Fibromyalgia – Mysterious and Possible Help – Naturally

Fibromyalgia is not considered a disease as there is no definite known cause. There are numerous theories as to the possible cause or causes, but it is considered a disorder with a set of fairly usual and fairly consistent and predictable  symptoms. The word fibromyalgia means “fibro – meaning fibrous tissues, “my” - referring to muscles, and “algia – which is pain.

Fybromyalgia is more prevalent in women, about 90 percent of the sufferers, can strike between ages 20 and 60, and seems more common in older women. It is not curable, but it is manageable. One theory is that is a sleep disruption disorder, another linking it to muscular,  and can begin following the flu. It may be genetic. Another theory says it may be  immune system related with chronic inflammation underlying, however inflammation is not an actual symptom. Interesting as inflammation normally is a primary cause of pain, which is fibromyalgia’s main symptom.

The symptoms associated most often with this affliction are widespread pain in the back of the head, the face,  neck and upper back, upper chest, can be in the elbows, the hips and the knees. Other symptoms can include IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), interrupted sleep – alpha and/or delta wave disturbance associated with deep sleep, anxiety and heightened sensitivities.

Fibromyalgia is now often times diagnosed by rheumatologists. Some commonly accepted criteria are that the pain should be present for 90 days or more, in 4 body quadrants, left and right sides, and above and below the waist. The human body has 18 tender points from the neck to the knees, at least 11 of these should be painful.

Some treatments for fibromyalgia are tricyclics, an antidepressent which helps relieve sleep disorders and muscle pain,  and SSRI’s, which are seratonin reuptake inhibitors, boosting neurotransmitters to the brain. Anti-inflammatories, NSAIDS, are sometimes prescribed, but have little effect other than to slightly reduce muscle pain and stiffness. Steroidal anti-inflammatories have not shown to be effective.

Establishing regular sleep patterns, and anything that would promote better sleep such as reducing stress, meditation, avoiding caffeine etc., can be beneficial. Keep in touch with your doctor for new treatment and ideas and seek out support groups to share ideas with other fellow sufferers.

Oddly enough, mangosteen has helped a number of people. Why this has been effective, I wish I could tell you, we don’t even  understand the cause, mangosteen has an unusual capability to be effective for many health challenges where conventional medicines and treatments are not. I personally know a licensed uses mangosteen as a front line treatment for sufferers of fibromyalgia.

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