Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes significant pain and fatigue in everyday life. Those grappling with this condition often search for treatments that offer relief without the side effects associated with conventional medicine.
In this blog post, we delve into how naturopathy in Mississauga can help individuals suffering from fibromyalgia by addressing the root causes of illness through natural therapies. We offer insights into the condition, its symptoms, and how naturopathic practices can be used to treat them.
Understanding Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a complex chronic condition characterized by fatigue and widespread pain and tenderness which is felt in the muscles and joints. People with fibromyalgia may also feel stiffness in their muscles and joints, making it difficult to move around comfortably. Many describe the pain as ‘burning’ but always present and aching. The pain can make it hard to perform basic activities and can affect overall quality of life, owing to the considerable effect it has on memory, mood, energy levels, and sleep patterns.
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
Currently, the specific causes of fibromyalgia aren’t fully understood. However, the condition is thought to be triggered by infections like hepatitis and Lyme, autoimmune conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, medications like antidepressants and oral contraceptives, hormonal conditions such as low levels of thyroid hormone, surgery, or even physical trauma.
Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
There are a slew of symptoms someone with a fibromyalgia diagnosis may experience:
- Fatigue: Everyone feels tired from time to time but the fatigue experienced by someone with fibromyalgia is severe, pathological, debilitating and can manifest itself in both physical and mental/emotional symptoms. Those with this diagnosis find that over-exerting themselves can trigger an overwhelming sense of fatigue that can knock them out for days at a time, despite getting a full night’s sleep. Post-exertional behaviours such as pushing themselves too hard at the gym or shopping at the mall for longer than they were expecting to can lead to them crashing and being bedridden for days at a time.
- Pain: Often described as burning, dull, or stabbing in nature. Many also describe the pain in their muscles and joints as a ‘flu-like’ pain.
- Sleep Dysfunction: People with fibromyalgia may experience trouble falling and staying asleep. And even if they do stay asleep, it is not a deep, restorative, and refreshing sleep. Sleep dysfunction with fibromyalgia is often accompanied by other sleep disorders like restless leg syndrome or sleep apnea.
- Increased Sensitivity to Pain: Fibromyalgia patients are thought to have hyper-sensitive immune systems which can manifest in symptoms such as hypersensitivity to alcoholic beverages, medications, and synthetic chemicals (like fragrances), flu-like symptoms such as sore throat, worsening of allergies, as well as an increased sensitivity to pain, temperature, light, and sound.
Addressing Fibromyalgia with Naturopathy
Fibromyalgia can be complex to treat because there are so many factors affected, including sleep, mood, energy, and pain.
Naturopathic doctors are trained to look at the person as a whole and not just the symptoms. A thorough initial intake will be conducted so that the naturopathic doctor can get a better understanding of the patient’s timeline of illness, exposures and triggers that worsen their symptoms, which symptoms affect quality of life most, supplements and medications the patient is currently taking, and what has worked/not worked in the past.
Additionally, lab assessments and functional tests can be recommended to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms. A thorough physical exam may be conducted to assess key areas such as the mouth/throat, balance, and neurological reflexes. By taking a complex chronic medical history, an individualized treatment protocol can be created for the patient to improve current symptoms and quality of life, and prevent other symptoms from emerging.
What Do Naturopaths Recommend for Fibromyalgia?
A whole-systems approach is taken when providing support for fibromyalgia patients. The goal of treatment is to improve the symptoms they are currently experiencing, as well as their overall quality of life.
Movement and Pacing
- It is important to not push yourself too hard with exercise and movement. Patients who do so generally end up experiencing an energy crash and exacerbation of symptoms.
- Staying active is also recommended, but using an activity log to track your movement activity, energy levels, and sleep can help you pace your energy and increase your stamina slowly over time.
Mind-Body Medicine
- Implementing relaxation techniques to support the nervous system and activate the parasympathetic system can help reduce energy crashes.
- Techniques such as grounding, meditation, and vagus nerve activation can all be helpful.
Supplements
- Understanding what the patient’s biggest symptoms are can help naturopathic doctors recommend supplements to support them.
- Mitochondrial support such as D-ribose, carnitine, and coq10 can help with improving energy.
- Improving cognitive function can be supported with the help of phosphatidylserine, ALA, vitamin B12, and ginkgo.
- Addressing common nutrient deficiencies with the help of essential fatty acids, coq10, vitamin b12, vitamin D, and zinc.
Diet and Nutrition
- Following an anti-inflammatory diet that is also rich in protein and healthy fats will help with supporting proper energy levels, the immune system, hormone metabolism, and brain health.
The Most Effective Treatment for Fibromyalgia
The most common and effective approach taken for fibromyalgia is the WEED, SEED, and FEED approach:
- WEED: Weed out triggers in the person’s life that may be exacerbating their symptoms.
- SEED: Support the patient by planting the seeds of health throughout their treatment plan. These include optimizing sleep and movement following a gradual and paced approach, reducing and eliminating known triggers, enhancing nutrition to support the immune system, adding supplements to support symptom relief, and helping provide a support system for the patient at home, with their friends, and at work.
- FEED: Support the patient through their journey to continue feeding the seeds of health.
What Not to Do If You Have Fibromyalgia
Many fibromyalgia patients experience both physical and mental/cognitive changes. A symptom that affects quality of life (and one most find to be the most debilitating) is brain fog which can impact one’s ability to multitask, process new information, or find the words to express how they are feeling. Keeping this in mind, it is important to not overdo it! Writing down tasks, information, and timelines can be extremely helpful in preventing feelings of overwhelm when doing tasks such as grocery shopping or visiting a doctor’s office.
It is also important to not overdo it with physical activities and exercise. Fibromyalgia can make it extremely tough to recover physically when the body is pushed past its limits, even if you give the body ample time to rest. That is why, even on days you are feeling energetic, it is important to continue pacing yourself so that you don’t go to bed exhausted.
Using something called a “functional capacity scale” or “activity log” to rate and track your energy can be helpful for visualizing your energy levels, symptoms, and activity levels on a day-to-day basis.
Pain Doesn’t Have to Be Your Reality
When it comes to navigating the challenges posed by fibromyalgia, finding a natural treatment path can be the key to unlocking a better quality of life. If you’re seeking naturopathic treatment in Mississauga, consider Art of Mobility. Our dedicated team is committed to supporting your journey towards wellness with compassionate, comprehensive care. Contact us today and we’ll guide you through naturopathic treatment, helping you reclaim the quality of life you deserve.
