Fibromyalgia affects millions of people, with very little help provided by traditional medicine. This debilitating condition is known for symptoms such as chronic fatigue, depression, painful muscular points and sleep disorders. People struggling with fibromyalgia are typically given pain medication, antidepressants and are told to learn to cope with their symptoms. The problem is that a fibromyalgia diagnosis tells you the symptoms of the disease, not the underlying causes. Because of this, a diagnosis is a starting point, not an answer to your problems.
Functional medicine, on the other hand, looks to uncover the innumerable underlying factors that can cause chronic conditions like fibromyalgia. This process begins with running tests that typically aren’t used by your doctor, which is largely concerned with diagnosing a disease and matching it with a corresponding drug, whereas functional medicine looks at all the different systems of your body and their complex interactions.
1. Gut
The majority of your immune system lives in your gastrointestinal system. The trillions of bacteria that live in your gut make up a delicate environment called the microbiome. When this system is thrown off balance, it can wreak havoc and may cause or contribute to fibromyalgia symptoms. Many people struggling with fibromyalgia have unnoticed gut issues such as:
- Chronic yeast or fungal Infections, such as excess candida
- Bacterial infections or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
- Food intolerances
- Leaky Gut
These are some common conditions in the gut system that people with fibromyalgia have and they don’t even know it. Addressing these issues is a piece of the puzzle to feeling like themselves again. When you visit a nutritionist this is where we often start.
2. Detox
We’re inundated with toxins every day. From our food, environment, cleaning and beauty products — nowadays toxins come at us from every direction, and they take a toll on our health. Our bodies are resilient and can handle a certain level of the toxic onslaught, but toxicity is another potential tipping point for fibromyalgia. Heavy metals such as mercury and lead, or mycotoxins from mold are some common things that I see with people dealing with fibromyalgia symptoms. We also need to look at your body’s ability to get rid toxins. Impaired detoxification pathways and genetic weaknesses can make it extra difficult for some people to eliminate toxins properly. This toxic buildup can trigger fibromyalgia symptoms.
3. Hormonal
Our body communicates and operates with an intelligent system of hormones (messengers) known as the endocrine system. When there is an imbalance, deficiency or dysregulation to your hormones, it can cause fibromyalgia symptoms. Adrenal fatigue, thyroid disorders, DHEA levels, oestrogen and testosterone imbalances are some of the pieces of the puzzle to understanding fibromyalgia symptoms.
4. Nutrients
Not a true system in the conventional sense – your body’s nutrient levels are essential to understanding this incredibly complex illness. Deficiencies in magnesium, vitamin D, selenium and glutothione are all potential factors in the development of fibromyalgia.
5. Nervous System
Your nervous system supplies energy to all other systems of your body. Injuries to your neck or bad posture can bring a perpetual source of chronic inflammation and stress to your body’s systems.
As you can see, you would be extremely difficult for a doctor to find a “magic pill” that managed to deal effectively with all the underlying factors of fibromyalgia. A comprehensive health programme that addresses all issues needs to be customised for anybody suffering with this
