-1750
Info line: (520) 290-5508
Internet Newsgroup: alt.med.fibromyalgia
Abstracts
Eisinger J, Plantamura A, Marie PA, et al. Selenium and Magnesium status in fibromyalgia. Magnes Res 1994;7:285-8. Muscle pain has been associated with magnesium (Mg) and selenium (Se) deficiency: magnesium and selenium status were investigated in fibromyalgia (FM). Erythrocyte (E), leucocyte (L) and serum (S) magnesium, serum selenium and zinc, and vitamin B1, B2, A or E status were assessed in 22 patients with fibromyalgia and in 23 age-matched healthy controls. LMg is significantly increased (P<0.05) and Emg slightly decreased in fibromyalgia. These magnesium abnormalities are associated with previously reported impairment of thiamin metabolism. Antioxidant status (as well as plasma malondialdehyde) is unchanged in fibromyalgia and serum selenium levels, slightly but not significantly correlated with serum magnesium, is normal.
Cox IM, Campbell MJ, Dowson D. Red blood cell magnesium and chronic fatigue syndrome. Lancet 1991;30:757-60. The hypotheses that patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have low red blood cell magnesium and that magnesium treatment would improve the wellbeing of such patients were tested in a case-control study and a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, respectively. In the case-control study, 20 patients with CFS had lower red cell magnesium concentrations than did 20 healthy control subjects matched for age, sex, and social class (difference 0.1 mmol/l, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.05 to 0.15). In the clinical trial, 32 patients with CFS were randomly allocated either to intramuscular magnesium sulphate every week for 6 weeks (15 patients) or to placebo (17). Patients treated with magnesium claimed to have improved energy levels, better emotional state, and less pain, as judged by changes in the Nottingham health profile. 12 of the 15 treated patients said that they had benefited from treatment, and in 7 patients energy score improved from the maximum to the minimum. By contrast, 3 of the 17 patients on placebo said that they felt better (difference 62%, 95% CI 35 to 90), and 1 patient had a better energy score. Red cell magnesium returned to normal in all patients on magnesium but in only 1 patient on placebo. The findings show that magnesium may have a role in CFS.
References
1 Andreoli, TE, Bennett, JC, Carpenter, CCJ, Plum, F, editors. Decil Essentials of Medicine, 4th Ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1997. p 635
2 Berkow R, editor. The Merck Manual. 7th Ed. Rathway (NJ): Merck Research Laboratories; 1992. p 1369.
3 Zeman FJ. Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics. 2nd Ed. New York:MacMillan Publ; 1991
4 Eisinger J, Plantamura A, Marie PA et al. Selenium and magnesium status in fibromyalgia. Magnes Res. 1994;7:285-8.
5 Cox IM, Campbell MJ, Dowson D. Red blood cell magnesium and chronic fatigue syndrome. Lancet 1991;337:757-60.
Sample AutoImmune Protocol
MegaAntioxidants 1 tab four times per day
Chelated Minerals 1 tab four times per day
Active Calcium 1 tab four times per day
BiOmega-3 1 cap four times per day
CoQuinone-30 2 caps four times per day
Proflavanol-90 2 tabs four times per day
Hepasil DTX 1 tab four times per day
At least a 6-9 month commitment Yes the CDC has just come out with a finding that people with DFS may have a genetic quirk that causes them to respond harder to emotional and physical stress. Thats a good thing because now they actually have physical evidence of it, now the doctors can't just tell a person it's all in their head. Go online and check out CFIS Association of America just type that and you should find out the latest information Good luck and I really feel for you I have two friends with it and they both went through hell, first they were thought of as hypochondriacs or just lazy it was horrible for them I wish you all the best and the best of better health. I found this info in the Sept 2006 Ophra magazine on page 231 if you can't find the mag get one from your local library. Check out my fibromyalgia webpage and see if anything there is new to you. Both my partner and I have it. Different things work for different people. Unfortunately, there still is no cure-all, but the right combo of supplements seems to help me tremendously. Here:
http://www.geocities.com/seabulls69/fibr...
Also, you might want to visit this very nice forum and see what's working for others:
http://www.immunesupport.com/chat/forums... Cymbalta helps me a lot. But, I have read that it doesn't do much for men. Natural has never done anything for me.
Provigil is being prescribed for CFS: http://www.inhousepharmacy.com/general/m...
You can buy it here online or, if you have insurance, have your doctor write a prescription. I only take about 1/4 tablet because it tends to make my blood pressure go up. |
