Category: Fibromyalgia

Restless leg syndrome and fibromyalgia can both cause issues for sufferers.  As if fibromyalgia doesn’t cause enough distress when you’re awake, it often disrupts your sleep as well. It’s common for sufferers to report difficulty falling and staying asleep due to pain, but restless leg syndrome is another condition that can lead to frequent sleep disruptions. This condition can occur while you’re sound asleep, waking you up multiple times in a single night.

It can also strike right as you start to relax your muscles and fade into sleep, preventing you from falling into a deep, restorative sleep state. Either way, you start your day feeling even more exhausted than you were at the start of the night. 

The connection between fibromyalgia and restless leg syndrome lies in the connection between overactive nerves and the neurological system as well.  It can be associated with neurological disorders, and just like with other parts of the fibro body, restless leg syndrome can also be a result of over-active nerves, something you hear often when living with fibromyalgia, right?  

There is no scientific proof that fibromyalgia will causes this condition in itself, but the connection is strong enough that all fibromyalgia patients should understand how to treat this symptom and sleep disruption it can cause, if and when it does occur.

Understanding Restless Leg Syndrome

Just as an epileptic seizure is caused by abnormal activity in the brain, restless leg syndrome is caused by abnormal activity in leg muscles. The legs simply want to move in awkward ways, and it typically occurs when your body is relaxed. You want to remain still and sleep, but your muscles decide it’s time to jerk, twitch, shake, or otherwise take action.

This creates a variety of uncomfortable sensations from burning and tingling to the sensation of something crawling over your skin. Like many fibromyalgia symptoms, different people report different symptoms. What they all have in common is the experience of their legs feeling and acting restless when their body is relaxed and still. 

In my case, I also have restless feet and toes. I find this happens even more if I am not wearing shoes or if it is late at night or first thing in the morning. Sometimes I will go put my feet in a warm foot bath with salts and liquid magnesium and then massage them to help stop the feet and toes from wanting to move about. * (magnesium article link at bottom of this page)

Click here to Get these Products or Visit Fibromyalgia Store

Can You Treat Restless Leg Syndrome?

Not all cases require treatment. If it is more of an occasional annoyance that you can overcome by moving to a new position or simply waiting for the restless activity to subside, then you may decide not to press for treatment options. You should still mention it to your doctor because there’s a chance that it’s a side effect of medications or supplements that you’re taking to control other fibromyalgia symptoms.

If your restless leg events occur frequently and leave you exhausted and unable to function, then you should experiment with treatment options. You can start by working with your doctor and checking for nutritional deficiencies. Be careful not to ingest stimulants like caffeine close to bedtime. They may also check you for other medical conditions known to cause restless legs or feet.

In case of any nutritional deficiencies, we want to be sure we are getting enough of the B-Complex family of vitamins, B-12 in the proper form, and magnesium (topical form is great) For B-12 in the most natural form, we like Methyl or Hydroxy form. (Avoid B12 in the form of Cynocobalamin)

You can also meet with a physical therapist to learn massage techniques that are proven to relax the leg muscles to stop the activity. Alternating hot and cold can be helpful, only to a tolerance of course. You may also try using an electrical stimulation device like a tens unit before bed .

I also recommend trying different forms of light compression. Often times people will say “won’t that hurt?” but light compression wear is designed to increase blood flow and circulation, so it can be helpful with restless legs and feet. It has been shown that wrapping the feet can be helpful in decreasing symptoms.

You may need to go through a sleep study before other various treatments are prescribed.

We also see a great correlation between exercise, movement and reducing the symptoms of restless leg syndrome.

You see, sometimes when we are thinking about solutions to any symptom, we have to think in terms of how that symptom itself thinks.  In a sense, how it displays itself. You get what I mean? What is that symptom saying to us? In the case of restless leg syndrome, it is saying “I want to move” “I need to move right now” So we have to beat it at it’s own game by giving it some kind of movement every day, whatever is right for each of us.

Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

References:

Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

Fibromyalgia Stores

Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

Many people with fibromyalgia can experience at least one form of dysautonomia syndrome and it can be a very serious problem that may not be properly addressed. Because fibromyalgia is so intimately connected to the nervous system, it can bring on various symptoms at any given time, sometimes without you being aware.

Your family member or doctor may just think you are overly “sensitive” but it really goes deeper than that. 

What Happens with Dysautonomia Syndrome

Your body is constantly working. It does a long list of amazing things without you even thinking about it consciously. You breathe efficiently even while you’re sound asleep.

When your nose itches, you automatically reach up to scratch the itch. Blood flows through your veins effortlessly.

You process food through your body, discard waste, and mount a defense against viruses and other unhealthy intruders. You burp, pass gas, cough, sneeze, and hiccup effortlessly. Your body even maintains body temperature automatically.

Imagine if your body started to malfunction with some of those automatic processes. This is what happens to an estimated 70 million people around the world when they develop Dysautonomia syndrome.

This may look like a long medical term that is difficult to understand, but it’s simply a group of medical conditions that impact the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS).

The ANS allows your body to complete all of those amazing tasks automatically. It’s the reason you’re alive because it controls your blood pressure, breathing rate, and many other functions that you need to regulate in order to live.

It also controls automatic movements that allow you to remain mobile and fully functional in daily life. When parts of this system start to break down or are damaged, you can face serious medical conditions known as Dysautonomia’s.

Dysautonomia and Fibromyalgia

It’s common for fibromyalgia sufferers to experience at least one form of Dysautonomia syndrome. We know that with fibromyalgia, there is a dysfunction in the ANS. For many with fibromyalgia, it appears as a delayed and inflated response to stressful situations.

With fibromyalgia, we may go through a stressful situation without releasing the stress hormones that are typically produced automatically.

Once the stressful encounter is over and we are able to relax, the release of those stress hormones is triggered.

A person could be flooded with stress hormones and experiences the anxiety and energy that others felt during the stressful situation, only the sufferer experiences it to an extreme degree long after the stress has subsided. This delayed reaction may make it appear that there is no cause for the sudden onset of severe alarm and discomfort.

There are other ways that fibromyalgia patients can suffer from Dysautonomia syndrome. Just as fibromyalgia can produce different symptoms in different people, the forms of Dysautonomia can vary from one person to another.

Click here to Get these Products or Visit Fibromyalgia Store

Symptoms of Dysautonomia

Here are some of the most common Dysautonomia symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Sleep interruptions
• Shortness of breath
• Inefficient short-term memory
• Trouble focusing
• Memory lapses
• Extreme reactions to hot or cold weather
• Dysfunctional bowels or bladder
• Headaches
• Abdominal bloating
• Dizziness with or without fainting spells

There are many other possible symptoms that could go on this list, depending on the parts of the autonomic system impacted by the Dysautonomia.

For instance,

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) can lead to dizziness, nausea, and even fainting when you try to stand up. It’s caused by dysfunction in regulation of the heart rate when you go from sitting to standing position, and it’s a common form of Dysautonomia for fibromyalgia sufferers.

In some cases, problems with the autonomic system can lead to death. This may occur when the condition interferes with those essential automatic processes that you need to live, including your heart rhythm. If you think that you may suffer from any form of Dysautonomia, it’s important to seek medical help immediately.

Those of us with MCS also can have a greater propensity to this kind of syndrome in the CNS because of the effect from environmental toxins on the body and the effect on various systems of the body including the immune, endocrine and nervous systems. (Read more here about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.) We also know that heavy metal toxicity can be implicated as a root cause in symptoms of dysautonomia. It doesn’t mean that every person who had dental amalgams will have high mercury levels, but it is worth testing. To test for mercury, this needs to be done with a hair test, not a blood test. Ask your doctor or check online for hair testing.

Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

References:

Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

Fibromyalgia Stores

Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

If you want to understand allodynia and fibromyalgia, try to imagine a world where the gentle touch of a loved one’s hand causes excruciating pain.

In this world, putting on a t-shirt, dropping an ice cube on your arm, or a friendly tickle can lead to discomfort or extreme pain.

For anyone with allodynia, these experiences occur regularly. The basic definition of the condition is pain that is produced from situations that typically should not cause pain.

Allodynia can be experienced on different areas of the body.

I often have people write in to me saying that they are experiencing what they believe to be allodynia on the skin, the head, or the back.

In this case, you can see where some normal daily activities like taking a shower, or getting dressed can pose a problem when this is flaring. 

Allodynia can be a tough symptom because the pain suffered by some patients is not caused by any known mechanism of pain identified by medical professionals today.

Click here to Get these Products or Visit Fibromyalgia Store

Specific 

sensory neurons are believed to cause the pain, and these neurons can vary from one person to another. In most cases, the pain is connected to fibromyalgia or over-active nerves close to the surface of the skin. 

We know that with fibromyalgia comes over-active nerves and nerve endings that can exacerbate this kind of symptom.

You may find that you are more sensitive in your extremities (hands, feet, arms and legs) Also, your face or head could be another area for symptoms of allodynia.

Types of Allodynia

Allodynia impacts some fibromyalgia sufferers, but it’s also becoming a problem for many people with diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, and chronic migraines.
Not only can the cause of the pain vary, but the symptoms can vary as well.

There are currently four types of allodynia:

• Tactile Allodynia: Pain is caused by light touch. Something as simple as lying on a bed or putting on clothing can cause incredible discomfort. 
• Mechanical Allodynia: Pain is caused by light movement of objects over the skin. Imagine brushing shoulders with a loved one in the hallway and wincing in pain. 
• Thermal Allodynia: The body overreacts when exposed to heat or cold. For instance, an ice cube barely touching the skin can cause extreme pain or a sunny day can lead to unbearable discomfort on the skin even without a sunburn. 
• Static Allodynia: This is a form of mechanical allodynia that results from light pressure applied to the skin. A finger touching the skin might not cause pain, but someone gripping your arm lightly may feel extremely uncomfortable.

The symptoms of these conditions can range from a mild annoyance to debilitating pain that makes daily life difficult to manage. Some people may experience symptoms continuously while the discomfort comes and goes for others.

One person may describe the pain as pins and needles feeling while it’s sheer pain for another.

The variance in the condition along with the unknown cause makes this one of the biggest medical mysteries afflicting fibromyalgia sufferers today.

Click here to Get these Products or Visit Fibromyalgia Store

Treatments for Fibromyalgia Allodynia

Someone with an extreme sensitivity to heat may need to avoid hot showers or staying outdoors in the heat for too long.

If you are sensitive to cold, it would be a good idea to stay warm by always having a sweater, gloves, or hat with you, whatever helps you to avoid getting cold, which for some people with fibromyalgia, can cause a flare or increase of symptoms.  

For those with touch sensitivities from allodynia and fibromyalgia, wearing minimal clothing with extremely soft, light fabric may help.

Winter time can be challenging. “Layering” doesn’t always work as well for the fibro body due to the sensitivity of weight on the skin and body.

Too many layers on the upper body can also cause the neck to move ever so slightly forward causing you a real pain in the neck, literally!! 

You would also want to be sure that edema of any kind is not exacerbating this symptom. Interstitial edema is one of those symptoms that can sometimes interplay with allodynia because both symptoms are right near the surface of the skin.

I also caution against using chemical lotions and other body products on the skin. Be aware that many moisturizing products still contain many chemicals.

My Experience with Allodynia and Fibromyalgia

Let me give an example of how I personally experienced this symptom. Now, I would attribute my experience more to what we call “thermal allodynia” as noted above in types of allodynia.

Although in my case, it is not just temperature, it is a combination of any kind of toxin in the air/environment and then what occurs for me is a “sensation” of extreme cold on my hands, feet, or around my head. 

So, let’s say I am exposed to something like a toxic air freshener saturating the air, or a strong fragrance off-gassing from someone’s body, and although it doesn’t happen every time that I am exposed, when it does, it creates a very uncomfortable feeling where my hands become very cold and it feels like there are needles just under the surface of my skin and then on the surface, feels cold.

I always avoid using liquid hand soaps in public places for this reason, as the strong toxins and fragrance in the soap will immediately cause this symptom. I can almost always attribute that sensation to something I was just exposed to, however not everyone can, so I wanted to note how that symptom could be “activated” in another way that is not necessarily explained within types of allodynia. 

Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

References:

Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

Fibromyalgia Stores

Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

Costochondritis pain is just one of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia. You have likely experienced it at one time or another.

This pain involves burning, stabbing, and radiating pain around the ribs and sometimes pushing up into the lower chest area.

It may not always occur as often as other symptoms such as widespread muscle pain or nerve pain. However, when it does occur, it can be very painful. If this is occurring more often for you, please get this checked out, as we don’t want to miss another condition. 

This pain can strike without warning and can be caused by a number of things like injury or trauma to the body and seems to occur more in people with fibromyalgia. 

We also want you to be aware of other potential conditions that cause similar symptoms but might be something altogether different.

Scary Symptoms

Imagine a busy mother of three young children. We’ll call her Terry. She’s buzzing through her evening routine, getting her little ones fed, bathed, and happily tucked into bed after a long story-reading session.

As one child brushes her teeth and other chatters endlessly from the bathtub, Terry sits on the edge of the tub. She leans forward, holding a hand over the left side of her chest. She touches her ribcage, then the center of her chest, and she winces. She’s been tender in those areas for days, and now the severe pain has her bending over in agony.

In this situation, Terry might call 911, assuming that she’s having a heart attack. She would end up in the hospital going through a series of tests, and they would tell her that there is nothing wrong with her heart. There’s nothing wrong with her at all. More than likely, she would return home with the same pain and a big question mark about the cause.

This type of unexplained chest pain is known as costochondritis. The cartilage connecting the ribcage to the breastbone becomes inflamed, leading to pain in the chest or ribcage. In some cases, the pain may extend to the arms and other surrounding areas.

While some people experience mild pain or annoying discomfort, others experience extreme pain that is sometimes mistaken as a heart attack. In some cases, the pain is so intense that the sufferer assumes that it has to be something serious.

Click here to Get these Products or Visit Fibromyalgia Store

Should You Worry About Costochondritis Pain?

Even though as many as 70% of fibromyalgia sufferers experience chest pain at some point, this condition is not considered serious by medical professionals. There is no risk to your life, and it won’t impact other areas of your body, as long as other conditions have been ruled out.

If you’re in severe pain or the condition lasts for a long period of time and interferes with your daily life, you may consider physical therapy or book an acupuncture session.

As long as more serious conditions have been ruled out by your doctor or another medical professional, managing the pain and discomfort is the best that you can do.

The Costochondritis-Fibromyalgia Connection

The onset of costochondritis pain can be related to car accidents, falls or other incidents that cause injury to the chest area. It can sometimes develop if you have a severe upper respiratory infection as well.

Many people who don’t have fibromyalgia develop this painful condition due to injury or illness, but many with fibromyalgia also develop this painful and sometimes alarming symptom.

Remember that inflammation itself can also be caused by trigger points around the body. Trigger points occur within layers of muscle and around connective tissue, so this area around the ribs can certainly become more vulnerable to radiating pain. A link to our trigger points article is located at the bottom of this article. 

If you can trace the development of the pain back to an accident or an illness, then your fibromyalgia may intensify the pain. The discomfort of costochondritis pain may also stimulate a flare-up of other fibromyalgia symptoms. We do believe that fibromyalgia itself can cause costochondritis pain without any other contributing factors. 

What Should You Do When Chest Pain Hits?

It’s important to seek medical attention right away if you experience pain or discomfort in your chest. There are other conditions that could cause this type of pain, including problems with your heart or gallbladder. Once those more serious alternatives are ruled out, and you know that there is no life-altering reason for your pain, you can treat the discomfort through cold compresses or the breathing exercise I describe in the last paragraph of this article. This will be similar to how you may treat the symptoms of a fibromyalgia flare-up that are not life-threatening.

Click here to Get these Products or Visit Fibromyalgia Store

Costochondritis can get worse when you cough, take deep breaths or move around. You may need to rest more and give yourself a break until the pain subsides. If it becomes unmanageable, seek medical attention to ask about alternative forms of treatment.

As a colon therapist, I would like to extend another caution, so as not to miss other conditions. Another common condition that often mimics the pain of costochondritis is liver or bile duct pain. You could be having gallbladder attacks and not know it. If you are having pain around the upper front of the rib cage, along the transverse colon area (same area), you need to be aware of this potential issue and rule that out as well.

If you are experiencing costochondritis symptoms and are having difficulty breathing because of the pain/spasms around the chest and ribs, try this simple technique. Sit comfortably in a chair, with feet on floor. Take your hands crossed on your chest, and them move yourself forward from the waist, leaning over while sitting and see if that allows you to obtain some better breathing. 

You see, the inability to breathe properly during this kind of episode can actually make this pain intensify. So, the best thing you can do, is to find a comfortable position in which you can better breathe and not hold the tension so much in these areas. 

Be aware of side sleeping. 
I find that for myself, if I am sleeping on my side for a long period of time during the night, this has the potential to bring on costochondritis pains. 

What about compression?
Remember how I often talk about using light to moderate compression on certain areas of the body to increase blood flow? Hands, feet, knees, etc. Well, we can also use light compression around the ribs. If store bought abdominal wraps are too tight or uncomfortable for you, experiment by cutting up smaller pieces of clothing like shirts, and then using them for compression. 

We also find there can be a correlation between trigger points and costochondritis. This can occur from any kind of injury, strain, surgery, etc. 

Below you will see one of my favorite remedies for inflammation. Astazanthin can help our bodies in more ways than one, and I like to include this in our toolbox of remedies for treating inflammation. 

Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

References:

Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

Fibromyalgia Stores

Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

Fibromyalgia chest pain can be one of the scariest symptoms of fibromyalgia because it may feel like you are having a heart attack and cause you great concern.

This kind of pain can stop you in your tracks. It can have you wondering “is this life threatening?”

Because fibromyalgia is complex, it is important to know the various ways the chest area can be affected with pain or symptoms. There are a few other causes and conditions that can occur in the chest area of the fibro body that you want to be aware of. 

Fibromyalgia can affect multiple systems of the body.

While affected muscles, ligaments, joints, and tendons throughout the body can cause pain and multiple systems are often affected, it’s the chest pain that causes the most alarm. 

A trip to the emergency room may cause even more confusion as doctors check for scary heart conditions. However, it is important to rule out any heart related conditions, especially if this is a new symptom for you.

Possible Scenarios Causing Fibromyalgia
Chest Pain: 

In the end, it is likely to come down to a few different scenarios when living with fibromyalgia. More specifically, SEVEN of these possible scenarios that I will touch on here today.

1. Costochondritis? This is a condition that can cause minor discomfort in the ribs to severe chest pain. It’s often restricted to the left side of the chest, but it can occur in the right side or throughout the entire chest. The cause is inflammation in the cartilage connecting the breast bone and the ribs.

This is why you might complain of pain and discomfort in the ribs as well as in the center of the chest.

Costochondritis often produces sharp pain that can feel much like a heart attack or symptoms of other serious heart conditions. This is why the first occurrence could send you to the emergency room or to a doctor’s office in a panic.

The good news is that the condition isn’t connected to heart failure and in no way implies a problem with the cardiac system. It may lead to a more serious diagnosis in some cases, but for many people, it is about managing the symptoms, in fact.

While about 10% of the general population is believed to suffer from costochondritis, well over 50% of fibromyalgia sufferers will experience this type of chest pain at some point in their lives. It’s most common among women under the age of 40, but it can strike any fibromyalgia patient at any stage of life.

Some people may experience consistent fibromyalgia chest pain for long periods of time while others report short bouts of chest discomfort that come and go randomly. It’s just another symptom of fibromyalgia that varies from person to person.

In some cases, costochondritis surgery is performed to remove the cartilage causing the fibromyalgia chest pain. This isn’t always a solution for fibromyalgia patients, but it’s something to talk to your doctor about if your fibromyalgia chest pain is severe and lasts for a long period of time with no relief in sight. 

Click here to Get these Products or Visit Fibromyalgia Store

2. Trigger Points?
When living with fibromyalgia, we generally have 11-18 tender areas in vulnerable areas like the neck, lower back and extremities. However, we also tend to have even more trigger points, and these can occur anywhere on the body, even around the upper body and chest area. This could be a reason for your fibromyalgia chest pain.

You might remember how I often say that if we mapped out our trigger points, it would look like a war zone!! It is not so cut and dry because trigger points can occur within layer of muscle and around connective tissue in the body. So how could we potentially “activate” trigger points around the chest area?
Lifting something that is too heavy, leaning down to the floor, sleeping in a bad position, or even just having something lean against us, like a child or pet. Yes, this can potentially activate TRP’s and that is what causes that radiating and burning pain that we often experience.

3. What about FBD or Fibrocystic Breast Disease? 

Although not limited to those with fibromyalgia, it tends to be more common among those with fibromyalgia, altered hormones, or those with a tendency to estrogen dominance.

Women who complain of severe PMS symptoms often lasting for weeks at a time or longer are often the ones that will be more susceptible to FBD. The symptoms include very tender breast tissue, burning and even radiating pain around the breast and into the arm pit, and sometimes an increase of breast size. 

The problem with FBD, is that it can prevent women from doing normal every day things due to the extreme tenderness around the breast area. You might limit movement or exercise. You might find that you need more support to limit that movement if possible.

4. Shallow Breathing?
You might often hear me say that people with a chronic illness like fibromyalgia tend to be shallow breathers. Or, as I like to say “Don’t be a shallow Hal!!”  You see, when you are in pain anywhere in the body, it is not uncommon to stifle your breathing, and often times you don’t know you are doing it.

Then what happens is that the chest area is one of the areas that “takes the hit” so to speak, along with the shoulders. So, you can find yourself with stifled breathing, tight shoulders and what I call that “stress pain” around the pectoralis muscles of the chest. 

You may find yourself sweating more and unable to actually get a deep breath. That is a sign that your body is accumulating far too much stress. The best time to “practice” deep breathing is when you are relaxed so that it will come more naturally to you during a more stressful situation or just when dealing with the everyday symptoms of fibromyalgia.

5. There will be times when the heart muscle will be involved.

You certainly do not want to be too concerned, but if you are at greater risk for heart disease or stroke, you can read more here.

Click here to Get these Products or Visit Fibromyalgia Store

6. Gallbladder attacks:
As a colon therapist, I would like to extend another caution, so as not to miss other conditions. Another common condition that often mimics the pain of costochondritis is liver or bile duct pain. You could be having gallbladder attacks and not know it. If you are having pain around the upper front of the rib cage, along the transverse colon area (same area), you need to be aware of this potential issue and rule that out as well. 

Gallbladder and bile duct disease are more common these days. I believe in adhering to an anti-inflammatory diet and moderate detoxing of both the liver and gallbladder. Follow my suggestions throughout the website. 

7. Caffeine Sensitivity 
I’ve had fibromyalgia since a young age, now 52. I have always been very sensitive to caffeine. The ironic thing is that I love a good espresso coffee!! I just need it decaf and if at home, I try to use a water processed version. 

If I am accidentally “caffeinated”, guess where I feel it first and most intense? In my chest. I get a feeling of heaviness, pain, stabbing, and of course a rise in heart rate. 

I’m actually glad that I am not dependent on caffeine to get me going in the morning, I do wish that I wasn’t quite that sensitive, because an accidental ingestion can cause symptoms for hours or more… If you can relate to any of those 7 possible scenarios, I am glad you are here. I want you to be as empowered as possible as you work to create a better quality of life, no false cures or quick fixes here.

Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

References:

Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

Fibromyalgia Stores

Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

If you suffer from fibromyalgia, you want to know whether histamine intolerance may be contributing to your symptoms or the severity of them.

One exacerbating factor in Fibromyalgia?

We know that there are multiple reasons why a person develops fibromyalgia, including inheritance, propensity to, root causes like metals or Epstein Barr, and various co-conditions.

One thing that has the potential to increase symptoms in those with fibromyalgia is Histamine Intolerance. Some symptoms in fibro are root issues, while others are exacerbating factors, such as histamine. 

Large amounts of histamine accumulating inside the body can lead to a variety of symptoms, many of which are also endured by many fibromyalgia sufferers. Some signs of intolerance include:

• Headaches
• Sleep problems
• Low blood pressure
• Hypertension
• Acid reflux
• Anxiety
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Runny nose

In more extreme cases, too much histamine in the system may cause asthma or irregular heartbeats. Some people also report severe itching on their skin or vertigo. Not everyone who experiences this intolerance will also suffer from fibromyalgia, and not all fibromyalgia patients will have it. In order to understand the potential connection, it’s important to understand how histamine works.

Crash Course on Histamine Intolerance

An amino acid known as histidine produces the histamine molecule to carry out a variety of useful bodily functions, including:

• Fight off allergies, viruses, and other intruders
• Help regulate digestion
• Help regulate sexual functioning
• Help regulate sleep patterns
• Contribute to stabilization of blood pressure

Obviously, it’s beneficial to have some histamine in the body, but this molecule does contribute to inflammation. When large amounts of these molecules are released to fight off an allergic reaction or another potential danger, it comes with common signs of allergies, including a runny nose. This is why antihistamines are taken by allergy sufferers. 

Histamines also enter your body through food sources, and the small intestine is supposed to release an enzyme known as diamine oxidase of DAO to break those histamines down. This prevents the body from being overrun with histamine molecules.

Click here to Get these Products or Visit Fibromyalgia Store

When

DAO is insufficient and the small intestines aren’t doing their job, those molecules build up in the system and cause some or all of the symptoms listed above. This condition is referred to as histamine intolerance.

In fact, if you are to be tested by the doctor, they will test histamine and DAO. You can also choose to take a DAO enzyme supplement during meals. 

The symptoms only occur when the body is overrun by a large dose of histamine. This causes the symptoms to come and go throughout the lifetime of a sufferer, with spikes occurring during pregnancy. Misdiagnoses are common because the symptoms overlap with many other conditions, including fibromyalgia, irritable bowel disorder, and other digestive issues. 

Foods That are High on Histamine

If you know that you have a histamine overload in your body, you likely have begun to associate reactions to certain foods. The following are suspect in those with histamine Intolerance:

• alcohol
• fermented foods
• aged cheese
• smoked meats/lunch meats
• shellfish
• beans/legumes
• chocolate

Foods That Can Trigger a Histamine Reaction:

• citrus
• papaya 
• strawberries 
• pork 
• egg whites 
• peanuts 
• tomatoes 
• spinach 
• additives 

Click here to Get these Products or Visit Fibromyalgia Store

Other “suspects” for histamine reactions 

Apple Cider Vinegar is highly promoted, but you could have a reaction to it with histamine intolerance.
It is also worth noting that other foods like leftovers can contribute to a histamine response if not handled properly or after just 1-2 days.

Highly promoted drinks like Kombucha are also not right for everyone. 

We find that green tea might also be suspect. Green tea just happens to be one of those “healthy” beverages that is highly promoted but again, some people will have a slight reaction. Our experience has found that a better choice would be using Match a Green Tea powder for the benefits of green tea (trial and error with that one) 

The Connection to Fibromyalgia

Many people with fibromyalgia do experience some relief of their symptoms when they decrease or eliminate consumption of foods that contain histamine.

Those with it may also notice an increase in fibromyalgia symptoms while their seasonal allergies are active or they experience other types of allergic reactions and infections. It’s possible that this explains some fibromyalgia flares that are typically believed to have no cause.

Remember how I talk in the Leaky Gut articles and Candida articles about the correlation to histamine. These conditions can trigger the symptoms of histamine itself.

It’s important to discuss the possible correlation of your fibromyalgia symptoms and an intolerance to histamine with your doctor before trying to treat the histamine abundance on your own. Your doctor can help you determine whether there is a potential of intolerance in your case, and they can suggest treatments that won’t interfere with your overall fibromyalgia treatment plan.

In our RECIPES article page, it just so happens that many of our suggestions are suitable for a low histamine diet. However, there are recipes listed there that are grain free, gluten free, and some will have a variety of ingredients. If you suspect a certain substance, try to eliminate it for 1-2 weeks and see how you feel.  Be aware that if you have Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, this can exacerbate symptoms of histamine intolerance as well. Also, we find that allergy season will also cause a person with histamine issues to exhibit more symptoms.

Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

References:

Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

Fibromyalgia Stores

Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store

Do you have hand pain and fibromyalgia?

Pain in the extremities is common in fibromyalgia and sometimes overlooked due to the other common pain areas of the fibro body.

It might be hard to distinguish the difference between pain that is caused from fibromyalgia, nerve pain or pain that stems from another condition like any of the various types of arthritis.

What Does Hand Pain and Fibromyalgia Feel Like?

Of course, you might have both fibro and arthritis type of pain.

The hand pain might be coming from another condition, but in the interest of hand pain and fibromyalgia and the many questions that arise, we will focus on hand pain caused by fibromyalgia.

With fibromyalgia pain, it will be more related to nerves, tendons and trigger points. However, there can be other related causes as well. 

“Fibro-related hand pain can occur when using or not using the hands. Pain can occur when simply reaching for and picking up an object. Even a light object” 

Because the muscles in our hands are different from that of our legs or arms, the pain may likely feel like it is more in the bones and joints of the fingers rather than the muscles and tendons of the joints. This light touch sensation can also stem from allodynia.

Change in blood flow to the hands or nerve pain can also be exacerbating factors. You may have heard that blood vessels can be affected in fibromyalgia. This can also occur more in the extremities in some cases. Read more here regarding the Blood Vessel connection. 

Fairly often, what you feel initially is more of a “sensation” rather than immediate pain. You may then have a radiating type of pain, and again this can travel along the nerves, tendons, ligaments and surrounding joints. This can cause a weakness in the hands, traveling up to the wrist, forearm and shoulder, depending on any trigger points involved.

Often times, the pain actually starts in the upper arm or shoulder, and later radiates down to the hands. The underside of your forearm may feel sore and even ‘swollen”. This can exacerbate any co-condition such as carpal tunnel syndrome. 

Trigger points may be latent or active. When they are active and radiating is when you feel those odd sensations and radiating type of pains along the entire arm, bicep area and then into the forearm and hands. Again, we need to avoid too much repetitive motion when these areas are sore and feeling bruised. Light massage or myofascial release on the entire upper body can be helpful. 

You might also be suffering with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, which can extend from the forearms down into the wrist and hands. 

Click here to Get these Products or Visit Fibromyalgia Store

Shoulder injuries and hand pain

Another scenario with hand pain, is the ability for pain or injury to radiate down to the forearms and into the hands.

We often talk here about shoulder and clavicle issues. Trigger points in any of these areas can radiate pain up or down the surrounding areas. 

Impingement syndrome around the shoulder areas can cause a pinching like feeling that can affect surrounding areas, exacerbate trigger points, and has the potential to radiate pain into the hands. 

Difficulty with Activities of Daily Living?

As noted, repetitive use can increase fibromyalgia hand pain. Daily activities such as writing and/or typing on a computer or cell phone can easily exacerbate pain.

Lifting objects and overcompensating by using the hands or fingers more than the arms or upper body strength can also increase pain.

Recent research has also shown a connection between fibromyalgia and extremity pain. The blood flow in the hands for instance, can be shunted away from the hands when movement occurs in another part of the body. I have seen this during exercise or daily activities of living.

This can also occur when we are exposed to toxins in the environment or weather change. For our exercise and movement protocols, I always suggest wearing gloves when the hands are cold during workouts and at bedtime. Yes, keep a light pair of gloves by your bed at night, cold hands can be another aggravating factor to prevent you from being able to fall asleep.

Maintaining upper body strength on whatever level is possible for each of us is so essential. Just like a lack of strength in legs can affect the joints in the knees and ankles, a lack of strength in the upper body can increase pain in hands. And, as a reminder, always carry objects close to the body. Avoid extending the arms and hands too far from a fibro safe range of motion.

Do you have difficulty with the following?

• Opening jars, car doors or drawers.
• Pain when merely leaning on your hands or forearms?
• Gripping objects
• Pulling clothes out of the washer
• Cutting and preparing food
• Using utensils
• tying shoelaces
• fixing hair
• carrying grocery bags
• making the bed
• gripping a broom or vacuum
• pulling a plug out of an outlet

There are so many big ways but also many smaller ways in which we depend on the use of our hands….

So, just like other parts of the fibro body, we know that there is no quick fix, however because we use and depend on our hands in so many daily activities of living, I believe it is prudent to protect this area as much as possible.

I remember a time year back when my hands were particularly painful to the point that I went to one of my chiropractors feeling very concerned.

Click here to Get these Products or Visit Fibromyalgia Store

And what about a handshake?
Have you ever noticed that some people like to exert their power by shaking hands too hard? And with fibro, it can feel like they are crushing your hands and fingers. I had this happen recently, and the “feeling” of that handshake seemed to linger for too long. 

As a practitioner and trainer, I use my hands often and even though I used various repetitive motions in my work, it didn’t really make sense to me that this pain would be so debilitating to the point of not being able to fully use my hands without undue pain.

It took me some time to realize it was part of fibromyalgia, not arthritis. Also, through lessening the repetitive motions, it helped the more immediate pain.

Again, it is important to remember that although we need to to maintain as much strength as possible in our upper body, this kind of pain can occur not because of a lack of strength but simply as part of symptoms within fibromyalgia and particularly hand pain and fibromyalgia.

Is there help for my fibromyalgia hand pain?

Although we know that extremity pain is just part of living with fibromyalgia, we can use various tools to at least mediate and even minimize the pain and/or prevent it from getting worse.
As stated above, when hand pain becomes debilitating, try to refrain from repetitive motions like typing/writing. Give your hands a break for a few days if possible.

Try using copper compression gloves. The copper used in compression wear and clothing has been shown to reduce pain; it’s worth a try!! I use copper compression wear, clothing and gloves. I think it’s a good investment for long term use.

These can help upper body conditioning which in turn will help your hand pain and fibromyalgia. Remember that radiating trigger points often start in the upper back, neck and shoulders.

Try some natural pain relief therapies such as a few Tbsp. of epsom salts. Soak your hands in a large bowl of Epsom salts (try adding a tsp. of ginger root powder as shown for the foot bath on the adrenal stress article page here in the website) 

The warming sensation of the ginger root powder really does feel good. It will generally last about 15-20 minutes after soaking. Just be sure to keep ginger root powder away from the eyes. 

Incorporate some hand exercises. Increasing blood flow and oxygen is good for every part of our bodies. Gripping a small foam ball or stretching the fingers back gently with the opposing hand. 

Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More….

For More Information Related to Fibromyalgia Visit below sites:

References:

Fibromyalgia Contact Us Directly

Click here to Contact us Directly on Inbox

Official Fibromyalgia Blogs

Click here to Get the latest Chronic illness Updates

Fibromyalgia Stores

Click here to Visit Fibromyalgia Store