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Dealing with Fibromyalgia

by Dr. Susan Lark

Published 04/30/09

Living with fibromyalgia can be extremely frustrating. An article published in the Medical Tribune summed up the dilemma very well with the headline, "Fibromyalgia: Hard to Define, Hard to Treat." According to this review, fibromyalgia affects as many as five million Americans, most of them women, and adds $47 billion annually to the nation's health bill.

Since fibromyalgia is a painful condition that affects the muscles, tendons, and joints, most conventional physicians tend to prescribe anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, sometimes paired with physical therapy and exercise. Unfortunately, this is only moderately effective, leaving many women looking for that "extra edge" they need through the use of alternative treatments.

I have found that eliminating foods such as wheat and dairy products, which are poorly tolerated by many people, makes a big difference. My own findings were recently reinforced by a study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Nutrition in October 2001. In this study, fibromyalgia patients agreed to avoid wheat, dairy products, sugar, corn, or citrus fruits. After two weeks, an incredible 76 percent of the patients reported a reduction of headaches, fatigue, and abdominal bloating, with nearly half also reporting a significant reduction in their pain. Most telling was the fact that their symptoms returned when these foods were reintroduced into their diet.

Research studies have also found that 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) relieves fibromyalgia symptoms. A 1990 study published in the Journal of International Medical Research found that fibromyalgia patients who were given 100 mg of 5-HTP three times a day experienced relief from a whole host of symptoms, including pain, morning stiffness, fatigue, poor sleep, and anxiety. Symptom relief occurred within 30 days of use, and even better results were seen at 90 days.

Based on the research and my clinical experience, I recommend that you reduce and ideally eliminate the foods mentioned above, and begin taking 50-100 mg of 5-HTP 1 to 3 times a day, and 50-100 mg of vitamin B-6 once a day. I have also found 300 mg of a St. John's wort capsule (standardized extract, 0.3 percent hypericin) taken three times a day and 150-250 mg of magnesium citrate taken three times a day to be beneficial.

Exercise is also extremely useful in relieving the symptoms of fibromyalgia. In fact, a study published in the February 2002 issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism found that women with fibromyalgia who participated in a strength training and walking program for 20 weeks improved their muscle strength, endurance, and overall ability to function without aggravating their symptoms.

Finally, you may want to look into an interesting new treatment which uses relaxin hormone to help ease fibromyalgia symptoms. Discovered by Dr. Samuel Yue, relaxin hormone treatment is based on his clinical findings that women's muscle pain and spasm symptoms are affected by menstruation, menopause, surgically- induced menopause, or removal of the ovaries.

Dr. Yue suggests that fibromyalgia results from a systemic deficit of relaxin hormone, a polypeptide similar to insulin, that is involved in the production and remodeling of collagen. The treatment is quite expensive and some women have experienced side effects such as breast tenderness, morning sickness, and occasional increase of menstrual flow. If you want to try this therapy, it is available as Vitalaxin from Sky Inc. BioHealth Solutions at 612-946-1550 or www.skybiohealth.com.