Fibromyalgia (fibro = fibroconnective tissue, myo = muscle, algia = pain) is a diagnosis of exclusion, which means a patient is labeled with this diagnosis because other diagnosis do not completely explain the arsenal of his/her symptoms. There are many different explanations for the evolution of this condition. Historically, it has been called “chronic widespread pain”, “muscular rheumatism”,“psychogenic rheumatism”, and “neurasthesia”. It is now believed that this condition may be due to the involvement of psychological, neuro-endocrine,physiological, emotional, genetic and environmental factors. Some scholars consider Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Irritable Bowel Syndrome a continuum of the same medical condition.
Before we are born our immune system has registered all of our body as “self”. From the moment we are born anything else that comes to contact and ends up in our body is considered as “non-self”.
Normally, the immune system explores the body for the presence of non-self particles.
Non-self particles are tagged by the immunoglobulins (Ig), and then cleared from the body by the function of other cells known as White Blood Cells.
My view and understanding of this condition has formed based on the patients I have seen with this condition. I believe this condition starts as a result of abnormal immune function.
The body is encouraged to react to an outside invader, which stimulates the immune system to produce Ig’s, which go all over the body through the blood stream. This normal response of the body may be exaggerated due to the offending agent, genetics, environment and other physiological issues of the body. The presence of foreign invaders and exaggerated immune response causes body stores to be depleted, since the body is continually in a state of heightened immunity. Pain ensues as the Ig’s and macrophages interact to clear the body from the invaders. This may then become a perpetual reaction due to a breakdown in the immune response and continue over a long period of time. Fatigue, body aches and insomnia now start to affect the body.
Over time adrenal glands and thyroid gland get involved, along with other endocrine glands, to encourage the body and the eliminating organs (gastrointestinal, liver, mucous membranes) to try to resolve this issue by detoxifying the body. Anxiety ensues as cortisol increases in the body and depression sets in due to lack of sleep, pain, and not having a clear end date and a specific cure. Psychosocial issues start as the affected individual cannot function normally in life. Many different treatment approaches have been used, including regular and strong pain medication, anti-inflammatories, antidepressants, anticonvulsants and nerve pain medication, muscle relaxers, steroids, and sleep aids. Patients get referred by their primary care physicians to rheumatologist, psychologist, psychiatrist, physical therapist and massage therapist.
Source: drrebeccashwartz.com
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