Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that manifests itself in a wide range of physical symptoms and issues. The most common complaints are: disturbed or interrupted sleep, muscle pain, persistent fatigue, depression, increased susceptibility to colds and infections, headaches, chest pain, diarrhea and or constipation, problems remembering things, mental "fog", sensitivity to foods, chemicals, light, sound, hot, cold, or touch. It occurs 10 times more frequently in women than in men.
Fibromyalgia has been described as feeling like you have all of the aches and pains of the flu and putting your clothes on backwards. The exhaustion, sleeplessness, stiffness, tenderness, joint pain and discomfort of the flu are similar to that of Fibromyalgia, except the flu will go away.
The average patient suffers about 5 years and can spend thousands of dollars before getting an accurate diagnosis. Fibromyalgia manifests so many different symptoms that it can mimic other conditions such as Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, and Scoleraderma. Therefore, the physician may have to diagnose by a process of elimination before Fibromyalgia is ever named.
Fibromyalgia is an amplification of sensation to the point of pain. The function of the sensory nervous system has been corrupted to register as pain.
Our bodies are equipped with a variety of nerve sensors. Obviously there are pain sensors, but there are also nerves that register the sense of touch, motion, heat, cold, pressure, smell, taste, as well as internal sensors that register the motion of muscles. With Fibromyalgia, these different signals are now being translated to sensations of pain. That's why the pain and discomfort can range from a tingling or burning sensation of the skin to deep visceral, muscle and joint pain. That's also why just being touched, or the weight of your clothes can be painful.
The chemical component of Fibromyalgia has been identified by reduced seratonin and an increase in Substance P. Substance P affects the pain centers in the brain causing greater sensation of pain.
The name, "Fibromyalgia", literally means pain of the muscle fibers. It is more correctly defined as a connective tissue disorder. Within our bodies, every cell is surrounded by connective tissue. This includes the muscle cells, skin cells, nerves, everything. The chronic tension in the body that comes from Fibromyalgia affects the connective tissues in the body.
When injured or stressed, connective tissue becomes inflamed. If the stress on it becomes chronic, it begins to dehydrate, become stiffer, and less pliable. It then begins to constrict around the nerves and blood vessels.
This results in increased sensation and pain. It also impacts the supply of food and oxygen to the muscle and the removal of metabolic waste (such as lactic and uric acid) from the muscle. As the metabolic waste builds up, it can act as a neurotransmitter that can hyperstimulate the nerves and muscles, which compounds the issue.
We can use the example of Jell-O fruit salad to demonstrate. When the Jell-O is fresh, it is jiggly and pliable. As it dries out, it shrinks and becomes tighter, stiffer, less pliable. Imagine the impact of this on blood vessels and nerves. By warming the Jell-O, it becomes more pliable and can be more readily re-moistened.
This is how massage works with the connective tissue. By stretching and warming the tissue, it becomes more pliable and more readily rehydrates. This removes the pressure on the nerves and blood vessels. This allows the tissue to be fed and oxygenated. It also improves the removal of cellular waste products.
Will massage cure Fibromyalgia? No.
But it can help make your day today living better. Common Fibromyalgia symptoms |
