Hope for fibromyalgia sufferers?
Diffuse muscle pain and many other symptoms
The fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a special form of rheumatism. It mainly affects middle-aged people (30-50) and conspicuously many more women than men (ratio approx. 7:1). People suffering from fibromyalgia suffer from chronic, diffuse muscle pain. These occur all over the body on both sides of the body simultaneously, both in the lower and upper half of the body. In addition, there can be countless other complaints, such as sleep disorders, exhaustion, depression, anxiety, stomach, intestinal and heart complaints, circulatory problems, dizziness, restless legs syndrome, migraine headaches and others.
Diagnosis not easy
As if this were not enough, those affected often struggle with the acceptance of their disease in society and are labelled as malingers out of ignorance. Since the symptoms are very diffuse and therefore a diagnosis is difficult to make, patients often feel that they are not taken seriously even by doctors and there are frequent changes of doctors. Fibromyalgia is diagnosed in an elaborate exclusion procedure and it can take several years before the diagnosis is made.
Criteria for diagnosis
So-called ACR criteria (defined by American College of Rheumatology) are used by doctors for assessment. These include, for example, the Widespread Pain Index (WPI), the Symptom Severity Scale, with which pain and symptoms can be classified and evaluated more specifically. Although "obsolete" (1990), the Tender Points can also help in the examination. In this case, the doctor checks 18 defined pressure points for their sensitivity to pain. These are located in the area of the muscles and at the insertions and transitions of the tendons.
Various causes are discussed
The cause of FMS is still unclear or there are different theories. In orthomolecular medicine, there is growing evidence that fibromyalgia could be caused by a deficiency of certain nutrients, including selenium, iron, zinc, magnesium, amino acids, L-carnitine, coenzyme Q10 and vitamin B6 and vitamin D. These levels appear to be too low, at least in many patients, and supplementation with these nutrients has been shown to produce significant improvements in symptoms. Therefore it certainly makes sense to check the micronutrients in the blood. Oxidative stress could also be a cause. Currently, changes in neurotransmitters, dysregulation of the sympathetic nervous system and reduced occurrence of so-called intraepidermal (within the epidermis) small nerve fibres are also being discussed as causes. In addition, the topics of stress and stress management usually play an important role in FMS; often, difficult life situations or traumas in the past can be found in the lives of those affected. Therefore, it is essential to keep an eye on the management of these stresses and traumas through appropriate therapy and a holistic spirituality as a therapeutic approach.
Therapy options
The best chances of success lie in a multimodal treatment programme, in which patients and doctors together put together a balanced and individual programme from various offers. What is certainly not missing is sufficient and targeted exercise, e.g. under the guidance of physiotherapists. Of course, not many sports are possible; the training must be carefully adapted to the possibilities. But sports activities pay off. Fibromyalgia sufferers can also be helped with an individually adapted diet and administration of special micronutrients. This also requires individual clarification, advice and support. As already mentioned, we also consider it very beneficial for recovery if the soul and spirit are also actively involved. It makes sense if stress causing factors can be addressed. Here, too, it takes a lot of time and an interested and professionally competent counterpart.