Living with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) can feel like navigating a labyrinth of health issues with no clear way out.
These conditions, often misunderstood and misdiagnosed, affect millions of people worldwide, impacting not just your physical health but your overall well-being and quality of life too.
Conventional treatment often relies on a multimodal approach incorporating graded exercise therapy, antidepressants, and pain medications. These common prescriptions aim to alleviate symptoms, offering relief from the chronic pain and fatigue that characterise these conditions. But what if there’s more to the story?
What if these conditions aren’t standalone diagnoses but rather manifestations of underlying issues? Welcome to the world of Functional Medicine, where we work to uncover the root causes of your widespread pain, fatigue, brain fog, and more. Our holistic approach to healthcare focuses on the individual as a whole rather than just treating isolated symptoms.
Shedding light on ‘invisible’ illness
Fibromyalgia and CFS are elusive, often misunderstood and challenging to diagnose. Yet, for many of us, they’re all too real, casting a long shadow over our daily lives. And while they are distinct conditions, they frequently coexist, with individuals often receiving dual diagnoses, which complicates matters. The symptoms are also often ‘invisible’…
Fibromyalgia symptoms are as varied as they are debilitating, affecting every aspect of a person’s life. Common symptoms include muscle or joint pain, sleep disturbances, cognitive difficulties (often referred to as “fibro fog”), and heightened sensitivity to stimuli. These symptoms can be both physically and emotionally taxing, impacting your work, relationships, and overall quality of life.
Another difficulty is that fibromyalgia is often considered as a “diagnosis of exclusion”. This means that it’s diagnosed by ruling out other conditions, and there are no specific diagnostic tests that can definitively confirm fibromyalgia. The exact cause of the condition is also often unknown. The diagnosis ultimately relies on clinical judgement and the presence of characteristic symptoms.
This diagnostic journey can be frustrating for patients and healthcare providers alike, as it requires extensive testing and evaluation to reach a conclusion.
Understanding the conventional approach
So, how does conventional medicine typically tackle the problem? Let’s say you’ve been experiencing widespread pain, debilitating fatigue, and a myriad of other symptoms for months or even years. You finally muster the courage to seek medical help, and your doctor diagnoses you with fibromyalgia or CFS.
What’s the next step? Conventional treatment often revolves around ‘the quick fix’, i.e., managing symptoms rather than addressing the root cause. Here’s a breakdown of what that might entail:
- Graded exercise therapy is often recommended to improve muscle strength, flexibility, and overall well-being. However, finding the right balance of activity without exacerbating symptoms can be tricky.
- Certain antidepressant medications, particularly those that affect serotonin levels, may help alleviate pain and improve sleep quality for some people.
- Over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers may be used to manage the chronic pain associated with these conditions. However, long-term use can come with its own set of risks and side effects (from digestive issues to mood changes) that occasionally outweigh the benefits.
While these treatments can provide much-needed (but temporary) relief for some, they often fall short in addressing the underlying factors driving the conditions. It’s like putting out fires as they flare up, without ever addressing what’s causing the sparks.
What Functional Medicine practitioners do
Functional Medicine offers a fresh perspective on fibromyalgia and CFS that’s gaining traction for all the right reasons. Essentially, we don’t see fibromyalgia as a diagnosis; instead, we see symptoms as red flags or manifestations of underlying imbalances or dysfunctions within the body. Think of Functional Medicine practitioners as medical detectives, searching for clues that could range from hormonal imbalances to hidden infections.
In Functional Medicine, symptoms are pieces of a larger puzzle, and that puzzle is the human body. As Functional Medicine doctors, we take a holistic science-based view, focusing on the individual as a whole and considering the interconnectedness of various bodily systems. Rather than treating isolated symptoms and masking them with medications, we try to address the deeper imbalances in the body.
Functional Medicine practitioners are all about the personalised approach: examining your individual medical history, lifestyle habits, and environmental exposures to develop a tailored treatment plan that addresses your specific needs and imbalances. It’s a significant departure from the one-size-fits-all approach often seen in conventional medicine.
Unravelling the root causes
In a sea of symptoms, Functional Medicine doctors cast a wide net for answers, exploring a multitude of potential triggers and root causes, including:
Food intolerances
Food intolerances can trigger a cascade of symptoms. Gluten, dairy, and other common allergens can wreak havoc on the gut, leading to inflammation and systemic issues. Identifying and eliminating trigger foods can be a crucial step in managing fibromyalgia symptoms.
Leaky gut
Leaky gut, or intestinal permeability, occurs when the lining of the digestive tract becomes compromised, allowing toxins and undigested food particles to enter the bloodstream. This breach in the gut barrier can trigger immune responses and inflammation, contributing to fibromyalgia symptoms. Healing the gut lining and restoring gut health is paramount in addressing fibromyalgia at its core.
SIBO: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
SIBO occurs when there is an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine, disrupting digestion and nutrient absorption. This imbalance can contribute to gastrointestinal symptoms, inflammation, and systemic issues seen in fibromyalgia. Addressing SIBO through targeted interventions can help restore gut health and alleviate symptoms.
Hidden infections
Chronic infections, whether viral, bacterial, or fungal, can lurk beneath the surface, triggering immune dysregulation and inflammation. Conditions like Lyme disease, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and candida overgrowth (a common fungal infection) have been implicated in fibromyalgia and can contribute to gastrointestinal symptoms and neurological issues seen in fibromyalgia. Treating underlying infections is essential for restoring balance to the body.
The toxic burden
Toxins from environmental pollutants, heavy metals, and chemicals in food and personal care products can accumulate in the body, overwhelming detoxification pathways and contributing to systemic dysfunction. These toxins can disrupt hormone balance, impair mitochondrial function, and exacerbate inflammation, all of which are implicated in fibromyalgia. Detoxification protocols can help support the body’s natural detox pathways and reduce your toxic burden.
Hormonal imbalances
Hormonal imbalances, including dysregulation of cortisol, thyroid hormones, and sex hormones, can play a significant role in fibromyalgia. Stress, adrenal fatigue, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis disruptions can contribute to symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and cognitive dysfunction. Balancing hormones through targeted interventions can help alleviate symptoms and restore vitality.
Thyroid issues
Thyroid dysfunction, whether hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, can disrupt metabolism, energy production, and overall well-being. Symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, and brain fog overlap with those of fibromyalgia, making thyroid issues a common culprit in this condition. Optimising thyroid function through medication, dietary changes, and lifestyle interventions can help alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.
Mitochondrial dysfunction
Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, responsible for energy production and metabolism. Dysfunction in these cellular powerhouses can lead to fatigue, muscle pain, and cognitive impairment seen in fibromyalgia. Supporting mitochondrial function through targeted supplements, lifestyle modifications, and stress management techniques can help restore energy levels and vitality.
Other triggers
In addition to all of the factors above, several other contributors may play a role in fibromyalgia, including chronic stress, trauma, neurotransmitter imbalances, immune dysfunction, and genetic predispositions. By taking a comprehensive approach to assessment and treatment, Functional Medicine aims to unravel the complexities of this interconnected web of factors and restore balance to the body.
An alternative approach
At the end of the day, Functional Medicine is about digging deeper to find out what’s causing the symptoms in order to explore a long-term solution. So, whether you’re living with fibromyalgia or CFS, a caregiver in search of better understanding, or just curious about a different perspective, we like to say that there is no one path to wellness.
In identifying and addressing root causes, our mission is to empower you to take control of your health and make sustainable lifestyle changes that support lasting vitality. Through the lens of Functional Medicine, we see fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome as clues leading us closer to the truth. If you or someone you know is struggling, know that you are not alone.
If you’re tired of chasing symptoms and short-term band-aids, seek out a healthcare provider who can help you shine a light on your underlying root causes and pave the way to a healthier, happier you. Book a discovery call with Dr Gayetri to find the answers you’re looking for.