Latest Research Highlights How Therapy Can Help Fibromyalgia Sufferers

Providing relief for Fibro sufferers

Fibromyalgia is a long-term (chronic) health condition that causes, amongst other things,  pain and tenderness throughout your body, and it is estimated to affect up to 5.0% of the world population.

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
With a wide range of symptoms, sufferers often experience:

• Depression
• Fatigue
• Sleep disorders
• Brain fog
• Headaches
• Blurred vision
• Temporomandibular disorder (TMD - a condition affecting the movement of the jaw)
• Joint pain 
• Pain on pressure points
• Itching
• Costochondritis
• Stomach pain, IBS
• Neuropathy
• Muscle spasms
• Muscle weakness
• Stiffness
• Sensitivity to cold
• Allergies

 
Fibromyalgia Diagnosis 
GPs, and in some cases Rheumatology Doctors, usually diagnose Fibromyalgia using the patient’s history, physical examination, X-rays, scans and blood work. However Fibromyalgia doesn’t show up in any blood test or scans, so it is a process of elimination of ruling out other disorders.
 
In the past, Doctors would check 18 specific pain / pressure points on a person's body to see how many of them were painful when pressed firmly. Newer guidelines don't require a tender point exam.
 
Once all other causes have been eliminated, a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia is often given. Some GP’s and Consultants will refer to a pain clinic, and/or prescribe anti-depressants, physio and pain relief.  However, in many cases, the sufferer is left to ‘fend for themselves’, relying on over-the-counter pain relief, or anti-inflammatory meds, which may help the pain but can be harmful to the stomach and gut microbiome in the longer term.
 
Causes of Fibromyalgia
From my own experience, and from talking to many friends and clients who suffer from Fibromyalgia, I certainly believe Fibro is kick started by one/some of many environmental factors:

• Trauma
• Stress and anxiety
• A virus, so your immune system is under attack
• Bacteria, especially in the stomach
• With woman being more prone to fibro I feel hormonal changes can contribute. I’m certainly aware of, for example, peri menopausal women having increased inflammation and histamine levels in their bodies, along with the symptoms of Fibro, no doubt some of these things are linked to the menopause but perhaps not all, maybe this is why Fibro in menopausal aged females is on the up.

 
When your body ‘comes under attack’, there are consequences. As we know the body keeps the score, and chronic pain is a signal that your body perceives itself to be in danger.
 
Research into Fibromyalgia
Historically it was thought that people with Fibromyalgia have a lower threshold for pain because their brains are more sensitised to pain signals than are the brains of people who do not have Fibromyalgia.

Researchers believed that repeated nerve stimulation caused the brains of people with Fibromyalgia to change, involving an abnormal increase in levels of certain chemicals in the brain that signal pain (neurotransmitters). In addition, they believed the brain’s pain receptors seemed to develop a memory of the pain and become more sensitive, meaning they can overreact to pain signals.
 
However the latest research into Fibromyalgia considers that the autoimmune system, which increase inflammation, may be the cause, this could make sense as it is known that autoimmune disorders can be triggered by trauma, stress, and infections:

• Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition commonly thought to originate in the brain, might actually be a disorder of the immune system, according to a new study. 
• Fibromyalgia linked to changes in the gut microbiome. 
• Studies suggest people with Fibromyalgia may have problems with their bodies' “fight and flight” response to stress. Blood samples taken from people with Fibromyalgia may also show increased signs of inflammation compared to people without the condition.

 
Treatment & Therapy for Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia has no direct cure. Pain relief along with anti-depressants may help short term, however there are several complementary therapies that can help reduce symptoms, especially during a Fibro Flare.

These are not a cure, however they can help reduce pain, improve sleep patterns,  increase comfort and improve your overall wellbeing:

• Relaxation - I’m a firm believer that anything you can do to relax will help. By relaxing you are lowering your fight/flight/freeze response and encouraging your muscles to let go of tension, in addition, you will be building new neuro pathways, where your body tells your brain that actually things are ok. All of the therapies I provide are designed to help you relax, and to lower the fight/flight/freeze response in your body.
• Hypnotherapy – hypnotherapy is great for relaxation, pain relief and letting go of unhelpful thoughts and behaviour. Using your imagination (which is what hypnosis involves) is great for building new neuro-pathways. In fact, I teach many clients how to undertake Self Hypnosis in order to achieve this.

• Meditation – once again, using the power of your imagination and breathing to meditate, in order to find a calm and peaceful place in your mind and body,  will help combat some of the Fibro  feelings.
• Reiki – brilliant for relaxation, Reiki is gentle energy work for letting go of the things that are holding you back, such as pain, tension, headaches and inflammation.
• Anti-inflammatory diet – now I am not a nutritionist, however it's well known that a diet involving less ultra processed foods and sugar will help. Eat more 'clean and green' foods to get the best results. 
• Gentle exercise – a gentle walk, some stretching, in fact any method where you can get a bit of movement in your body will help. Nobody will be expecting you to climb mountains or run a marathon, but just even 5-10 mins a day will help physically and emotionally.
• Massage – so many benefits from massage; relaxation, loosen up muscle tightness, encourage mobility, clear out toxins, improve circulation, bring warmth to the body etc .. Only chose gentle pressure techniques, such as a Swedish Massage, as you may be too sensitive for anything deeper.

 
And research backs this up! Researchers delved into the brain’s grey and white matter using MRI’s, to investigate the impacts of Fibromyalgia. They detected reduced grey matter volume in the pain-processing areas of Fibro patients, and that the thalamus, a critical hub in the pain processing network, showed altered signal transmission. Amazingly, the study suggested that these brain alterations could potentially be reversible, influenced by factors like activity levels and mental health. 

If you are a Fibro sufferer and want to chat about how things are for you, drop me a line. I do offer online sessions for relaxation, meditation and hypnotherapy if you aren't located near to me in Hampshire. If you are based near Basingstoke, Alton, Alresford and Winchester why not pop along for a massage with Reiki, and get a double whammy of in-person healing?  

If you are happy reading, you may also find my recent blog post about Pillars of Wellbeing helpful.

warmest wishes
Fi
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