My New Favorite Natural Pain Relief 'Cures'

Finding natural means of pain relief for those suffering from Fibromyalgia or Chronic Pain can be difficult, mostly because there is so much to choose from! Pain relief is an area of medicine that has been capitalized by pharmaceuticals and companies all claiming they have the BEST PRODUCT, and the amount of choice on the market right now can be overwhelming. However, most of us who suffer from chronic pain are resistant to taking another pill, or another prescription, for pain relief.

Why are we resistant?
- Most of us have been over prescribed pain medications from doctors or therapist, and are nervous about over dosing or adding another potentially harmful chemicle substance to our bodies
- We might not be able to afford medical care and prescriptions for pain relief, they are expensive!
-We have no idea where to start, what to believe, or what is safe.


I know and hear your concerns, they are mine as well. So here are two cheap and natural products that I have found very helpful in relieving my chronic pain.

Rhus Tox
"The first remedy that comes to mind when discussing back pain, arthritis, aches and pain is the remedy RHUS TOX.

Rhus tox is often the remedy in Backache, Body aches during flu, Lumbago, Rheumatism, Sprains. Whether the pain is from an old injury or not, consider Rhus tox. Lifting heavy loads that cause bruised and sprained pains. Overlifting, with the sudden "crick" in the back, with pain worse with raising arms above the head."

Rhus Tox is a homeopathic remedy derived from poison ivy.  

https://www.elixirs.com/rhus.cfm


Magnesium Sulfate Cream
"Magnesium sulfate, also known as Epsom salts, has been valued for many years because of its diverse benefits.  Rich in both magnesium and sulfur compounds, Epsom salts and Epsom salt soaks and baths have been used for a multitude of different situations." It is very effective in treating chronic pain or join conditions.

http://kirkmanlabs.com/ProductKirkman/124/1/MagnesiumSulfateCream/

 

Be your OWN spirit guide

 

Most of the time, when I delve into the spiritual community I find myself wary of the content. The internet, and the world, is overflowing with a mass of new age spiritual teachers who promise wealth, abundance, love, and success through the process of Manifesting or working with your Spirit Guides, but what does all of this really mean, and does it really work? 

And I, of course, have a few problems with these messages, but not for the reasons you may assume. 

Let's talk manifesting.

Manifesting first came onto the spiritual main stage through the book, 'The Secret', which teaches the universal law of attraction: like attracts like. You probably first heard of this law in one of your middle school science classes, as it applies to forces in the universe - but how does it apply to spirituality? In 'The Secret', the Law of Attraction is used as a tool to get everything in life you want. For example, if you focus on - or visualize - peacocks, the law of attraction states that you will somehow manifest (or attract) them into your life. IF you focus only on positive thoughts and visualize what you want in life, those things will be attracted to you. Now, I have no problem with the law of attraction. Actually, In some way or form I do believe in aspects of it. We all know that if a person focuses on negativity, then all they will see in life is negativity. But, can just focusing on what you want in life ENSURE that you will manifest it into your reality? Yes, and, no. 

Here's my perspective. 

The problem with the idea of manifesting is that it lacks action. As long as a person visualizes more money they will get it, but this is not true. In order to manifest positive change into your life, there needs to be equal parts visualization and practical action. And this is where you become your own spirit guides. 

When manifesting a positive change into you life, whether it be a relationship or new job, you need to sit down and make a list of ways YOU can lead the way. If you want a new job, start looking at job boards, update your resume, start attending professional development workshops in your area, or begin volunteering and making connections in your new profession of choice. Then, after YOU have put forth the positive changes into action, surrender what you can not control to the law of attraction. This is where visualization can work. Visualization can help keep you positively focused on the pieces you have put into play, and it allows for more positive experiences to enter your life. Manifesting, visualizing, or talking to spirit guides can help you incorporate positive energy into the aspects of life that we can not control. The combination of positive focus and action alongside visualization and manifestation is an incredibly powerful force increasing the life you want. But, never think that sitting back and merely visualizing everything you want  will help you get it. 

Spotlight on Spirituality : What to believe?

Sigh.....spirituality, where to start? First of all, I do consider myself a deeply spiritual person, but I constantly struggle between where my spiritual beliefs fall alongside with my beliefs in science and reason. If you are active in the spiritual community or in the spiritual YouTube community, you are aware that there are many, many, many different types of spiritual teachers active in the world today. Some teachers insist on the existence of fairies or dragons, and go so far as to even create YouTube videos entitled 'How to see a fairy'. Others claim that some people are actually souls of alien races (pleidians, andromedans, reptilians, etc) who are here to help aide the world in spiritual healing. A nice idea, but quite irrational. The more 'traditional' spiritual teachers speak of Guardian Angels or how to find your Spirit Guide. And then there are those teachers who preach the vegan diet to all of their followers, and seem to vilify any person who consumes meat. And...don't even get me started on Bretharianism! (the belief that a human being can live on only divine energy, and have no need to consume any food other than water) So, after all of this preaching, how is a reasonable person supposed to take any of these spiritual teachers seriously?!

First of all, I don't believe that fairies or dragons exist and I also don't believe that the vegan diet is the right choice for every person's body, which is why I consistently struggle between the diverse amount of spiritual teachings that exist  and my need to exert a sense of reasonableness in the world.
I can  not say for certain that there are definitively no human's who have souls from an alien race - but, to me, it seems highly unlikely. And I can also not say that there are no Guardian Angels or Spirits looking out for us, which is actually a belief  I have an easier time participating in, probably due to the fact that I was raised in a Christian household/society. But I guess that the double edged sword of spirituality, or any religion, is faith -  the fact that none of the beliefs can yet be proven by reason or science. Myths and stories of most religions are extremely unreasonable. Take in point the idea that Jesus walked on water. Any rational person knows that walking on water is impossible, and most serious theologians view the supernatural Bible myths as allegories for a larger life lesson, i.e. if you believe in the teachings of Christ you can achieve unbelievable feats - like walking on water. But, what I find funny about some spiritual teachers is that they may insist on the existence of fairies, but would never insist on the 'truth' of those supernatural Bible stories, when in 'reality', both are equally as irrational and unlikely.  So how the heck is a reasonable person supposed to be spiritual?

In my opinion, which isn't worth much, it is best to take the middle road. On the middle road, reasonableness and spirituality co-exist in harmony. The middle road allows for the understanding that science does not know everything about the Universe, therefore, making any sort of religious or spiritual absoluteness baseless. This leaves the door open for all possibilities. Yes there is a possibility that things like faeries or spiritual alien races exist, but only so far as we have not yet proven that they dont. Because we do not know anything FOR SURE, we can leave this door open for pondering existence, while not participating in a fundamentalist belief system. The middle road allows for the existence of all of these magical and supernatural beings, but in a theoretical sense. Do they exist? Do they not exist? All we do know for sure, is that we do not. On the middle road, the possibilities are endless. On this spiritual path I am constantly amazed by the possibilities that lie within our vast universe, and I only wish that I could live long enough to see some of the mysteries uncovered. In my opinion, the best spiritual path allows for the existence of these mysteries while promoting a life of harmony. Harmony with the Earth and each other, as well as deep introspection into personal emotional and physical health.

I don't mean to vilify any person's belief system, but I think that a dose of reasonableness needs to be injected into the current spiritual community. These best belief is one without absolutes and without a sense of reason, human beings are susceptible to getting duped into following a dangerous spiritual leader, one who may lead them down a path of destruction. (ex. Jim Jones)

Healing from Fibromyalgia: Step 3: Finding the Right Doctor

When I was outlining my steps for healing from fibromyalgia, I struggled as to where on the list this step should fall. In some ways, finding the right doctor for treatment should be number one, rather than number three. Finding the right doctor for treatment is crucial in healing from fibromyalgia. But, it often takes many months and many failed doctors until a patient finds the right one to work with. I chose to list 'Finding the Right Doctor' as step three, rather than step one, because in order to find that ONE doctor to continue treatments, one must first get a diagnosis. Getting a diagnosis is sort of a catch twenty two. In order to get a diagnosis, one must go through many, many doctors in order to rule out other similar diseases and syndromes. But once a patient is given a diagnosis, then the patient can take control of what type of doctor he/she is going to work with.

Currently, fibromyalgia is a diagnosis that has no specific treatment plan in western medicine, other than prescribing an effective pain medication. Therefore, once a patient has received the diagnosis and found an effective pain medication, the traditional western medicinal system is no longer of service to the patient. So, what's next? After one realizes that most M.D. have no real treatment plan to heal fibromyalgia, it is time to start looking elsewhere. Luckily, M.D. are not the only type of physicians around.

 A new movement in medicine is gaining momentum in the Western world. With the rise of autoimmune diseases, chronic illnesses, and cancers - patients and physicians are beginning to realize the limitations of the Western Medicinal system. An integrative approach, combining the effective aspects of western medicine, along with aspects of 'Eastern' medicine - is offering patients a wider range of options for treating 'incurable' conditions.

Physicians such as Naturopathic Doctors,  Holistic Medicine, Environmental Medicine, Osteopathic Doctors, and Functional or Integrative Medicine Practitioners are gaining wide appeal and aclaim for their devotion to their patients and their holistic approach to healing. But, what is the difference between each type of doctor, and which doctor is the best for you?

Let's review.

Holistic Medicine
Holistic Medicine is a umbrella term that encompasses doctors/physicians who treat patients with a mind, body, spirit approach. Holistic Medicine practitioners view each patient as a unique individual and treat the person as a whole. They take into account factors such as diet/nutrition, mental/emotional health, spiritual health, and lifestyle. According to the American Holistic Medicine Association, "disease is understood to be the result of physical, emotional, spiritual, social and environmental imbalance. Healing, therefore, takes place naturally when these aspects of life are brought into proper balance. The role of the practitioner is as guide, mentor and role model; the patient must do the work - changing lifestyle, beliefs and old habits in order to facilitate healing. All appropriate methods may be used, from medication to meditation."* 

Resources for Specific Illnesses, Holistic Resources, and list of Holistic Practitioners by state/region can be found online at the American Holistic Medical Association website.

Environmental Medicine
Similar to Holistic Medicine, Environmental Medicine approaches health through an integrative approach. However, unlike Holistic Medicine, Environmental Medicine aims to take healing one step further. Environmental Medicine focuses on how aspects of the modern living environment affects the overall health of human beings.

The Mission Statement of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine is "to promote optimal health through prevention, and safe and effective treatment of the causes of illness by supporting physicians and other professionals in serving the public through education about the interaction between humans and their environment."*

As with the American Holistic Medical Association, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine has a Physical Referral portal on their website in which you can search for an Environmental Medicine practitioner in your area.

Naturopathic Doctors
The purpose of a Naturopathic Doctor can be deduced through the name itself, naturopathic = nature. Naturopathic Doctors practice medicine through the integration of traditional healing methods found in nature. Partnered with rigorous medical training, a licensed naturopathic doctor may be the best route to optimal health. Naturopathic Doctors emphasize the power of the body to heal itself through the use of supplements, dietary, and lifestyle changes. According the the American Assoc. of Naturopathic Physicians, "Naturopathic medicine is a distinct primary health care profession, emphasizing prevention, treatment, and optimal health through the use of therapeutic methods and substances that encourage individuals’ inherent self-healing process.  The practice of naturopathic medicine includes modern and traditional, scientific, and empirical methods."*

Naturopathic doctors also have a very patient oriented practice. The first appointment usually lasts between 1-2 hours, during which the doctor and patient speak in depth to cover medical and personal history.Subsequent appointments last between 60 - 90 minutes in which the naturopathic doctor and patient discuss continued areas of treatment which may include the incorporation of supplements, lifestyle, and dietary changes.

Licensed naturopathic doctors complete years of rigorous training, similar to that of an M.D, but with an approach similar to that of a holistic health practicioner. The AANP website states that, "A licensed naturopathic physician (ND) attends a four-year, graduate-level naturopathic medical school and is educated in all of the same basic sciences as an MD, but also studies holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness. In addition to a standard medical curriculum, the naturopathic physician also studies clinical nutrition, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, psychology, and counseling. A naturopathic physician takes rigorous professional board exams so that he or she may be licensed by a state or jurisdiction as a primary care general practice physician."*  

Licensing procedures vary from state-to-state. "Currently, 17 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States territories of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands have licensing or regulation laws for naturopathic doctors. In these states, naturopathic doctors are required to graduate from an accredited four-year residential naturopathic medical school and pass an extensive postdoctoral board examination (NPLEX) in order to receive a license." * In my state of Ohio, there is currently no licensing procedure for naturopathic doctors. Meaning, that any person on the street can claim they are a naturopathic doctor without receiving and training. Therefore, if you live in a state which also has no licensing procedures for naturopathic doctors it is important to research where your doctor has received his/her training. For example, my naturopathic doctor received her four year degree from a State University in Ohio, then continued her training in Arizona - where there are rigid licensing procedures to become a naturopathic doctor. Lists of accredited naturopathic doctor programs can be found on the AANP website.
 

If you are looking for an accredited Naturopathic Doctor in your area, please refer to the online directory from the AANP website.

Osteopathic Doctors
As we near the end of our list, Osteopathic Doctors vary significantly from the previous entries. Unlike Naturopathic, Environmental, and Holistic doctors - Osteopathic Doctors do not necessarily fall under the umbrella term of holistic healthcare. However, like Naturopaths, Osteopathic doctors must complete extensive medical training. "To become a DO, an individual must graduate from one of the nation's osteopathic medical schools, accredited by the American Osteopathic Association's Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation" *  

As with Naturopaths, Osteopathic Doctors specialize in a specific area, which can be deduced through the name itself. Osteopaths focus on the muscular skeletal system, "so that they better understand how that system influences the condition of all other body systems. In addition, DOs are trained to identify and correct structural problems, which can assist your body's natural tendency toward health and self-healing." *

Due to the fact that fibromyalgia affects the muscular skeletal system, seeing an osteopathic doctor may be incredibly beneficial. OD's are capable of prescribing medication as well as practicing some surgery; however, they do not specialize in areas of nutrition, supplements, environmental, or lifestyle factors.

More information about Osteopathic Doctors can be found at their website.

Functional / Integrative Medicine

Ahhh, at long last we have reached the end of our list! Upon which we stumble the practice of integrative and functional medicine. Integrative and Functional medicine are essentially two terms meaning the same thing, an approach to medicine which integrates holistic and western approaches to treatment and functions to view the treatment of the individual as a whole. " Functional Medicine practitioners spend time with their patients, listening to their histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease." *

Functional / Integrative medicine differs from the treatment received from an MD in the sense that an MD may treat symptoms, while a functional/integrative medicine practitioner searches to treat the root causes of the symptoms in order to provide overall healing.

 
 More information about functional/integrative medicine can be found online at the following links.

1. Functional Medicine
2. Integrative Medicine

Whew! That was a long list! But I hope that this list provides you with more information to move you forward in your path towards overall health!




Until Next Time,
Feast From Within

Radical Realizations: Self Approval

Most of the time I go through life feeling as though I'm living on autopilot. My only focus is moving one step at a time in the direction towards rebuilding my life and making it one of optimal health and well-being. But, it is rare (if ever) that I  am able to stop and realize how far I have come. However, yesterday that realization came right up and bit me in the ass, and it was fantastic!  Let me explain.

When I first became ill in 2009, I had just began dating my first boyfriend. This was HUGE for me. I was twenty years old and finally felt like I had met someone who 'understood' me and shared the same passions and interests. But at the same time as I had finally felt that I had found 'the one' or a 'one', I was falling incredibly ill - and fast. I didn't know what to do. So, of course, I kept pushing myself. I didn't want to loose this new relationship, and I felt like it was my fault for being the one who got sick. I was only twenty. Due to my illness, I couldn't go out to drink and party ( I was a sophomore in college) so I had lost ALL but one of my college friends and one of my high school friends. So, needless to say, I felt completely alone and was incredibly afraid. I was desperately trying to cling onto this relationship because it was all I had, and I felt that if I let it go it would be my fault that it failed, and that I would then be sick AND alone.

If you posses astute skills at inference, you may have already inferred that this relationship was NOT healthy. It was codependent on both accounts. I depended on him as my entire social and emotional outlet and in his own ways he was enmeshed with me. Because I was so sick, all I could see and all I could focus on was my health. My health was deteriorating, and fast. Within two months of beginning the relationship, I had withdrawn from school and was bedridden, living at my parents house. Because I was so sick, weak, and exhausted, I didn't have the strength or perception to leave the relationship.

As time went on the relationship became more and more toxic. Even though I was sick, bedridden, living in pain, and essentially felling as though I were waiting to die  - I did not 'look' sick. Because I didn't look sick, the severity of my symptoms could not be adequately expressed or understood by those around me. Because of this, many thought or asked me if it were all in my head. As if my symptoms were some how psychosomatic or self-induced. The double edged sword of living with an invisible illness is that it is 1) usually incredibly hard to diagnose and 2) manifests symptoms internally, leaving no outward appearance to be seen by the eye. Once people started questioning the reality of my symptoms, I began to participate in more self-blame and now self-doubt. I felt even more as though it were my fault for getting sick, and that somehow I might be able to just think myself back into good health. WRONG.

Fast forward two years later, by 2011 I had gone back and forth in this relationship - still struggling with my chronic illness, but slowly moving towards better health. By this time he had become such a central point in my life that his friends were now all my friends and I was just happy to have some what of a social life going on. I didn't go out much, but when I did I actually had people there - a vast improvement from being abandoned by all of my friends two years before. However, as my health improved, so did my sense of self. I started to realize that these new friends were toxic and so was the relationship. I constantly participated in self blame and guilt. Allowing others to make me feel insanely bad about myself, but I kept hanging out with them. All of my love and energy had been invested in this group of people, because in my mind they had been around when others weren't. [which was actually....false] By 2012 I was SICK of it! I was sick of hating myself and sick of allowing others to let me hate myself. So I stopped. I started saying no and I started demanding to be respected and to stop being blamed for being ill. And wouldn't you know it, within weeks of standing up for myself all of these relationships crashed and burned. In this funeral pyre  friendships, I was heartbroken, but I was me. Since then, I have been rebuilding my life. Alone. The two friends who stood by me through it all, one whom I met freshman year of college, the other from high school, are the only two people who I know will always support me, and I am incredibly indebted to their continued love and friendship.

But, even though it has been two years since I separated myself from those toxic relationships, I think subconsciously blamed myself. I always wondered - in the back of my head - if it really was my fault for all of them failing. That if I hadn't gotten sick, I would still be in a relationship, and still have a large group of friends. But yesterday I had the most invigorating moment of realization - a moment in which I saw, felt, and understood how far I have come.

All of this happened because I ran into someone who was part of this big group of friends I used to hang out with two years ago. Upon bumping into this person, I began engaging in the typical catching up conversations, in which I was filled in on everything that had happened since I stopped associating with them in 2011. And boy, did I end up leaving feeling AWESOME about myself. I finally felt like I had made the right decision. None of those people had changed, and they were still participating in the same unhealthy, manipulative, and selfish behaviors as they always had - but I could now see it much more clearly. It is amazing what a dose of good health can do for your sense of self. I was now able to say no, able to set up strong personal boundaries, and to respect myself. I didn't apologize for getting sick and I didn't feel guilty. Those relationships were unhealthy for me, irregardless of my health. And I felt so amazingly proud of myself for standing up those two years ago and putting a stop to it all. It was an intense feeling of satisfaction for the hard personal work I had put on myself these past two years, and how much I have grown. All of those people who I thought I needed, I didn't, and I was much better off with out them.

I don't wish them any harm or ill will, and I am sure they are doing much better in their lives without me,  but I needed this moment of clarity to have a better understanding of myself and how I want/ed to be treated. I hope that you all have positive, loving people surrounding you. Don't ever feel like having and illness is your fault. It is not. You are not broken because you are sick. You are whole and you are worthy of being loved and treated with respect just for existing. If there is anyone in your life who makes you feel otherwise I hope that you can one day stand up for yourself as well and realize how truly amazing you are.

Until next time,
Feast From Within

Healing from Fibromyalgia Step 2: Finding the Right Pain Medication

The often long and arduous journey towards receiving a fibromyalgia diagnosis is, unfortunately, just one step in the direction towards restored health. After I received my diagnosis of fibromyalgia, I was elated and felt a great sense of relief. Finally! Now the doctors would be able to give me some sort of prescription or treatment plan than would catapult me back to health. Oh how I wish I could go back in time and warn my young, naive self - the self who still believed in the omniscience of doctors - that there was still a long way to go. Upon receiving a diagnosis with fibromyalgia, I soon found out that there is no treatment plan, and that the main way most physicians treat the syndrome is through prescription pain medication. Althought, as with all fibromyalgia treatments, finding the right pain medication was trial and error. And boy, did I have to try A LOT of prescriptions before I found the one that worked for me.

From the onset of my illness in 2009, I immediately began receiving prescriptions for pain relief, and it took me two years until I found THE medication for me. Luckily, all of that painful trial and error was worth it; however, I do not wish that long of a wait on anyone. Finding the right medication to relieve pain is a crucial step in recovery. Until I received the proper pain medication, I felt as though I were waiting to die. I had no hope, no specific treatment plan to follow, and lived in continuous, excruciating pain. When I finally found that one, specific prescription to help ease my pain, I felt as though my life were back on track. Within a few weeks I was able to get up and move around. And as the pain faded, hope returned. Pain medication can be the key is restoring a sense of control and mobility in life. With the decrease in pain, I was then able to start forming a plan to treat the overall health of my body. I was able to get up, move around, and begin working towards regaining strength and stamina.

So, how do you find the right medication for you? 

Currently, there are three FDA-approved medications for the treatment of fibromyalgia pain.; Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Savella. Lyrica (Pfizer Inc) was the first medication to recive FDA-approval in June of 2007. Originally, "approved to treat seizures, as well as pain from damaged nerves that can happen in people with diabetes (diabetic peripheral neuropathy) and in those who develop pain following the rash of shingles," Lyrica was found to also be effective in decreasing the level of wide-spread pain in fibromyalgia patients. Now a popular drug, often seen in television commercials, Lyrica was the beginning of FDA-approved drugs which had positive responses in some fibromyalgia patients.

The next drug to be approved by the FDA was Cymbalta, which received it's approval one year later in June of 2008.  Like Lyrica, Cymbalta was not originally created to treat fibromyaliga patients. The original use of Cymbalta was to aide those who suffered from depression, anxiety, or diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Cymalta works to boost the brain chemicals serotonin and norepenepherine. "Serotonin and norepinephrine work together in the brain and spinal cord to tone down pain-related messages" *  Increasing serotonin and norepenephrine aide the body's ability to fight pain.

Similar to Cymbalta, Savella also works as a serotonin and norephenephrine booster. Savella was the first drug whose original purpose was created to help fight the pain of fibromyalgia patients. Recieving FDA-approval in 2009, Savella acts similar to those drugs used to treat depression and anxiety, but is not prescribed as such.

Each one of these FDA-approved drugs has the possibility of helping fibromyalgia patients, but they also have negative side effects. Typical side effects include:

1. Lyrica: "sleepiness, dizziness, blurry vision, weight gain, trouble concentrating, swelling of the hands and feet, and dry mouth. Allergic reactions, although rare, can occur."*
2. Cymbalta: "side effects include nausea, dry mouth, sleepiness, constipation, decreased appetite, and increased sweating ... Like some other antidepressants, Cymbalta may increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in people who take the drug for depression" *
3. Savella: " Side effects include nausea, constipation, dizziness, insomnia, excessive sweating, vomiting, palpitations or increased heart rate, dry mouth and high blood pressure" *

Although Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Savella are the only three prescriptions that have received FDA-approval for the treatment of fibromyalgia, there are many other prescriptions which have also been helpful in fibromyalgia patients. Muscle relaxants such as Xanaflex or Flexeri may be prescribed, as well as other serotonin boosters like Prozac, Lexapro, and Zoloft. In my experience with prescritption medications, serotonin boosters were unhelpful and created the most uncomfortable side effects of all those I had tried. Unlike Cymbalta or Savella (which boost BOTH serotonin and norepenepherine) prescriptions like Prozac only boost serotonin levels, which may increase energy - but does not decrease pain.

Overall,finding the correct pain medication is as hard of a journey as was getting a diagnosis. Often the medications will give you adverse reactions and side effects, and you will have to go through many until you find that one pill which gives you none. For me, it took two years, but I am hoping that for others their wait will be much less. Finding the tools to decrease wide spread pain is a fundamental building block towards rebuilding your body to total health.

This blog was sourced from the FDA website and the Fibromyaliga Network. If you would like to read their articles or look for further information, please follow the links below

1. FDA
2. Fibromyalgia Network

 Until Next Time,
Feast From Within

Healing from Fibromyalgia: Step 1 - Getting a Diagnosis

What is Fibromyalgia? To those who do not suffer from this curious illness, understanding its symptoms, treatments, and effects on a person's life can be very difficult. Debate within the medical community still persists as to the existence of fibromyalgia as an actual disease or condition. Characterized by widespread pain, unbearable fatigue, cognitive impairment (brain fog), and poor sleep, fibromyalgia is often considered the 'wastebasket' disease of the medical community. Considering that fibromyalgia can not be diagnosed using any form of medical testing (blood test, X Ray, etc) many doctors use the diagnosis of fibromyalgia as a catch-all for an explanation of their patient's symptoms. But to those of us who truly suffer from the debilitating syndrome, actually getting a proper diagnosis is incredibly difficult.

As previously stated, fibromyalgia can not be diagnosed through any sort of medical testing. In fact, the current way to diagnose fibromyalgia is through an arbitrary 'tender point test' along side a patient survey. In order to receive the diagnosis of 'fibromyalgia', a patient must respond to 11 of the 18 tender points in all four quadrants of the body (left/right, top/bottom). These 18 tender points are depicted in the graph below:

 

The tender point test and criteria for diagnosis was created in  1990 by the American College of Rheumatology, and, sadly, is still in use today. * There are many problems in the use of this test as the primary means of diagnosis. First of all, in order to meet the diagnosis of fibromyalgia, a patient must have had persistent wide spread pain symptoms for a minimum of three months. * Meaning, one must suffer and live in agonizing, full - body pain for MONTHS before a doctor will even consider to give a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Not only must one suffer through months of pain, they must also suffer through months of randomized testing in order to rule out any other possible illness or disease which shares similar symptoms. If anyone has lived with fibromyalgia or chronic widespread pain, they may understand the extent of suffering and hopelessness that one faces while being shuffled from doctor to doctor, going through a wide array of tests, only to continue waiting for any information that may provide an explanation as to why they are in so much pain.

Not only is the tender point test subjective, but is it highly unpredictable depending on the severity of the symptoms and the competence of the doctor. Symptoms of fibromyalgia vary from day to day; therefore, multiple tender points may not register on one day, but be very evident on the next. When I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2010, I was experiencing so much widespread pain that I could not differentiate between the pain I felt in the 'tender points' vs the pain I was feeling through out the rest of my body. To me, everything was painful, and the act of applying pressure to one specific area made no difference to the pain I was already experiencing. 

Since the tender point test is unpredictable and subjective, in 2010 "a group of rheumatologists acting on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) published new preliminary criteria on how doctors should diagnose fibromyalgia." * This preliminary criteria includes a patient survey, or 'symptom checklist', that acts as a backup to the tender point test. The symptom checklist is just as subjective as the tender point test. The idea behind the symptom survey, I'm assuming, is to provide further validation to the diagnosis of a patient with fibromyalia. As a person who has completed both tests and lives with fibromyalgia, I (obviously) find both to be extremely faulty and possibly ineffective in providing suffering people with proper medical care. However, until fibromyalgia can be diagnosed through a more effective test, like a blood test, patients suffering from chronic pain are forced to live with a flawed system. 

Unfortunately, in order to begin healing from symptoms of fibromyalgia, one needs a diagnosis. Receiving a diagnosis provides patients with some sense of understanding and allows each person to begin taking steps toward finding treatments. Armed with a diagnosis, any patient with fibromyalgia can now venture to arm themselves with knowledge of their condition and begin to regain a sense of hope for improved health. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of fibromyalgia, consider consulting a rheumatologist. Most cases of fibromyalgia are diagnosed under the umbrella of being a rheumatic syndrome, therefore many of the most knowledgeable doctors of fibromyalgia are found in the rheumatology department.

An example of the symptom survey can be found at the link below:
 http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HXZYTBM

Until Next Time,
Feast From Within



Further information regarding diagnosing fibromyalgia:

1. http://www.fmnetnews.com/fibro-basics/diagnosis
2. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fibromyalgia/in-depth/fibromyalgia-symptoms/art-20045401?pg=1