Bacillus coagulans (B. coagulans) is a type of beneficial bacteria that are normally found in the soil.  B. coagulans is similar to other lactobacillus probiotics that offer a range of health benefits. Bacillus coagulans is used to treat

– Diarrhea
– Irritable bowel syndrome
– Crohn’s disease
– Clostridium difficile colitis
– Inflammatory bowel disease
– Ulcers
– Respiratory problems

B. coagulans is also being studied as an additive to vaccines to help improve their effectiveness. Bacillus coagulans has a variety of other health benefits, which makes this bacteria a super probiotic. Here are just a few of the other benefits of B. coagulans.

Supports Gut and Immune Health

An intricate balance of enzymes and bacteria exist within your gut. Some of the bacteria and microbiomes are harmful to your gut, and others are beneficial. B. coagulans is one of these helpful bacteria that exists in your gut. It helps your stomach by producing lactic acid. Lactic acid helps regulate healthy pH levels in your gut. This provides a balanced environment and stops to the growth of harmful bacteria. Research studies support this idea. One study examined the use of B. coagulans in the elderly. The study found that the supplement increased beneficial bacteria in the gut and also reduced inflammation.

Helps Alleviate The Pain Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Several research studies have examined the benefit of B. coagulans therapy on rheumatoid arthritis. In one study, forty-five adults with symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis were randomly assigned to receive Bacillus coagulans or a  placebo once a day for 60 days.

Subjects who received Bacillus coagulans experienced a significant reduction in pain. They also had an improved ability to walk 2 miles and participate in daily activities compared to the control subjects. Additionally, there were no adverse events of B. coagulans supplementation reported in this study.

Reduces ‘Bad’ Cholesterol

Bacillus coagulans has been found to improve blood lipid profiles in several studies. In one study, 17 participants took B. coagulans supplements (360 million spores a day) for three months. Participants total, LDL and HDL cholesterol levels were measured at the beginning of the study and again in three months. It was found that the participants who took the B. coagulans supplements had significantly reduced total blood cholesterol ratios. The participants also had lower bad or LDL cholesterol levels and higher HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol levels.

Helps With Muscle Recovery

Protein helps your muscles repair and rebuild themselves. Post-exercise, protein is needed to help the body repair damaged muscle fibers. Bacillus coagulans has been found to enhance protein absorption. This helps improves recovery from strenuous training activities. One study found that the supplement helped reduce exercise-related muscle damage and increased recovery following a damaging exercise bout. The participants had a significant decrease in soreness and pain after strenuous exercise.

B. coagulans offers a variety of other health benefits. To learn more, click here.

Sources:

If you have patients with infections that seem to get better with treatment, but then relapse, biofilms might be at the root of the problem.

When most people think about bacteria, they imagine single cells floating around.

However, most bacteria exist in colonies called biofilms. These slimy colony of bacteria causes thousands of deaths in the United States each year.

They are one of the leading causes of hospital-acquired infections. They are tough to stop, which is why the infection keeps coming back even after several rounds of antibiotics. Biofilms cause deadly infections and cost the healthcare tons of money each year.

Biofilms are made up of bacteria that attach to surfaces and then begin to collect into large masses. Biofilms are protected by a coating of polysaccharides, DNA, and proteins. This slime-like mass of bacteria manages to undergo changes that allow it to evade the immune system. Biofilms are largely resistant to antibiotics. In fact, their tolerance is as much as 1,000 times stronger than normal bacteria.

The Current Model Of Treatment Is Ineffective

Currently, it is assumed that acute infections are caused by single bacteria, and the infection is treated accordingly. This leads to ineffective treatments as most infections are caused by biofilms rather than single bacteria floating around. In fact, more than 80 percent of bacterial infections are linked with biofilms, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Where Do Biofilms Hide?

Biofilms are especially prone to the gastrointestinal tract. Because it has a large surface area and is lined with mucus, the GI tract is the perfect environment for biofilms. Furthermore, the GI tract is prone to problems with inflammation, which creates an opportunity for the bacteria to attach to the surface of the GI tract.

Why Can’t Biofilms Be Detected?

It is difficult for many health practitioners to diagnose biofilms. The biofilm tends to be tucked away in the GI tract or somewhere similar. Therefore, cultures and other tests do not often detect them. Stool samples are also not helpful when it comes to identifying biofilms. So, there is no good method of assessment.

Treating Biofilms

If you have a patient presenting with chronic infections, then a biofilm could very well be to blame. Treatment of biofilms involves breaking down the biofilm, attacking the bacteria within and replenishing the gut with healthy bacteria.

The first step in treating biofilms is to disrupt their course of action. Enzymes, such as protease,  lumbrokinase, and serrapeptase very helpful when it comes to disrupting biofilms. The help disrupts the formation of biofilms breaking them down. Other enzymes that break down biofilms include amylase and glucoamylase. These break down the walls of the biofilm and absorbs nutrients preventing them from continuing to grow. The nutrients then help create energy for the body.

Once the biofilms are broken down using enzymes, you must use enzymes to remove harmful bacteria and yeast. Bacillus coagulans is excellent at eliminating pathogenic bacteria and yeast from the body. This enzyme also helps improve digestion and gut functioning.

I recommend the Restore 3 program to combat biofilms. This product has been extensively tested and found to be very useful at dissolving biofilm. It contains many of the recommended enzymes that are needed to break down biofilms.

On the following page we will detail, step-by-step, why and how this works and what this could mean for over a dozen conditions that biofilm plays a huge role in solving.

References:
https://kresserinstitute.com/biofilm-what-it-is-and-how-to-treat-it/

A Low FODMAP Diet has been promoted as a way to help people with stubborn digestive issues. You may be wondering if you should recommend this diet to your patients. Read on to learn more about the low FODMAP diet.

Digestive disorders are a common complaint among primary care patients. Gastrointestinal disorders include a wide range of problems. They range from gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD to irritable bowel syndrome, also known as IBS.

In many cases, a diet that supports gut health can completely resolve digestive issues. The Low FODMAP Diet has recently been recognized as being very helpful for some patients with gut problems.

FODMAP stands for the following fermentable carbohydrates: oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. These carbohydrates usually don’t cause problems in people with normal gut functioning. However, in patients that have digestive issues, they can cause bloating, gas, pain and diarrhea.

Low-FODMAP diets have been extensively researched for digestive issues. Evidence strongly supports the Low-FODMAP Diet in the treatment of IBS. Another study found that low FODMAP diet reduced the severity of symptoms in more than 75 percent of patients with IBS compared to a standard diet.

The reason that Low-FODMAP diets work is that consuming foods that are high in FODMAPs exacerbates symptoms. These carbohydrates feed harmful bacteria in the gut, which leads to intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Eliminating them from the diet can help reduce harmful bacteria in the stomach.

The Low-FODMAP Diet

So, now that you know that a Low FODMAP Diet is an appropriate treatment for Digestive issues, you might be wondering what foods would be considered to be Low FODMAP. Here (Link Solving Fibromyalgia handout) contains a list of the main high FODMAP foods that your patients should avoid when following a Low FODMAP Diet. These include apples, oranges, prunes, pears, garlic, artichoke and more.

The foods on the above list should be avoided for approximately 30 days. Although it seems like there are a lot of foods on the list, these can be individualized. Some patients have more problems with certain foods than others.

After the 30-day trial period, I would recommend slowly introducing the high FODMAP foods back into the diet. You could encourage your patients to add the foods one at a time to determine which ones are better tolerated.

What If The Low FODMAP Diet Doesn’t Help?

If your patient adheres to the Low-FODMAP Diet consistently and still has issues, you might consider testing for SIBO or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. If SIBO is an issue, then that will need to be treated as well.

Final Thoughts:

Digestive disorders include a variety of conditions. These condition are responsible for growing number of hospitalizations and doctor visits. However, dietary changes may help completely resolve these issues.

Do you treat patients with digestive issues? Have you recommended a Low FODMAP Diet? If so, how has this helped your patients? Leave your comments and thoughts in the comments below.

References:

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases defines Fibromyalgia as a “chronic disorder that causes pain and tenderness throughout the body, as well as fatigue and trouble sleeping”.

Fibromyalgia syndrome changes how the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) processes both painful and non-painful signals, intensifying painful sensations.

Some common Fibromyalgia symptoms include widespread pain, exhaustion, sleep disorders, memory loss, and mood swings.

Fibromyalgia pain

Pain associated with fibromyalgia makes you feel achy all over. There could be “tender points” on your body that hurt regardless of your medication. Even if you haven’t exercised, your muscles may feel as if they have been overused. Your muscles might jerk sometimes. Other times, they may ache or burn with sharp discomfort. 

Some fibromyalgia patients tend to experience chronic pain and stiffness in and around the joints of their neck, shoulders, backs, and hips. It is challenging to sleep or work out when experiencing this kind of pain.

Fibromyalgia pain, sometimes, seems never-ending. Patients experience chronic headaches, neck pain, achy joints, and sore areas that make it difficult to fall asleep at night. Fibromyalgia’s persistent sleep disturbance causes daily weariness, morning stiffness, and increasing aches. 

Managing pain is difficult for Fibromyalgia patients who also have to care for family members and work full-time. More irritability and difficulties relating to others, including family, friends, and coworkers, are brought on by the ongoing discomfort. 

The overwhelming emotions that come from all of these can result in anger, tiredness, anxiety, social isolation, and depression which can affect the overall quality of life of patients. 

Effective treatments for Fibromyalgia pain 

Healthcare providers frequently struggle to treat and diagnose fibromyalgia since the symptoms are similar to those of other illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis. 

While there isn’t a single cure that addresses all symptoms, using a number of approaches can help in the long run.

Treating Fibromyalgia pain typically involves combining medicine with self-care techniques. The focus is majorly on providing pain relief in order to enhance overall health. 

Painkillers

Sometimes, over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin, which are available at pharmacies, can help lessen the pain fibromyalgia causes.

However, before using these types of medication are not suitable for everyone, so it is always advisable to read the manufacturer’s instructions before using.

Using narcotic pain relievers such as Opioids can also help reduce pain. These kinds of drugs are known for having components that are capable of changing the way the brain responds to pain.

Although Opioids help reduce pain severity, it is typically not advisable to use them to alleviate fibromyalgia pain.

This is due to the fact that opioid use can have some negative side effects that can cause other symptoms such as sleep issues, memory issues, and mood swings, which can exacerbate symptoms.

Antidepressants

Antidepressant medications can help ease pain and other fibromyalgia symptoms even if you are not depressed. They do this by increasing some of the chemicals that help regulate pain in the body.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are some of the common forms of antidepressants that are commonly used to treat fibromyalgia. 

Anticonvulsants

Epilepsy medications may also help relieve Fibromyalgia pain. These drugs work by stopping the brain from receiving too many pain messages from sensitive nerves. 

However, it should be noted that these drugs could have negative side effects such as dizziness, weight gain, and drowsiness. 

Physical Therapy 

Techniques used in physical therapy are designed to increase your range of motion and fortify your muscles. Additionally, this can lessen FM pain.

In order to assist patients to manage the pain and exhaustion on their own, therapists educate on self-care strategies. According to research, having knowledge on pain management can help improve exercise performance. 

Dietary changes 

Dietary changes are usually not included in typical Fibromyalgia treatments, but favoring some foods over others, nevertheless, may help with managing symptoms.

Fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices, foods that contain Vitamin D, are examples of food products people with fibromyalgia can incorporate in their diet to help alleviate pain. 

Avoiding food that contains components like gluten, refined starch, and dairy products can also help to an extent. 

Alternative Treatments 

Using alternative therapies and complementary medicine is another method that can be used to help patients with chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia cope with pain through the use of stress management techniques.

Some of these treatments are becoming accepted by the majority of doctors and do seem to safely relieve pain and reduce stress. But because they haven’t been sufficiently researched, many techniques continue to be unproven.

Some examples include:

• ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture is a Chinese medical practice based on the insertion of extremely thin needles into the skin to varying depths in order to restore the proper balance of life energies. The needles are said to alter the flow of blood and neurotransmitter levels in the brain and spinal cord.

Some research suggests that acupuncture relieves the symptoms of fibromyalgia, while others find no benefit.

• MASSAGE THERAPY

This involves moving the muscles and soft tissues in your body using various manipulative techniques. Massage can help reduce muscle tension, improve joint movement, and help increase the rate at which the body produces its natural painkillers.

Your heart rate can be lowered, your muscles can be relaxed, your joints can move more freely, and your body can produce more natural painkillers thanks to massage. It frequently relieves anxiety and stress. 

• YOGA AND TAI CHI

Practices like Yoga and Tai chi have been shown to help ease pain and reduce stress in fibromyalgia patients. They can also help develop muscle strength, and stamina. 

These practices usually involve meditation, deep breathing exercises, and controlled movements. 

Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness that may last a lifetime. However, fibromyalgia is not a progressive condition, so it will not worsen with time. It also has no adverse effects on your joints, muscles, or organs. Treatment for fibromyalgia may help alleviate symptoms.

When a fibromyalgia flare-up occurs, it doesn’t matter whether you’ve had the illness for months, years, or decades — it’s always difficult. (Sometimes “hard” barely conveys the severity of a flare-up.)

The saddest aspect about fibromyalgia flares is that no one knows how long it will endure. A fibromyalgia flare is characterized by an increase in the number and severity of symptoms. Some flares, however, last just a day or two, while others might endure for weeks or months.

With the help of a doctor, friends, and family, a person with fibromyalgia may live a normal and active life. Physicians provide a variety of treatments and treatment choices, including preventative medication to alleviate the discomfort caused by fibromyalgia.

Also, walking or having warm-water exercise regularly is one of the most effective therapies for fibromyalgia. It relieves pain and stiffness, reduces tension, and may give you a better feeling of control over your fibromyalgia. You may also sleep better as a result. 

How do you calm down a fibromyalgia flare-up?

Regular mild exercise is one of the most effective methods to prevent or reduce fibromyalgia flare-ups and relieve symptoms. Most people with fibromyalgia find it challenging with strengthening exercises as it worsens pain initially, however, research shows that it may improve muscle strength, physical impairment, and, in most instances, depression.

Also, stress management, relaxation techniques and prescription medications such as amitriptyline (Elavil), and pregabalin (Lyrica) are sometimes used to calm down a flare-up as they may affect multiple symptoms such as pain, fatigue, depressed mood, and sleep disturbances.

What does a fibro flare feel like?

A fibromyalgia flare is characterized by an increase in the number or severity of symptoms.

Widespread pain and aches characterize fibromyalgia pain. You may experience unpleasant “sensitive spots,” areas of your body that ache regardless of your medicine. Even if you haven’t exercised, your muscles may feel as though they have been overused or strained. As a result, your muscles will twitch from time to time. It is worth knowing that indulging in exercises that pushes you too hard can make the symptoms worse.

Flare-ups may come unexpectedly and are more likely to develop when a person with fibromyalgia is anxious or under a lot of strain.

Does CBD oil help fibromyalgia?

CBD has been used to alleviate (relieve pain) chronic pain symptoms and decrease inflammation. It is marketed as an alternative to consuming addictive opioid medicines. However, the FDA has not authorized CBD as a therapy option for fibromyalgia or most other illnesses.

Serotonin receptors are considered to be activated by CBD. It aids in pain perception, body temperature regulation, and inflammation reduction.

According to current research, CBD may also be able to

• manage chronic pain, such as that experienced by persons with fibromyalgia.
• Provide better and more quality sleep to fibromyalgia patients, reducing anxiety.
• May benefit people with conditions like depression, which frequently occurs in people with fibromyalgia.

Because the benefits of CBD oil take several hours to become apparent, avoid taking numerous doses of a high-strength product too close together.

Also, consider that this oil is full-spectrum and may contain THC. Therefore, even though it is a minor proportion, if you take a high enough quantity and are sensitive to THC, you may feel intoxicated. 

What triggers fibromyalgia attacks?

Fibromyalgia is often initiated by a stressful event, such as

• Physical or mental (emotional) stress.
• Giving birth.
• Undergoing surgery.
• Being in an abusive relationship.
• Breakup in a relationship.
• The loss of a loved one.
• An injury and a bacterial infection are also possible triggers of fibromyalgia.

However, in rare situations, fibromyalgia may not develop in response to any clear reason. 

What foods to avoid if you have fibromyalgia?

Foods that cause fibromyalgia pain differ from person to person, and what worsens your symptoms may not exacerbate someone else’s. You might seek professional medical advice to help you eliminate some diets and maintain a careful food diary to monitor your symptoms and determine what foods to avoid.

Generally, foods with poor nutritional content are likely to harm your health. The following is a list of common foods to avoid if you have fibromyalgia.

• Packaged foods.
• Gluten.
• Refined carbohydrates.
• Fatty, fried meals.
• Alcohol.
• Caffeine.
• Fruits and vegetables.
• Red nightshade meat.
• items made from milk.

Is massage good for fibromyalgia?

Taking massage therapy is known to be one of the most effective therapies for fibromyalgia patients. It has long been used to relieve muscular discomfort and tension. Massage is also used to improve range of motion and to treat depression and anxiety.

A massage may relax your muscles and release your joints, making it particularly useful in relieving fibromyalgia symptoms. Massage may also provide the following advantages: Headaches are relieved. 

What organs are affected by fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia causes pain in soft tissues and muscles throughout the body. It is a continuous (chronic) condition. It might impact your neck, shoulders, back, chest, hips, buttocks, arms, and legs. The discomfort may be stronger in the morning and at night. 

Does fibromyalgia worsen with age?

Fibromyalgia is not typically seen as a progressive condition, although it may worsen with time in certain situations and age spans. It is not, however, a disease with a predetermined path. Some elderlies do show signs of fibro fog in most cases. 

Can you reverse fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia presently has no treatment, and a person may have its symptoms for the rest of their life. Treatment programs that combine drugs with physical and mental therapy, on the other hand, may help individuals manage their disease in the long run. 

What happens if fibromyalgia is left untreated?

The danger of not treating fibromyalgia is that symptoms such as chronic pain, exhaustion, headaches, and depression may worsen with time. In addition, fibromyalgia significantly influences mental health, and anxiety and mood problems may increase if not treated. 

Does fibromyalgia go away with weight loss?

Weight reduction, according to a study, alleviates some of the discomfort associated with fibromyalgia. Losing three body mass index (BMI) points lessened fibromyalgia symptoms. However, losing weight is difficult when you have fibromyalgia since the condition is often connected with other medical concerns, such as thyroid disease, which impacts metabolism. Other hormonal abnormalities may also play a role in increased appetite. In addition, some drugs used to treat fibromyalgia symptoms may enhance your appetite.

Too much body fat and insufficient muscle promotes tiredness and exacerbates many other symptoms. Conversely, losing weight and exercise have been shown in studies to help reduce pain while increasing everyday function.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that affects muscles and soft tissues throughout the body. It may impact your arms, neck, shoulders, back, chest, hips, buttocks, and legs. Morning and evening discomfort may be more severe.

Fibromyalgia pain is often characterized as a persistent dull aching that has lasted at least three months. People with fibromyalgia describe the pain in the leg as a deep, dull muscle sore that worsens with vigorous activity. The discomfort may also be throbbing, shooting, or scorching. It may also radiate from sensitive places on the body and be accompanied by numbness or tingling in the limbs.

To be termed widespread, the discomfort must be felt on both sides of your body, above and below your waist.

About 4 million Americans develop Fibromyalgia at the age of 18 and above. The usual age range for fibromyalgia diagnosis is 35 to 45 years old. However, most patients have experienced chronic pain symptoms from childhood. In addition, women are more likely than males to suffer from fibromyalgia. 

What are usually the first signs of fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain and discomfort in muscles and joints throughout the body. The pain may vary from location to location, but you must have been in discomfort for at least three months to be diagnosed. In addition, the pain must be felt in a particular number of bodily areas and severe enough. Furthermore, you must not have any ailment (such as arthritis) that might explain your discomfort.

Fibromyalgia can produce other symptoms, including:

• Exhaustion.
• low energy.
• sleeping difficulties.
• Anxiety or depression.
• Memory issues and difficulty focusing (sometimes known as “fibro fog”).
• Headaches.
• twitches or cramps in the muscles.
• tingling or numbness in the hands and feet.
• Itching, burning, and other skin conditions.
• irritable bowel syndrome 

How do you get tested for fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia has the potential to mimic other conditions. With symptoms mostly consisting of widespread body pain and weariness, this ailment is difficult to identify since it is extremely similar to other health concerns. Because no test or scan can diagnose fibromyalgia, it might be difficult for your doctor to determine what is causing your aches and symptoms.

As a fibromyalgia diagnosed patient, to get the correct diagnosis, you may need to visit numerous physicians. Once you’ve done that, the appropriate therapies may help you feel better.

What are the 8 symptoms of fibromyalgia?

The following are the common fibromyalgia symptoms:

• muscle discomfort that is present throughout.
• a heightened, uncomfortable reaction to pressure at several delicate body parts.

These signs and symptoms may also be present in people living with fibromyalgia:

• mild to severe exhaustion.
• trouble sleeping.
• Joint rigidity.
• Headaches.
• Hands and feet tingling, numb, or having a burning or prickling feeling.
• difficult menstrual cycles.
• Inflammable bowel.
• issues with memory and thought. 

What triggers fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is frequently triggered by a traumatic or stressful event, such as physical or mental (psychological) stress.

Among the possible causes of the condition are:

• virus infection.
• birthing a child.
• undergoing surgery.
• the dissolution of a relationship.
• being involved in an abusive relationship.
• the loss of a loved one.

However, in rare situations, fibromyalgia may not develop in response to any clear reason. 

What happens if fibromyalgia is left untreated?

The danger of not treating fibromyalgia is that symptoms such as chronic pain, exhaustion, headaches, and depression may worsen with time. In addition, fibromyalgia significantly influences mental health, anxiety, and mood disorders, or worse, it could lead to a worsening case of post-traumatic stress disorder that may increase if not treated. 

What is used to treat fibromyalgia?

The FDA has authorized three medications for treating fibromyalgia which are; the antidepressants duloxetine and milnacipran, as well as the seizure medication pregabalin.

Pregabalin and gabapentin are primarily used to treat epilepsy, but research has shown that they can help some people with the pain associated with fibromyalgia.

Doctors occasionally prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat fibromyalgia-related deep muscle and joint pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen are accessible without a prescription. 

What does a fibromyalgia flare feel like?

Stressful situations, surgeries, or accidents might exacerbate fibromyalgia symptoms. Flare-ups can also be induced by a lack of sleep or performing too much or too little activity.

If you have fibromyalgia, your central nervous system may transmit “itch” impulses to your skin’s nerves. This might cause your skin to become oversensitive, resulting in itching. While this has not been confirmed to occur with fibromyalgia, it is associated with musculoskeletal and skin diseases. 

Does fibromyalgia cause weight gain?

Those with fibromyalgia have a 25% reduced metabolism than those of the same age and weight who do not have fibromyalgia.

That translates to 500 fewer calories burnt every day, or the equivalent of a light meal.

It isn’t only a lack of exercise. Several features of fibromyalgia lead to weight gain. Fibromyalgia is characterized by musculoskeletal pain, sadness, and headaches. Another sign might be excess weight.

Furthermore, the appetite-signaling hormone leptin may be out of sync, delivering erroneous hunger signals to the brain, causing you to eat more and gain a few pounds.

Pregabalin, for example, is a fibromyalgia medicine that increases hunger.

Many patients with fibromyalgia gain weight due to this mix of circumstances, often to as much as 30 pounds. 

Do hot showers help fibromyalgia?

Heat, particularly moist heat from hot showers, may alleviate severe pain and stiffness by increasing blood flow to the affected areas. Applying a warm, wet washcloth to the painful regions and having a hot shower or bath will help. A cold pack may also help with the deep muscular pain of fibromyalgia. 

What’s the difference between chronic pain and fibromyalgia?

Chronic pain syndrome often has a specific cause, such as rheumatoid arthritis
or a fractured bone that does not heal correctly. Fibromyalgia, a neural system illness marked by muscle and joint pain and tiredness, often develops without a recognized cause. 

Does fibromyalgia come on suddenly?

Fibromyalgia symptoms might occur quickly after an illness, physical trauma, or considerable psychological stress. However, in other patients, fibromyalgia symptoms arise gradually, and no one incident is thought to cause pain and exhaustion. 

Does fibromyalgia hurt to the touch?

Fibromyalgia may make you incredibly sensitive to pain throughout your body, and even the smallest contact may be uncomfortable. In addition, if you injure yourself, such as by stubbing your toe, the pain may last considerably longer than it would ordinarily.

You can also be sensitive to cigarettes, certain foods, and strong lights. When you are exposed to anything to which you are sensitive, your other fibromyalgia symptoms may worsen. 

Is fibromyalgia a disability?

Fibromyalgia is chronic pain, tiredness, and tenderness illness that may last a lifetime. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not provide a list of medical disorders that qualify as disabilities. Instead, the ADA establishes a broad definition of disability that each individual must fulfill. As a result, some persons with fibromyalgia will be considered disabled under the ADA, while others will not.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recognizes fibromyalgia as a legitimate and possibly severely debilitating disease.

Fibromyalgia is an illness that can last for a lifetime. However, fibromyalgia is not progressive, so it will not worsen with time. It also has no negative effects on your joints, muscles, or organs. Treatment for fibromyalgia can help alleviate symptoms.

You are familiar with how fibromyalgia feels if you suffer from severe sensitive spots, intense muscular pain, persistent headaches, never-ending back pain, or neck discomfort. Those with fibromyalgia experience pain in ways that no one else can truly comprehend.

Persistent bones and muscle discomfort characterize fibromyalgia. Excessive tiredness and memory issues are other symptoms. There is no known cause or treatment. However, when most individuals try to control stress, improve sleep, exercise, and eat healthier, they see changes. 

A home routine schedule can be developed by a physical therapist, such as getting involved in Aerobic exercise, which is one of the most effective strategies to alleviate the pains associated with fibromyalgia. This type of workout involves repeatedly using your major muscles for a specific time. Taking a walk is the simplest and requires no extra equipment other than a decent pair of shoes. Swimming and cycling are other viable possibilities.

The key is discovering something you enjoy doing for 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Do it if you have to start with 10 minutes and work your way up.

What is the root cause of fibromyalgia?

Although there is no known cause, several variables such as stress and heredity may predispose someone to fibromyalgia.

Symptoms may be triggered by certain situations or events, such as:

• Stressful events include premature birth, miserable life experiences such as abuse, and accidents.
• Viral infections and other medical conditions
• Anxiety, despair, and other mood swings, as well as PTSD
• Sleep deprivation.
• Lack of physical activity and exercise.

Can you reverse fibromyalgia?

The capability to work or carry out everyday tasks may be hampered by the pain, excessive fatigue, and lack of sleep that fibromyalgia produces.

With the help of a doctor, friends, and family, a person with fibromyalgia may live a normal and active life. Physicians provide a variety of treatments and treatment choices, including preventative medication to alleviate the discomfort caused by fibromyalgia.

There is no cure for fibromyalgia presently, but treatment programs that combine drugs with physical and mental treatments can help individuals manage their illness in the long run.

Making dietary modifications may also alleviate some of your symptoms. For example, aim for a well-balanced diet high in fruits and vegetables, and pay attention to which dishes tend to worsen your symptoms.

How serious is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia causes severe pain, which can, in turn, lead to disability for the patient. A huge percentage of adults in the United States who suffer from the illness tend to have a lower quality of life. They also suffer from complications, getting more appointments with the Doctor than someone without fibromyalgia.

While fibromyalgia does not harm joints or organs, many who suffer from it report significant symptoms in their neck, shoulders, back, chest, hips, buttocks, arms, and legs.

Fibromyalgia, according to researchers, increases painful feelings by altering how your brain and spinal cord receive painful and non painful impulses.

What happens if fibromyalgia is left untreated?

Leaving fibromyalgia untreated can result in high risk. a major risk, if left untreated, could increase chronic symptoms such as chronic pain, tiredness, headaches, and depression

Fibromyalgia also greatly impacts mental health. Anxiety and mood disorders can worsen if you don’t treat fibromyalgia.

Does fibromyalgia shorten life expectancy?

There are flare-ups followed by periods with little or no symptoms. Fibromyalgia is not fatal and does not affect life expectancy. However, fibromyalgia effects include a higher suicide and injury fatality rate.

What is the newest treatment for fibromyalgia?

Pregabalin and duloxetine are the two medications now authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat fibromyalgia. In addition, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Milnacipran, a dual norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitor, appears to be promising for treating fibromyalgia.

For alternative treatments, Acetaminophen (Tylenol, among others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, among others), or naproxen sodium (Aleve, among others) are over-the-counter pain relievers that may be helpful to relieve pain and manage fibromyalgia symptoms.

In addition to pain relief, exercise provides numerous other benefits for persons with fibromyalgia 

Can fibromyalgia turn into MS?

According to researchers, fibromyalgia was more than three times as likely in those who later had MS.

What are the 8 symptoms of fibromyalgia?

Individuals with fibromyalgia may experience some – if not all of these symptoms; 

• Moderate to extreme exhaustion.
• Sleeping problems.
• Stiffness of the joints.

• Headaches.
• Hand and foot tingling, numbness, or a burning or prickling feeling.
• Menstrual cramps are excruciating.
• Irritable bowel syndrome.
• Thinking and memory problems – Fibro fog.

What are usually the first signs of fibromyalgia?

Many fibromyalgia patients experience how the brain processes pain signals with a scorching pain or pins-and-needles sensation akin to the sensation of blood rushing back into your tired foot. Others report feeling like a meat tenderizer has beaten them all over their bodies. Some people experience electric zings as well.

How can I test myself for fibromyalgia?

Certain factors must normally be satisfied to diagnose fibromyalgia. The most commonly used diagnostic criteria are: you experience severe pain in three to six locations of your body or have lesser pain in seven or more different areas. Secondly, your symptoms have remained the same for at least three months, along with other symptoms such as exhaustion, memory and concentration difficulties, lack of sleep, symptoms of depression and irritability syndrome.

 A physical exam or physical therapy (alternative therapies), and some blood work can help your Doctor determine the cause of your fibromyalgia and create an effective fibromyalgia treatment plan.

Can someone with fibromyalgia get the Covid vaccine?

COVID-19 vaccinations are both safe and beneficial for persons who have fibromyalgia. Getting vaccinated and remaining up to date on booster injections is the greatest method for people with fibromyalgia to protect themselves.

Is fibromyalgia caused by stress?

Emotional stress may alter your experience of pain, which may explain why people with fibromyalgia pain are more prone to stress than others. When you are weak, you are more sensitive to fibromyalgia symptoms such as widespread pain, exhaustion, and depression. Many studies think removing specific stressful triggers will reduce fibromyalgia symptoms.

Fibromyalgia is frequently precipitated by a stressful event, such as physical or mental (psychological) stress. Although the exact etiology and pathophysiology of FM are uncertain, stress has been believed to play a role in the illness.

Is fibromyalgia autoimmune or neurological?

Fibromyalgia is a neurological condition caused by the central nervous system; as such, it is not an autoimmune disease. However, according to reliable studies, this disorder weakens your immune system by creating different abnormalities and irregularities.

What are the 10 causes of fibromyalgia?

Children can be affected by fibromyalgia, as can adults of all ages. However, most cases are discovered in middle age and your chances of developing fibromyalgia increase as you age. In addition, you have a higher risk of developing fibromyalgia if you have lupus or rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Below are likely causes of fibromyalgia

• Inadequate sleep
• A poor diet
• Hormone dysregulation
• Schedule modifications.
• Weather variations
• Anxiety
• Medication modifications
• Excessive exercise.
• Infections
• Wound

Fibromyalgia symptoms include severe body pain, tiredness, uncomfortable sleep, and mood swings. These symptoms, however, are common to many other medical conditions. This makes it difficult to tease out which symptom is caused by what problem because fibromyalgia symptoms can occur alone or with other health conditions. Adding a few complications, fibromyalgia symptoms might come and go. As a result, the transition from fibromyalgia symptoms to diagnosing fibromyalgia might be lengthy.

Fibromyalgia affects up to 4 million Americans aged 18 and above. The usual age range for fibromyalgia diagnosis is 35 to 45 years old. However, most patients who diagnose fibromyalgia have experienced chronic pain symptoms from childhood. In addition, women are more likely than males to suffer from Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is frequently initiated by a stressful event, such as physical or mental (psychological) stress. In addition, doctors diagnose fibromyalgia based on
an injury or a bacterial infection which happens to be one of the possible causes of the disease.

If you have fibromyalgia leg pain, you may feel throbbing, shooting, achy, or burning sensations in your legs. In addition, you will frequently have discomfort in your fibro-sensitive spots, notably the inside of each knee and the hip directly behind your hipbone. 

Seeking professional medical advice, patients often get a complete physical examination, alerting the Doctor to any areas of pain. Some professionals may mildly push on sensitive spots, discrete locations of discomfort in fibromyalgia patients’ muscular and tendinous tissue. These painful spots are in uniform and constant locations in fibromyalgia patients, who are often unaware of them until a clinician touches them.

Test for Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia, just like other health problems, has symptoms of widespread pain and fatigue. This can make it hard on Doctors to nail down the cause of your aches and pains, as no test or scan can detect someone having Fibromyalgia, tagging it as a copycat to other health conditions.

Fibromyalgia can be diagnosed by a general practice physician, internist, or rheumatologist. After being examined by a family practice physician or internist, the patient is sometimes sent to a rheumatologist for a diagnosis.

Typically, blood tests are conducted to exclude illnesses that exhibit similar symptoms. Other tests will be performed based on the signs stated but may include X-rays or an electromyography (EMG) to check the electrical activity of the muscles.

Patients often get a complete physical exam, alerting the Doctor to any areas of pain. Some professionals may mildly push on sensitive spots, discrete locations of discomfort in fibromyalgia patients’ muscular and tendinous tissue.

These painful spots are in uniform and constant locations in fibromyalgia patients, who are often unaware of them until a clinician touches them.

For the blood test, your doctor may wish to rule out other illnesses that exhibit similar symptoms. Blood testing may include the following:

– Total blood count

– The rate of erythrocyte sedimentation

– Test for cyclic citrullinated peptides

– The rheumatoid factor

– Thyroid function examinations

– Nuclear antigen antibody

– Celiac disease serology

– vitamin D

Your doctor may perform a detailed physical assessment of your muscles and joints and a neurological evaluation to rule out other reasons for your symptoms. For example, if your doctor suspects you have sleep apnea, they may prescribe a sleep study.

 The four stages of Fibromyalgia?

The four Stages of Fibromyalgia are;

– Regional Fibromyalgia with classic symptoms; 

– Generalized Fibromyalgia with increasing widespread body pain and some extra symptoms; 

– Fibromyalgia with progressive and associated conditions, increasing across-the-board pain, increased sleep disturbances, and chemical sensitivity; 

– Secondary Fibromyalgia reactive to illness and a widespread pain index score above six.

Fibromyalgia Tender points are found around the neck, chest, shoulders, hips, and knees, both above and below the waist. When the Doctor presses on the tender place with enough force, it should create severe pain in that region. In addition, it should feel painful in the exact location where the button is pressed.

The 18 fibromyalgia-sensitive spots are as follows:

– Lower neck in front

– Upper breast edge

– Near the elbow of the arm

– Hip bone Knee 

– The base of the skull in the rear of the head

– Upper outer thigh

– The back of one’s neck

– The back of one’s shoulders

Fibromyalgia is a severe pain disorder that affects muscles and soft tissues throughout the body. It is a persistent chronic condition. It can impact the parts of the body, as mentioned earlier. Morning and evening discomfort may be more severe.

According to the American college of rheumatology, fibromyalgia patients may also experience the following symptoms:

– Moderate to severe exhaustion

– Sleeping problems

– Stiffness of the joints

– Headaches

– Hand and foot tingling, numbness, or a burning or prickling feeling

– Menstrual cramps are excruciating.

– Irritable bowel syndrome

– Thinking and memory problems

 
What can Fibromyalgia be mistaken for?

Several rheumatic disorders can cause symptoms similar to Fibromyalgia. Sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Lyme disease, polymyalgia rheumatica, and lupus are among them. They exhibit signs of extensive discomfort as well as joint involvement. Medication and physical therapy are used to treat the majority of rheumatic illnesses.

Fibromyalgia was previously classified as an inflammatory musculoskeletal condition, but recent research has determined that it is an ailment that largely affects the central nervous system. It is a neurological disease driven by the central nervous system.

 Fibromyalgia, a disability or not?  

Fibromyalgia (FM) is hardly considered a disability in the United States because the symptoms are frequently self-reported. Therefore, you’ll need medical records and a doctor to support your claim. However, it is feasible to file a valid FM claim.

There is no list of medical disorders that constitute impairments in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Instead, the ADA establishes a broad definition of disability that each individual must fulfill. As a result, some persons with Fibromyalgia will be considered disabled under the ADA, while others will not.

Fibromyalgia may strike anybody at any age, even children. However, most patients are diagnosed in their forties, and you are more likely to get Fibromyalgia as you age.

Fibromyalgia symptoms might occur quickly following an illness, physical trauma, or considerable psychological stress. However, in other patients, fibromyalgia symptoms arise gradually, and no single incident is thought to cause pain and exhaustion.

 Should you massage fibromyalgia tender points?  

Trigger points are painful locations in muscle fiber bands that people with Fibromyalgia have more of than persons without the disorder. Massage treatments can be used to treat Fibromyalgia.

More forceful massage may assist reduce fibromyalgia-related deep muscle discomfort. You can also try to relieve some of your fibromyalgia pain—by massaging sore regions with any solid instrument, such as a hard ball.

COVID-19 vaccinations are both safe and beneficial for persons who have Fibromyalgia. Getting vaccinated and remaining up to date on booster injections is the greatest method to protect yourself if you have Fibromyalgia.

 Fibromyalgia VS lupus

Both disorders are characterized by joint and muscular discomfort. However, persons with lupus frequently have joint stiffness and edema. As a result, moving might be difficult for those with this illness. On the other hand, fibromyalgia patients have normal joint movement and are not swollen.

Fibromyalgia, unlike lupus, is not an autoimmune illness, which arises when the body’s immune system mistakenly targets its cells and tissues. Likewise, Fibromyalgia is not an inflammatory disease nor a joint or muscle illness caused by physical trauma.

An MRI might reveal brain activity linked to fibromyalgia symptoms. The broad physical pain that fibromyalgia patients experience is exacerbated by the frustration and ignorance that often accompany the illness.

 Does Fibromyalgia cause weight gain?

Patients may find exercise and ordinary physical activity more challenging due to the pain and weariness associated with this illness. Weight gain can occur as a result of a lack of activity. Furthermore, several additional illnesses can induce weight gain similar to Fibromyalgia. Hypothyroidism, or decreased thyroid hormone, is the most prevalent of them.

Pregabalin, for example, is a fibromyalgia medicine that increases hunger. Many patients with fibromyalgia gain weight due to this mix of circumstances, often as much as 30 pounds or more.  

The National Fibromyalgia Association terms fibromyalgia as a chronic disorder that produces pain throughout the body’s muscles and soft tissues. It does not, however, harm muscular tissue or internal organs. Instead, it can cause pain around your neck, shoulders, back, chest, hips, buttocks, and legs. Morning and evening discomfort may be more severe.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness that must be addressed daily, according to mayo clinic proceedings. Surgeries, post-traumatic stress disorder, or accidents might exacerbate fibromyalgia symptoms. Flare-ups can also be induced by a lack of sleep or performing too much or too little activity.

Fibromyalgia is a serious pain disorder that fluctuates in intensity from person to person. It’s been called “pain amplification syndrome,” meaning that people with the disorder perceive pain signals differently than those who don’t.

Fibromyalgia may strike anybody at any age, even children. However, most patients are diagnosed in their forties, and you are more likely to get fibromyalgia as you age. In addition, you are more prone to develop fibromyalgia if you have lupus or rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Fibromyalgia has no recognized cure. However, most individuals see changes when they take efforts to reduce stress, sleep better, exercise more, and eat healthier.

What happens if fibromyalgia is left untreated?

The risk of not treating fibromyalgia is that symptoms such as chronic pain, exhaustion, headaches, and depression can worsen with time. In addition, fibromyalgia significantly influences mental health, and anxiety and mood problems can increase if not treated.

Fibro fog is frequently used to describe the brain-related issues associated with fibromyalgia. Scientists do not yet completely understand its causes and consequences, although addressing sleeping disorders, depression, exhaustion, and chronic pain alleviates symptoms.

There is no generally acknowledged medical test that can be used to diagnose fibromyalgia. Instead, diagnostic tests are undertaken to see whether another illness is causing the symptoms. 

Urine tests, blood tests, X-rays, and other scans may be used to screen for some of these disorders. However, if you are diagnosed with another ailment, you may still have fibromyalgia.

Certain criteria must normally be satisfied to diagnose fibromyalgia. You either experience severe pain in three to six distinct locations of your body, or you have minor discomfort in seven or more. For at least three months, your symptoms have remained steady.

What causes fibromyalgia to flare up?

Stressful situations, surgeries, or accidents might exacerbate fibromyalgia symptoms. Flare-ups can also be induced by a lack of sleep or performing too much or too little activity.

If you have fibromyalgia, your central nervous system may transmit “itch” impulses to your skin’s nerves. This might cause your skin to become oversensitive, resulting in itching. While this has not been confirmed with fibromyalgia, it is associated with musculoskeletal and skin diseases.

What are the 10 causes of fibromyalgia?

People with fibromyalgia may experience regular or worsening or more frequent symptoms daily. Some flare-up triggers such as weather changes. However, everyone has some control over many common triggers through lifestyle adjustments.

Identifying problem areas and making the necessary changes is not easy, but simple changes may be needed to make a big difference in everyday well-being.

– Not enough sleep

– Improper diet

– Hormone imbalance

– Schedule changes

– Weather changes

– Stress

– Changes in medications

– Overdoing exercise

– Illnesses

– Injury 

Fibromyalgia flare-up: Pain management       

It’s better to be prepared for a fibromyalgia flare-up. While the following coping tactics may not eliminate pain, they may make it easier to manage.

– Sleeping and getting more of it is very vital. The lack of it can make fibromyalgia worsen. Therefore, getting eight hours of sleep or more must be a major focus.

To reset your body’s sleep cycle, try to go to bed and wake up simultaneously every day. If feasible, incorporate a brief sleep (even ten minutes may make a great impact) into your day. One word of caution: don’t nap so much during the day that you can’t sleep at night.

– Distracting yourself with deep breathing, meditation, self-hypnosis, or good books and soothing music can help relieve pain and deal with flare-ups.

– Don’t overdo yourself, request assistance from others, extend deadlines whenever feasible – give yourself some slack, and prioritize your flare. When your fibromyalgia flares up, do everything you can to keep your stress level at a “low.”

– Talking about cutting yourself some slack, a strong but courteous refusal, without giving reasons or excuses, places you in control of your schedule and allows you to say “yes” to what your body requires.

– It can be isolating when battling a chronic illness. As such, it can lead to anxiety, depression, or any other illnesses. Therefore, to tackle this, it is advisable to reach out to others for support as they can likely encourage you when the pain levels rise. Sometimes you can talk with people about how you feel. Doing so with people who understand can take the intensity out of a fibromyalgia flare. 

What are the 8 symptoms of fibromyalgia?

The usual first signs of fibromyalgia are a pain. In certain parts of your body, such as your neck and back, you might feel the pain spreading throughout your entire body.

Fibromyalgia patients may also experience other symptoms, which include;

– Fatigue ranging from moderate to severe, generally, like you are all out of energy.

– Your sleeping routine becomes greatly interrupted as you wake up feeling unrested.

– Stiffness of the joints.

– Headaches.

– Hand and foot tingling, numbness, or a burning or prickling feeling

– Menstrual cramps are excruciating.

– Irritable bowel syndrome.

– Thinking and memory problems 

Does exercise help treat fibromyalgia?

Low-impact aerobic exercise is one of the most effective fibromyalgia therapies. Although exercise may initially aggravate pain sensations, it may eventually assist in avoiding discomfort.

Taking a walk, biking, being involved in water aerobics, and swimming are all suggested activities for those with fibromyalgia.

Also, it is worth knowing that heat, particularly moist heat, may alleviate fibromyalgia pain and stiffness by pumping blood to the affected areas. For example, apply a warm, damp washcloth to the hurting region, or soak in a bath or shower.

A cold pack can also aid with fibromyalgia’s widespread muscle pain. 

Is fibromyalgia a stage?

Fibromyalgia’s four parent phases were found and labeled:

1. Localized FM with characteristic symptoms.
2. Generalized FM with rising constant pain and some additional symptoms.
3. FM with advanced and related disorders, including more widespread pain, sleep problems, and chemical sensitivity.
4. Secondary FM is reactive to illness. 

What is the newest treatment for fibromyalgia?

CBD oil has been used to soothe chronic pain symptoms and decrease inflammation. It is marketed as an alternative to consuming addictive opioid medicines. However, CBD has not been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or the centers for disease control as a therapy option for fibromyalgia or most other disorders.

Although large-scale studies are still needed to validate their efficacy, the most current FDA-approved fibromyalgia therapies are Quell and milnacipran. Quell is an over-the-counter transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator used to relieve pain.

Milnacipran, belonging to the same class of antidepressants, is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) that has demonstrated encouraging outcomes in fibromyalgia pain alleviation and physical performance. However, milnacipran’s precise mechanism of action in treating fibromyalgia remains unknown.

Two small prospective pilot trials have previously suggested that low-dose naltrexone medication may be an effective, safe, and low-cost treatment for fibromyalgia.

While there is no known cure for fibromyalgia, we believe that targeting the toxic biofilms in the gut of many sufferers could lead to the body’s natural healing of itself. To learn more about our biofilm protocol and how it could help you, check out this article. 

Fibromyalgia is not just a made-up condition in the head of the sufferer; it is a genuine, incapacitating disorder that causes widespread pain and discomfort in the body. The person with fibromyalgia frequently feels pain from stimuli that ordinarily don’t produce pain, such as gentle pressure, touch, scents, noises, and temperature changes.

Fibromyalgia symptoms also include chronic fatigue, delirium, stiffness in the joints, and bladder problem; all of which can be disabling, preventing the affected individuals from functioning optimally.

A mental health professional or rheumatologist will have no problems classifying fibromyalgia as a disability, but does the law think so too? The answer to that would depend.

In this article, we would explain everything you need to know about fibromyalgia as it regards disability benefits and the workplace. Keep reading to find out.

Is Fibromyalgia considered a disability?

Fibromyalgia patients frequently feel limited in their ability to carry out daily tasks, so we could say it is a disability. Fibromyalgia symptoms appear to be significantly driven by psychological issues. In other words,  their perception of the level of impairment is thought to be influenced by their mental health. Psychological distress is more prevalent in patients than it is in those with other types of pain disorders. But does the law consider fibromyalgia a disability that justifies receiving government assistance?

Fibromyalgia and other chronic fatigue disorders are acknowledged by the government as actual illnesses with the potential to be incapacitating. The Department for Work and Pensions is in concordance; in cases where fibromyalgia has been clinically diagnosed, full consideration of its functional implications will be given when evaluating benefit eligibility.

Can I get disability for Fibromyalgia?

Yes, you can, but the Social Security Administration (SSA) has put in place procedures for getting financial aid for fibromyalgia and, frankly, they can be challenging to fulfill.

Given the government’s position on fibromyalgia, those who experience the disease’s symptoms and find that the pain and exhaustion they experience have prevented them from working should consider applying for Social Security disability benefits.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has compiled a list of medical conditions known as the Blue Book, which qualified applicants for disability payments due to their medical or mental problems.

Unfortunately, Fibromyalgia is not listed in the Social Security Administration’s Blue Book of Disabling Conditions, therefore demonstrating complete impairment and receiving disability payments due to an FM diagnosis can be challenging because there are no set standards for approval.

How hard is it to get disability for fibromyalgia?

Getting disability benefits for fibromyalgia is straightforward once you are able to show how your inability to hold down a stable job is negatively impacted by the symptoms of the musculoskeletal illness with medical evidence.

This allows you to be eligible for Social Security disability payments. The SSA takes into account all of your symptoms, including frequent symptoms like severe, widespread pain, persistent exhaustion, and whether the individual has a medically determinable impairment.

You must also fulfill other requirements, such as accruing enough labor credits over the span of a year to validate your disability claim. Depending on your salary and the SSA’s minimum income requirement, you may be able to accrue enough work credits. To get accurate representation at a hearing, disability attorneys can be great help.

Last but not least, it is critical that a person seeking Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)  get in touch with their doctor to confirm that the Fibromyalgia diagnosis is explicitly recorded in the medical records before proceeding with application.

Even if the SSA denies you benefits for fibromyalgia, you can still take a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) evaluation to see how well you can function despite the disorder’s symptoms.

Should I tell my boss I have a fibromyalgia disability?

Fibromyalgia symptoms might impair your capacity for physical labor and restrict the kinds of workplaces you are able to work in. In order to avoid problems in the future, you should disclose your condition to your boss and colleagues.

If they don’t already know what fibromyalgia entails, explain it to them and, if required, point them in the direction of useful resources. Discuss coping mechanisms you employ to manage fibromyalgia symptoms as well as the possibility that you will have both good and bad days.

Fibromyalgia: How to apply for disability benefits?

To apply for fibromyalgia disability compensation, get in touch with the closest SSA office. The majority of the data that the office needs can be delivered over the phone, via email, or online.

Your application for Social Security disability payments based on fibromyalgia may be strengthened if you work with a Social Security attorney. The point is demonstrating that your fibromyalgia symptoms prevent you from performing your existing job responsibilities properly.

Because the disease’s severe symptoms make it hard for you to perform your regular job duties, your doctor should submit the findings of any diagnostic tests, and your employer must prove that you have missed a substantial amount of time at work.

How severe can fibromyalgia get?

Pain and a decreased quality of life can all be brought on by fibromyalgia. Adults in the US with fibromyalgia may experience difficulties that lead to more frequent hospital stays. Your chances of being hospitalized are twice as high if you have fibromyalgia compared to someone without the condition.

Individuals with fibromyalgia are also more than three times as likely to experience significant depression than adults without the condition. Depression has to be screened for and treated immediately.

Experts advise individuals to engage in 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week. Five days a week, spend 30 minutes biking, swimming, or walking. Throughout the day, these 30-minute exercises can be divided into three different ten-minute intervals. Regular exercise can also lower the likelihood of developing severe chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease.

Fighting fibromyalgia   

While there is currently no recognized treatment for fibromyalgia, we believe that by focusing on the toxic biofilms that are present in the guts of fibromyalgia patients, the body may be in a better position to repair itself naturally. For additional information about our biofilm treatment and how it could benefit you, check out this article.

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic illness that affects the entire body. According to scientists, over 5 million individuals in the United States develop fibromyalgia.

Although the condition can affect men and children, it is more common among women. The majority of patients with the illness are diagnosed in their forties.     

Every action might become more challenging as fibromyalgia aches flare-up. Everyone experiences flares differently, and different triggers may exist depending on the individual.

However, fibromyalgia is not a progressive condition, which means it will not worsen with time. It also has no negative effects on your joints, muscles, or organs. 

Fibromyalgia, often mistaken as myofascial pain syndrome a symptom of chronic pain affects muscles and soft tissues throughout the body and it can also cause irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome neuropathic pain, and skin pain, pain in the spinal cord.

This is a permanent (chronic) condition. It can affect the neck, shoulders, back, chest, hips, buttocks, arms, and legs.

Although multiple studies have established that fibromyalgia is not an autoimmune illness (like rheumatoid arthritis, in which the body destroys healthy tissues), trustworthy research agrees that this disorder weakens your immune system by generating a variety of anomalies and irregularities. 

Fibromyalgia has no known cure. Medication and lifestyle modifications, on the other hand, can help treat fibromyalgia and minimize the probability of flares. Symptoms in the morning and evening can be stronger. Fibromyalgia is a treatable ailment that allows patients to live a normal life.

The degree of the pain varies depending on the time of day and your activity level. Some individuals get it worse in the morning or after exercising.

The kind and degree of fibromyalgia pain can also be affected by stress, a lack of sleep, and the weather. Participating in regular exercise is one of the most effective methods to avoid fibromyalgia flares and manage pain.

Are There Seven Stages in Fibromyalgia?

FM’s four parent phases were found and labeled:

1) localized FM with characteristic symptoms;
2) generalized FM with rising constant pain and some additional symptoms;
3) FM with advanced and related disorders, including more widespread pain, sleep problems, and chemical sensitivity; 
4) secondary FM reactive to illness.

How Quickly Does Fibromyalgia Syndrome Progress?

Fibromyalgia is not typically considered a progressive condition, but it can worsen with time in some circumstances. It is, however, not a condition with a predetermined course.

Most persons have fibromyalgia flares (when symptoms are acute) and remissions (when symptoms are minimal or absent).

Some patients discover effective therapies that significantly lessen the intensity of their flares while also making them fewer and further between.

Researchers discovered that fibromyalgia was more than three times more likely among those later diagnosed with MS.

What Are the 18 Tender Points for Fibromyalgia?

Despite the fact that fibromyalgia is a syndrome renowned for generating broad pain, doctors used to find certain locations of the body — known as tender spots — that were more sensitive to touch in fibromyalgia patients than in non-fibromyalgia patients.

Tender points are painful locations surrounding your joints that are not the joints themselves. When you press on them, it hurts. Even pressure from a finger, such as a poke, can cause a person to grimace or flinch.

Fibromyalgia Tender points in the body are often symmetrical. They are seen both above and below the waist, around the neck, chest, shoulders, hips, and knees.

When the doctor presses on the painful place with enough force to make their fingernails white, it should create pain in that particular region. It should feel painful in the particular location that is being pushed.

The 18 tender points of fibromyalgia are:

– Lower neck front.

– The edge of the upper chest.

– Arm near the elbow.

-Knees.

-Skull base of the back of the head.

-Hip bone.

-Upper outer buttock.

-Neck.

-Behind the shoulders.

The Root Cause of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is often caused by stressful events such as physical and emotional (psychological) stress.

 The possible triggers for this disease are:

-Injury.

-Virus infection.

-Childbirth.

-There is an operation.

-Relationship failure.

-Have an abusive relationship.

-Death of a loved one.

 However, in some cases, fibromyalgia may not develop after an overt trigger.

Does Exercise Help Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia symptoms are linked to physical inactivity, such as prolonged sitting. Physical inactivity increases oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, both of which are prevalent in fibromyalgia. As a result, increasing physical exercise should assist fibromyalgia sufferers.

Regular physical exercise can typically alleviate or improve fibromyalgia symptoms. Although exercise may initially aggravate pain sensations, it may eventually assist to avoid discomfort.

Walking, biking, swimming, and water aerobics are all suggested activities for those with fibromyalgia. Maintaining proper posture, stretching, and relaxation activities may also be beneficial.

It is advised that patients with fibromyalgia begin with easy activity, such as walking, and gradually increase endurance and intensity.

Resistance and strength training can help with muscular strength, physical handicap, depression, and overall quality of life. They can also help persons with fibromyalgia improve their fatigue, function, and mood.

Fibromyalgia affects the whole body and can cause permanent problems with muscles and joints. Therefore, patients turn to massage as a natural pain management technique.

Massage can relax the muscles and loosen the joints, so it is very effective in relieving the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. Other useful effects of massage are:

-Relief of headache.

-Improving sleep.

– Free from symptoms of anxiety, stress, and extreme tiredness.

The Newest Treatment for Fibromyalgia

One of the most promising treatments for fibromyalgia is in the area of biofilm disruption. 

Biofilm is a neurotoxic film that bacteria and yeast secrete in our bodies in order to blanket them from our immune system. It is estimated that around 95% of all bacteria and yeast in our body, lives beneath biofilms. 

The problem happens when there is an overgrowth of these harmful bacteria and yeast, which creates a critical mass of toxins that these bugs release. Biofilm is also known as LPS (lipopolysaccharides) and they are responsible for a multitude of symptoms, including: Body pain, fatigue, brain fog, sleep and mood disorders and digestive issues. 

The other thing about biofilms are they are almost impossible for our immune cells and antibiotics to penetrate. 

This is where the use of systemic enzymes come into play. Systemic enzymes are useful for so many things, and biofilm disruption just happens to be another use for these enzymes. 

They are able to dissolve the tough biofilm walls to expose the harmful bacteria and yeast. Once exposed, our immune system has no trouble eradicating any overgrowth going on. 

For more details on how enzymes are working in the fight against fibromyalgia and other chronic diseases, you can visit this page: https://nativeformulas.com/biofilm-protocol

Does an MRI Show Fibromyalgia?

A study undertaken by researchers at the University of Colorado discovered something distinctive in the brains of persons suffering from fibromyalgia. They used a functional MRI, a sort of scan that allowed them to monitor and map brain activity while applying painful pressure to the patients.

During the test, they observed a sequence of patterns in brain activity related to the patient’s pain sensitivity. People who do not have fibromyalgia do not have these brain patterns.

While additional study is required, this result is encouraging for fibromyalgia patients. This means that an MRI might aid in both the diagnosis of fibromyalgia and the identification of the particular patient’s specific subtype of the condition. This degree of data may aid doctors in developing more personalized treatment strategies for their fibromyalgia patients.

While there is no known cure for fibromyalgia, we believe that targeting the toxic biofilms in the gut of many sufferers could lead to the body’s natural healing of itself. To learn more about our biofilm protocol and how it could help you, check out this article.

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a condition that causes patients to experience widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue.

Asides from pain symptoms, patients also tend to experience things like mood issues, memory problems, etc. Symptoms tend to vary in fibromyalgia patients.

Fibromyalgia symptoms can seriously affect the quality of life of patients, and if it’s not properly taken care of, it can lead to even worse symptoms.

There is no exact cure for fibromyalgia, but there are certain treatment procedures that can be employed to ease fibromyalgia symptoms.

In this article, we’ll be talking about some dietary changes that need to be made to prevent fibromyalgia symptoms from getting worse.

Foods that can worsen Fibromyalgia symptoms

There are certain foods that people with fibromyalgia need to avoid in order to prevent worsening symptoms like fibromyalgia pain, food sensitivities, etc. The following are some of the foods to avoid:

Processed Foods

Many processed foods (which include tinned vegetables, savoury snacks, and breakfast cereals) contain sugar and unhealthy fats, and these things can cause inflammation in the body and increase a patient’s risk of developing inflammatory diseases.

Furthermore, processed foods are devoid of some fibers and the nutritional value that are naturally present in non-processed foods and they contain certain preservatives and flavorings that can trigger food sensitivities.

They also contain food additives like monosodium glutamate (a common form of dietary glutamate) which can increase pain in most patients.

Alcohol

Even though some research has found that moderate use of alcohol can help reduce symptoms in patients, people with fibromyalgia are always advised to shy away from drinking alcohol in excess quantity as it can also trigger inflammation and it can cause harmful interactions with some of the medications prescribed to ease symptoms.

Refined Carbohydrates

Refined carbohydrates like white rice and bread tend to digest quickly, causing blood sugar levels to temporarily spike in the process.

After the blood sugar levels drop, it causes immediate hunger which can make the fibromyalgia pain and fatigue worse.

A recent study also found that reducing the intake of certain carbohydrate products can cause a reduction in irritable bowel symptoms, and pain and can also reduce fatigue.

Unhealthy Fats

It is advisable for fibromyalgia patients to avoid vegetable oils like peanut oil, corn oil and coconut oil because they have inflammatory effects, especially in fried foods. In general, patients with fibromyalgia should avoid foods that contain unhealthy oils.

Caffeine

Taking caffeine in order to reduce fatigue can deprive patients of proper sleep which can make the fatigue worse. It might have no effect in minute quantities, but it excessive caffeine intake can worsen symptoms.

Dairy Products

Many patients experience bloating and gas after consuming dairy foods. Cutting back on dairy products can help reduce symptoms in most patients.

Gluten

Some studies have shown that non-celiac gluten sensitivity might be one of the causes of fibromyalgia. Staying away from gluten-filled diets can bring about a decrease in symptoms such as pain

Sugary Foods

Reducing the rate of eating foods high in sugar and artificial sweeteners can significantly help reduce fibromyalgia pain. Limiting sugar intake can also help with weight loss.

Having too much weight contributes to the amount of fat present in the body, and this can cause inflammation in some cases.

Foods that can help relieve fibromyalgia symptoms

We’ve discussed some of the foods to avoid, now it’s to time to talk about some foods that can help relieve symptoms in patients.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

One common way of combating symptoms of fibromyalgia is by regular consumption of fruits and vegetables. This is because they contain antioxidants and vitamins that can help fight free radicals and help maintain the body in a healthy state.

Fruits and vegetables are low in calories and contain no flavor enhancer or additive that can cause harm to patients.

Studies have also shown that following vegan or vegetarian diets can help decrease inflammation in patients who have fibromyalgia.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

These types of foods are known for their anti-inflammatory effects. Omega-3s can help patients with pain relief.

Examples include nuts, dark green vegetables, cold-water fish like Salmon, Sardines, and Fatty fish

Lean Proteins

Increasing the intake of protein-filled meals can help prevent blood glucose levels from fluctuating. They also help keep cholesterol levels in a healthy range. Proteins generally help with the overall health of the body.

These are just some of the foods that are beneficial to fibromyalgia patients. Some other foods that should be considered include whole grains, foods that contain vitamin D, whole wheat, fiber, etc.

As a Fibromyalgia patient, it is advisable to keep a food diary that can be used to track how the body reacts to certain foods. This can help patients identify the foods to avoid and the ones that can help increase their quality of life.

Just as there is no one cure for treating fibromyalgia, it is impossible to find one fibromyalgia diet that will work for everyone with fibromyalgia. Patients should seek out professional medical advice in order to figure out a fibromyalgia diet that works for them.

Most of the time, any anti-inflammatory diet should do for anyone who experiences chronic pain disorder.

In general, the need of having a healthy diet cannot be overemphasized. Having a balanced diet comes with many benefits that even people who do not have fibromyalgia syndrome need.   

According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and skin diseases, Fibromyalgia syndrome is a “chronic (long-lasting) disorder that causes chronic pain and tenderness throughout the body, as well as fatigue and trouble sleeping”.         

It is widely believed that fibromyalgia patients experience pain due to an alteration in the way their brain and spinal cord process painful and non-painful signals.

Fibromyalgia is not very popular in the medical community, but it is starting to gain more recognition thanks to organizations like the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and skin diseases (NIAMS), the Arthritis Foundation, and many others.

There is no exact cure for fibromyalgia, but healthcare professionals combine various methods as forms of treating fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia can be triggered by factors like physical or emotional trauma, genetics, illnesses, etc.

Main Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

People with fibromyalgia tend to experience a wide range of symptoms that can often be similar to that of other medical conditions and that makes it a bit difficult to diagnose Fibromyalgia.

Here are some of the most common fibromyalgia symptoms that patients experience:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is a very common symptom in Fibromyalgia patients. It’s a digestive disorder that causes belly pain, bloating and some other conditions. Acid reflux is one of the other disorders that come with Fibromyalgia.

Widespread Pain and Tender Points

Almost everyone with fibromyalgia experiences widespread pain. The pain can be sharp, light, deep, or aching. Patients can also have tender points (also known as trigger points) that can be very painful anytime pressure is applied there.

Memory Problems (also called Fibro Fog)

Fibro fog can cause Fibromyalgia patients to easily lose concentration. They tend to forget things and lose focus easily.

Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless legs syndrome affects the feet and legs starting from the knees. It usually intensifies during the night and it can deprive sleep.

Moving your legs more often can help relieve patients.

Sleep Problems

People with fibromyalgia generally have trouble with sleep. And when they do manage to sleep, they usually find it hard to go into a deep sleep and are woken by even the slightest sleep disturbances, and they usually end up waking up feeling exhausted.

This contributes to the fatigue that people with Fibromyalgia experience.

Mood Disorders

The different kinds of symptoms that come with Fibromyalgia can really affect a person’s mental state and this can lead to depression and lack of concentration.

Fatigue

Most Fibromyalgia patients feel constant tiredness even when they’ve rested. The kind of fatigue that is felt by Fibromyalgia patients is very similar to that of another condition known as chronic fatigue syndrome.

Morning Stiffness

Most patients find it hard to move certain parts of their body when they wake up in the morning. Morning stiffness causes the muscles and joints in the body to stiffen for brief periods.

The many symptoms of fibromyalgia vary from patient to patient, so some patients may experience some other symptoms that are not listed here.

Describing Fibromyalgia Pain

Pain is one of the main symptoms that Fibromyalgia patients experience. And just like how symptoms vary from patient to patient, people with fibromyalgia feel pain in different ways. These are some of the different types of pain that people with fibromyalgia experience:

Widespread Muscle Pain

This is one type of pain that most people with fibromyalgia usually experience. Most patients who experience this kind of pain feel flu-like symptoms or experience hurt all over their entire body.

Fibromyalgia causes persistent pain all over the muscles and tissues. The feeling can be deep, tender, stiff or light and it spreads all through the parts of the body – including the arms, legs, neck and shoulders.

Many patients have also reported experiencing forms of pain that felt like that of a heart attack in the region of their breastbone and rib cage.

Joint Pain and Stiffness

This is another common symptom that is commonly reported in people with fibromyalgia. This is often caused by tense and painful muscles that limit the body movement, which then eventually causes stiffness.

Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain can bring about strange nerve symptoms such as crawling, tingling, itching, burning or numbness in the arms and legs. They can be very painful in some situations and mild in some.

Hyperalgesia

Hyperalgesia is a medical term that is used to describe the increase in the sense of pain that people with Fibromyalgia generally feel. The increase in pain is due to the fact that the regions in the brain that control pain reacts differently in people with fibromyalgia.

A recent study that was conducted by researchers compared the results gotten from the electrical activity that occurred when needles attached to monitors were inserted into the arms of 21 women who had fibromyalgia, 25 women with chronic fatigue syndrome, and 21 healthy women. They discovered that the tissues that surrounded the muscles in women with Fibromyalgia overreacted to very slight touches. According to the researchers, this is most likely due to the fact that the central nervous system of women who had Fibromyalgia were sending continuous signals to the brain and that caused their tissues to remain on high alert.

Abdominal and Pelvic Pain

People with Fibromyalgia have a very high risk of being diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is a digestive disorder that usually causes things like cramps, belly pain, nausea, etc.

Asides from abdominal pain, the level of pain in the pelvic joints can also increase and this may lead to incessant urination.

Fibromyalgia Headache

Tension and migraine headaches are also common symptoms. Tension headaches can cause a dull, tightening pressure sensation around the head. The frequent headaches can make it a bit difficult to fall asleep and can also cause an increase in mental anxiety.

Allodynia

Allodynia is a skin condition that causes an increase in the sensitivity of skin cells. Patients with this kind of pain feel extreme pain from even the slightest of touches. This occurs because the brain, nerves, and spinal cord overreact to pain sensations.

Allodynia is a very rare type of pain that is mostly found in fibromyalgia patients.

TMJ Pain

The Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects the jaw to the skull on both sides of the face. TMJ pain can be described as a dull, persistent ache that affects the ear, eyes, lower jaw, or neck.

TMJ pain is sometimes treated using anti-inflammatory drugs or drugs that help with relaxing the muscles.

What Does a Fibromyalgia Attack Feel Like?

A Fibromyalgia attack may include everyday symptoms but with greater intensity. Sudden attacks can aggravate fibromyalgia symptoms to extreme proportions.

Where Do You Hurt With Fibromyalgia?

People with fibromyalgia feel pain in most of their body parts, but regions around the neck, shoulders, arms, and chest are more prone to experiencing more pain. This can cause severe body aches, including painful tender points, chronic headaches and muscle tension.

Ways to Treat Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition, but it can be treated through a combination of medication and alternative therapies. The goal of the treatment is to help relieve pain and improve the general health of Fibromyalgia patients. There are quite a few FDA-approved drugs that help provide pain relief. Combining these medications and physical therapy can really help ease pain symptoms.

This method of combining treatment can also be used to tackle other symptoms of Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is a condition that is characterized by widespread pain in the muscles and bones of the sufferer. As a result, the individual with this disorder suffers from fatigue, sleep, cognitive, and mood problems. The specific cause of fibromyalgia syndrome in some people is unknown. However, several elements are likely to be triggers for the condition.             

In this article, we will outline the possible root causes of fibromyalgia in individuals suffering from the condition. 

The Root Cause of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia might develop without any clear reason in certain circumstances. However, Symptoms of fibromyalgia usually appear after a traumatic event, such as surgery, illness, or considerable psychological stress. In other situations, fibromyalgia symptoms develop over time without an obvious inciting incident.

Women are more prone than males to getting fibromyalgia. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues, migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, severe pain, and depression are common symptoms of fibromyalgia. Below are four of the most prominent causes of fibromyalgia:

Abnormal pain messages

One of the most popular explanations is that persons with fibromyalgia have acquired alterations in how the central nervous system interprets pain signals sent throughout the body. This might be the outcome of alterations in the neurological system’s molecules.

The central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves) uses a network of specialized cells to convey information throughout the body. Changes in how this system functions might explain why fibromyalgia causes chronic pain and heightened sensitivity to it.

Chemical imbalances

According to research, people with fibromyalgia have unusually low amounts of serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine in their brains, according to research. Low levels of these hormones may have a role in the development of fibromyalgia, as they regulate things like mood, sleep, appetite, behavior, and even the way you respond to stressful situations.

These hormones are also involved in the processing of pain signals sent by nerves. Medication that raises hormone levels can cause these signals to be disrupted. Changes in the amounts of other hormones, including cortisol, which is generated when the body is stressed, may also have a role in fibromyalgia, which may lead to severe conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

Sleep problems

Disrupted sleep patterns might be more than simply a symptom of fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia might prevent you from sleeping well and leave you exhausted (fatigue). People with fibromyalgia who sleep poorly have increased pain levels, suggesting that sleep issues link to the other symptoms of the disease.

Genetics

According to research, genetics may have a minor role in how fibromyalgia develops, with some people being more prone to acquire the disorder than others due to their genes. If this case proves to be true, genetics may help to explain why so many people acquire fibromyalgia following a trigger.

Other Causes Of Fibromyalgia

Many studies believe that fibromyalgia patients’ brains and spinal cords alter as a result of frequent nerve stimulation. This shift is caused by an abnormal rise in the amounts of pain-signalling molecules in the brain. Furthermore, pain receptors in the brain appear to establish a kind of memory of the pain and tend to become hypersensitive, meaning they might respond to both painful and nonpainful signals.

Here are other things that can trigger fibromyalgia:

• An infectious disease.
• A physically traumatic event, such as a car accident.
• Childbirth
• Undergoing a Surgical procedure
• The dissolution of a relationship
• Being a victim of domestic violence
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• The loss of a close friend or family member

Individuals with RA, lupus, or ankylosing spondylitis (a kind of spine arthritis) are more likely to develop fibromyalgia, as are those with other rheumatic diseases.

Can You Suddenly Develop Fibromyalgia?

Usually, the first signs of fibromyalgia vary from one patient to another. However, early warning signals include discomfort that lasts at least three months. 18 particular locations on the body, including the sides of the neck and the inner section of the knees, are frequently the source of pain.

You may become hypersensitive to changes in temperature or odors in the surroundings. Some people experience numbness or a shivering sensation. Other symptoms may emerge as time passes. Headaches, joint discomfort, muscular soreness, and cognitive issues, trouble with concentrating (also known as fibro fog), mood disorders are all symptoms of temporomandibular joint syndrome. Digestive disorders and sleep issues affect a large number of individuals.

Does Fibromyalgia Ever Go Away?

We can’t say for sure. Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness that can last a lifetime. However, Fibromyalgia is not a progressive condition, which means it will not become worse with time. It also has no negative effects on the joints, muscles, or internal organs.

In light of the research being conducted to find a cure for fibromyalgia, the newest treatment for fibromyalgia shows a lot of promise. Quell and Milnacipran are two of the latest FDA-approved drug which may be used to treat fibromyalgia. However, intensive research is still underway to confirm their effectiveness. So in the near future, we believe that a total cure for fibromyalgia will emerge.

Do People with fibromyalgia Live Shorter?

Fibromyalgia is not life-threatening, according to experts, and the quality of life of people living with fibromyalgia is not reduced.

Furthermore, there are medicines available to treat fibromyalgia. People with fibromyalgia react to therapy better than others, and not everyone has the same number of symptoms or severity. This means that your fibromyalgia diagnosis will most likely differ from someone else’s. Most persons with fibromyalgia, on the other hand, are able to adjust to their disease and have a normal quality of life like everyone else.

Fibromyalgia isn’t a disease that gets worse over time. Also, fibromyalgia does not affect life expectancy because it does not deteriorate with age or cause any damage to internal organs or joints.

What Type of Exercise Is Best For Fibromyalgia?

Exercise provides the same health advantages for those with fibromyalgia as it does for everyone else — plus more. Regular exercise boosts energy levels and relieves pain. But be careful not to work yourself too much to avoid chronic fatigue syndrome.

Aerobic Exercise

Doing aerobic exercise is one of the most effective approaches to managing your fibromyalgia. An aerobic workout involves repeatedly using your major muscles for a defined amount of time. Walking is the simplest and requires no extra equipment other than a decent pair of shoes. Swimming is also another viable alternative.

Other Exercise Modifications You Can Try

Strength training can help you manage the pain. It’s not necessary to raise a hefty barbell. It’s the range of motion you put your muscles through that counts. You can also try doing isometric chest presses and isometric shoulder extension exercises.

Fighting fibromyalgia

While there is no known cure for fibromyalgia, we believe that targeting the toxic biofilms in the gut of many sufferers could lead to the body’s natural healing of itself. To learn more about our biofilm protocol and how it could help you, check out this article.

Fibromyalgia is a condition which causes widespread musculoskeletal pain that is oftentimes accompanied by widespread pain, body fatigue, sleep problems, mood disorders and a lot of other symptoms which tend to vary from patient to patient.            

In this article, we’ll be talking about some of the symptoms that are common to people with fibromyalgia.

Common Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

As mentioned earlier, there are several symptoms of fibromyalgia, but we’ll be taking a look at some of the major ones that can help determine whether a person has it or not.

Widespread Pain

Fibromyalgia patients are more sensitive – a condition is known as abnormal pain perception processing in the medical world.

The majority of people suffering from fibromyalgia often experience one form of pain or the other. The pain can come in various forms. It can be a dull, shooting, sharp, throbbing or burning sensation. For some people, the pain is constantly felt all the time, other people might experience it periodically in their bodies. Muscle pain, feet pain and joint pains are common examples.      

Sleeping Problems

This is one of the common symptoms that people with fibromyalgia usually experience. Patients often find it difficult to sleep for long periods without being disturbed, and when they do get to sleep well, they wake up very tired and worn out. The lack of sleep can also be due to the chronic pain that is being felt by the patient. Anyone experiencing this should visit a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

A huge number of people who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia also have to battle with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) as well as other digestive problems like diarrhea and constipation.

It should be noted that being diagnosed with IBS doesn’t automatically mean that a patient has fibromyalgia. IBS is one of the many fibromyalgia symptoms, but not everyone with IBS has fibromyalgia.

Mood Disorders

A lot of fibromyalgia patients have a mood disorder diagnosis. Cases of anxiety and depression are widespread among people living with fibromyalgia, and this is often because of the severe pain they often have to cope with in their daily activities. Living with fibromyalgia is a burden that is just too heavy for many to bear.

Fibromyalgia can also cause patients to have trouble focusing on things, thinking clearly or having short-term memory losses. This is often referred to as “fibro fog”.

Body Fatigue

This is also one of the main symptoms of the condition. Constantly feeling tired and not having enough energy to carry out one’s daily activities is an indication of the presence of fibromyalgia.

Skin Issues

It isn’t uncommon for fibromyalgia patients to experience swelling in their hands and feet. Patients often develop skin diseases that cause them to feel pain even when they are lightly touched. Allodynia and Edema are common examples.

Headaches

Reoccurring episodes of migraine can also be a result of fibromyalgia. These can cause constant painful sensations in the head.

These are still other fibromyalgia symptoms but these are just a few of them. Having one or two of these does not necessarily mean that one has fibromyalgia. It is advisable to visit healthcare professionals to confirm. They are better trained at diagnosing fibromyalgia.

How is Fibromyalgia Diagnosed?

Healthcare professionals previously made use of tender points to determine a fibromyalgia diagnosis, but that method is no longer favoured in medical circles.

Traditional tests too aren’t entirely relied on to help diagnose fibromyalgia, this is why most doctors determine a patient’s fibromyalgia status by using a patient’s medical history, physical exam, blood tests and some other necessary procedures.

How to Treat Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Fibromyalgia is mostly treated by combining different treatments like administering pain medications, talk therapy, lifestyle changes, etc.

Health care providers employ several methods when it comes to treating fibromyalgia. Some of these methods include the use of pain relievers, antidepressants, muscle relaxers and other medications. The medications help in reducing pain levels

Apart from making use of medications, patients engage in behavioural therapy as well as other complementary therapies that help reduce the symptoms.

Experts are still making research and looking for ways to improve current fibromyalgia treatments and develop new and better solutions that can help improve the quality of life of patients.

What Causes Fibromyalgia?

No one actually knows the exact cause of fibromyalgia. They have been many speculations over the years but experts are yet to discover what is at the root of this medical condition.

A common opinion about this issue is that it is caused by biofilms produced by harmful bacteria or candida fungus in the gut. These biofilms cause hindrance to some basic functions of the body which then leads to immune and nervous system breakdown. However, it should be noted that this is a theory that is yet to be established by medical practitioners.

Some Risk Factors

Below are some of the risk factors associated with fibromyalgia:

Sex: Recent studies have shown that women are more likely to develop fibromyalgia than men, this is due to factors like hormonal changes that occur in the female body system.

Age: Fibromyalgia is not limited to any age group, but the condition is often found among people in middle age (35-45 years). So, a middle-aged man/woman is more likely to have fibromyalgia than a child.

Health conditions: People who already have underlying rheumatic conditions are more prone to developing the condition. Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or Lupus can increase the chance of fibromyalgia in a person.

Stressful or traumatic events: Events such as accidents, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are also factors that can trigger fibromyalgia in a person.

Family history: Fibromyalgia isn’t hereditary and it isn’t passed down from parent to child, but the condition has been found to be present in certain families. So, having other family members who have the condition can increase the chance of developing it.

Some other factors include injuries, illnesses, viral infections, etc.

Fighting Fibromyalgia

These are some lifestyle changes that can be introduced to reduce the chances of developing fibromyalgia and increase your quality of life:

Improve sleep routine.

Engage in less strenuous activities.

Exercise regularly and be physically active.

Eat healthy food

If you are already experiencing Fibromyalgia, going against any of these things can actually make the symptoms worse.

While there is no known cure for fibromyalgia, we believe that targeting the toxic biofilms in the gut of many sufferers could lead to the body’s natural healing of itself. To learn more about our biofilm protocol and how it could help you, check out this article

Writing this article almost feels like writing a public service announcement.

When I learned about what I am about to share with you, it felt like I had found the missing link to the puzzle that I had been trying to solve for a very, very long time.

If you’ve been managing any kind of chronic condition (chronic is anything longer than 6 consecutive months) then learning about biofilm is going to be an immensely important concept to grasp.

Doing so may require a huge shift in your perspective. So please bear this in mind as you read along.

Biofilm is more likely than not the reason why so many chronic health conditions never seem to go away.

It has been linked to (but not limited to): Fibromyalgia, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Lupus, Lyme disease, chronic Candida infections, chronic sinusitis, IBS, SIBO, Helicobacter pylori, Ulcerative Colitis & Chrons Disease, gum disease and cavities, Barrett’s esophagus and many other autoimmune diseases.

#1: We Are Actually More Microbe than Human

There are trillions of bacterial cells living on and within us at any given time. Research has shown that there we are made up of more bacterial cells than human cells. A lot more. Some figures say we house up to 5-10x more bacteria cells in our bodies than our own human cells.

Now most of this bacteria is harmless or commensal, and actually we depend on them for our survival just as much as they depend upon us. Generally this relationship is either commensal (neither harmful nor beneficial) or symbiotic (mutually beneficial).

#2: They Can Harm Us When they Begin to Overpopulate

There are so many different varieties of bacterial species peacefully co-existing with us that even the pathogenic species usually pose no real threat. Just as in nature, there is strength in diversity and the microbiome is no different.

However, what can happen is one or more types of pathogenic species can begin to dominate the microbiome and this is where problems can begin to manifest for the host. This is referred to as dysbiosis.

There are many different ways that dysbiosis can happen, however, the most common are: Overuse of antibiotics which can wipe out the friendly bacterial colonies, eating a poor diet of sugar and processed/refined foods & going through a major trauma or stressful even in one’s life.

#3: These Bacteria Can Secrete Harmful Toxins – Endotoxin and Exotoxins

Bacteria need food to survive. In order to do this, the bacteria excrete enzymes and exotoxins into the surrounding environment. These exotoxins will break down tissue which then make it possible for the bacteria to absorb and digest fat, proteins and carbohydrates.

Exotoxins – usually have a local effect, but some toxins are extremely powerful and can be spread to the whole host body system.

In small amounts, the body can handle these toxins without a problem. But in an overpopulated system, there reaches a critical mass and once these toxins are allowed to enter the bloodstream, neurological symptoms can begin to develop.

Endotoxins – Endotoxins are often found in parts of the cell walls of bacteria and poisonous substances can be released when the bacteria disintegrate. If an object coated with a large mass of endotoxin-containing bacteria is sterilized, the sterilization processes can actually result in the release of endotoxins!

If there is a major release of these toxins all at once, the body can have a difficult time processing this onslaught and often, one can feel like they have the cold or flu while this is happening. This is often what’s referred to as the Herxheimer or die-off reaction.

#4: Bacteria Work Together

These bacteria can communicate with each other using a most fascinating and elegant mechanism known as Quorum Sensing.

They produce compounds that act as ‘text’ messages which communicate things like their population size, if they’re ready to reproduce as well as their whereabouts.

Not only that, but they can signal to each other various threats perceived and where as well as allow them the ability to alter their genes accordingly for adaptation and survival.

They use biofilm as their ‘cellular’ network to pass these messages along to each other. They also use this biofilm to keep themselves protected from outside threats.

#5: These Bacteria Have a Genius Defense Mechanism

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that biofilms are among the most effective and intelligent protection mechanisms that life has ever devised. Of course, they’ve had about 3.5 billion years to evolve! Now compare that to humanity only being around for a mere 6 million years.

It’s also been documented that bacteria protected within biofilms are up to 1,000 times more resistant to antibiotics than if they were free-floating.[1]

What is Biofilm?

A biofilm is a slimy, impenetrable barrier or matrix mostly made up of protein and polysaccharides (sugars) which microbial colonies create in order to protect themselves in a threatening environment. Biofilms are not limited to bacteria as yeast and other microbial species create biofilms as well.

However, for the purposes of this article, we are speaking directly about bacterial biofilms. Once they begin to form, they adhere to surfaces like crazy glue and become almost impossible to penetrate.

You probably have experienced a biofilm first hand. The cavity causing bacteria that live in our mouth create biofilms. Perhaps you’ve felt the slimy feeling running your tongue across your teeth if you haven’t brushed in a while. Or if you’ve ever seen a clogged sink drain or Jacuzzi drain? Or even the slimy surfaces of the Jacuzzi?

These are all places where bacterial biofilms form and cause problems.

When they form in your gut and other bodily systems, they allow various colonies of bacteria to proliferate while keeping them safe from your immune system and microbial agents.

As I mentioned before, bacteria use this biofilm to protect themselves from our immune system, but it’s also used as an intricate communication system to relay important messages about colonizing, etc.

Biofilm Can Host Many Different Species of Microbes

The biofilm layer is non-discriminatory and underneath its layer are all kinds of microbial species including bacteria, yeasts and molds. It also is a collector of heavy metals and other toxins that end up getting trapped within its slimy matrix.

Biofilm is notorious in the medical field for being difficult to deal with as it forms on bodily implant devices such as catheters, pacemakers and even breast implants.

Many people who have had medical implants have found that their health slowly and mysteriously began to diminish following their procedure. Although it hasn’t been proven, there are many who are convinced that biofilms may have a role in their reduction in health.

What Can Be Done?

There are in fact, a number of things that can help dissolve biofilm you can expose the pathogenic overgrowth happening beneath them.

The author has personally tried a few unorthodox methods with varying degrees of success, with the safest and most effective result being proteolytic enzymes.

How Enzymes Dissolve Biofilm

These enzymes are very effective at degrading the protein structures of the biofilm. In fact, our body already creates these enzymes. However, dissolving biofilm is a fairly large job and it requires a lot more enzymes than our body normally produces.

Along with proteolytic enzymes, dissolving biofilm also requires the use of a few other compounds such as cellulase and hemicellulase which will assist in the breakdown of the polysaccharide element of biofilm.

When dissolving biofilm, it is also helpful to utilize elements that address the potential Herxheimer reaction that can happen. When biofilm is dissolved, it can release endotoxins which make up the cell membranes of bacteria as well as metals, which are required for biofilm formation, to be released into the body and overburdening your detox channels.

One of the elements which can help bind with these metals is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), which is a compound that binds with the metals needed for biofilm formation.

Another compound which can help lessen the Herxheimer reaction is activated charcoal. Charcoal has the ability to bind with and absorb toxins that are being released so that they can safely exit the body through the stool.

However, you will want to avoid taking charcoal with your supplements as it can have the same effect and absorb these beneficial effects of your supplements potentially causing them to be useless.

Lastly, making sure to colonize the gut with friendly bacteria is vital as they can help act as the garbage collectors, making things a bit easier to manage. The most potent probiotics we’ve used hands down are the soil-based probiotics.

These are also known as spore-forming and have the ability to withstand extreme temperatures and hostile environments including bile and stomach acid in the stomach before reaching the intestine.

They only “awaken” from their spore state once they reach a favorable environment with the right pH which is in the intestinal tract.

Therefore, it is not essential to take these specialized soil probiotics in the large quantities you normally see the lacto and bifido type probiotics taken in. Lacto and bifido type probiotics are very sensitive to heat and stomach acid, thereby requiring large numbers per dose to ensure that some numbers reach the intestinal tract.

If you would like a condensed summary of how we won our battles with chronic illness, you can download the FREE, Biofilm Buster Action Plan which outlines the 3 phases that we followed for lasting success.

Simply find the guidebook in this sidebar and you can download it instantly to your computer.

To learn more about The Restore 3 Program you can visit: https://nativeformulas.com/3-step-biofilm-protocol/

Achieving your goals is can be challenging. It’s easy to feel like you don’t deserve the good things in life, or that it would be unfair if you were too happy. But this type of thinking will hold you back from achieving success and happiness.

To break out of this cycle of negativity, we’re going to be using this brief article to break down how to take these three steps:

1. Identify what makes you unhappy

2. Think about why these things make you unhappy (is it because they remind you of something negative?)

3. Come up with a plan for how to change whatever makes you unhappy so that it doesn’t affect your well-being anymore.

To help with all of this, here are five tips you can use to build confidence and work towards your goals.

Top 5 Tips You Can Use to Build Confidence Today

1. Do a Daily Activity that Makes You Happy: There are so many things in life to be unhappy about, and it is easy to focus on all the negative things that have happened or may happen in the future. But it’s important to do something every day that makes you happy. To help build confidence, make a list of all the things that make you happy and do at least one of them every day.
   
   
2. Tackle One Thing at a Time: It’s important to remember that there are many aspects of your life that affect how you feel, and it is always best to focus on just one thing before moving onto another. Start with making a list of the things that affect your confidence and pick out one or two things to work on at a time. The point is to tackle the thing that makes you feel the worst, but making progress gradually will ensure that you can stay positive throughout the process.
   
   
3. Make Small Changes: Small changes are much easier to implement than large ones, so the Institute for Wellness suggests focusing on small life changes. You could start by changing your diet, or getting a new outfit for yourself. It’s easier to feel better about yourself when you are dressing better and eating healthier. This will make it easier to work on other areas of your life as well because you will already be feeling so much better!
   
   
4. Get your finances in line: After the pandemic, your finances can be a major source of stress. Save money by eating less processed food, cooking at home, and doing simple things like taking a stroll instead of driving. Try to invest some money in yourself by paying off credit card debt or other loans.
   
   
5. Consider bigger financial changes too: Refinancing allows you to decrease the equity in your home so you can free up cash or reduce your monthly mortgage payment. Consider refinancing to a shorter term, lower interest rate mortgage or adding more equity into your home by making extra payments. As Redfin notes, it can be a good choice if you intend to stay in the house for several years.
   
   

Having confidence is not an accident. It’s something you can practice and work on daily. By identifying the things that make you unhappy and making plans to change them, you can start building confidence today. You deserve to be happy, so make sure you are out there living it!

Conclusion

Building confidence can be a daunting task for many. Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do right now to build up your self-confidence and work towards achieving your goals.

To start building this important trait in yourself, try tackling one thing at a time or making small life changes that will make you feel better about yourself. Try focusing on what makes you happy today. You can do this!

A healthy colon is a key indicator of overall health and wellness. There is a good reason the amount of searches relating to probiotics and fibromyalgia are on the steady rise.

Roughly 90% of people experience digestive inconvenience from time to time; while the occasional upset stomach or bout of diarrhea is not uncommon, frequent or more severe cases may be an indication of a more serious health condition.

Fortunately, research is demonstrating effective treatment with probiotics for gut and colon health.

Why Gut and Colon Health Matters

With roughly 70% of women indicating that gut or colon issues disrupt their life on a daily basis, understanding how probiotics support digestive health is key to preventing further disruption.

Gut and colon health is important because digestion and absorption of key nutrients, vitamins and minerals is key to supporting proper function of nearly every system in the body, including energy production and support of immune system function.

As food enters the gut, it is immediately mixed with acid, starting several chemical reactions that lead to the breakdown and initial absorption of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.

As food moves from the gut into the large and small intestines, where it is met by billions of the hundreds of trillion of bacteria waiting to further breakdown and absorb nutrients; this is where probiotics are key to this process.

Supporting Digestive Health with Probiotics

Probiotics are the good bacteria, found naturally in the digestive system, but also from food sources like yogurt, kefir and probiotic supplements.

However, the digestive system is also full of harmful bacteria, also occurring naturally and from food sources. In fact, scientist estimate that healthy intestines have between 3 and 5 pounds of bacteria inside.

While most of the bacteria that make us sick, like E. Coli, are destroyed in the acid of the stomach, occasionally harmful bacteria enter the intestines, causing diarrhea, intestinal infections and other conditions like irritable bowel syndrome.

Probiotics and Gut and Colon Health

Doctors have found that optimal gut and colon health occurs when a there is at least 85:15 ratio of good bacteria to bad bacteria. When this ratio becomes skewed, digestive problems start to occur.

Your body has ways of letting you know when your bacterial ratios are out of whack, including bloating, diarrhea, constipation, excess gas and stomach cramping.

When this occurs, it is generally a sign that you need to increase the amount of probiotics being consumed; there are several ways to do this.

Nutritionists recommend consuming between 10 and 25 billion colony forming units of good bacteria each day. Consuming this amount of probiotics provides the good bacteria required to minimize the harmful effects of bad bacteria.

Probiotics improve gut and colon health by eating food and inhabiting the space of harmful bacteria, they basically kick the bad bacteria out of the digestive system.

Realize the proper amount of probiotics each day by consuming the equivalent of one serving of yogurt or kefir, either through whole food or supplement sources.

Ensuring healthy gut and colon function through probiotic supplementation ensures a healthy digestive system and a stronger, more responsive immune system; resulting in an overall improved quality of health and well-being.