FIBROMYALGIA

FIBROMYALGIA IS BECOMING well known as a condition that researchers believe may be related to chronic fatigue syndrome. Possibly in response to stress, lack of sleep, an injury or infection, or another trauma or disease, your muscles begin to ache. Pain might develop gradually and affect a wide area, or it may come on suddenly and sharply in specific areas. You might feel burning, stiffness, shooting pain or an overall throbbing sensation. The soreness can centre on the shoulders, the hip or upper thigh muscles, or the elbows and knees.

Perhaps fibromyalgia's most distinguishable feature is that the aches are often accompanied by anxiety, depression, fatigue or an inability to sleep. Doctors often call the sleep disturbances 'non­restorative sleep': you may be able to drop off, but when you wake you don't feel rested. In fact, you may be even more fatigued.

Symptoms of fibromyalgia may worsen during periods of stress, overexertion, trauma, extreme temperature, infection or emotional crisis. Although the disorder isn't dangerous or life-threatening, it can be very disruptive. Curiously, it is seldom seen outside of Western industrialised countries, leading researchers to theorise that lifestyle or dietary factors may play a role. But theories are all that's available so far; no one yet knows what causes this ailment.

Unfortunately, fibromyalgia is easily mistaken for other kinds of pain. But anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen and ibuprofen seldom lessen fibromyalgia pain. Pharmaceutical sleep aids can further diminish the quality of sleep and they can cause dependence. Low doses of antidepressants may help relieve some sleep disturbance symptoms and decrease pain. Occasionally, doctors may administer injections of local anaesthetics or corticosteroids directly into the painful spots.

EATING TO EASE THE PAIN

Many holistic practitioners believe that diet plays a role in causing fibro­myalgia, though they're not quite sure how or why. Their recommendations:

1. Drink plenty of fluids, especially freshly squeezed vegetable and fruit juices, for their antioxidant content. Carrot juice is highly recommended because it's particularly packed with beta-carotene.

2. Eat plenty of green leafy vegetables.

3. Eat small meals throughout the day rather than large infrequent ones.

4. Keep your digestive system moving by eating high-fibre foods or taking a fibre supplement.

5. Avoid red meats, shellfish, fatty foods, and acidic foods such as tomatoes and vinegar. Also avoid potatoes, green peppers and aubergine. Limit or completely avoid foods that are high in hydrogenated or saturated fats.

6. Eliminate caffeine and alcohol, and greatly reduce sugar consumption.

7. Investigate your own food allergies. If you think certain foods may worsen your symptoms, try doing without them and note what happens.

DRUG TREATMENT

Tricyclic Antidepressants

Amitriptyline hydrochloride (Lentizol, Tryptizol, Triptafen), imipramine hydrochloride (Tofranil). Function: relieve muscle pain and promote sleep.

 

 

Side effects: sleepiness, tremor, blurred vision, constipation, weight gain, and withdrawal symptoms.

Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

Fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Lustral), paroxetine (Seroxat). Function: prevent the metabolism of the mood-controlling brain chemical serotonin, thus increasing the amount of this neurotransmitter available to the brain and reducing pain symptoms. Side effects: anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, gastrointestinal distress, blunting of emotional response.

SUPPLEMENTS FOR FIBROMYALGIA

The following supplements are designed to nourish muscle cells and enable them to use energy more efficiently through better oxygenation. They also control inflammation and depression and promote more restful sleep.

0. NADH (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide). This compound helps control pain and muscle spasms. Typical dosage: 5'to 10 milligrams each morning on an empty stomach; take with a large glass of water.

1. Malic acid and magnesium. These two chemicals help muscles use glucose properly. Together, they may help reduce fibromyalgia symptoms. Typical dosage: 300 milligrams of malic acid and 200 to 300 milligrams of magnesium, both three times per day.

2. 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan). Studies have found this compound helps decrease the pain and insomnia of fibromyalgia by increasing serotonin levels. Typical dosage: 50 to 300 milligrams per day.

3. SAM-e (S-adenosylmethionine). This new compound is being hailed as a natural antidepressant, but clinical studies show that it can also reduce fibromyalgia pain and elevate mood. Because depression can occur with fibromyalgia, this supplement may be worth a try. Typical dosage: 200 to 1,600 milligrams per day.

4. Coenzyme Q₁₀. This enzyme helps boost oxygen supplies to muscle tissue, helping it to flush inflammatory chemicals more quickly. Typical dosage: 60 to 400 milligrams per day.

HERBAL REMEDIES

Grapeseed Extract (Vitis vinifera)

From the seeds of wine grapes come powerful antioxidant and natural anti-inflammatory compounds called procyanidins. They've been used to treat everything from varicose veins to poor night vision. For people with fibromyalgia, these compounds help to inhibit the inflammatory response, the chemical reactions responsible for pain and soreness. Typical dosage: 50 to 300 milligrams of oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs) per day. You may want to start with a higher dose to saturate cells and then taper down to a lower dose.

Devil's Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens)

The analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of this herb make it a favourite for treating fibromyalgia. It also boosts digestion, helping your body absorb nutrients better, which improves overall health. Typical dosage: 200 to 800 milligrams per day of a root extract containing 1.5 per cent harpagoside content. Caution: do not use of you have gastric or duodenal ulcers, or if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. If you have heart disease, use only under a doctor's supervision.

White Willow Bark (Salix alba)

This bark has been used for over a thousand years to relieve pain. Salicin, aspirin's forerunner, is white willow's active constituent. Apart from its ability to ease pain, salicin reduces inflammation, but, unlike aspirin, it will not thin the blood or irritate the stomach. Typical dosage: up to six 400-milligram capsules per day; or 3 cups of tea per day (steep % to 1 teaspoon of powdered bark in ',, litre of hot water for 10 to 15 minutes); or follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) This best-selling medicinal herb brings more oxygen to muscle cells when they're under stress. Ginkgo is also a powerful antioxidant. Compounds called ginkgolides inhibit a specific body chemical involved in inflammatory disorders. Typical dosage: 60 to 180 milligrams per day of product standardised to 24 per cent flavone glycosides.

Cayenne (Capsicum spp.)

Creams containing capsaicin, the stuff that makes peppers hot, can help relieve pain and boost circulation to tender muscles. Such creams work because the capsaicin is a counterirritant, meaning the heat you feel distracts your brain from the pain signals that other nerves are sending. Typical dosage: capsaicin creams vary in their strength; read the labels carefully and compare percentages of capsaicin content. Begin with a medium-to-low strength (depending on your sensitivity) and work up; follow the manufacturer's recommendations on how frequently to apply. Caution: do not apply close to the nose, mouth, eyes or other sensitive areas; thoroughly wash your hands with soap after each application.

St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Studies have found that this herb, now famous for easing mild-to­moderate depression, can also help treat sleep disorders. It is especially good at promoting longer periods of deep sleep, which is exactly what people with fibromyalgia need most. Typical dosage: up to 900 milligrams of an extract containing 0.3 per cent hypericin per day, in divided doses. Caution: if you are already taking other antidepressants or t.-dopa, consult your doctor before beginning to take St John's wort. May cause increased skin reactions to sun exposure.