Fibromyalgia (FM) or Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a long-term chronic condition that causes fatigue and widespread pain.

FACTS

Fibromyalgia is more common in women than in men (7:1).

Commonly develops between the ages of 30 and 50.

Believed that approximately 1 in 20 people may be affected.

The symptoms can vary from person to person but here a number of the most common factors:

difficulty sleeping
feeling exhausted or fatigued
increased sensitivity to pain
muscle stiffness
problems with memory or concentration (sometimes called ‘fibro-fog)
headaches (often affecting the neck and shoulder area)
irritable bowel syndrome
lack of coordination or feeling dizzy
not being able to regulate your body temperature correctly (see feel either hot or cold)
pins and needles in your hands/feet
anxiety
depression
painful periods [1]

It is essential if you believe that you have fibromyalgia that you seek a diagnose via your GP.

At the moment , unfortunately, the symptoms of Fibromyalgia can only be managed and it may not be possible to get rid of all your symptoms fully.

What Causes Fibromyalgia?

The causes of fibromyalgia are unknown.

But there several areas that are being researched at the moment:

One area being explored is the linked to abnormal levels of certain chemicals/hormones in the brain and the effect this has on how the central nervous system processes pain signals. The chemicals being investigated are serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine, cortisol and thyroid hormones [4].

Another area is that there is a genetic link therefore it is inherited from their parents.

Studies are showing that for some there is that a strong physically or emotionally stressful event that is the triggering factor. E.g.

an injury or infection
chemical exposure

an operation
child birth
the breakdown of a relationship
the death of a loved one [2]

SIBO or small intestinal bacteria overgrowth [5] is an area of increasing research. There is growing evidence that links Fibromyalgia with SIBO. The more we find out about the gut the more we will find out about how if influences a number of illnesses and diseases. SIBO can be successfully supported with Nutritional Therapy.

Specific nutrient deficiencies are also being explored. These include Vitamin D and Magnesium.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis can be difficult as there is no one cause but your GP will start by ruling out any other health condition e.g. ME, MS, rheumatoid arthritis. This will be done via various tests (blood or urine) and/or scans.

A criteria will then be applied. The following are the most widely used criteria for fibromyalgia:

either severe pain in 3 to 6 different areas of your body, or you milder pain (sensitivity) in 7 or more different areas
your symptoms have stayed at a similar level for at least 3 months
other tests show no other underlying condition

Areas of sensitivity include:

Things that have been proven to help:

Exercise

Diet

Relaxation

Sleep

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Exercise

You will be given specific advice about what forms of exercise are best for you from your physiotherapist. A systematic review found that strength training in particular saw improvement in both physical and psychological symptoms. This included the reduction in pain, the reduction in the number of tender points, improvement in depression, improved muscle strength, better sleep quality, better functional capacity, and an overall better quality of life [6][2].

Diet

There is some research into specific dietary approaches and fibromyalgia but this is very limited. The hypocaloric diet, a raw vegetarian diet and a low FODMAPs diet have some evidence that they will support the improvement of inflammatory biomarkers and therefore a then linked improvement in quality of life, quality of sleep, reduction in anxiety and depression have been noted [7]. As a Nutritional therapist I would work on a holistic approach to your diet - looking at all aspects of your health, the food that you eat now, the medication you take, any nutrient deficiencies you may have before putting a plan together specifically for you.

Relaxation

Mindfulness, mediation, yoga, Tai Chi, and massage therapy have all been shown to improve pain, reduce stress, improve quality of life and improve sleep for fibromyalgia sufferers [8]. When our bodies relax there is a reduction in stress hormones circulating in our bodies. These hormones can make us more sensitive to pain and less likely to get restful sleep.

Sleep

Sleep disturbances are one of the most common symptoms of fibromyalgia. When we sleep our bodies not only rest but it also repairs any cellular damage. Lack of sleep increases stress hormones circulating in our systems, it increases inflammatory markers making our bodies less effective at repairing itself, it also alters our hunger hormones. There are lots of factors that can influence our sleep and these vary from one person to another but reduction in caffeine, reduction in screen time and good sleep routines will all help [9].

How Nutritional Therapy can help

A nutritional therapist can help you with a number of diet and lifestyle changes. You are at the heart of the consultation process and all advice would be designed for you, taking into consider all your needs not just your diagnose of fibromyalgia.

Nutritionally

Together we can look at your dietary choices to ensure:

that you are eating as nutritionally dense meals as possible
that you are including vital vitamins and minerals that can support you with optimal health and vitality
that you are not including foods that are causing you to have IBS, SIBO or other digestion symptoms
that you are not including foods that are causing you any sensitivities
that you have appropriate gut healing protocols
that you understand how your food choices can impact on your health