By Dr. Kara Burkhart, N.D., L.Ac
Fibromyalgia, a disorder that affects muscles and soft tissues and a common cause of chronic musculoskeletal pain, can be challenging and frustrating for both patient and physician. Its cardinal feature—chronic, widespread pain that is not explained by another rheumatic or systemic disorder—is often present in other diseases such as infection or autoimmune disorders where it manifests abnormal physical and laboratory findings. In fibromyalgia, the physical examination (other than tenderness in muscles and soft tissues) is unrevealing and laboratory and imaging studies are unremarkable. Other symptoms include fatigue, sleep disorders, and mood and cognitive disturbances.
Following are ten recommendations that have been shown to address the symptoms suffered by patients.
1) Good sleep hygiene and close attention to mood disorders are an important part of an effective treatment regimen because physical and/or emotional stressors may trigger or aggravate symptoms.
2) Effective interventions include pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies that are often provided in combination. Patients generally respond best to a multidisciplinary, individualized treatment program.
3) Medications that are well researched and that have been most consistently effective in the treatment of fibromyalgia include certain antidepressants and selected anticonvulsants.
4) Non-pharmacologic treatments can benefit patients who do not respond to initial therapies and some even respond well without drug therapy. An exercise program, including aerobic conditioning, stretching, and strengthening is also important, with low-impact aerobic activities such as fast walking, biking, swimming or water aerobics being the most successful.
5) Acupuncture has been shown to be useful as an adjunct treatment or may be an acceptable alternative treatment in a comprehensive management program particularly in treating pain, sleep issues, and stress/anxiety.
6) Foods can cause inflammation because seventy percent of the immune system is located along the digestive tract. It is possible that particular foods cause immune responses that can lead to pain and inflammation. A trial can be done by elimination of two of the most common triggers for food sensitivities or allergies—gluten and dairy.
7) Optimize Magnesium levels since magnesium is a mineral that promotes relaxation of muscles and has an overall calming effect on the body. If you avoid eating dark green leafy vegetable, you are likely to have lower than optimal magnesium levels.
8) Avocado are great sources of anti-inflammatory chemicals that contain beneficial fats that can protect the body from aging and cardiovascular disease. Power packed with carotenoids, beneficial fats, protein, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin E, pantothenic acid, folate, potassium, and fiber.
9) Eat fresh tomatoes because ripe tomatoes taste best due to the sweet tasting compounds present. Why not just take lycopene in a pill? Because nature knows best and the cancer preventative action of lycopene is likely due to complex interactions between the phytochemicals in tomatoes. For example, your body may need vitamin C and beta carotene to be present for lycopene to be effective.
10) Berries are fantastic sources for polyphenols, plant chemicals that are known as inflammation modulators in the body. Go berry picking for raspberries, huckleberries, blueberries and blackberries, which are ripe locally in July.
