Fibromyalgia - Another Name for Impaired
Health
Dr. Paul
Goldberg
Defining Fibromyalgia is a tedious task
because it is a wastebasket diagnosis used by practitioners to describe
patterns of muscle pain, aching and general discomfort when other diagnostic
titles will not fit. Chronically ill patients feel poorly, suffer muscle pains
and don't fit into any other diagnostic category; therefore they are labeled
with fibromyalgia. Much like the diagnostic title Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,
which commonly accompanies it, it is a diagnosis of exclusion.
Every patient with fibromyalgia, as with any problem, warrants a thorough case
history, physical examination and appropriate laboratory studies as determined
by the clinician. The history is often a long one with an extensive
medical/chiropractic history and long list of symptoms. Patients are often
frustrated that their conditions continue to deteriorate despite having
consulted a number of doctors and trying a number of remedies.
In our own clinic, we have worked with many patients with symptoms of
fibromyalgia. Rarely have I seen a patient with symptoms of fibromyalgia whose
overall health was not also impaired. It
is notable that almost all patients exhibit a number of constitutional symptoms
with marked fatigue, indigestion, constipation, joint discomforts, depression
and problems in sleeping being particularly common.
With the large number of persons
suffering from fibromyalgia symptoms, the market for "natural
treatments" for these conditions has exploded. To the extent that any of
these addresses the patient's particular reasons for having the fibromyalgia
symptoms, then to that extent any of the above might prove helpful. The
question however is,” In which patient do any of these natural treatments
actually address the causes of their problems?”
The failure of most of these, however, to
bring long-term relief with improvement of health to the patient attests to the
fact that etiological factors are not being addressed, not only by standard
medical practices, but by most of the "natural remedies" on the market
today as well.
Each practitioner may have helped a patient by their purported remedy, but each
failed to understand that fibromyalgia is a sign of underlying poor general
health that involves different factors in each patient.
Some of the more common areas from which fibromyalgia symptoms may stem
include:
1.
Poor
diet and poor digestions. Particularly common are diets loaded with refined
carbohydrates.
2.
Emotional
stressors: marital difficulties, loneliness, job dissatisfaction, boredom.
3.
Lack
of rest and sleep
4.
Toxic
habits: Coffee, soft drinks, tobacco, alcohol
5.
Excesses
of all kinds: excesses even of good things e.g. sex, exercise, work, food
Fibromyalgia
– Treatment
The question I receive from both patients and doctors of chiropractic is:
"What can we do for fibromyalgia?"
My answer is: Determine the causes of the patient's poor health and
address them thoroughly. When the patient's overall health is improved and their
vitality elevated, their symptoms of fibromyalgia will dissipate. I have yet to see a patient whose overall
health was improved, whose fibromyalgia did not improve as well.
Case Study: Fibromyalgia
Patient Presentation:
A 41-year-old female presented to our office with the diagnosis of
"fibromyalgia" which she had received from her medical physician. She
suffered from diffuse muscle discomforts in the shoulders, neck, knees, thighs,
and intermittently throughout the upper back.
The physician had advised non-steroidal drugs, along with the use of an
antidepressant. He also encouraged her to seek psychiatric counseling if the
problem did not improve. The patient was also seeing a doctor of chiropractic,
and during visits she was receiving massage and spinal adjustments.
In addition to having had extensive medical and chiropractic care, she had
taken a number of "remedies," including homeopathic potions, popular
herbal formulas and some multi-level marketed products. While the patient's
complaints centered on her muscular discomforts, questioning brought out that
she suffered with moderately severe fatigue, poor bowel functioning and mood
swings varying from anxiety to depression.
Dietary habits were inconsistent, but included a high-refined carbohydrate
intake including health food candy/power/sports bars, which the patient thought
were very healthful. She carefully picked out foods that were
"fat-free" on the advice of a local dietitian, who she
consulted with "to keep her weight down". Coffee was utilized
regularly as an "energy booster."
She slept poorly and usually went to bed with the television left on to
"help her fall to sleep": Her relationship with her husband was
strained and she reported a lack of interest in sexual activity, which created
tensions with her spouse, with whom she frequently argued. Her periods had been
irregular and uncomfortable for the past several years. She had two children in
their teenage years. She avoided exercising since it caused her muscular discomforts.
Program:
After reviewing the results of the test with the patient, she was put on the
following program:
1.
Dietary
plan devoid of refined carbohydrates, including the power bars and fat-free
foods her dietitian had advised for her to "lose weight." These were
replaced by fresh vegetables, raw nuts, moderate
amounts of lean animal proteins, brown rice and millet. A small amount of
fresh fruit was also allowed. She was to slowly eat three meals per day and to
chew well.
2.
Bed
time was set at
3.
Coffee
was eliminated. The patient was instructed to drink water.
4.
A
program of easy swimming was implemented.
5.
I
advised the patient not to focus on her symptoms and to get busy with
activities that she enjoyed doing.
6.
We
discussed the possibility of having hormonal testing performed if the patient's
overall health did not improve over the next 60-90 days. This turned out to be
unnecessary in her case as improvement occurred prior to this time.
7.
Periodic
office visits included dietary reviews, stress
reduction counseling and gentle body work utilizing acupressure and trigger
point therapy.
Outcome:
While during the first 10 days, the patient felt worse as withdrawal from the
caffeine and junk food took place, but by the second week, she felt a
significant improvement. By the end of the sixth week, her pains had diminished
by 80 percent and she had become more receptive to communicating and being
physical with her husband.
She has become a swimming devotee and has lost 20 pounds without any special
"fat-free foods" or special reducing plans. She sleeps soundly and
has noted much improved digestion by the altering of her diet and by changing
her habits. She describes her mood as being much more upbeat. Her menstrual discomforts have lessened.
The patient recovered her health, not by "treating" her fibromyalgia,
but by a comprehensive health program directed at her specific health picture.
After two months of supervision, the patient was dismissed from care
with the knowledge and tools necessary to maintain herself in a good state of
health for the present, and to prevent health problems in the future.
Dr.
Further information,
related articles, and links can be found at www.goldbergclinic.com, or you may
contact Dr. Goldberg directly via email drpaulgoldberg@hotmail.com or at
either of his clinics:
Goldberg Clinic
Goldberg Clinic
The Highest Level is the monthly e-mail newsletter of the
© Humber Parkerson
Clinic 2005
October
2005 Issue of The Highest Level
