Fibromyalgia is a delicate pathology in many ways. Mysterious in its origin, supposed descendant of neurasthenia, its astonishing frequency still comes up against the formal absence of any element of identification. By its invisible nature, it remains unexplained, just like any other chronic pain phenomenon. This brings it closer to chronic fatigue syndrome.
Why is it painful?
Chronic unexplained pain can be a somatic manifestation of often untreated psychological distress. The link between psychological trauma, post-traumatic symptoms, psychological dissociation and somatoform disorders seems to be well documented.
The biopsychosocial model allows for a more comprehensive understanding and management of all chronic diseases. This model avoids in particular the failure of people affected by this pathology. Fibromyalgia is a frequent syndrome that mainly affects women who report chronic, diffuse, muscle, tendon and / or joint pain. These pains are associated with tension headaches, functional intestinal disorders, genitourinary symptoms, tinnitus, pain in the temporomandibular joint, distal paresthesia … We speak of somatoform disorders, defined by functional symptoms without tissue damage.
Emotional and cognitive comorbidities are very frequent (anxiety disorders, depression, catastrophism, hypervigilance, lack of flexibility, concentration and memory problems, etc.). Sensitization of the central nervous system is the most consensual pathophysiological hypothesis. A disorganization of stage 4 of sleep also contributes to this, as does emotional stress.
How do you know if it’s fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is characterized by diffuse and chronic pain. Predominantly axial, this pathology affects about 7 times more women, usually young or middle-aged. However, it can also be seen in men, children and adolescents. Because of this difference between the sexes, it sometimes goes unnoticed in humans. The pain can be accompanied, in various ways, by fatigue, sleep disturbances, anxiety and depression, cognitive disturbances, functional colopathy and vasomotor disturbances.
In fibromyalgia, any fibromuscular region can be involved; especially the occiput, neck, shoulders, thorax, lower back and thighs.
The diagnosis is based on the association of diffuse pain of more than 3 months and the presence of at least 11 of the 18 painful pressure points.
What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?
Stiffness and pain often begin gradually and diffuse and appear stiff. The pain is diffuse and may get worse with fatigue and / or muscle strain.
People usually have a variety of somatic symptoms. Fatigue is common, as are cognitive impairments such as difficulty concentrating and a general feeling of mental disorder. Many people also have symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitis, or tension or migraine headaches. Paresthesias may be present, usually bilaterally.
Symptoms can be exacerbated by environmental emotional stress, poor sleep, trauma, or exposure to humidity or cold. Likewise, telling a person with fibromyalgia that “it’s all in the head” would expose them to an exacerbation of their symptoms.
People with this condition tend to be stressed, tense, anxious, tired and sometimes depressed. They are not uncommonly high performing perfectionists.
Some naturopathic advice to limit fibromyalgia disorders:
Fibromyalgia tends to be chronic but can recover on its own if stress decreases. It can also reappear at frequent intervals. The functional prognosis is usually favorable in those who are listened to and supported, although some symptoms may persist.
Stretching exercises, aerobic exercise, adequate sleep, local applications of heat, and gentle massage can provide relief. Stress management (deep breathing exercises, meditation, psychological support, counseling if necessary) is important.
Exercises to gently stretch the affected muscles should be done every day; stretches should be held for about 30 s and repeated 5 times. Aerobic exercise (brisk walking, swimming, exercise bike) can improve symptoms.
Some herbal remedies to relieve fibromyalgia disorders:
The pain relieving activity of ginger is due to the anti-inflammatory properties that it possesses. Ginger inhibits the synthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. This anti-inflammatory activity of ginger and the zingerone that it contains is confirmed in polyarthralgia and myalgia in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, in particular in chronic disease syndrome.
The 5-HTP contained in griffonia is of therapeutic value in people with mild to moderate depression. Dysfunction of the nociception modulation system appears to occur in fibromyalgia. Indeed, in people suffering from fibromyalgia, reduced levels of serotonin metabolites in the cerebrospinal fluid suggests the implication of a serotonin deficiency in the pathogenesis of the disease. At the same time, an increase in substance P, responsible for the increase in pain, is observed in the central nervous system and peripheral nerves.
The administration of 5-HTP for 30 days reduces the number of pain points and their intensity, but also muscle stiffness when getting up and anxiety.
St. John’s Wort has an anti-nociceptive effect, relieves acute and chronic hyperalgesic states and increases opioid analgesia. Neuralgic pain such as myalgia, fibromyalgia or myofascial pain syndrome can be relieved by taking St. John’s Wort. In addition, the hydroalcoholic extracts of St. John’s Wort exert a pharmacological effect similar to that of conventional antidepressants. The non-specific inhibition of the reuptake of monoamines (mainly serotonin, but also dopamine and norepinephrine) is not competitive, unlike what is observed for synthetic antidepressants such as fluoxetine. This results in an increase in the activity of serotonin.
In connection with its anxiolytic, sedative (compared to diazepam) and peripheral antispasmodic properties, passionflower is indicated in neurosensory hyperesthesia, in particular in the context of neuralgic manifestations, fibromyalgia, myofascial syndrome, polyarthralgia and diffuse myalgia, as well as chronic fatigue syndrome. Its analgesic activity derives from the underlying opioid and gabaergic mechanism, and may also involve a potential cannabimimetic action.
Saffron seems to have a comparable efficacy on fibromyalgia disorders to that of duloxetine. The crocin it contains inhibits the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine; it exerts a neuroprotective effect in particular vis-à-vis oxidative stress. Safranal, on the other hand, inhibits the reuptake of serotonin; it exerts analgesic properties by desensitizing a receptor responsible for modulating pain signals in nociceptors.
Saffron has therefore demonstrated efficacy comparable to duloxetine in the treatment of symptoms of fibromyalgia, in particular on symptoms of depression and on the level of pain experienced.
In the form of a standardized extract, valerian has a relaxing effect on the muscles, equivalent to that of a benchmark benzodiazepine. In connection with its anxiolytic, sedative and hypnotic properties, valerian root is indeed indicated in chronic stress, spasmophilia, myalgia and fibromyalgia.
