Here’s Evidence That Fibromyalgia Has an Immune Basis, and LDN Can Help

Has Your Doctor Been Lying About Fibromyalgia?

Modern medical science has been saying for years that we don’t understand the basis of fibromyalgia.  Some doctors even claim that it doesn’t exist or it’s “all in your head”. Both statements are false. They’re not  lies.  But they are misinformation.  Modern science has moved forward and shown us much about what’s going on inside people with fibromyalgia.

Immune Dysfunction Is Part of the Problem

Fibromyalgia is related to immune dysfunction.  There are other physiologic dysfunctions too, but this post will  focus on immune dysfunction. Many people with fibromyalgia have increased levels of various pro-inflammatory chemicals called cytokines.  And its well known that people with auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and others have a disproportionate incidence of fibromyalgia.  Furthermore, interventions that reduce auto-immunity often result in improvement in fibromyalgia symptoms.  Click Here to see more about that in a recent research report.

Evidence for Immune Dysfunction

Here’s What You Can Do About Immune Dysfunction in Fibromyalgia

Functional Medicine

The best thing is to see a doctor who practices functional medicine.  It’s a comprehensive approach to discovering the underlying physiologic dysfunctions that make you feel horrible.  And it’s a research-based way to treat those dysfunctions with lifestyle: diet, exercise, mind-body techniques, physical treatments, and nutritional supplementation. Functional medicine takes time and costs money, and some folks don’t have those resources available.

LDN (Low Dose Naltrexone)

Low dose naltrexone is an easier approach.  You can read more about it in other articles on the site.  Briefly, it’s very safe medicine that triggers your body to boost is natural  pain blocking chemicals (enkephalins and endorphins) from the inside out.  Another result is a subtle immune modulating effect.  It’s not as intense as taking steroids (prednisone) or other strong immune modulating agents.  But it has been shown to reduce the concentration of pro-inflammatory chemicals in the blood of people with fibromyalgia, and to improve their pain and other symptoms. Click here to see the video series about LDN

Diet, Exercise, and Mindbody Self-Care

Don’t Forget About The Big Picture

Immune dysfunction is a big part of what causes pain, fatigue, and other symptoms of fibromyalgia, but it’s not the whole picture.  The symptoms of fibromyalgia are driven by vicious cycles among several, correctable dysfunctions that vary depending on the person.  You can read more about that here In brief, it’s vitally important that you find out which of the main issues are part of the vicious cycle for you.  Possibilities include:

• Sleep Dysfunction
• Hormonal Dysfunction
• Intestinal Permeability (Leaky gut)
• Immune Dysfunction
• Stress System Dysfunction (hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenal axis)

Other posts will discuss these in depth. Please share this post if you know someone who would find it interesting. And please make sure you signed up for the newsletter to get more helpful information about taking your life back from chronic illness and chronic pain. Click Here To Get The Newsletter