My latest URL is entitled: http://www.SpecificAminoAcidTherapy.com . It contains a wealth of information about treating conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, depression and fibromyalgia NATURALLY with (yes, you guessed it) 'Specific Amino Acid Therapy'.
Showing posts with label Fibromyalgia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fibromyalgia. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Introducing www.SpecificAminoAcidTherapy.com
My latest URL is entitled: http://www.SpecificAminoAcidTherapy.com . It contains a wealth of information about treating conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, depression and fibromyalgia NATURALLY with (yes, you guessed it) 'Specific Amino Acid Therapy'.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
More on alternate treatments for Fibromyalgia.
Treating Fibromyalgia With Chiropractic
Chiropractic care is essential for those who suffer from fibromyalgia in order to keep both the spine and muscles from losing too much movement. Because fibromyalgia causes the muscles to tighten up and lose some of their natural flexibility, it results in a global loss of movement in the spine. The loss of movement in the spine results in a neurological reflex that causes the muscles to tighten even further. This vicious cycle will continue over time, eventually leading to increased pain, increased muscle tightness, a loss of movement, even more difficulty sleeping and the development of a veritable plethora of trigger points.
The only option is to continually adjust the spine and keep it moving. It is not uncommon for those with fibromyalgia to be adjusted two to four times per month to keep everything mobile and relaxed. The biggest concern when it comes to treating people with fibromyalgia is that their muscles have a diminished healing ability. For this reason, chiropractic adjustments are usually modified slightly to be more gentle than normal. This helps to decrease the stress on all of the small supporting muscles of the spine, which can be easily injured. It is important when seeking chiropractic care, to make sure that the doctor is familiar with the muscular changes that occur with fibromyalgia so that they can adjust their treatment protocols accordingly.
Treating Fibromyalgia with Cold Laser Therapy
Since poor healing of muscle tissue and chronic pain are characteristic traits of fibromyalgia, laser therapy is an important part of any treatment plan. Two of the major benefits of cold laser therapy are stimulation of tissue healing and decreased sensations of pain.
A 1997 study of 846 people with fibromyalgia reported in the Journal of Clinical Laser Medicine and Surgery demonstrated that two-thirds of the patients experienced improved pain and mobility with cold laser therapy. Another study published in Rheumatology International in 2002, showed that those who received laser therapy had a significant improvement in pain, fatigue and morning stiffness.
According to some FMS experts, the connective and soft tissues of Fibromyalgia patients have less ATP (the energy units that cells utilize) than those of folks that don't suffer from FMS. One of the great things about Cold Laser Therapy, is that the laser light photons cause an increase in ATP at the cellular level. Thus, one more reason that FMS sufferers should be receiving Cold Laser Therapy treatments.
Self-Care for Fibromyalgia
Your day to day lifestyle choices have a tremendous impact on how much impact fibromyalgia will have on your life. The difference between those who take care of themselves and those who do not is tremendous. Those who make lifestyle changes to help their fibromyalgia suffer much less pain, are able to remain more active and have a much higher quality of life than those who do not. If you have fibromyalgia, here are some of the main things that you can do on a daily basis to help your body:
Getting enough good sleep
Getting enough sleep and the right kind of sleep can help ease the pain and fatigue of fibromyalgia, but is something that can be hard to get. Many people with fibromyalgia have problems such as pain, restless legs syndrome and brain-wave irregularities that interfere with restful sleep. Insomnia is very common. Although alcohol may help you to relax, it is not recommended before bed as it has been shown to interfere with restful sleep. Some of those with fibromyalgia have found 5-HTP very helpful. It is virtually impossible to heal FMS without enough sleep!
Exercising
Improved fitness through exercise is recommended. Studies have shown that fibromyalgia symptoms can be relieved by aerobic exercise. Though pain and fatigue may make exercise and daily activities difficult, it's crucial to be as physically active as possible. The best way to begin a fitness program is to start with low impact exercises, like walking or swimming. Starting slowly helps stretch and mobilize tight, sore muscles. High-impact aerobics and weight lifting could cause increased discomfort, so listen to your body. The more you can exercise, the better off you will be.
Making changes at work
Many people with fibromyalgia are able to continue working, but they may have to make big changes to do so. It may be necessary to reduce the number of hours at work, find a job that will allow you to have a flexible schedule, or switch to a less physically demanding job. Many people with fibromyalgia require specially designed office chairs, adjustable desks or other adaptations in order to continue working. If you face obstacles at work, such as an uncomfortable desk chair that leaves your back aching or difficulty lifting heavy boxes or files, hopefully your employer will make adaptations that will enable you to keep your job.
Eating well
Foods, just like anything else, have the ability to either stress your body or to help your body heal. Foods that tend to be stressful on the body include: dairy, wheat, corn, as well as anything with monosodium glutamate (MSG), nitrates or nitrites (as are found in processed foods). Several environmental toxins may also contribute to the overall physical stress on your body, therefore large amounts of fish should be avoided as well. It is important that you eat as much clean, organically grown fresh foods as possible. Base your diet around whole foods such as: brown rice, legumes, oats, spelt, rice milk, soy, hormone-free chicken or turkey, roots, nuts and berries.
We hope that the about info is helpful in your search for answers to Fibromyalgia. If we can be of service, please contact us today at (217) 965-3100!
Chiropractic care is essential for those who suffer from fibromyalgia in order to keep both the spine and muscles from losing too much movement. Because fibromyalgia causes the muscles to tighten up and lose some of their natural flexibility, it results in a global loss of movement in the spine. The loss of movement in the spine results in a neurological reflex that causes the muscles to tighten even further. This vicious cycle will continue over time, eventually leading to increased pain, increased muscle tightness, a loss of movement, even more difficulty sleeping and the development of a veritable plethora of trigger points.
The only option is to continually adjust the spine and keep it moving. It is not uncommon for those with fibromyalgia to be adjusted two to four times per month to keep everything mobile and relaxed. The biggest concern when it comes to treating people with fibromyalgia is that their muscles have a diminished healing ability. For this reason, chiropractic adjustments are usually modified slightly to be more gentle than normal. This helps to decrease the stress on all of the small supporting muscles of the spine, which can be easily injured. It is important when seeking chiropractic care, to make sure that the doctor is familiar with the muscular changes that occur with fibromyalgia so that they can adjust their treatment protocols accordingly.
Treating Fibromyalgia with Cold Laser Therapy
Since poor healing of muscle tissue and chronic pain are characteristic traits of fibromyalgia, laser therapy is an important part of any treatment plan. Two of the major benefits of cold laser therapy are stimulation of tissue healing and decreased sensations of pain.
A 1997 study of 846 people with fibromyalgia reported in the Journal of Clinical Laser Medicine and Surgery demonstrated that two-thirds of the patients experienced improved pain and mobility with cold laser therapy. Another study published in Rheumatology International in 2002, showed that those who received laser therapy had a significant improvement in pain, fatigue and morning stiffness.
According to some FMS experts, the connective and soft tissues of Fibromyalgia patients have less ATP (the energy units that cells utilize) than those of folks that don't suffer from FMS. One of the great things about Cold Laser Therapy, is that the laser light photons cause an increase in ATP at the cellular level. Thus, one more reason that FMS sufferers should be receiving Cold Laser Therapy treatments.
Self-Care for Fibromyalgia
Your day to day lifestyle choices have a tremendous impact on how much impact fibromyalgia will have on your life. The difference between those who take care of themselves and those who do not is tremendous. Those who make lifestyle changes to help their fibromyalgia suffer much less pain, are able to remain more active and have a much higher quality of life than those who do not. If you have fibromyalgia, here are some of the main things that you can do on a daily basis to help your body:
Getting enough good sleep
Getting enough sleep and the right kind of sleep can help ease the pain and fatigue of fibromyalgia, but is something that can be hard to get. Many people with fibromyalgia have problems such as pain, restless legs syndrome and brain-wave irregularities that interfere with restful sleep. Insomnia is very common. Although alcohol may help you to relax, it is not recommended before bed as it has been shown to interfere with restful sleep. Some of those with fibromyalgia have found 5-HTP very helpful. It is virtually impossible to heal FMS without enough sleep!
Exercising
Improved fitness through exercise is recommended. Studies have shown that fibromyalgia symptoms can be relieved by aerobic exercise. Though pain and fatigue may make exercise and daily activities difficult, it's crucial to be as physically active as possible. The best way to begin a fitness program is to start with low impact exercises, like walking or swimming. Starting slowly helps stretch and mobilize tight, sore muscles. High-impact aerobics and weight lifting could cause increased discomfort, so listen to your body. The more you can exercise, the better off you will be.
Making changes at work
Many people with fibromyalgia are able to continue working, but they may have to make big changes to do so. It may be necessary to reduce the number of hours at work, find a job that will allow you to have a flexible schedule, or switch to a less physically demanding job. Many people with fibromyalgia require specially designed office chairs, adjustable desks or other adaptations in order to continue working. If you face obstacles at work, such as an uncomfortable desk chair that leaves your back aching or difficulty lifting heavy boxes or files, hopefully your employer will make adaptations that will enable you to keep your job.
Eating well
Foods, just like anything else, have the ability to either stress your body or to help your body heal. Foods that tend to be stressful on the body include: dairy, wheat, corn, as well as anything with monosodium glutamate (MSG), nitrates or nitrites (as are found in processed foods). Several environmental toxins may also contribute to the overall physical stress on your body, therefore large amounts of fish should be avoided as well. It is important that you eat as much clean, organically grown fresh foods as possible. Base your diet around whole foods such as: brown rice, legumes, oats, spelt, rice milk, soy, hormone-free chicken or turkey, roots, nuts and berries.
We hope that the about info is helpful in your search for answers to Fibromyalgia. If we can be of service, please contact us today at (217) 965-3100!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Fibromyalgia & Treating It Properly - Todd W. Austin, D.C. Virden, IL
FIBROMYALGIA & how to treat it!
Fortunately for both my current & future patients, earlier in 2010, I attended a series of ‘Advanced Clinical Nutrition’ seminars by a doctor who has had phenomenal success treating FMS patients like YOU for over a decade now. I now use an adaptation of Dr. Rodger Murphree’s patient protocols for “Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia”. I also carry his book “Treating & Beating Fibromyalgia” as well as the line of nutritional supplements that he developed for his own patients.
Many patients will feel noticeably better in as little as 2 weeks, although it usually takes the better part of 3 months to complete ALL of the nutritional modifications that are needed for a chronic FMS patient to be able to say “My fibromyalgia has officially gone into remission!”.
When it comes to actually treating Fibromyalgia sufferers, as I’ve already discussed in part 1 (FIBROMYALGIA & What Causes It), the medical road usually leads to a dead end. In fact some M.D.’s still don’t even believe that FMS exists! But then again, in a strange sort of way, I guess that could actually be a blessing to have an M.D. that doesn’t believe in prescribing Klonopin (an addictive benzodiazapine) for your FMS (since he or she doesn’t believe in the condition).
Neurontin is pretty close to useless for most FMS patients as well. Elavil does the best of all the prescription meds at offering the most ‘short term’ symptom relief. Unfortunately, most medical FMS patients aren’t placed on Elavil for only a ‘short term’. Even more unfortunate, is the fact that Elavil has as a common side effect, rapid weight gain. Yes, it’s not that uncommon for a FMS patient taking Elavil to gain a whopping 50 lbs or more in a 3 to 6 month period.
What about Lyrica? How does Lyrica work? Or does Lyrica work?
Lyrica is the first prescription medication approved to treat fibromyalgia. Because fibromyalgia patients typically do not respond to conventional painkillers like aspirin, Lyrica affects the brain’s perception of pain. Pfizer’s Lyrica, known generically as pregabalin, binds to receptors in the spinal cord and brain and apparently reduces activity in the central nervous system.
No one knows exactly how Lyrica works. But some say that Lyrica does not work well enough to have warranted its Federal Drug and Food Administration (FDA) approval. According to The New York Times, in clinical trials, patients taking Lyrica reported that their pain fell on average by about 2 points on a 10-point scale, compared with 1 point for patients taking a placebo. About 30 percent of patients said their pain fell by at least half, compared with 15 percent taking placebos.
In 2004, Lyrica was reviewed by the FDA as a remedy for diabetic nerve pain. The reviewers recommended against approving the drug, citing its side effects. Lyrica causes weight gain and edema (swelling), as well as dizziness and sleepiness. According to the New York Times, in 12-week trials, nine percent of patients saw their weight rise more than seven percent, and the weight gain appeared to continue over time.
But in their infinite wisdom, the FDA ignored the advice of Lyrica reviewers and approved it anyway. Then Pfizer asked the FDA to expand the approved uses of Lyrica to include the treatment of fibromyalgia, and the agency later did so. It was a good move for Pfizer. According to the New York Times, worldwide sales of Lyrica reached $1.8 billion in 2007, up 50 percent from 2006. Analysts predict sales will rise an additional 30 percent this year, helped by consumer advertising. During the first nine months of 2007, Pfizer spent $46 million on Lyrica ads alone.
While I welcome anything that will 'help' my fibromyalgia patients, I’m not a big fan of Lyrica. Why? Because it really doesn’t seem to offer any real long-term solution and the side effects are potentially very dangerous.
Regarding finding 11 out of 18 Fibromyalgia trigger points tender, that really is of no concern to me either.
The bottom line is this:
If the patient reports chronic trouble getting or staying asleep as well as chronic diffuse muscle pain (both of these are caused by low serotonin levels), then the patient is most likely a Fibromyalgia sufferer. Not all people with low serotonin levels have fibromyalgia. But for the record, 100% of Fibromyalgics do have low serotonin levels! Until they are finally treated correctly, that is.
Therefore, my protocol for the treatment of FIBROMYALGIA is as follows:
1) Place the patient on 5-HTP. Obviously, I will work with you to determine the proper dosage that is right for you. 5-HTP in combination with other vitamins & minerals is turned into serotonin, the ”happy hormone”.
Serotonin is a hypothalamus neurotransmitter which is necessary for happiness by day and deep restorative sleep by night (through a conversion of serotonin to melatonin). A lack of serotonin causes difficulty in getting to sleep as well as staying asleep. It is often this lack of quality deep restorative sleep that is a big part of the problem for FMS patients. Serotonin levels can easily be raised by supplementing with the essential amino acid, L-tryptophan. The natural sources of L-tryptophan include milk, cheese, meat, ham, peanuts, and cottage cheese. All of these are very high in calories and cholesterol content. As a consequence, in order to keep your serotonin supply at a proper level, you must supplement small amounts of food sources of L-tryptophan with the serotonin production catalysts, calcium, magnesium, and trace element, chromium. Many FMS sufferers also have a genetic glitch in a certain enzymatic pathway that blocks the amino acid tryptophan from being converted into 5-HTP naturally. 5-HTP, a form of tryptophan, is available over-the-counter and works extremely well for most patients.
All FMS patients need to be taking the proper dose of 5-HTP, which we carry at Austin Family Chiropractic.
By the way, deep restorative sleep causes HGH (human growth hormone) to be secreted. HGH aids in repairing damaged muscles. Therefore 5-HTP leads to much better sleep, which in turn leads to increased HGH, which then helps with muscle repair. This is welcome news for any FMS sufferer!
2) Have the patient take digestive enzymes. Some seventy percent of FMS patients, also suffer from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Besides, anyone with chronic inflammation will tend to have a leaky gut.
3) Have the patient take an optimal daily allowance multivitamin multimineral supplement along with proper amounts of omega 3 fatty acids.
4) Have the patient go on a gluten-free diet for 3 weeks to check for celiac disease, allergies to gluten or sensitivities to gluten.
5) Have the patient take Adrenal Cortex glandular. This aids in solving the adrenal fatigue issues that typically accompany FMS.
6) Treat the patient with cold laser therapy. Since FMS is a connective tissue disorder, some say that it causes a decrease in cellular energy (ATP). This makes sense. Cold laser therapy, on the other hand, has 40 years of research showing that special laser light photons, when they come in contact with damaged soft tissues, cause an increase in ATP production. This helps cells, tissues, muscles, etc. to heal quicker. Therefore, my FMS patients typically receive cold laser therapy treatments (directed over the area of chief complaint) prior to their chiropractic adjustments. In my opinion, this cold laser therapy prepares the tissues for the adjustment and sets the stage for healing to occur quicker.
7) Have the patient take SAMe. S-Adenosyl-methionine (SAMe) is involved in regulating many of the brain's neurotransmitters. Normally the brain manufactures all the SAMe it needs from the amino acid methionine. However, low protein diets, malabsorption (from either the leaky gut or IBS that usually accompanies FMS) and deficiencies developed from excess methionine use in certain liver detoxification pathways can create a need for SAMe replacement. SAMe has also been shown through several recent, well designed, studies to be one of the best natural antidepressants available.
SAMe helps boost serotonin and norepinephrine levels. It also helps increase the production of dopamine and endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s natural pain blocking chemicals and are fifty times more powerful than morphine.
SAMe has quickly become one of my favorite nutritional supplements. I’m using it more and more in my practice for depression, fatigue, fibromyalgia and other pain disorders.
SAMe and Fibromyalgia
Studies involving FMS (also known as 'Fibromyalgia' or 'Fibromyalgia Syndrome') patients and SAMe have shown dramatic improvements in pain reduction. One study even showed that individuals taking SAMe for a period of 6 weeks had an improvement of 40% in pain reduction and 35% improvement in their depression!
So as you can see, FMS is a rather complex condition, but with the right treatment approach, there is a good chance that we can work together to send your Fibromyalgia into remission too.
Photo caption: Clinical Nutrition pioneer, Dr. Murphree (right) presented Dr. Todd Austin of Austin Family Chiropractic in Virden, IL with his 'Advanced Clinical Nutrition' Certification at a recent seminar at Logan Chiropractic College in Chesterfield, MO. Austin just completed a series of seminars by Dr. Murphree.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Fibromyalgia & What causes it - Todd W. Austin, D.C. Virden, IL
FIBROMYALGIA
Fibromyalgia (aka Fibromyalgia Syndrome or FMS) can be a fairly nasty disease. It affects mainly women. Millions of Americans suffer from FMS, yet conventional medicine really has very little to offer these sufferers. The prescription drug Elavil does seem to offer very good short-term symptom relief for many patients, but one of it’s side effects is causing a rapid weight gain of 50 pounds or more (no that’s not a typo) over a 3 to 6 month period! Other than that, mainstream medicine’s major approach is just a combination of throwing other drugs at the FMS symptoms that don’t usually offer any long-term symptom relief along with trying to teach sufferers how to ‘cope’ with their FMS.
Fortunately for my patients, in the winter & spring of 2010, I attended a series of ‘Advanced Clinical Nutrition’ seminars by a doctor who has had phenomenal success treating FMS patients like YOU for over a decade now. I now use Dr. Rodger Murphree’s patient protocols for “Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia” as he says. I also carry his book on the subject as well as the line of nutritional supplements that he developed for his own patients.
As luck would have it, less than two weeks after I completed Dr. Murphree's seminars, I was blessed enough to start working with a lady who just relocated to the Virden, IL area. She came to my office for treatment of spinal misalignments (pinched nerves) in her neck and upper back. Much to my delight, her history revealed that she was a FORMER FMS SUFFERER ….. that is, until she started using Dr. Murphree’s protocols herself 4 years ago. Amazingly, she has had very little in the way of Fibromyalgia symptoms for nearly 4 years!
WHAT CAUSES FIBROMYALGIA - Here's how the condition known as FMS spirals out of control for most patients that are unlucky enough to get it.
1) Chronic stress disrupts the HPA axis*, thus leading to both a lowered pain threshold and chronic pain.
(HPA Axis – refers to the role of the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenals glands in making important hormones that the human body requires to function properly. An imbalance with this affects intercellular communication, resulting in the disruption of the body’s ability to maintain a normal state of equilibrium.)
2) Chronic pain then interferes with the normal sleep / wake cycle resulting in poor sleep.
3) Poor sleep results in decreased growth hormone production leading to an inability to repair damaged muscle fibers, poor memory, decreased immune system function, fatigue and even more pain.
4) More pain disrupts the sleep / wake cycle even more …. leading to a depletion of important stress-coping neurotransmitters including serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.
5) This reduction of serotonin causes higher than normal levels of substance P, which enhances pain receptors, creating even more pain.
6) Continued poor sleep and ongoing stress then causes even more fatigue, mood disorders such as anxiety or depression, irritable bowel syndrome, adrenal burnout, decreased DHEA levels, lowered resistance to stress and sometimes even abnormal thyroid function.
7) Decreased ability to cope with stress leads to even lower immune system function.
8) Decreased blood volume due to adrenal burnout leads to even more fatigue.
A future blog post will reveal my protocol for helping my patients that suffer from FMS.
I hope this info on FMS was helpful. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Me (on the left) and My Clinical Nutrition mentor, Dr. Rodger Murphree. I'm recieving my "Advanced Clinical Nutrition" certification for completing Dr. Murphree's course.
Fibromyalgia (aka Fibromyalgia Syndrome or FMS) can be a fairly nasty disease. It affects mainly women. Millions of Americans suffer from FMS, yet conventional medicine really has very little to offer these sufferers. The prescription drug Elavil does seem to offer very good short-term symptom relief for many patients, but one of it’s side effects is causing a rapid weight gain of 50 pounds or more (no that’s not a typo) over a 3 to 6 month period! Other than that, mainstream medicine’s major approach is just a combination of throwing other drugs at the FMS symptoms that don’t usually offer any long-term symptom relief along with trying to teach sufferers how to ‘cope’ with their FMS.
Fortunately for my patients, in the winter & spring of 2010, I attended a series of ‘Advanced Clinical Nutrition’ seminars by a doctor who has had phenomenal success treating FMS patients like YOU for over a decade now. I now use Dr. Rodger Murphree’s patient protocols for “Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia” as he says. I also carry his book on the subject as well as the line of nutritional supplements that he developed for his own patients.
As luck would have it, less than two weeks after I completed Dr. Murphree's seminars, I was blessed enough to start working with a lady who just relocated to the Virden, IL area. She came to my office for treatment of spinal misalignments (pinched nerves) in her neck and upper back. Much to my delight, her history revealed that she was a FORMER FMS SUFFERER ….. that is, until she started using Dr. Murphree’s protocols herself 4 years ago. Amazingly, she has had very little in the way of Fibromyalgia symptoms for nearly 4 years!
WHAT CAUSES FIBROMYALGIA - Here's how the condition known as FMS spirals out of control for most patients that are unlucky enough to get it.
1) Chronic stress disrupts the HPA axis*, thus leading to both a lowered pain threshold and chronic pain.
(HPA Axis – refers to the role of the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenals glands in making important hormones that the human body requires to function properly. An imbalance with this affects intercellular communication, resulting in the disruption of the body’s ability to maintain a normal state of equilibrium.)
2) Chronic pain then interferes with the normal sleep / wake cycle resulting in poor sleep.
3) Poor sleep results in decreased growth hormone production leading to an inability to repair damaged muscle fibers, poor memory, decreased immune system function, fatigue and even more pain.
4) More pain disrupts the sleep / wake cycle even more …. leading to a depletion of important stress-coping neurotransmitters including serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.
5) This reduction of serotonin causes higher than normal levels of substance P, which enhances pain receptors, creating even more pain.
6) Continued poor sleep and ongoing stress then causes even more fatigue, mood disorders such as anxiety or depression, irritable bowel syndrome, adrenal burnout, decreased DHEA levels, lowered resistance to stress and sometimes even abnormal thyroid function.
7) Decreased ability to cope with stress leads to even lower immune system function.
8) Decreased blood volume due to adrenal burnout leads to even more fatigue.
A future blog post will reveal my protocol for helping my patients that suffer from FMS.
I hope this info on FMS was helpful. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Me (on the left) and My Clinical Nutrition mentor, Dr. Rodger Murphree. I'm recieving my "Advanced Clinical Nutrition" certification for completing Dr. Murphree's course.
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