Sometimes fibromyalgia and skin conditions that cannot be explained cause even more issues for someone already suffering other common symptoms of fibromyalgia.
We know that when asked what fibromyalgia is, most people will say that it’s a condition that causes pain throughout the body. However, we often talk about the additional symptoms that have nothing to do with muscle, nerve or joint pain. These symptoms are often overlooked because they seem minor compared to the pain, but the impact of fibromyalgia on your skin cannot be overlooked.
Like many fibromyalgia symptoms, the exact impact on the skin can vary from one person to another. Many people with fibromyalgia also assume that their skin problems are separate from the larger condition because they don’t realize the systemic impact of fibromyalgia. Let’s take a quick look at some of the most common skin-related symptoms and what you can do to relieve them.
Research published in 2014 found that approximately 3% of those with fibromyalgia experience some level of unexplained skin itching. Approximately 2% may have thick patches of skin or lumps on the skin that itch. As with some other symptoms of fibromyalgia, the itching is not necessarily due to allergies or other medical conditions.
Being that our skin is the largest organ of the body, symptoms are bound to express themselves through the skin at one time or another. When you were a teenager you might have suffered from acne, and as an adult, you might find yourself dealing with multiple reasons for skin irritations, and fibro maybe just one of them.
Overactive nerve fibersdue to functioning of the central nervous system. The sensation of itching is basically triggered with no valid cause, so there literally is no reason for the itching but it occurs anyway due to signals sent from the brain into the spinal cord and out into peripheral nerve cells.
Chemical imbalancescaused by the body’s demand for natural pain relief. For instance, serotonin produced internally can help control pain and is stimulated when you scratch an itch. It’s possible that fibromyalgia patients are triggered to itch in order to produce more serotonin. Other chemicals are potentially involved as well.
Food allergies to gluten or other grains. The protein in gluten and lectins can cause irritation or itching, and I find the most common areas for food allergy reactions are the arms and abdomen.
Candidiasis : a system fungal infection that we believe is associated with certain skin conditions in some people with fibromyalgia and other conditions.
You might be tempted to take Benadryl on a regular basis for allergies or skin irritations, but remember what we were talking about recently in one of our live interactive. Benadryl has come under fire for its association with contributing to memory loss and dementia.
One excerpt from Life Extension. “Common anticholinergic drugs like Benadryl linked to increased dementia risk. … In a report published in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers offer compelling evidence of a link between long-term use of anticholinergic medications like Benadryl and dementia. Anticholinergic drugs block the action of acetylcholine“.May 23, 2017
Don’t worry about occasional use, I am talking about regular use on a daily basis for allergies or sleep issues.
It is always a better idea to work to get to those root causes, and please believe me when I say that many people are surprised to find out that things they are doing or being exposed to daily can be contributors to skin irritations.
If the itching is potentially caused by the pain of fibromyalgia, over-the-counter pain medications are often prescribed. The catch is that some of these medications can actually cause skin itching as a side effect. Sufferers can start by exploring the side effects of all medications that they currently take, asking their doctor for alternatives to medications that may contribute to the itching.
There are also some natural options for skin itching whether associated with fibromyalgia or not. Some of the most common options include:
Cold, wet application for approximately 10 minutes
Keep all toxic body products off the skin and out of the house
You should also check your lotions, skin care products, makeup and laundry detergent for ingredients that may irritate your fibromyalgia and skin conditions. (fragrances, propyls, and preservatives)
People with fibromyalgia might break out in rashes that aren’t connected to an allergic reaction or any known medical condition. They seem to come out of nowhere and can last for hours, days or months. The location of the rashes and level of discomfort varies from one person to another.
In some cases, the rashes are caused by skin itching. The natural response to itching is to scratch, and scratching can cause inflammation, redness, swelling, or even small break breaks in the skin. Treating the itching may help the rash, but some fibromyalgia rashes aren’t connected to itching or scratching at all.
According to Devin Starlanyl, “fibromyalgia skin biopsies reveal significantly higher values of Immunoglobin G (IgG) deposits in the skin and vessel walls and a higher reactivity for one type of collagen” (Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain)
Treatment for a rash often comes down to soothe the skin for immediate relief because there is no long-term cure. For instance, many people find that taking a lukewarm shower helps. You might benefit from an oatmeal bath or apply cool, wet compresses when suffering from fibromyalgia and skin rashes.
If you aren’t itching, perhaps you notice bruises that seem to come out of nowhere. This is another complaint of people with fibromyalgia, especially those who also experience extremely sensitive skin. If a simple hug from a friend is often registered as a painful event, can you imagine the pain that may come from bumping into the corner of a table or simply standing under a strong burst of water from a showerhead?
If your body is registering everyday touches as painful events, then small skin touches may result in bruises that have no logical explanation. In many cases, the bruises are actually the result of enhanced clumsiness that comes from sleep deprivation and fibromyalgia brain fog. When you aren’t fully aware of your actions and are prone to running into things, you’re likely to experience more bruising than people who are more cognitively alert.
What we eat and drink is important for many reasons, and because the skin is the largest organ of the body, it can be affected when food allergens or sensitivities to gluten or casein (dairy protein) are ingested.
Controlling stress is often recommended for fibromyalgia patients because it’s believed to lower the intensity of many fibro symptoms. You may react to stress more intensely than people without fibromyalgia, and the impact on your body is likely stronger as well. Just having fibromyalgia pain is also stressful, so taking measures to relax and relieve stress is an essential part of the fibromyalgia treatment plan.
I have found that the combination of external stressors and food allergies/sensitivities can be one of the most common reasons for skin conditions in fibromyalgia. If you also suffer from psoriasis as well as fibromyalgia, you will treat the skin disorder in the same way as people without fibromyalgia. This often includes topical treatments, light therapy, medication injections, and natural treatments like Aloe Vera gel and fish oil supplements.
Some people with fibromyalgia also suffer from interstitial cystitis which can further hinder their quality of life.
Your bladder is an all-important muscular organ designed to collect urine until you can relieve yourself. It expands as urine is deposited, sending signals of fullness through the pelvic nerves up to the brain.
Because of the strong connection between fibromyalgia and the nervous system, it’s not surprising that the bladder is impacted for many with fibromyalgia. After all, those nerves regulating your “I need to pee” sensation is a part of the nervous system.
If you tend to use the bathroom more often than other people, or you suffer from pain or discomfort in the pelvis, vagina, scrotum, or anus, there’s a chance that you suffer from interstitial cystitis. Even pain during sexual intercourse can be a symptom of this condition. If you have found no other explanation for your symptoms, it’s worth learning more about this disorder of the bladder.
As a side note, I was one of those who suffered from endometriosis throughout my 20’s and 30’s, and I will say that some of the symptoms of this condition and endometriosis are similar. Just be aware so that you know what you are dealing with.
This condition is also known as painful bladder syndrome. This condition often mimics the symptoms of a urinary tract infection, but your doctor will find no infection when testing your urine.
Those pelvic nerves seem to be on overdrive as they send the signal that you need to urinate when there is little urine in the bladder. Many will also experience pain or pressure in the bladder and pelvic region, which can range from mild annoyance to severe pain.
These symptoms are constant for some and may come and go for others. The discomfort may register throughout the day, when you’re having sex or when you’re releasing your bladder to urinate. Different people will have different symptoms, but it all comes back to pain and discomfort that isn’t connected to an infection or other known causes.
Interstitial cystitis is diagnosed when symptoms continue for more than six weeks without any sign of infection or other causes. While it’s common for people diagnosed with this condition to also have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and other conditions related to pain, you can have interstitial cystitis without fibromyalgia.
Interstitial cystitis and fibromyalgia are considered to be overlapping conditions but having fibromyalgia will not cause interstitial cystitis for everyone. It’s possible that the pelvic nerves are at least partially to blame since there is significant research connecting the central and peripheral nervous systems with fibromyalgia pain.
Patients are often left to treat each of their symptoms and overlapping conditions individually. Painful bladder syndrome is often difficult to treat whether you have fibromyalgia or not, and it’s common for patients to try multiple treatment options before discovering what works for their body.
Typically, treatments are implemented in phases. The first phase involves lifestyle changes including the following:
Dietary restriction – alcohol, caffeine, citrus fruits, chocolate and tomatoes are just some of the foods that may increase bladder and pelvic discomfort
Try pumpkin seed oil. Good for both men and women.
The dietary restrictions that relieve symptoms for one person are likely different from those that bring relief for another. It’s common for sufferers to start with an elimination diet, slowly adding foods back into the diet to see if they trigger symptoms. This can take some time, and relief is often coming after weeks or months of practicing these lifestyle changes.
If lifestyle adjustments don’t work or the pain and discomfort are severe enough to interfere with the quality of life, talk with your doctor about other short-term options.
If those treatment options relieve symptoms, you’re considered in remission. Continuing with the treatment plan should keep your symptoms at least to a tolerable level so that the condition doesn’t interfere with your quality of life.
When those treatments don’t work and bladder pain or discomfort negatively impacts your quality of life, you will likely see a urologist or another specialist capable of delivering some of the following treatment options:
Most fibromyalgia patients can control their painful bladder syndrome symptoms through lifestyle adjustments. It may take some time to go completely into remission, but this is the best option in terms of comfort and limiting side effects.
You often hear me say that although not a cure, modifications to your diet, proper movement, and reducing stress can help to lessen other symptoms of fibromyalgia. Learning to control the stress can help lessen the severity of symptoms, including those originating from the pelvic area or bladder. I like to say it is NOT minded over matter, it IS the body and mind working together.
If you have ever had this experience, you will know that symptoms around fibromyalgia and the heart can give you quite a scare.
This all-important muscular organ does an amazing job for us every day. Maybe even more so when other conditions are present.
Fibromyalgia seems to come with every pain sensation imaginable, and that includes chest pain.
Many will go to the emergency room at least once because they think that they’re having a heart attack.
This is most likely to happen for those who haven’t yet received a fibromyalgia diagnosis because they don’t know what fibro pain feels like and are more likely to believe that their heart is failing.
The danger for those with diagnosed fibromyalgia is the risk that they won’t seek medical care for a genuine heart problem because they assume that the pain is part of the fibromyalgia.
This is why it’s important for everyone to understand how fibromyalgia and the heart muscle interact and when medical treatment is necessary.
It goes without saying that the heart is truly the most important muscle in the body.
One of the primary symptoms of fibromyalgia is chronic pain across multiple areas of the body. One common symptom that we often talk about is costochondritis. The pain comes from inflammation in the cartilage connecting the ribs and breastbone.
The pain usually impacts the side of the chest and may cause waves of pain that feel much like a heart attack. The good news is that it isn’t life-threatening.
With fibromyalgia, you may also experience pain in other areas of the chest, plus the shoulders and arms. It can present as a sharp, stabbing pain, a burning pain, or a sensation of tightness. This pain can last for days or even weeks. Some fibromyalgia patients suffer from pain in the chest area for months or years.
We talk often about Temperature Dysregulation in Fibromyalgia. For those of us who are very cold intolerant (I have been sensitive to cold since a young age), this can even affect the heart muscle. Have you ever gone outside when it’s really cold and felt an unsettling feeling in your chest?
We know our individual tendencies, and if you get cold in your chest area, be sure to always dress warm and even practice breathing exercises to circumvent the cold weather from causing you to shiver, putting more stress on the fibro body.
First of all, remember that chest pain and heart-related issues can stem from a variety of factors. Reducing stress in all areas and working the protocols we have set forth will help us all take better care of our hearts.
And, while fibromyalgia chest pain is often not life-threatening, that isn’t always the case. Research is showing that it’s common for
heart failure patients to also have fibromyalgia. One study of 57 heart failure patients found that more than 20 percent of the participants met the diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia. Even more concerning was the determination that the severity of heart failure tends to correspond with the severity of the fibromyalgia symptoms.
Research has also shown that fibromyalgia patients are more likely to suffer from a variety of diseases related to central nervous system sensitivity or dysfunction. This includes heart failure, TMJ, and irritable bowel disease. This supports the belief that fibromyalgia is caused by an extremely sensitive central nervous system that registers pain when it isn’t warranted.
There is also some scientific research that proves variability in heart rate is connected to fibromyalgia. For instance, many sufferers have tachycardia, which occurs when the heart beats abnormally fast. This is just one autonomic nervous system dysfunction that is commonly seen in fibromyalgia sufferers. The connection is so strong that some professionals recommend checking for heart rate inconsistency as a diagnostic tool for fibromyalgia.
While there can be a connection between fibromyalgia and heart problems, there is no proof that fibromyalgia is the cause of heart failure or any other heart dysfunction.
Heart attacks can be the result of many factors including clogged arteries, which are often caused by an unhealthy diet. Stress on the body is also a major factor, and remember what I so often say, that living with fibro itself can be a form of stress on the body.
When we also have CFS/ME, we might have more symptoms related to the heart like irregular heartbeats or a racing heart.
If we have a family history of heart or stroke conditions, then we want to always treat that independently of fibromyalgia so we do not miss another condition.
Fibromyalgia might put sufferers at greater risk for heart dysfunction, especially when chronic pain, fatigue, and sleep disorders cause more imbalance of chemicals, hormones, etc. We know that cortisol levels (from the adrenals) become out of balance when we are not getting restorative sleep, and this also affects the heart.
It’s also likely that fibromyalgia intensifies the symptoms of a heart disorder due to sensitivity in the nervous system. This is similar to fibromyalgia patients experiencing more pain than a non-fibro person in daily life.
If you or someone you love does experience chest pain, it’s best to seek emergency medical attention. I say it often, but yes, it’s always better to seek help when it’s not needed than to blow off the pain as a symptom of fibromyalgia when it’s actually something more severe.
In general, fibromyalgia pain tends to last longer than a heart attack. If you push on the point of pain, fibromyalgia pain is likely to intensify when it is caused by trigger points. Heart attack pain won’t intensify when pressed lightly. Fibromyalgia pain also won’t cause pain to radiate down the arms or into the back, which is common with a heart attack.
Because there can be a connection between cardiac events and fibromyalgia, it might be helpful to ask for a stress test or other heart diagnostic tests to rule out potential problems. This is the only way to know for sure that the chest pain you’re experiencing is in fact caused by fibromyalgia rather than a serious heart problem that may become life-threatening.
Symptoms of a heart attack may include pain and pressure in the chest, pain radiating down the arms, jaw pain, sweating, nausea, and trouble with breathing. If you are having these symptoms suddenly, be sure to get help immediately. And, as you can see, just about all of these symptoms can also occur in fibromyalgia, so always err on the side of caution.
Also, as I stated at the very top of this article, the heart is the most important muscle in the body. Therefore, it is important that you check with your doctor before taking muscle relaxants and ANY other medications that could interfere with the normal rhythm and function of your heart.
I often talk about calcium supplementation and how it gets a bad rap because of all the inferior calcium supplements out there. The fact is that it is bad for your cardiovascular system/arteries to take an inferior form of calcium.
Now you can track how your heart is doing in the comfort of your home, or wherever you are at.
The kardia mobile device is easy to use and suitable for anyone with heart conditions or those who might be at risk. You might also track your blood pressure at home if that is also an issue for you.
If you have fibromyalgia, you have probably experimented with magnesium. It happens to be one of those minerals that people tend to have a deficiency in. Here in the Magnesium Article, I show a few options that can be helpful for anxiety, pain, muscle spasms, and yes, the heart as well.
It is important to avoid toxins where possible when living with fibromyalgia. There can be a greater potential for all diseases when people are constantly exposed to environmental toxins. There are more studies coming out regularly about the connection between heart disease and toxins that we are exposed to. Here you can read more about Chemical Sensitivity in Fibromyalgia.
Do you have a rapid heartbeat, sweating, nausea, headache, or increased blood pressure when exposed to toxic environments? That is common and that is often the body’s way of telling us that we need to get away from those harmful toxins.
It might occur while in a clothing store, restaurant, shopping mall, veterinarian clinic, or any place where high levels of chemicals are commonly used.
Remember what I often say. “A smile from the heart is a great place to start” I coined this phrase many years back because I realized that gratitude and a genuine smile can do so much to support healthy chemical balance within our bodies. As always, be good to yourself.
Yes, men also get fibromyalgia, so just how do they cope?
I feel a great sense of compassion when I receive messages from men with fibromyalgia. Although the diagnosis is not easy for any of us, a man can feel an additional blow to his purpose, and the need to always be the provider for his family when living with a condition that can really test a person’s strength and resilience.
So, to answer that question above, yes, men get fibromyalgia too. They live with the same primary.
From nervous system imbalance to muscle and joint pain, tender areas, trigger points over the body, and sensory or environmental issues that can affect the ability to function properly.
When doing our live videos on the main Facebook page, I will occasionally get comments from a man or a woman asking “What about men with fibromyalgia?” OR “Do men get fibromyalgia?” And therefore, I want to be sure that any man with fibromyalgia knows that he is not alone, and is always welcome to interact here.
This is not a gender-specific condition. In fact, it can affect men, women, and children. Many of us, myself included, have had symptoms since a young age, and oftentimes, went years without a proper diagnosis.
We know that this life is not without suffering of some kind. We all have something, right? But sometimes men are given a hard time by their spouse, family members, or friends about how they handle even a simple cold or flu. You know what I’m talking about.
So now, with a diagnosis like fibromyalgia, it can be tough on a man. They might have a more difficult time accepting the diagnosis and learning the best way to manage symptoms. A man with fibromyalgia and/or its primary co-conditions deserves the best support and understanding as well.
We know that women are up to nine times more likely to receive a diagnosis of fibromyalgia than men. This has led many people to think of it as a women’s disease, but there are far more men with fibromyalgia than most realize. The problem is that most of the studies on fibromyalgia focus on women, and those that have compared the prevalence and symptoms between genders have delivered conflicting results.
Doctors may also treat men and women differently when they complain about symptoms related to fibromyalgia. It’s also possible that many men don’t report symptoms of fatigue and minor pain to their doctors, so there are possibly many undiagnosed male fibromyalgia sufferers. It’s important for all men to understand the symptoms of fibromyalgia and the importance of seeking treatment.
When analyzing men with fibromyalgia, researchers often find that men experience less fatigue and have fewer tender points for pain. Since one of the tests used to diagnose fibromyalgia is an analysis of how many pain tender points are present on the body. Some doctors may rule men out because they report pain coming from fewer areas of the body. This is another obstacle to men seeking a diagnosis.
There is no scientific evidence that estrogen is the reason more women are diagnosed with fibromyalgia. In the meantime, men are forced to deal with fibromyalgia in much the same way as women. They either fight for a diagnosis and work with their doctor to treat the symptoms, or they go without the diagnosis and find alternative methods for treating the pain, fatigue, and other fibromyalgia symptoms.
There are personal stories on the internet that show the frustration that many men face when they start to experience unexplained fatigue and pain. Some doctors firmly believe that men cannot suffer from fibromyalgia. Others believe that it’s “all in the head” and won’t treat it like a valid medical diagnosis. Still, others blow off complaints of pain and fatigue if they can’t find an obvious cause.
Like many women with fibromyalgia, it’s common for men to make repeat visits to their doctor or see multiple doctors before they are properly tested for fibromyalgia. Some men have been prescribed pain medications that put them at risk of addiction because doctors don’t know how else to help them.
Many men are misdiagnosed and undergo unnecessary medical treatments. Since most men are conditioned from a young age to act tough and “suck it up,” many may give up on a diagnosis when their first complaints to doctors aren’t taken seriously.
One study that asked men with fibromyalgia to answer questions found that depression was the number one symptom reported by most men. They also expressed a belief that there is a stigma against men with the disease because so many people in the medical community and society at large believe that this isn’t a real condition that impacts men. Many men are accused of faking their symptoms while others are told it’s in their heads, which is a problem that many women face as well.
Men face many of the same symptoms as women, including chronic pain in the muscles and joints. Chronic fatigue and sleep problems are also common, and many can experience restless leg syndrome that makes sleeping even more difficult. There are also many other symptoms that are experienced by some, but not others. This is a disease that impacts each person in a unique way, which further complicates the process of receiving a diagnosis when it’s warranted.
Fibromyalgia patients can be diagnosed with other medical conditions as well. Some will have three or more medical conditions diagnosed, and it’s likely that symptoms for all of those conditions are in some way connected to fibromyalgia.
Men are no different from women in that severe pain and chronic fatigue can make it difficult to keep up with active lifestyles.
Men who are unable to work or who struggle to care for their spouse/children and take care of other everyday tasks could be at greater risk for addiction, self-medicating in some way, or lowered self-confidence. This is likely why so many men with fibromyalgia list depression as their number one symptom.
Yes, especially when we are living with fibromyalgia and its primary co-conditions of CFS/ME and MCS. (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity)
These co-conditions can be affected by dysfunction in both the mitochondria and the immune system. Links to these related conditions are listed at the bottom of this article.
Due to the recent spread of coronavirus, I am interrupting this article to impart a few words on some of the best ways to protect ourselves.
I was at a meeting recently with other health care providers and we spent some time talking about the spread of the coronavirus. I shared on the Facebook page but will expand on both recommendations and things I have done over the years for immune health.
As it turns out, my co-worker and I were exposed to the virus at a large conference of thousands of people from all over the world in February this year. On day 5 of the 6-day conference, I got sick.
As I found out a few months back, I did acquire the covid 19 virus, had rather mild symptoms, and then tested positive for the antibodies. My co-worker, older than me, also got it and had milder symptoms.
I did a couple of videos regarding my positive result, because if I could encourage anyone to not be afraid, then it is worth it. I have Fibro, CFS/ME, MCS, autoimmune conditions, and more.
I am 52, with underlying conditions, and yet I had fairly mild symptoms. My symptoms included loss of smell and taste (3-4 weeks), different types of headache, nausea, and a slight cough (about a week)
Some of my symptoms lingered longer as I noticed an increase in inflammation. (yes, I could literally FEEL it) I have lived with Epstein Barr a long time, so I get it.
Here is the thing, I truly believe in everything we ascribe to for immune health in Fibromyalgia and CFS/ME and Epstein Barr. I am doing the very same things you often hear me talk about, and now I have seen some of those symptoms decreasing.
I feel it is very important to tell my experience, because I live with the very same thing you do, Fibromyalgia, and I have each of its primary co-conditions.
No, this lifelong journey has not been an easy ride for me, but I am so passionate about this cause and helping you in any way possible. Again, I believe in the things we ascribe to because they work to help increase our quality of life, no false cures here.
Everyone is talking about immune health these days, and with all of this “talk” comes the push of supplements.
You know that I am all about safety and effectiveness when it comes to supplementation. I am not very flexible in this area because I know and have seen the potential dangers.
First, a common immune supplement that is being pushed is glutathione. The problem is that glutathione is not right for everyone, especially if you have had metal fillings in your mouth for any amount of time, as it can move mercury around the body.
If you don’t feel well after taking glutathione, it is best to stop taking it and consider our alternative which is 2:1 glutamine and glycine.
These two amino acids (get them pure in bulk form) can be taken together to create glutathione in a safe form without hurting you. I like to start with 2 grams of glutamine and 1 gram of glycine. (shown below here)
We can all use more vitamin C, and that is generally safe, use a raw form or liposomal form.
Other immune supplements we have used safely for years are listed at the bottom of this article.
4. Strengthen the immune system first by avoiding the depletion of critical nutrients. Avoid sugars and excess carbohydrates which deplete the body’s natural stores of vitamins C. Avoid secondhand smoke and exposure to chemicals.
Supplements will not do much if a diet is loaded with unhealthy foods. Use a food source of vitamin C and also take additional zinc. I like Wellness Formula for short duration periods of time.
My favorite zinc is in zinc sulfate liquid form from IONIC ZINC or Pure Encapsulations brand for zinc.
ALWAYS TAKE ZINC AFTER A MEAL TO AVOID STOMACH UPSET OR NAUSEA. Start slow if you need to with 1/4 to half a dose.
5. Vitamin D is also important for immune health, but the form is critical, read more here about the only liquid D3 emulsion we have successfully used over many years.
6. A colloidal silver spray in the mouth might also be helpful (if you don’t have silver fillings). Sovereign Silver is a good brand.
Advancing research in the field of neuroimmunology has offered some of the most promising discoveries between fibromyalgia and immune health.
Some researchers now believe that molecules are known as “pro-inflammatory cytokines” may have something to do with the myriad of symptoms experienced by fibromyalgia sufferers.
These cytokines are released by white blood cells in response to infection in the body. These molecules stimulate interaction between various bodily systems, including the brain, the nervous system, and the immune system. When the infection is treated and there is no other stressor in the body, the production of those cytokines should subside.
Research has shown that fibromyalgia patients may have fewer cytokines in their bodies than people not suffering from this condition. This means that the immune response to infection and stress throughout the body is less aggressive in people with fibromyalgia.
Research into this theory is ongoing, but many professionals believe that this may help lead to better treatment not only for fibromyalgia but for patients with multiple sclerosis and other conditions as well.
Working as a colon therapist, and in the field of gut health for many years, I certainly have seen the connection between optimal gut health, fibromyalgia, and immune health. A diet with too many sugars and simple carbohydrates can increase the propensity to overgrowth of bacteria and fungal infections in the digestive system and affect organs involved in the endocrine and immune systems.
You might have heard about SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) and wonder if this could be a problem for you? Do you experience bloating and indigestion on a regular basis? Does it seem that many foods don’t agree with you?
You see, a lot of important things take place in the small intestine. From properly breaking down food to absorption and assimilation of nutrients. It is important, as we describe in the anti-inflammatory diet article, to reduce mucous forming foods because they, in turn, create more mucous and this makes it even harder to absorb essential nutrients.
In a sense, it is about starving the very things that can live in a compromised gut. This includes bacteria, parasites, and fungal infections like candidiasis. In future articles, I will continue to expand on safer and effective ways of treating this unwanted bacterium without worsening symptoms in fibromyalgia itself.
Well, many of us can have a sweet tooth from time to time, but when sugar is ingested (even natural sugars) on a regular basis, this can decrease our immune status. Ingesting sugar can lower the immune system status for 3-6 hours.
If you eat sugar a few times every day, then it can be easy to see how your immune system might never be able to perform at its best!! One of our nutrition articles, Nutrition Tips gives some suggestions for daily meals and ways to avoid sugar cravings during the day.
Some people with fibromyalgia and its primary co-conditions are hesitant about being around other people when the sniffling and sneezing season starts, while others limit their social interactions because they feel susceptible to picking up every bug or virus that goes around.
Here are a few points I talk about with clients and have used myself for many years. I am 52 and have rarely gotten the flu. That brings us to point one.
1. Decide whether the flu shot is right for you. I don’t get them, my husband at 65 doesn’t get them, and we use natural remedies to increase our immune health and avoid toxins in the flu shot like Ethylene Glycol, Formaldehyde, Aluminum, Mercury, and more toxins. Whatever you do regarding the flu shot, you can still increase your chances of creating greater immune status by utilizing the following suggestions as well.
2. Avoid too much hand sanitizer, and use natural options like Clean Well, which has no synthetic fragrance or alcohol. It has been proven that too much “sanitizing” actually works against the body’s natural defenses. Avoid toxic hand soaps in public bathrooms, carry your own, or use warm/hot water and a paper towel. Water is the universal solvent. (Also, avoid methanol in hand sanitizers) 3. If you also have the primary co-condition of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, you might find that being exposed to toxins, synthetic fragrances, and chemicals can make you more prone to lower immune status and increased risk of sinus pain, infections, etc. I often recommend wearing a face mask on airplanes, trains, and even places like veterinary clinics that can have high levels of chemicals in the air. 4. Greatly reduce sugars, dairy, and grains, as these can be mucous forming, and mucous is like a magnet for germs, bacteria, and viruses. (Dairy fats like clarified butter (ghee) would be an exception)5. For most of us in winter, our sun exposure is greatly reduced. A quality form of vitamin D is very helpful and Life Extension Vitamin D emulsion has been proven to increase vitamin D levels safely. Read more here in our Vitamin D and immune health article.
6. Use colloidal silver (I like Sovereign Silver) in the mouth, take it under the tongue and throat area. This helps to protect against and kill bacteria, viruses, etc. Easy to take drops or spray.
8. Before going in public areas, you can lightly moisten a cotton ball with a small amount of 3% hydrogen peroxide and clean the outside area of your ears. This forms extra protection.
9. Use a sauna on occasion if you find you are not sweating at all during the winter. I like to use an infra-red sauna (shown at bottom of Natural Rxs article) but anyway that you can sweat out toxins will help, just go very slowly with any sauna use.
10. A multi-nutrient formula like Wellness Formula can be helpful. It does contain echinacea and goldenseal, so it should only be taken for short periods of time. It is potent and effective. Increase your vitamin C through a safe vitamin C powder like HealthForce, or whatever form of C works for you. Olive Leaf and Oregano are great for germs and fungal issues and are also in the Wellness Formula. Elderberry cough drops or extracts are also helpful.11.Eat at home more often during cold and flu season. Employees of restaurants, coffee shops, etc often show up to work sick because they need the paycheck. They are handling your food, the lids on your coffee cups, and more.
12. We cannot always avoid a cold or flu altogether, if you do get sick, take that time to rest, but continue to implement any of these suggestions to help support your immune system and stay proactive.
13. A neti pot is great to get mucous and toxins out of the sinus area, just be careful if you find it irritates your sinuses, only do as much as needed.
14. Juicing garlic (with other vegetables, not alone) is one of my favorite ways to get “nature’s antibiotic” right into the bloodstream, you can find some of my juicing recipes here.
NOTE: Never swallow whole raw garlic OR use more than 2-3 cloves at one time. Juicing garlic is much more tolerable than eating raw, even diced in foods or in soups. You won’t get the gas, in fact, this way helps to release the gas, not trap it in your intestines.
When the immune system is compromised, you can be more susceptible to a flare because when your symptoms increase, your immune status can more easily decrease.
During a fibro flare, you might experience more immune reactions like swollen glands, sensitivity to weather, and more areas of muscle, tendon, and joint pain.
Remember that the health of our lymphatic system is directly related to the health of our immune system.
Working in the clinic and as a practitioner for many years, I have often seen the correlation between chronic illness/autoimmune illness and low levels of vitamin D, which is obtained from the sun.
Some people have an aversion or other medical condition which might prevent them from going to the sun. Yet, from cancer to autoimmune illness to joint health, there is nothing better than getting your 25 minutes or so a day of full-body sun, when possible that is.
Research continues to prove this. We obtain vitamin D best from the sun, but we must be able to properly synthesize vitamin D. You can read more here in our Vitamin D article. Think about these points as well: 1. stay hydrated with alkaline water. 2. avoid toxic sunscreens which promote everything from skin cancer to rashes, use a better option like zinc oxide, and keep it fragrance and chemical-free.
3. Organic coconut oil has a slight natural sunscreen. 4. Eat an abundance of raw organic foods during the summer months to better support vitamin D absorption and skin health. 5. Consider the best additive-free Vitamin D emulsion we have ever used and I do highly recommend and use it, first picture in the vitamin D article is linked above here.
It is a good idea to nourish your immune system so that your body is empowered to fight off illness to the best of its ability. There are many supplements out there that claim to increase and balance immune status, but I want to give you a shortlist of our recommendations. These are what I like to call the “essentials for immune status:”
Other additional options: (not quite as cost-effective) 1. Cordyceps powder 2. Pro-Boost (a thymus extract I have used for about 15 years intermittently, but again at a higher price point)
One of the best ways to keep your immune system strong is to exercise regularly to your ability, take quality supplements that enhance and balance the immune system, and stick to a nutrient-dense diet. You may also benefit from taking a multivitamin and mineral supplement, especially if you know that your diet is less than perfect. You might also want to ask your doctor to check for nutritional deficiencies if your immune system seems to let you down all too often.
Although there is no one best diet for fibromyalgia, there are many dietary principles that will help to increase your immune status and help you to absorb more nutrients while working to decrease inflammatory factors.
Check out our favorite additive-free multivitamin on the supplement page linked above.
The thymus is one of our organs that can greatly impact fibromyalgia and immune status. Your thymus is located right in the middle of your upper chest. To stimulate our immune health, we can gently tap (with a closed fist) on this middle chest area. I generally do this for about 2 minutes at a time. If you feel comfortable, you can tap a little more aggressively.
Don’t forget that continual exposure to toxins and irritants can also lower your immune status. Be sure to keep a non-toxic home, only using natural cleaners. Avoid conventional soaps and detergents. Because we are in such close proximity to our clothes and bed linens, it is essential to wash only with fragrance-free natural detergents. See the Chemical Sensitivity link below. See additional article links below and thank you for being here!! In future articles, we will expand more on immune health protocols we continue to work on regarding Fibromyalgia and Immune Status.
Many women livings with fibromyalgia and menopause have a fear of going into menopause that is either natural or induced surgically through hysterectomy. More than ever before we have to address lifestyle factors and what I like to call “menopause essentials” in order to avoid the pitfalls often associated with fibromyalgia and menopause. I want to stress something of great importance here.
Avoid saying and thinking that your fibromyalgia will get worse during or after this time. Oh yes, it can and will get worse if we do not adhere to these menopause essentials we are going to outline in this article series on menopause and hormones, but is it the fibromyalgia, the severe depletion of hormones, and system support, or is it a combination of both? We think it is both, and along with normal aging factors, we must address this issue carefully and thoughtfully.
Working as a practitioner in holistic health for many years, living with fibromyalgia and other fibro co-conditions since a young age, and going through surgically induced menopause myself, I continue to refine the “menopause essentials” and the best protocols when living with fibromyalgia and menopause.
Please do not overlook the importance of this series of articles as I implement a combination of tools that will aid anyone in understanding how to better approach the issue of fibromyalgia and menopause.
There will of course be individual decisions that need to make with your doctor in regards to hormones and hormonal support therapies, but if your current hormone replacement is not working for you OR you are concerned about the safety and effectiveness in the long run, then more knowledge is power.
Maybe you are not quite yet to peri-menopause or maybe you are way past the menopause days and think this doesn’t apply to you, but there could be adjunctive progesterone hormone therapy that could benefit you and your fibromyalgia and menopause symptoms. If you are also dealing with environmentally induced anxiety symptoms or thyroid and adrenal stress, this could also be of benefit.
If you have suffered from estrogen dominance, you likely felt the result of that in a negative way and rightly so because estrogen is inflammatory whereas progesterone/testosterone are anti-inflammatory.
So here is some good news. Let’s say you have lived much of your younger adult days like myself with estrogen dominance. You have lived with hormonal imbalance. Your body has gone “haywire” in the hormone department and over-produces estrogen but underproduces progesterone and/or testosterone. Then, you go through surgical or natural menopause.
Now, it is possible through natural bio-identical hormone replacement to have some control as opposed to when your ovaries were playing “havoc” and you had little control. You cannot get up every morning and tell your ovaries how much hormone to produce for you that day, but with replacement, you are in control. Stay positive and keep working at it.
NOTE: an initial visit to a hormone specialist (independent of your endocrinologist or your ob/GYN) is a worthwhile investment that can make a difference in your fibromyalgia and menopause for years to come.
1. If we ever needed a comprehensive vitamin/mineral regimen, it is during and after menopause. Minerals affect estrogen production and balance. However, with minerals such as calcium, it is imperative to only get your calcium through either food, vegetable juices, or in food-grade supplement form such as raw calcium.
Increasing calcium intake through inferior supplements can interfere with vitamin D production and cause an imbalance. Mineral synergy with minerals like calcium and magnesium and balanced hormones is the best insurance for bones and the prevention of osteoporosis. We also need adequate hydrochloric acid (HCL) in the stomach and natural enzymes from raw foods.
As a colon therapist, I am not just interested in “detoxing” the body, I am even more interested in nutrient absorption in the small intestine and keeping the initial elimination channels open (liver, gallbladder, kidneys) for instance.
A good multivitamin is important. In many cases, we may need an additional vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin D in liquid emulsion form, magnesium, malic acid, selenium, boron, ubiquinol form of CoQ10, zinc, and vitamin K. (note: we have our favorite 100% additive-free multi on the supplement page, refer to navigation bar)
Extra benefits include: Vitamin C supports collagen production for our skin; Boron supports estrogen production; ubiquinol and vitamin B complex provide energy, and magnesium and malic acid support muscle health and relaxation.
With Vitamin K, take caution if taking warfarin or certain prescription medications, blood thinners, etc. Talk with your Doctor.
2. Choose organic foods whenever possible. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Just make it a priority. Not only is organic food more nutritious, but avoiding pesticides (endocrine disruptors) will enhance the healthy side of the hormone issue (phytoestrogen vs. Zeno-estrogen)
Phyto-estrogens include things like flaxseed meals and broccoli sprouts; in fact, those are two of my favorite food substances to use when enhancing phytoestrogens. I often include these in my blended drinks to really increase the overall nutrient value.
Zeno-estrogens are essentially endocrine disruptors; they are not natural to the body. Because the fibro body is ultra-sensitive to any disruption in the endocrine system, this can exacerbate all fibromyalgia symptoms. Again, this is not about perfection, but avoiding hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides in food as much as possible is essential for those of us living with fibromyalgia and menopause.
Allow me to share a few paragraphs from a resource, (“Menopause Naturally” by Kathleen Fry, MD. and Claudia Wingo, R.N., Medical Herbalist), and then I will add more in-depth information that is more current for today’s treatments of fibromyalgia and menopause.
“Phytoestrogens have a normalizing effect. They work in cases of estrogen dominance, characterized by fibroids, fibrocystic breast disease, and PMS. They also work when the body is not producing enough estrogen, as in the case of menopause. While phytoestrogens mimic estrogens, they are 1/400th as potent as synthetic estrogens. For menopausal symptoms, we have found that phytoestrogens containing herbs offer significant advantages over conventionally prescribed estrogen.
Although estrogens may pose significant health risks, including an increased risk of cancer, gallbladder disease, and stroke, phytoestrogens are not associated with these side effects.
Foreign estrogens, known as xenoestrogens, come from hormones in chicken, herbicides, pesticides, and other environmental or food sources. They may mimic estrogens in the human body. However, because they are foreign substances, these estrogens do not fit perfectly into the body’s estrogen receptor sites.
They can actually make menopausal symptoms worse or may contribute to cancer and other illnesses. Natural phytoestrogens are a better fit. They also help block the foreign estrogens from attaching to the receptor sites, so the body can easily get rid of them.”
Because not every woman is going to respond to the herbal treatments for fibromyalgia and menopause (and maybe we are working to simplify our supplement regimen), I personally believe and have found agreement in multiple resources, that natural progesterone (in troche sublingual or cream form) continues to be the most effective at treating a variety of symptoms we experience in menopause and fibromyalgia.
Natural progesterone has positive side effects. Dr.Platt, the author of “Adrenaline Dominance”, believes that the osteoporosis epidemic is often due to low levels of progesterone. You will need to work with your doctor on which form of progesterone is right for you, either cream or troche form (oral) as we want to bypass the liver whenever possible.
A little of my own personal experience: Since I was a teenager, I tended toward hormonal imbalance, then into my twenties and thirties, estrogen dominance. I never took any kind of estrogen hormones for any reason. My body did not need more estrogen. However, when I was put on natural progesterone for PMS in my twenties, it helped the symptoms a great deal.
As I got busy in my life, later on, I stopped using the progesterone for whatever reason and continued to struggle with imbalance, but I would also have times where I did feel balanced without any outside assistance. I had the typical PMS, fibrocystic breast disease, and eventually fibroids.
A while back, after my own hysterectomy, I visited with my hormone specialist right about the time the hot flashes were kicking in and getting unbearable (about 2-3 months post-surgery). I opted for natural bio-identical progesterone and testosterone/DHEA. Now, there are a couple of different forms we advocate but this does not include straight oral capsule form.
1.Natural progesterone cream. This is best to be obtained by prescription, as the over-the-counter brands do not contain the more therapeutic dosages needed to mediate symptoms and protect the body.
2. Oral Dissolve Troche. This is like a sublingual form, which dissolves VERY slowly between the cheek and gum. It is different from capsule form but may still have to go through the liver. What dosage will be right for you?
Most women find a dosage between 150-200 mg progesterone daily helps to eliminate hot flashes, protect bones, and create a greater sense of well-being. However, I break it up to keep a steadier stream of relaxing progesterone in the bloodstream. Progesterone has a rather short lifespan in the body.
I take 50 mg. before breakfast, and then 100mg. about 30 minutes before bedtime. I use the troche sublingual form and the cream form. Work with your “hormone specialist” doctor to prescribe and fine-tune your dosages (Note that your ob/GYN may not be your best option for a “hormone specialist“.).
If you are currently taking synthetic estrogens and you have concerns about health issues associated with them, you will need to work with your doctor on weaning off of that hormone therapy before starting another. This is very important. The doctor would reduce the hormone therapy slowly. However, even if you decided to stay on estrogens like Premarin for whatever reason, you could still talk with your doctor about adding natural progesterone to balance.
Remember, natural progesterone also helps with sleep. When I started taking 100 mg. at night, I noticed it put me to sleep within about ten minutes of getting into bed. Now, that is likely the most POSITIVE side effect we could ever ask for when living with fibromyalgia and menopause!! Again, I take 50 mg, progesterone in the am, and then 100mg before bed. Never worry about missing a dose here and there; it’s more about consistency over the long run.
With fibromyalgia and menopause, comes the need for extra bone protection. Along with natural progesterone which helps bone density, we also want to consider a few supplements and natural foods.
Of course, juicing vegetables will give us raw nutrients and enzymes right into our bloodstream. We don’t have to juice every day though. In my juicing/blending article here on the website, I recommend making juicing a part of your weekly schedule.
I also use a small amount of MACA powder in my blender drinks. Maca is a great hormone balancer and excellent for menopause. Work with your doctor on dosage although this can be obtained online or at your local health food store.
Biosil (collagen for bones, hair and skin in a very easy to take liquid that is better tolerated in the GI tract than some other forms of collagen)
vitamin D emulsion(shown in our vitamin D article here on the website – easier to assimilate)
natural progesterone (consult with your doctor and consider our protocol for usage)
Vitamin K (helps with calcium absorption into bones, however take caution if taking warfarin or certain prescription medications, blood thinners, etc) Talk with your doctor.
Garden of Life Grow Bone system (this is the raw calcium I refer to above and strontium, taken at different times of day to promote absorption)
Boron(helps with uptake of estrogen and mineral balance)
sun exposure(natural vitamin D from the sun is best, try for 20 minutes per day when weather permits)
Ok, many people are avoiding dairy products these days. With allergens and antibiotics (xenoestrogen), this may be a food group that you have already eliminated. Again, using the above suggestions will support bones. Dairy without fat is useless. Never use nonfat dairy products. They are too high in casein (dairy protein) and no calcium will be absorbed anyway.
Not everyone has difficulty with dairy, so if you include dairy in your diet, use organic goat milk products, ghee, and/or no less than 2% fat or full-fat dairy. Almond milk or coconut cream only have small amounts of calcium, depending on whether store-bought or made at home.
Being the most mobile joint in the body, the shoulder can sure do a lot of things for us, like lifting, reaching, and supporting our good posture.
The problem is that with all of that mobility, and wear over time, we can end up having fibromyalgia shoulder pain that can radiate, burn, extend up and down the arm, and cause resulting weakness.
Have you noticed that when your fibromyalgia shoulder pain is flaring, you might have problems with reaching, writing, typing, texting, using your mouse, or lying down?
I was recently doing a live video series on the Facebook page talking all about the shoulder, and how simple things like lying in the bed on our back can also flare shoulder pain when the shoulder goes to rest in a lower position. You wouldn’t think about that one until it happens to you and boy, can it be painful.
Maybe you reach up to get some plates from the cabinet, and feel a sharp and radiating pain in your upper (humeral) arm? Oh, yea, I get that, and why it always reminds me of the vulnerability of this area. Shoulder pain can also be age-related, I know for myself, I’ve had more shoulder issues since about age 50.
With fibromyalgia shoulder pain, we have more variables than just shoulder pain by itself. With fibromyalgia, we have the propensity to both tender areas around the lower neck, and trigger points that can occur anywhere around the head, neck, shoulder, and clavicle area.
Things can accumulate over time. A job where you engage in repetitive motion with your upper body, lifting children, extending too far out from the body, and more.
Trigger points can be created from injury or repetitive motions, and I like to say it can look like a connect the dots game. Unlike tender areas, trigger points tend to radiate pain AND they have a propensity to cause inflammation.
If someone you know ever says fibromyalgia is not inflammatory, send them here, I talk about this often.
The Apley Scratch test is simply a test anyone can do to determine the range of motion around the shoulder and upper arm (humeral) As I am showing here below, you simply reach back, as if you’re scratching your back.
There are many daily activities of living that can put pressure on the shoulders. When doing an activity like vacuuming, be sure you are focused, and pushing into the movement, rather than allowing the movement to “pull” on your arm or shoulder.
When reaching for something, always be aware of the weight of what you are picking up. The worst thing is to have your arm already extended, and then discover something is too heavy.
As you can imagine, I cringe when I see people at the gym using Kettle Bells because extending weight too far from the body can be dangerous, and we just want to err on the side of caution.
If you are at your computer for extended periods of time, take breaks, and even change the arm that you use with your mouse. I prefer a cordless mouse, as the mouse built into the laptop can be really tough on the shoulders and upper arms.
Be careful of leaning on your arms or shoulder. I was recently leaning down on my kitchen island, supporting my forehead with my hand, and within seconds of resting my arm on the top of the island, I got a sharp radiating pain right up to my shoulder. It was likely the angle and pressure together.
There are many suggestions I have given over the years for shoulder pain, but let’s focus on a few important ones here.
1. Circulation therapy (in this case, hot/cold therapy) is important and can relieve the intensity of the pain. Unlike a lower extremity, it might be a little more challenging to reach this area, but we have to get creative. You can alternate hot and cold water in the shower (not feasible for everyone) with alternate hot and cold packs on the shoulder area.
(NOTE that the often-recommended time for hot/cold therapy is often 20 minutes hot, 20 minutes cold. However, with fibromyalgia, I like to say 10 minutes or even less) Try to get a total of 45 minutes to an hour in, and this will be sufficient for many, 1-2 times per day or when feasible.
2. Be aware of sleeping habits. It is obvious that side sleeping would not be the best, but also when you lie down on your back, the shoulder is allowed to fall back further than when you are standing upright. I find it really helpful to use a small pillow under my shoulder when I need it.
3. Use the “Shoulders Back” device shown here in the upper back pain article. I use this, and I have gotten many good comments and feedback from others who are using it. It helps posture, shoulder support, and as my experience, people report that it just feels good. You don’t wear it all the time, just enough.
4. Be aware of posture, walk in your confidence. Don’t think it matters? It really does. Falling posture affects the shoulders, entire back, chest, abdomen, and clavicle area.
Whether it is fibromyalgia pain itself causing your shoulder pain, arthritis, or bursitis, you might try utilizing natural remedies first. I like Boswelia, CBD oils or cream, and Astaxanthin.
With joint pain, there can be inflammation. All of the above suggestions are meant to reduce inflammation as well. Be sure to address any bone density issues, and if you are over 50 like I am, then getting a DEXA bone scan every two years is a great idea.
I know this can be a tough area. Keep working on it. I have a recent video right here where I am showing a few exercises and tools for the shoulder.
As with many other common symptoms, fibromyalgia neck pain can really be frustrating.
I know, I say it often…fibromyalgia causes widespread pain and stiffness and can affect nearly any part of the body, but neck pain is still one of the more noticeable symptoms.
We use our neck muscles for hundreds of small daily activities, including turning our head when someone calls our name while cleaning or bending, and supporting our head when we are in bed. Those muscles and their supporting structures can stop us from enjoying daily life if we don’t take care of this vulnerable area.
Fibromyalgia neck pain can be really persistent. Trigger points can interplay with tender areas around the neck very easily.
You might want to get a thorough exam and eliminate possible injuries and any other medical conditions that might also be contributing to your pain. Consider all of your lifestyle patterns that can exacerbate fibromyalgia neck pain. We address this often in our live interactive videos on the Facebook page.
Address Curvature issues first …
With a simple x-ray, they can assess the curvature of your neck. If you have lost that natural curvature, this can increase pain and stiffness. Work on restoring that curvature by lying on a cervical pillow as much as possible.
I like another device called a Lumia Wellness cervical wedge. This helps to restore the natural curve of the neck. You can see the link below here. They are inexpensive and easy to use.
Simply by lying on the Lumia Wellness cervical support a few minutes every day, you can be on your way to improving that natural curvature that many people lose or compromise from excessive cell phone use, computer use, television watching, and more.
Simply adjusting how you sit and making it a point not to sit for longer than 20-30 minutes at one time can be helpful for some types of neck pain. If you have determined your neck pain is due to fibromyalgia, you should still keep those preventative measures in mind.
It’s also important to remember that simple things like stress or changes in the weather may cause increased neck pain in fibromyalgia.
Severe neck pain can also exacerbate symptoms in other systems of the fibrobody. It can stifle breathing, leaving you with shallow breathing. It can affect the thyroid and adrenals as well due to the stress and close proximity to the thyroid gland. Yes, there are many reasons that we need to take extra care of this vulnerable area of the body.
It is important to not perpetuate fibromyalgia neck pain with daily activities such as excessive use of our cellphones, computers, and TV. You see, with fibromyalgia, we will tend to feel the pain of repetitive motion, sitting, standing, or staying in one position long before a non-fibro person might feel it.
So, let’s say you put your neck in a compromising position for merely a few minutes, or even seconds, you could cause major pain in the neck before you know it.
The key is to avoid habits that compromise our mobility because fibromyalgia, can be much less forgiving!! When using your cellphone, instead of looking DOWN at the phone, prop it up on something so it is closer to eye level. This will help to avoid what we sometimes call “straight–neck”, commonly occurring from the use of cellphones.
Keeping the natural curvature of our neck is important. You know how pain in the neck can travel and radiate, and we want to avoid the activation of trigger points at all costs. I continue to recommend Myotherapy done by MT’s which is the hands-on trigger point release. This therapy is less invasive and more effective when done properly.
You see, it is imperative that we properly treat the underlying trigger points, not just cover them up because, in the upper back and neck, they will only get worse if not treated. Medications and cover-ups cannot accomplish this.
Do you tend to have more neck pain in the mornings? This is very common in fibromyalgia. It can be very helpful to wear a soft neck collar to bed. I sometimes just wear it a few hours but see, it goes under the neck like a cervical pillow without moving.
This will also help with restoring the natural curvature of the neck that we often lose as we age.
Be sure your pillow is not too big as this can also contribute to neck pain. Neck collars and smaller filled pillows are best.
Here you can see this one is not too wide and it is adjustable. See below as amazon is very reasonable on price.
Not knowing the cause of your fibromyalgia neck pain doesn’t mean that you can’t treat it for relief. If you currently use any kind of alternative or non-invasive pain relief, that of course can be a good thing, but at the same time, we want to be sure we are not covering up any root causes.
I believe this to be true for most symptoms of fibromyalgia. As always, my goal for everyone is a better quality of life. Let’s also be sure we are not attributing every symptom to fibro so that we don’t miss another condition.
You can also do gentle neck exercises to stretch the muscles and encourage greater flexibility. Some of these stretches may cause minor discomfort at first, but they can bring some relief when used consistently.
Simply turning your head from one side to the other and holding the position for a few seconds on each side may help. You can also use body resistance to lightly strengthen the upper neck muscles. Hold one palm against your forehead while pushing your head forward and concentrating on the back of your neck and hand resisting one another.
There is a product available that will provide the support I’m talking about. It’s called the Trtl Pillow.
I recommend using hot or cold compresses on your neck. You may try rotating between ice and the heat to help increase circulation which can, in turn, reduce pain levels. Even just a warm cloth around the neck can feel soothing, especially before bed. Below is an acupressure neck pillow that might suit your needs as well.
The worst thing that you can do for a painful or stiff neck is rest in one position for a long time. Maybe you’re scared to move your neck because you don’t want the pain to worsen, but the lack of movement is likely to create more stiffness which leads to more pain when you do have to move. You don’t want to jerk your head around, but you do need to keep your neck in motion throughout the day.
I find that propping one’s head on the side of the couch is one of the worst positions for someone with fibromyalgia. Avoid lying or sitting on a couch too long, as they are not made to properly support the body.
Fibromyalgia neck pain is debilitating in some cases, especially when it comes with headaches and pain in other areas of the body. It is all too easy to activate a latent trigger point around the upper back, neck and shoulders. If you do, please know that it might take a few days of self-care to calm those trigger points and tender areas. This is just an especially vulnerable area. I say it often as a reminder to accept and protect your body. Do not worry if your way of relaxing might be lying down where someone without fibromyalgia may find sitting is a nice way to relax. The point is to protect the body as needed while avoiding positions that will easily aggravate pain.
When most people get a fibromyalgia diagnosis, the first questions they have are about what to expect and about their long-term fibromyalgia prognosis.
Fibromyalgia is a complex condition affecting multiple systems of the body. Unfortunately, it is often misunderstood by friends, family, and doctors on the outside. That is just another reason we are so passionate about what I like to call “accurate awareness”
When you are first diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you may find it very difficult to be optimistic. You might not feel good about your own fibromyalgia prognosis (course of the disease) and you are not alone in that. If you have lived with symptoms for many years, it may be comforting on the one hand to have a diagnosis, but on the other hand, you still have to navigate through treatment options and what it means for you personally.
Many of us live with the primary co-conditions to fibromyalgia and these conditions themselves more greatly affect the immune and endocrine systems of the fibro body. You can read more AboutUs here and how I continually work to create the best quality of life possible despite the complexity of it all.
As research continues, and we address more of the “roots” so to speak, it’s more likely that those of us living with fibromyalgia and its primary co-conditions will remain mobile and active for many years despite the complexity. This is really what I continually work to convey regarding the future and your fibromyalgia prognosis for living with all of this.
If you are debilitated by the extreme pain and other symptoms associated with the condition, I am glad you are here. I am not glad you are suffering, however, and my goal continues to be giving you true hope for the future, a positive fibromyalgia prognosis but never false cures or quick fixes.
I get it, I know it can be tough. It might well be the toughest thing you will endure during your physical lifetime. Personally, living with symptoms since the age of 9, now 49, I believe in everything we ascribe to in this website to help us all live the best quality of life possible without false cures.
The best results are seen when patients follow the protocols that we have set forth herein the website and use the website as a study of sorts.
For instance, fibromyalgia patients like you and I need to create a lifestyle that includes a multi-faceted approach to treating the various symptoms. Do you have the following?
A primary care physician who can help to manage any other conditions, diagnosis of symptoms, and other tasks related to general care. Although we do not advocate medications for fibromyalgia, we understand that everyone is in a different place, and we want to support you in working with your doctor, taking only the lowest effective dose of any medication, and working to use alternatives where feasible.
A dietitian/ nutritionist/ practitioner like myself. This is important to support the immune system and ensure that the body has the nutrients needed to function properly. You can also follow our suggestions in the website. Being a colon therapist for many years, and working intimately with the digestive system, I believe in the nutritional principles I ascribe to and use them with myself and others I work with.
A physical therapist or trainer like myself who can assist you in creating a safe and effective exercise program. Please don’t be discouraged if your previous physical therapist has not helped you, this is exactly why I do this and work more specifically with fibromyalgia and co-conditions. I get it. If you do not have access to a trainer specializing in fibro or cannot afford it, simply follow on the fitness page linked right below here.
A therapist or other mental health professional who specializes in the mood swings, depression, and other emotional issues that surface when living with pain and symptoms. You might also gain benefit from a qualified hypnotist, Reiki therapist, or from biofeedback. The idea here is to get to the point where you can better manage emotions that come with living with a chronic condition. You might work with a hypnotist who can design a relaxation CD just for you!!
This would also include your faith, prayer, and meditation time. Knowing you are not alone and relying on a higher power. Continue to believe in your greater magnificence, because you did not ask for this, and this is not who you are. Personally, I like to ask God to meet me halfway so to speak. I do my part in the natural, asking Him for His part in the super-natural. Keep working on it.
Because this condition involves a significant amount of pain, many fibromyalgia patients rely on prescription medications. This puts sufferers at heightened risk of addiction. Not only might a person become addicted to prescription painkillers, but they may depend on sleeping pills and over-the-counter pain medications to an unhealthy degree. Some may also self-medicate with food.
The best way to avoid addiction is to develop a long list of healthy pain control methods. This list may include many of the things we ascribe to throughout the website. Things like meditation, bodywork therapies that fit your individual situation, professional massage, heating pads or blankets, hot salt baths, visualization, bio-feedback, and routine exercise that is both safe and effective for fibromyalgia.
It’s also critical that fibromyalgia patients are aware of the heightened addiction risk when taking prescription medication. Remember what we often say about taking only the “lowest effective dose” of any medication. Be sure your doctor understands this and knows that you are not there to get drugs. Let them know that your ultimate goal is to be free of pain medication.
Remember to utilize noninvasive alternatives whenever possible. Read more here about some of the natural therapies we use and ascribe to here.
One of the biggest problems for fibromyalgia sufferers is diagnosis. There are now some tests and scans that can help doctors determine if the diagnosis is applicable, but it still takes many patients at least a few years to get the official diagnosis. It can take at least another year or two to fully understand all symptoms and develop a customized treatment plan that is effective.
All of these time delays can intensify the pain and discomfort for the patient, leading to significant impairment that interferes with quality of life. While this isn’t a life-threatening disease, it is a condition that can significantly alter the lifestyle of sufferers. Many active, healthy people find themselves struggling to get out of bed as the pain intensifies.
So, I really do believe that a prognosis depends on how we are living with and managing our pain and symptoms on a regular basis. On regular basis, I mean using less invasive means most of the time but also knowing that this is NOT all or nothing. For instance, if you have to depend on a sleep aid for a period of time, but you are also implementing the many tools we suggest on the website, then that is being proactive, which is going to create a better outcome.
If you are using medication but working with your doctor to use ONLY the lowest effective dose, that is also being proactive. And, if you are taking responsibility and willing to consider and use as many of the well-verified tools and therapies we suggest here on the site, that WILL create a better outcome, and you will be less vulnerable to any other condition that might be lurking around the corner at the same time.
IF you are willing to keep digging for those “roots” and believe in your best potential, despite the complexity of it all, I believe the course of your disease can be a more positive one.
Fibromyalgia is complex, and if you follow here, you know I get it. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t get it, live with it, treat it, and believe in everything we ascribe to here to create a better quality of life. We do not believe in or condone false cures or quick fixes.
Could a weighted blanket become an effective addition to your fibromyalgia treatment plan? We all know the importance of comfort while sleeping, but with fibromyalgia, this becomes even more essential due to the tendency of poor regeneration.
When chronic fatigue leaves you irritable or the pain becomes too intense, you may want to give yourself permission to cuddle up with a blanket. These blankets are now used to treat a wide variety of medical conditions and could make living with fibromyalgia a little easier.
Each of these blankets is simply a blanket stuffed with material that adds weight. Some of the most common fillings include glass pellets and plastic pellets or beads, but many DIY weighted blankets are made with everything from corn and small rocks to sand. When making a blanket for children, it’s common to use extra layers of cloth or other soft fillers.
These blankets should feel much like any other blanket in your home but with some added weight. You can find them in a variety of colors and patterns, and some are heavier than others. Lighter blankets are suitable for children, but adults often experiment with weights and materials until they find the perfect weight for their personal needs.
Blankets with added weight stimulate the production of serotonin by touching pressure points along the body. Your body reacts to the blanket just as it would react to anything soothing to the body. Serotonin has a calming effect that encourages you to relax. This is why these blankets have long been used to soothe children with autism, sensory processing disorder, and many other physical and mental disorders.
Many adults are now using these blankets for fibromyalgia because it helps ease pain and anxiety. Some fibromyalgia patients have layered their blankets to receiving the same benefits for many years. Now there is a more effective way to get that comfort.
For some people, a little bit of extra weight can feel like a form of protection. This can also be a good thing for fibromyalgia when nerve pain or anxiety levels are high.
These blankets are often recommended at bedtime or naptime because they are so soothing and can help improve the quality of your sleep. As a fibromyalgia sufferer, you may put your blanket to even more use. Perhaps it will become your go-to therapy when you feel achy or the pain leaves you begging for fast relief. Cuddling up under a blanket with added weight can relax your body and mind, which in turn may help manage your pain and ease any anxiety that you experience.
You may even want to experiment with resting a weighted blanket over your lap while you work. It may turn out that a bit of weight on your legs helps calm your body so that you can work more productively.
Weighted blankets are easy to find today. You can order homemade versions on sites like Etsy or visit Amazon for a wide selection from leading manufacturers. Here are some features that you should consider:
Size – Make sure that the blanket was intended for adults rather than children. Look at the measurements to ensure that you will have enough room to cover up comfortably.
Color or Pattern – There are many blankets in neutral colors that will easily blend into any bedroom or living room.
Material – Some of these blankets have removeable covers while others are covered in soft materials. Shop around to find something that is attractive to you.
Filling & Weight – You might want to start off with a lighter weight and work your way up. Make sure that the blanket is washable because some DIY homemade blankets are weighted with sand and other materials that can’t safely go into the washing machine and dryer.
Note: The blanket that I have used for a few years now is not actually called a “weighted blanket” it just so happens to do the trick. In fact, I always wondered how people could sleep without a blanket just because it was warm. Most of us will need sufficient covering when living with fibromyalgia.
While this type of blanket won’t cure fibromyalgia, it can make your life a bit easier on difficult days.
