Lyrica (pregabalin) is an FDA-approved drug For Fibromyalgia Pain Relief. Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder thatcauses long-term, worldwide muscle pain and tenderness, trouble sleeping, and overwhelming tiredness. this drug is not an antidepressant.The medicine has long been used to reduce nerve pain in patients with shingles and diabetic neuropathy. It is also used to treat partial seizures.
How Does Lyrica Work for Fibromyalgia Pain Relief? Fibromyalgia pain is consider to be brought on by nerve related changes which cause nerve cells to fire off too many signals. This renders a person overly sensitive to stimuli that are normally not painful.Scientists aren’t exactly sure how Lyrica improves symptoms and For Fibromyalgia Pain Relief. but laboratory research suggests Lyrica helps decrease the number of nerve signal and as a result calms down overly sensitive nerve cells. This appears to alleviate pain in patients with Fibromyalgia.
How Do You Take Lyrica for Fibromyalgia Pain Relief?When used for fibromyalgia, Lyrica is a capsule that is usually taken in divided doses twice a day. Doses range from 150 milligrams to 450 milligrams a day. Your doctor will determine the best dose for you. If you miss taking one capsule, you should take it as soon as possible — unless it is close to the time when you are supposed to take the next one. Never take two or more at the same time.You should not suddenly stop taking this medicine. Doing so can give you a headache, upset stomach, diarrhea, and sleeping difficulties. If you wish or need to stop taking the medicine, your doctor will tell you how to slowly reduce your dose over time.
The Benefits of Lyrica: Lyrica can quickly reduce pain and for Fibromyalgia Pain Relief, improve sleep, and help some people with fibromyalgia function better and get back to their daily routines. In studies, some patients reported significantly less pain after taking Lyrica for only one week. Lyrica, however, may not help everyone with fibromyalgia.
Before You Take Lyrica for Fibromyalgia Pain Relief: Always make sure your doctor knows about all the other medications you are taking. This includes over-the-counter drugs, as well as herbs and supplements. Some prescription medicines may interact with Lyrica and may lead to dangerous side effects. Such drugs include:
1. Blood pressure medicines called ACE inhibitors; taking Lyrica with these medicines increases your chance for swelling and hives.
2. Diabetes medicines Avandia (rosiglitazone) or Actos (pioglitazone); if you take these drugs with this drug, you may have a higher risk for swelling or weight gain.
3. Narcotic pain medicines (such as oxycodone), anxiety medicines (such as lorazepam), and tranquilizers; combining these drugs with this drug increases your chances for dizziness and sleepiness.
4. Sleep medicines make you nod off, and Lyrica can cause drowsiness. Combining the two can be dangerous.
Do not drink alcohol when on Lyrica. Doing so can increase Lyrica’s side effects and make you dangerously sleepy.
Also tell your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, including:
1. Bleeding disorders or low platelet counts
2. Heart problems
3. Kidney problems or if you receive kidney dialysis (a lower dose of Lyrica is needed if you have kidney problems)
Did you have a gynecologic surgery, such as a hysterectomy, in the few years before you developed fibromyalgia?
It’s a trend some people have noticed, and a study published in 2015 shores up the link between these types of surgeries and fibromyalgia onset. It also provides further evidence for an association between fibromyalgia and common overlapping conditions that are gynecologic, endocrine, or autoimmune.
Findings
In the study, researchers reviewed charts of 219 women with fibromyalgia and 116 women with non-fibromyalgia chronic pain. Specifically, they examined the time between illness onset and gynecologic surgery as well as the number of overlapping conditions in each group.
They also found that each of the three diagnosis types they were looking at was independently associated with fibromyalgia. Thyroid disease and gynecologic surgery were significantly more common in women with fibromyalgia than those with other types of chronic pain.
The timing of the gynecologic surgeries in relation to pain onset was especially interesting. They found more surgeries in the years just before fibromyalgia pain began, or in the year after pain onset. That pattern was unique to the fibromyalgia group.
At first glance, it may seem odd that gynecologic surgeries in the year after pain onset would be considered related to the development of fibromyalgia.
However, an association like that may be due to several pertinent factors.
For example, consider that many women have gynecologic problems well before they opt for surgery as the preferred treatment. It may be that hormonal changes or gynecologic disease are risk factors for fibromyalgia because of some underlying relationship that we don’t yet understand.
According to the study, hysterectomies and oophorectomies (removal of the ovaries) were most likely within the four years before or after the onset of fibromyalgia pain.
This is certainly an area that calls for more research. In the end, it could help us understand why 90 percent of fibromyalgia patients are women. Beyond that, it may reveal physiological changes that can trigger the development of the illness, which could lead to better treatments and possibly even prevention.
For the women who develop fibromyalgia after gynecologic surgery, we also need to know what role, if any, the surgery itself plays, as well as the possible roles of hormonal changes caused by the surgery. Post-surgical hormone replacement therapy deserves a look, too.
Doctors have long suspected that fibromyalgia has strong hormonal ties and triggers. A 2013 study found links between early menopause and increased pain sensitivity in fibromyalgia patients, which may relate to dropping estrogen levels.
Women with fibromyalgia are especially prone to painful menstrual periods (dysmenorrhea) and certain pregnancy complications.
My Experience
This study really speaks to my own experience. I was 34 when my youngest child was born via c-section, and 35 when I stopped breastfeeding. The hormonal changes from that, according to my gynecologist, launched me into premature perimenopause.
My menstrual cycle became erratic and periods were extremely heavy and painful, whereas they’d always been regular and fairly mild. Fibromyagia symptoms soon followed.
Six months later, I had a diagnosis and had identified a pattern—my flares came regularly between ovulation and the start of my period. My gynecologist recommended an endometrial ablation to get rid of hormones put off by the thickening uterus.
I hadn’t had a hysterectomy, but between two pregnancies and two c-sections, plus breastfeeding, my body had clearly been put through a hormonal ringer.
I suspect that research will continue to bear out the links between fibromyalgia and hormonal changes and hope that someday, we’ll be a lot better equipped to recognize, treat, and prevent hormone-related fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia has long baffled both medical professionals and sufferers. Branded as a neurological syndrome characterized by chronic pain, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction, fibromyalgia has defied precise categorization and treatment. However, emerging evidence introduces a compelling and often-overlooked player in this painful puzzle: fascia, the connective tissue that blankets every inch of our internal architecture.
Could it be that the discomfort fibromyalgia patients endure—those deep, radiating aches and that crawling, prickling sensation beneath the skin known as formication—isn’t just rooted in the brain, but in this intricate web of tissue just beneath the surface?
Let’s peel back the layers—literally and figuratively—of the human body to expose how fascial dysfunction might underpin fibromyalgia, and what that revelation means for the future of symptom management and healing.
What Is Fascia? The Underappreciated Matrix of the Body
Fascia is a thin, fibrous, and remarkably dynamic connective tissue that envelops every muscle, bone, nerve fiber, and internal organ. This fibrous matrix performs far more than structural duties; it is rich in sensory nerve endings and plays a critical role in proprioception, pain signaling, and internal communication.
Far from being inert packing material, fascia is alive with cellular activity and fluid dynamics. It:
Supports and stabilizes musculature and joints
Separates and connects anatomical structures simultaneously
Conducts mechanical signals, such as pressure and vibration
Interacts intimately with the central nervous system via embedded receptors
In essence, fascia is the body’s broadband network—and when that network becomes gnarled, compressed, or dehydrated, the resulting dysfunction can cascade throughout the system.
Fibromyalgia has traditionally been attributed to central sensitization—a condition in which the brain and spinal cord amplify pain signals. While this remains a crucial piece of the puzzle, it does not fully explain why the pain begins in specific areas, or why it’s often symmetrical, migratory, and resistant to common painkillers.
When this tissue becomes stiff, bound, or inflamed, it exerts abnormal pressure on nerves, impairs blood flow, and generates localized inflammation—all of which can mimic and potentially cause the widespread discomfort seen in fibromyalgia.
Formication is a tactile hallucination—a feeling that something is crawling on or under the skin. It often coexists with fibromyalgia and is profoundly distressing. While frequently linked to neuropathy or drug withdrawal, many fibro patients experience it without external triggers, suggesting a deeper somatic origin.
So how could fascia be responsible for this bizarre, bug-like sensation?
Entrapped Nerves: Fascial adhesions can compress sensory nerves, causing misfires that the brain interprets as crawling or tingling.
Abnormal Tension: Chronic fascial tightness distorts mechanoreceptor input, leading to bizarre tactile sensations.
Inflammatory Signaling: Fascia, rich in immune activity, may spark cytokine activity that sensitizes nerve endings.
Disrupted Fluid Flow: Impaired lymphatic and interstitial fluid movement due to fascial rigidity may alter skin sensation.
Together, these factors provide a plausible basis for formication as a peripheral-origin hallucination, originating in fascia and misinterpreted by the brain.
Recent studies show that fascia has a higher density of nociceptors (pain receptors) than muscle tissue. This suggests that pain attributed to “muscle soreness” may in fact originate in the fascia.
Imaging Insights
Ultrasound and MRI technologies have demonstrated that fibromyalgia patients often have thicker, less elastic fascia, especially in the trapezius, lumbar region, and lower extremities.
Cellular Inflammation
Biopsies and lab studies suggest that inflammatory markers in fascial tissues are elevated in fibro patients—supporting the theory of an immune-mediated fascial syndrome.
Feedback Loops Between Fascia and the Central Nervous System
Fascia doesn’t operate in isolation. It is intimately tied to the nervous system through:
Proprioceptors (sensors for movement and tension)
Baroreceptors (sensors for pressure)
Chemoreceptors (sensors for chemical signals like inflammation)
A stiffened or inflamed fascial environment sends constant “danger” signals to the brain, keeping the nervous system in a perpetual state of alert. This feeds into central sensitization, reinforcing both pain perception and emotional distress—a loop that’s tough to break without addressing the tissue dysfunction.
Many fibromyalgia patients have undergone a carousel of medications—from antidepressants to anticonvulsants to opioids—without sustainable relief. Addressing the mechanical and physiological health of fascia offers a promising avenue.
Integrative Care Model
An ideal fibromyalgia treatment plan might include:
There’s growing recognition that the nervous system does not operate in a vacuum. It is embedded within the fascia, nourished by its fluids, and influenced by its tension. When fascia falters, nerves suffer—and the body broadcasts its distress through pain, fatigue, cognitive fog, and bizarre sensations like formication.
By embracing fascia as a living, reactive, and treatable structure, we open new doors for people with fibromyalgia—doors that may lead to recovery, restoration, and resilience.
Remember:
Formication and fibromyalgia share common neural roots—an interwoven story of sensory misfiring. Though unwelcome and at times terrifying, this symptom responds to a multi-pronged plan grounded in nerve modulation, holistic care, medical oversight, and patient resilience. By embracing a broad, informed approach, individuals suffering from formication can reclaim comfort, control, and, above all, hope.
More Detail about Formication and Fibromyalgia: When It Feels Like Bugs Crawl Beneath Your Skin
Fibromyalgia is a multifaceted disorder. Beyond chronic musculoskeletal pain and profound fatigue, sufferers often report a constellation of distressing sensory symptoms. Among them, formication—the eerie sensation of insects crawling on or under the skin—emerges as one of the most unnerving. Its existence in fibromyalgia raises questions about the nature of the disease: Why would a person feel tiny creatures writhing beneath the surface? Why is it so common among fibromyalgia patients? And how can one manage or treat such a disturbing sensation?
Formication (pronounced for-MIH-kay-shun) is the clinical term for the illusion or hallucination of insects crawling on or under the skin. Derived from the Latin formica (“ant”), it classifies as a tactile hallucination—a sensory misperception where the skin feels touch, pressure, or movement that has no external source.
Psychosomatic or Neurological?
Although formication frequently appears in psychiatric conditions and stimulant drug use, such as chronic methamphetamine abuse, it is not solely a mental health phenomenon. The culprit is a misfiring nervous system—sensory signals being generated without any actual stimulus. The brain interprets these signals as crawling sensations, triggering a powerful, visceral reaction, even though no real bugs are present.
Why It’s So Distressing
Psychological torment: The sensation can feel all too real—driving sufferers to itch, scratch, or pick compulsively.
Docked sleep: The relentless crawling feeling can interrupt rest, triggering further physical and emotional exhaustion.
Risk of self-inflicted harm: Constant scratching may lead to open sores, infections, scarring, and a vicious cycle of pain.
Emotional strain: The awareness that others may not believe you only adds to isolation, frustration, and uncertainty.
Fibromyalgia is increasingly understood as a central nervous system disorder, in which pain and sensory signals are amplified or misinterpreted. Just as fibromyalgia patients experience widespread pain and hyperalgesia (heightened sensitivity to painful stimuli), they may also experience tactile misinterpretations like formication.
Consider these points:
Altered pain thresholds: In fibromyalgia, pain signals can arise spontaneously; likewise, sensations like crawling may emerge without an external cause.
Crosstalk in sensory pathways: Overlapping neural circuits for pain and touch might misfire, confusing tactile signals.
Central sensitization: The brain becomes primed to detect threats, turning up the volume on stimuli—real or imagined.
Data Supporting the Connection
Many fibromyalgia patients report complex sensory symptoms:
Itching without skin changes
Burning or tingling sensations (paresthesia)
Peripheral swelling, unexplained by visible inflammation
Though medical research into formication in fibromyalgia is still developing, existing studies point to its high prevalence and strong association with other sensory disturbances—reinforcing the theory of shared neural dysfunction.
Lack of large-scale studies on its prevalence and pathophysiology
Limited neuroimaging evidence to pinpoint brain regions responsible
No clear “standard of care”, leading patients to navigate trial-and-error treatments
Variability among individuals—what alleviates symptoms in one person may be useless for another
9. Emerging Research & Future Directions
The scientific community is steadily advancing understanding:
Neuroimaging studies are mapping abnormal sensory processing in fibromyalgia—hinting at targets for neuromodulation.
Peripheral neuropathy investigations reveal micro-nerve damage in many fibro patients, which may trigger formication.
Novel therapeutics, including low-dose naltrexone, cannabinoids, IVIG, and even brain stimulation (TMS, tDCS), are under scrutiny for their nervous-system modulating effects.
10. Empowering Yourself: Tips & Takeaways
Understand it’s real—Formication is not imaginary or psychological weakness.
Reduce self-harm—Trim nails, use moisturizers, and apply chill compresses.
Track episodes—A diary reveals triggers and aids medical planning.
Treat the nerves—Address fibromyalgia itself, not just individual symptoms.
Harness mind-body tools—Meditation, CBT, and relaxation techniques help regulate neural signals.
Advocate for care—Work with clinicians toward multidisciplinary treatment.
Stay hopeful—Research progresses, and many fibromyalgia patients find relief with personalized strategies.
11. Stories from the Front Lines
To grasp the lived reality of formication, consider these patient-reported experiences (anonymized):
“It felt like ants were marching all over my arms. I’d wake up in the middle of the night scratching until I bled. Nothing calmed it—no coconut oil, no antihistamine. Finally, gabapentin helped me get through the night.”
“Doctors called me paranoid, but I knew I wasn’t going crazy. Writing in my journal, I realized every episode followed heavy coffee or my PMS week.”
Sleep hygiene, relaxation routines, possible sleep meds
Skin Damage
Scratching leads to wounds and potential infection
Nail care, soothing compresses, monitor lesions, treat promptly
Emotional Distress
Anxiety, helplessness, fear of being misunderstood
Support groups, clear communication, stress reduction tactics
Doctor-Patient Misalignment
Central nature complicates understanding
Education, documentation, advocate for neuro/derm care and biopsies if necessary
13. Final Thoughts: You Are Not Alone
Dealing with fibromyalgia is already a full-time struggle—juggling pain, fatigue, “fibro-fog,” and emotional ups and downs. To add formication—sensations of ants, worms, or bugs crawling on your skin—often unmasks profound frustration. But the sensation is not random or imagined—it is a symptom of nervous system chaos, not a character flaw.
By acknowledging its connection to fibromyalgia, documenting episodes, advocating for nerve-directed treatments, and adopting skin-friendly and mind-body measures, you can gain control, reduce episodes, and protect your well-being.
Further Resources & Reading
Fibromyalgia research foundations—offer patient-oriented guidance and clinical trial listings
Neurosensory and neuroimaging journals—for emerging insight into tactile hallucinations and central sensitization
Support communities—both local and online—for shared strategies, empathy, and hope
Final Reflections: Rewiring the Body Through Tissue Healing
Fascia may not be visible to the naked eye, but it speaks volumes through the language of sensation. In fibromyalgia, its voice is often muffled—drowned out by pain pills and misunderstood diagnoses. But when we listen closely, fascia may hold the key to unraveling the chronic pain that shadows so many lives.
No single therapy will be a silver bullet. Yet, through patient-centered, fascia-inclusive care, fibromyalgia sufferers can begin to stitch together a tapestry of healing—one strand of relief at a time.
Lyrica (pregabalin), when used on its own for fibromyalgia, is superior to opioids in reducing pain and improving pain interference in daily life, finds a study sponsored by Pfizer.
The analysis, which included 1,421 fibromyalgia patients, showed that those using Lyrica doses recommended for fibromyalgia treatment had the best outcomes, suggesting that many patients should increase their doses to reach recommended levels.
Pfizer and ProCare Systems conducted the study, “Interpreting the Effectiveness of Opioids and Pregabalin for Pain Severity, Pain Interference, and Fatigue in Fibromyalgia Patients,” which took aim at the notion that — despite little evidence of their effectivity — opioids are the most commonly prescribed drugs for fibromyalgia. To examine how different treatments affect pain and related outcomes in fibromyalgia patients, the research team turned to information from the ProCare Systems network of chronic pain clinics in Michigan.
All patients received Lyrica or opioids alone or in combination, and had been through several pain health assessments, including pain characteristics, physical function, and psychosocial function.
The team divided the patients into different groups based on their average morphine equivalent dose or average Lyrica dose. Patients were followed between 56 and 365 days. Nearly 78 percent of them were women — typical of fibromyalgia in the real world.
Findings, published in the journal Pain Practice, showed that only 3.4 percent of patients took the recommended Lyrica dose of 300-450 mg. Most patients took less than 150 mg of Lyrica, either alone or combined with high-dose opioids.
The team assessed the number of patients in the different medication groups and noted that more of those who took Lyrica without opioids achieved at least 30 percent improvement across all pain measurements.
Lyrica treatment was also superior to opioids or opioid-Lyrica combinations in improving pain-related aspects, such as “ability to enjoy life, activity in general, mood and sleep.” The only pain-related aspect that was better in the group combining Lyrica and moderate doses of opioids was “relationships with others.”
When increasing the threshold to at least 50 percent improvement in pain and pain-related aspects of daily living, Lyrica was again superior to opioids or combinations.
While Lyrica did score low on how well it affected fatigue, it did better when combined with moderate opioid doses.
“Pregabalin without opioids provided the most favorable outcomes overall based on ≥30% and ≥50% improvement thresholds … with support for moderate … opioids+pregabalin in patients suffering from fatigue” researchers wrote.
Researchers also noted that patients taking higher Lyrica doses, reaching the recommended dose range, had better outcomes than those taking low doses.
Many fibro patients suffer from a condition called Costochondritis, apart from common symptoms of fibromyalgia. In this condition, wearing a bra becomes difficult and sometimes even becomes impossible because it causes pain in the rib cage and breasts. Wearing the right bra can reduce the pain significantly if you are suffering from Costochondritis.
Inflammation of the cartilage that links the ribs to the breast bone is Costochondritis. It is very sudden and causes immense chest pain, much of fibromyalgia pain begins with this pain. Is the pain mildly irritating or it is extremely irritating, this all depends on the amount of inflammation, patients suffer from. Some patients describe what they go through as burning, stabbing, or aching pain. Some patients suffer from a complex chain of pain that they even relate to a heart attack.
In this condition, it is a painful task to put on tight clothing which compresses the ribs and needless to say an underwear bra. To reduce the pain wearing a comfortable bra is necessary to get rid of breast and ribcage inflammation but many women do not do this. However, when needed, it is best to wear something not too tight, in a comfortable fabric, and easy to wear and remove. Here are some tips for the selection of the right bra:
Seamless bra types are ideal as they prevent edgings from pressing against the skin.
Prevent that type of fiber that brushes against the skin and causes pain by avoiding anything textured like lace, tulle, or fabric with embroidery.
Best bra styles for every size
Soft cup bras: these bras offer good support for women of all sizes. Choose something with wilder shoulder straps as they won’t dig into the skin like the thinner ones do. A front closure design would also reduce the pain of putting on and removing the bra.
Sports bras: these bras can be very easy and comfortable as they give support to women of all sizes. Opt for something softer and with a wider stretch to prevent squeezing your ribcage and causing pain.
Bralettes: for smaller-sized women, a bralette might work in a good way. They are usually made with soft cups and are mildly comfortable.
Bandeaus: it is another good option for small and medium-sized women because bandeaus will sure that no wires or edges would press against the skin.
Dysphagia is a medical term that means that a patient has difficulty swallowing. There are a number of different conditions that can cause dysphagia. And someone who suffers from dysphagia often finds that it makes life very difficult. Depending on their condition, swallowing can be very painful, which makes eating and getting enough nutrition a challenge.
And what’s even more alarming is that many people with fibromyalgia report having problems with dysphagia.
So, what are some of the things that can cause dysphagia? Is there a link between the condition and fibromyalgia? And what can you do to treat it?
There are a number of different things that can cause dysphagia. Anything that interferes with the complex system of nerves and muscles that control the esophagus can make swallowing difficult. But some of the most common causes are:
Achalasia– a condition that causes the muscles in the esophagus to constrict.
Diffuse Spasm– a condition where the muscles spasm uncontrollably, usually after swallowing.
Esophageal Stricture– a narrowing of the opening of the esophagus caused by scar tissue or tumors.
Gastro-Intestinal Reflux Disease (GERD)– The gradual destruction of the tissue in the esophagus caused by acid from the stomach washing up into the esophagus.
Dysphagia can also occur without any obvious source. But whatever the cause, the symptoms are often similar. The most common symptoms are difficulty swallowing, pain in the throat, frequent heartburn, a hoarse voice, and regurgitating food you’ve already eaten.
In most cases, dysphagia isn’t dangerous. But it can lead to dramatic weight loss and can be life-threatening if it causes you to regurgitate food into the lungs.
And while we don’t always know what causes the condition, we do know that it is abnormally common in people with fibromyalgia.
A study by the National Institute of Health in the United States determined that a significant number of patients with fibromyalgia reported problems with swallowing. Patients in the study reported suffering from dysphagia at a rate 40% higher than people without fibromyalgia.
Unfortunately, the reason this sort of symptom is common in people with fibromyalgia remains a mystery. There’s so much that we don’t know about how fibromyalgia works, including why it would cause dysphagia. But we can speculate on a number of possibilities.
People with fibromyalgia often experience muscle weakness. This weakness could explain why they suffer from dysphagia. The muscles that control the process of swallowing may be affected by the general weakness caused by fibromyalgia.
In addition, we know that people with fibromyalgia have problems with their nervous system. An NIH study found that patients with fibro had significantly more neurological abnormalities than a control group. If fibromyalgia is a condition that affects the nervous system, as many doctors suggest it is, then it could be causing a breakdown between the nerves that control the esophagus and the brain.
This would explain why people with fibromyalgia have a hard time swallowing. Their brain can’t control the muscles in the esophagus as they normally would. But until we know more about the condition, we can’t say for sure what the link is. Luckily, there are some things you can do to treat the condition.
The first step in treatment is a diagnosis. The most common way to diagnose the condition is with an imaging test, like a barium X-ray. Essentially, the patient drinks a contrast material – barium- which coats the esophagus and makes it easier to see on the X-ray. The doctor can then examine the image to see if your esophagus is expanding correctly. And this examination can also be done with an endoscopic camera.
Your treatment will depend on what’s causing the condition. If the condition is caused by weakened muscles, there are a number of exercises you can do to strengthen the muscles. And you can learn different swallowing techniques to compensate for the weakened muscles. Your doctor will be able to advise you on what to do.
If the treatment is caused by muscle constriction in the esophagus, there are a number of medications that can help relax the muscles. In addition, a surgeon can perform a procedure to dilate the muscles and force them to relax. Finally, a surgeon can remove portions of the esophagus to widen the space for food to pass through.
If you’re experiencing difficulties swallowing, it’s always a good idea to see a doctor. They will be able to give you advice on the best course of treatment.
In 2014, a survey of more than 1,300 fibromyalgia patients by the National Pain Foundation and National Pain Report found medical marijuana is more effective than Lyrica, Cymbalta, or Savella, the three drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat the disorder. (If you’re curious about the effectiveness of Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Savella, then you might be interested in my post, “Why your fibro meds aren’t working.”)
There’s growing anecdotal evidence that marijuana relieves fibromyalgia pain, but actual research is still scant. Cannabis remains a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States, making it difficult for researchers to study the plant’s pain-relieving properties. To date, there have been less than a handful of small studies using cannabis or its derivatives to treat fibromyalgia. Most of those have shown it to be beneficial, especially for pain relief.
But why does cannabis seem to work so well? Dr. Ethan Russo, medical director of PHYTECS, believes fibromyalgia’s multifaceted symptoms may be caused by a deficiency in the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), a condition he calls Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency (CED). Maybe the reason cannabis is so effective is that it’s simply supplementing what the body needs – similar to how people take a supplement to treat vitamin D or B12 deficiency.
Russo explores the evidence behind his hypothesis in a soon-to-be-published review entitled, “Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency Reconsidered: Current Research Supports the Theory in Migraine, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel, and Other Treatment-Resistant Syndromes.” While his idea is still theoretical, there is some early research indicating he may be onto something.
The ECS is made up of cannabinoid receptors within the brain, spinal cord, nerves, gut, organs, and other locations in the body. It helps the body maintain homeostasis and is involved in a number of physiological processes, including pain sensation, mood, memory, and appetite, among others. The body naturally makes endocannabinoids – the same kinds of endocannabinoids found in cannabis – that feed the ECS and keep it functioning.
Fibromyalgia causes symptoms throughout the body, with the primary ones being a pain, fatigue, cognitive and sleep difficulties. Certain conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and migraine, are extremely common among those with fibromyalgia – so much so that Russo believes they may all be connected to an ECS deficiency.
His theory makes sense. The ECS plays a role in so many of the body’s major systems, so if it was indeed malfunctioning, that would account for why fibro sufferers have such varied symptoms. Supplementing the ECS with cannabinoids from the cannabis plant would, in theory, relieve symptoms because the deficiency is being treated.
Russo first posited that fibromyalgia, IBS, and migraine may be caused by an ECS deficiency back in 2001. (Click here to read his first review on the subject.) His latest review gives an update on new research that supports ECS deficiency as a possible culprit for fibromyalgia, IBS, and migraine.
“Additional studies have provided a firmer foundation for the theory,” he writes in the review, “while clinical data have also produced evidence for decreased pain, improved sleep, and other benefits to cannabinoid treatment and adjunctive lifestyle approaches affecting the endocannabinoid system.”
CED is based on the premise that many brain disorders have been linked to neurotransmitter deficiencies. For example, dopamine has been implicated in Parkinson’s disease, and serotonin and norepinephrine have been associated with depression.
“If endocannabinoid function were decreased, it follows that a lowered pain threshold would be operative, along with derangements of digestion, mood and sleep among the almost universal physiological systems sub-served by the ECS,” Russo writes.
That’s a mouthful, but essentially it means if the ECS isn’t properly working, then it could account for the pain, sleep, digestive and other issues so common among fibromyalgia patients. Adding cannabinoids to the body through the use of cannabis may help to bring the ECS back into balance.
“It’s a key in a lock in your body that exists for a reason,” explains Dr. Jahan Marcu, chief scientist with Americans for Safe Access. “We send in cannabinoids to activate this system that’s supposed to be working. It’s a sort of care and feeding of the ECS so it can do its job.”
The best evidence for CED comes from an Italian migraine study, which found reduced levels of an endocannabinoid known as anandamide in patients with chronic migraines versus healthy controls.
“Reduced [anandamide] levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of chronic migraine patients support the hypothesis of the failure of this endogenous cannabinoid system in chronic migraine,” read the study.
Unfortunately, the Italian study will probably never be repeated in the United States because it required risky and invasive lumbar punctures.
In the gut, the ECS modulates the movement of food along the digestive tract, the release of digestive juices to break down food, and inflammation.
Cannabis has long been used to treat digestive issues and was one of the first effective treatments for diarrhea caused by cholera in the 19th century.
“Unfortunately while many patient surveys have touted the benefit of cannabinoid treatment of IBS symptoms, and abundant anecdotal support is evident on the Internet, little actual clinical work has been accomplished,” Russo writes.
A few studies using marijuana for fibromyalgia have had positive results. Overall, marijuana has been found to decrease pain and anxiety, and improve sleep and general well-being.
“There is actually some evidence that the levels of at least one endocannabinoid (anandamide) increase in the circulation of patients with fibromyalgia,” says Prof. Roger G. Pertwee from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. “There is also considerable evidence that anandamide is often released in a manner that reduces unwanted symptoms such as pain and spasticity in certain disorders. … It is generally accepted that THC, the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis, can relieve pain, including neuropathic pain for example, by directly activating cannabinoid receptors. … Some non-psychoactive constituents of cannabis have also been found to relieve signs of pain, at least in animal models.”
For anecdotal evidence, Russo cites the National Pain Foundation/National Pain Report survey in his review, saying, “The results of the survey strongly favor cannabis over the poorly effective prescription medicines. These results certainly support an urgent need for more definitive randomized controlled trials of a well-formulated and standardized cannabis-based medicine in fibromyalgia inasmuch as existing medicines with regulatory approval seem to fall quite short of the mark.”
More research needs to be done to either prove or disprove CED’s existence.
“What we really need is randomized controlled trials to look at this more carefully, and that’s the only kind of evidence that the [Food and Drug Administration] and most doctors are going to find acceptable in the end,” Russo says.
MRI and PET scans are not yet able to detect endocannabinoid levels in living patients, but as technology advances, that may become a possibility. The ability to actually test endocannabinoid levels in fibromyalgia patients and compare those against healthy controls would help to confirm Russo’s theory.
“We’re on the edge of having that capability,” Russo says. “It’s in my plans to look at this type of thing in the future.”
Gluten has been liked to more than 55 diseases and is often called the ‘big masquerader’. The reason for this is that the majority of symptoms of gluten intolerance are not digestive in nature but rather neurological such as pain, cognitive impairment, sleep disturbances, behavioral issues, fatigue, and depression.
Adrenal Fatigue: Adrenal fatigue is a result of chronic stress whether real or perceived. Chronic pain is a stress to the adrenal glands, though typically not the initial adrenal stressor. The initial stressor is usually something such as food intolerances, Candida, mercury toxicity, vitamin deficiencies, or mycotoxins. The goal is to support the adrenals while searching for the root cause of the stress and correct it.
Thyroid: More than half of the people with thyroid issues have no idea they have one and 90% of these have hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid gland. It is vital that your doctor check six different blood markers to measure your thyroid gland’s function, and it’s imperative that your doctor use the optimal levels rather than the standard reference range when assessing and diagnosing thyroid disorders.
Candida Overgrowth: Candida is a fungus or yeast, and a very small amount of it lives in your intestines. However, when overproduced, Candida breaks down the wall of the intestines and penetrates the bloodstream, releasing toxic byproducts into your body causing a host of unpleasant symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, digestive issues, and pain. A lot of fibromyalgia patients have had Candida overgrowth.
Glutathione Deficiency: Glutathione, a molecule, is the most critical part of our body’s detoxification system. Glutathione gets recycled in our body unless our toxic burden gets too high or we lack GSTM1 and GSTP1, the enzymes needed to recycle and produce glutathione. Taking a glutathione supplement or the precursors (NAC, alpha-lipoic acid, milk thistle) often helps dramatically with fatigue.
Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) and Leaky Gut: There are more bacteria in us and on us than there are of our own cells. When these bacteria get out of balance through the use of antibiotics or a sugar-rich diet we can lose our ability to digest and absorb nutrients, particularly B12. Gluten can cause SIBO and leaky gut and SIBO and leaky gut can lead to gluten and other food intolerances. It’s a catch-22 and a vicious cycle. You must first heal the gut in anyone with fibromyalgia or any chronic illness.
Mycotoxins: Mycotoxins are very toxic substances produced by toxic molds. Only about 25% of the population carries the genes to be susceptible to the effects of mycotoxins. Conventional environmental mold testing only tests for levels of mold spores and does not test for mycotoxins.
MTHFR Mutations: This is a genetic test you can get through any conventional lab. The more mutations you have in the MTHFR gene the less able you are to methylate and detoxify, particularly toxins such as mercury and lead. The more mutations you have in this gene the higher your requirements for methyl-B6, methyl-B12, and folinic acid in order to keep your detoxification pathways working properly.
Vitamin Deficiencies: Magnesium, vitamin D, and B12 deficiency are the most common vitamin deficiencies in those who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. The best way to measure magnesium is a red blood cell (RBC) magnesium level, which can be ordered by your conventional doctor.
As you can see from the above list, many of these causes are interrelated and often there is no single root cause of fibromyalgia or any chronic illness. It is a combination of several or possibly all of the above.
I’m a fairly open person when it comes to physical and mental illness, but I can also be very reserved, especially about my chronic pain and fatigue. It’s not because I don’t want to share about what’s going on with me, but because I don’t want people to think I’m a “whiner” or “attention seeker.” I am neither of those things. In fact, I’m quite the opposite.
A lot of people know I have fibromyalgia. What they don’t know is the reality of what I deal with. They see a positive, silly, young 25-year-old woman on the outside, but they don’t realize how much pain I’m in, or how badly my anxiety is affecting me. I don’t think people really understand the intensity of my conditions. I’ll admit that part of it is my fault, for showing only the good parts of my life on social media, but showing the not-so-good parts can sometimes come off as attention seeking. I don’t want attention, I want my conditions to stop being stigmatized. I don’t want pity, I want people to understand these illnesses.
When you tell someone you’re in pain, they don’t really take it very seriously. They usually think that you have a typical headache or backache. They don’t realize that your whole body is experiencing aches, stabbing pain, needles, numbness, or oftentimes a burning sensation. They also don’t realize that the clothing you’re wearing, or the cloth chair you’re sitting on could be causing you pain as well. People with fibromyalgia have sensitives to certain fabrics and materials. Some of us (including myself) feel pain in our organs. I’ve had ovarian pain for years and didn’t know what it was until I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
Our pain is often unbearable and can cause difficulties in everyday situations. When I’m going through bad flare-ups, I am sometimes late to work. It seems like no matter how early I wake up, it takes me 30 minutes to an hour to get out of bed because my body is stiff, my hips are locked, and my hands ache. Carrying a grocery basket can cause my hands and elbows to tense up, opening jars is sometimes impossible, household chores can take everything out of you, and the list could go on.
Speaking of being late to work, fatigue is another reason it’s so difficult to get out of bed. I could have had the best sleep of my life, but it will feel like I didn’t sleep a wink. For me, chronic fatigue is one of the most difficult symptoms. There have been days I’m nervous to drive long distances because the sun causes really bad fatigue. I work a desk job, but by midday, I feel like I’ve been doing hard labor, and all I want to do is go home and sit on the couch. And good luck trying to schedule anything with me after work. I’ll just be too exhausted to do anything. If you’re able to get me to hang out with you on weekdays, it’s probably because no matter how tired I am, I really need your company.
This is the last symptom I will touch on. Brain fog is a bitch, to say the least. Completely forgetting a conversation you had yesterday, having to pause mid-sentence because you forgot what you were saying, or stopping a conversation altogether because you can’t think of the right words to use. This is the most embarrassing symptom of fibromyalgia. Feeling incompetent is incredibly frustrating and heartbreaking. I often wonder if people are judging me because of this. I find at times, I can’t even remember how to spell a word when I’m typing. I proofread my text messages, emails, and social media posts multiple times before pressing the “send” or “submit” button. The embarrassment of brain fog causes me so much anxiety. I just want people to know can’t control the way my brain works sometimes.
It’s very common that individuals with fibromyalgia will struggle with different symptoms than others. All symptoms are different for everyone, so it’s difficult to explain to doctors what your symptoms are. Chronically ill patients seem to know about their illness than professionals, and that can be hard when it comes to medications and treatments. We’re all in this together, and we need support and understanding from the people and loved ones in our lives.
I hope this sheds some light on this awful illness. If you know someone living with fibromyalgia, go give them a (gentle) hug and ask what you can do to help them. Just being there to listen could mean the world!
Whether it is you or a loved one, we all know people who just plain ache. They hurt all the time and are simply worn out by pain.
This is what it is like to have fibromyalgia. Your muscles hurt and ache, they feel worse with touch or pressure, and being in pain all the time leads to chronic fatigue.
Fortunately, a recent study shows that taking magnesium for fibromyalgia can help reduce both the number of tender points and the overall intensity.
The most common symptom of fibromyalgia (or ‘FM’ or ‘Fibro’ as sufferers call it) is widespread muscle pain. Other common symptoms include fatigue and cognitive dysfunction (‘fibrofog’).
The cause of the ache and fatigue remains unclear, though some research shows that people with fibromyalgia may have developed a greater sensitivity to pain.
Trauma, repetitive motion, and surgery have all been linked to initial fibromyalgia symptoms in some people. Genetics may also play a part.
Psychological stress can be a factor as well. Fibromyalgia is often associated with stress, anxiety, and depression.
Fibromyalgia affects women 7-9 times more often than men.
A number of medications may be helpful, specifically Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Savella. How successful they are can depend on the level of pain, depression, muscle activity, or sleep-related problems.
In particular, the pain-reducing properties of these medications may be due to the release of neurotransmitters in the brain.
Unfortunately, as with any medication, there may be side effects. Lyrica may induce sleepiness, weight gain, and swelling of the extremities. Cymbalta may bring depression and have suicidal risks. Savella may have similar side effects but is specifically associated with nausea, insomnia, heart rate anomalies, and BP problems.
Physical and mental stress are associated with many instances of fibromyalgia. Working to reduce the overall stress in your environment can have a positive impact on symptoms. So can reduce your body’s response to stress.
It is important to take care of yourself by eliminating what stress you can. You can’t say no to everything, but you can often temporarily set some things aside so that you can focus on healing.
Some stressors you can’t eliminate, though. Good ways to cope with these include relaxation, exercise, meditation, and getting more sleep. In particular, cardiovascular exercise has been shown to reduce symptom severity.
What about nutrition as a method for managing symptoms?
One recent study showed that people with fibromyalgia tend to have low levels of various minerals, including magnesium.
Even more interesting, another study showed that supplementing with magnesium citrate actually reduced the number of tender points as well as their severity. It also helped reduce the depression that is often associated with fibromyalgia.
There’s also an infographic at Cure Together that shows a range of fibromyalgia treatments and how well each has helped people who responded to a poll. Magnesium is in the upper right quadrant of treatments which puts it in the ‘effective and popular’ group.
Personally, I picked up some magnesium for my mom shortly after I realized just how much it was helping me with migraines, anxiety, and dizziness. She reported it helped greatly with her fibromyalgia. In particular, my mom said magnesium malate helped her the most.
What Helps You?
If you have fibromyalgia and have found a way to cope that helps you, please let us know in the comments below.
As always, you are strongly encouraged to consult with your physician or another qualified medical professional to help determine your own optimal level of magnesium and to see whether magnesium supplementation is right for you.
