Dr.
Functional
2304 South Broadway,
320-759-1800
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
(CFS) and Fibromyalgia (FM)
First of all, I would like to
explain that I’ve linked these two conditions together because the underlying
causes of both are so similar, and if you have one of the conditions, you are
likely have at least some of the other.
These
chronic conditions are complex, multi-factorial, and difficult to diagnose and
treat within the medical world. Contributing to this complexity is the fact
that biological and physiological factors seem to have an inconsistent
relationship to symptoms, which may account for the fact that an estimated 30 to
80 percent of patients who consult medical physicians present with symptoms for
which no causes can be found. This is
not a ‘diagnosable disease’ from standard medical testing protocols.
Another
complicating factor is the frequent coexistence of other associated chronic
disorders. FM patients often manifest
CFS-like symptoms, and reportedly 70 percent of individuals with this disorder
appear to experience irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms and multiple
chemical sensitivities as well. There is also documentation of a strong
co-morbidity between fibromyalgia and major depression, existing either as part
of the condition, or because of a hopelessness of its cure.
CFS
is characterized by persistent or relapsing debilitating fatigue for at least 6
months in the absence of any other definable diagnosis. Symptoms of CFS may
include depression, hypotension, weight loss, and inability to endure
stress. Over time, CFS can make life
miserable, wearing down the body, depressing the spirit, and making a person
much more vulnerable to a wide range of related illnesses. Living with CFS can
be even more difficult when the individual—and those others around him or
her—do not fully understand the factors behind this debilitating condition.
FM
is clinically differentiated by the evaluation of pain at 18 specific sites, or
“tender points;” 11 or more of them must be present to meet the
However,
because of the previous poor understanding of the underlying mechanism, many
medical physicians still consider FM to be a psychosomatic illness. The lack of
laboratory or biological correlation helps explain why few medical based
therapies have shown consistent success. Some literature suggests that the
pathophysiology of FM may be associated with more subtle signs of inflammation
and immune dysregulation.
Cutting edge, medically based
research (Functional Medicine) is showing that this condition does indeed have
a cause. The same research is also
showing that these conditions can be helped.
What then goes wrong in the body to
cause these conditions, and what can we do for them?
The problem is not a simple one that
is quickly fixed with a silver bullet or a drug. Like most health conditions, this one also
arises from a loss of health and function of various organ systems that takes
place because of two primary problems:
We do not get enough of what our bodies need for proper function (proper
nutrition), and we get things that are harmful to our health in the form of
food allergies, pesticides and herbicides in the foods we eat, the water we
drink and the air we breathe, and toxic chemical waste.
CFS
and FM are often part of a complex, multifactorial health condition.
There are innumerable internal and external mechanisms whereby the body’s metabolic
system can get thrown “out of whack” and induce feelings of exhaustion—and many
of these mechanisms are interrelated.
The
following are possible underlying causes and contributing factors of both CFS
and FM. It is important to distinguish between the two conditions, because each
one can be triggered by different mechanisms in the body, and thus may have
very different diagnostic indicators.
Adrenal
Hormones:
Chronically high or low levels of powerful adrenal hormones can wear the body
down and produce feelings of exhaustion.
Detoxification: Fatigue can develop from
toxic stress when the liver is no longer able to detoxify the body’s harmful
waste by-products and heavy metals begin accumulating from external
exposure.
Oxidative
Stress:
Oxidative stress caused by unstable free radical molecules can damage the
energy-producing mechanisms inside the body’s cells.
Gastrointestinal
overgrowth of fungus/yeast/bacteria/parasites: The incidence of infection from gastrointestinal
“critters” is increasing in the
Digestive
Function:
Fatigue is often triggered by malabsorption of important nutrients, along with
the overgrowth of intestinal yeasts such as Candida albicans.
Glucose
and Insulin:
Insulin and glucose are two key hormones highly involved in the body’s
regulatory action of fuel metabolism.
Allergies: Fatigue and allergic
sensitivity often go hand-in hand; with a multitude of possible allergenic
substances hidden in the food we eat.
One recent study showed 86% improvement in CFS symptoms simply by
removing food allergies from the diet.
Toxins
and Nutrients:
Exposure to toxins from the environment, especially in combination with key
nutrient shortages, can be an insidious source of chronic fatigue.
Fatty
Acids:
Identifying and treating fatty acid deficiencies has
been shown to increase energy levels in many patients with chronic fatigue.
Amino
Acids:
As the primary source of important proteins, amino acids play a key role in the
body’s production of energy.
Government
studies have shown that 98% of Americans do not get the proper amounts of
nutrition necessary to prevent disease.
When we routinely do not get enough of what the body needs for optimal
function, we suffer an increasing nutritional deficiency state. We are also exposed to a horrendous amount of
toxins from our external and sometimes internal environments. The most advanced
research is showing that nutrition directly influences the messages entailed
for body function. If we can find what
the body is deficient in and what it is getting that is harmful to it, we then
can make beneficial changes in organ function.
In
this office we have found that it is most beneficial to begin a treatment plan
by ‘fixing’ the digestive system (gut) to ensure absorption of nutrients, and
to remove continuing toxic waste production by the undesirable organisms. Once the harmful ‘critters’ are removed, we
can then re-establish normal stomach acid and enzyme function and repopulate
the gut with the ‘normal’, essential beneficial bacterial flora. Furnishing nutrients to heal the gut wall
concludes this portion of the treatment.
This gut condition has been named the ‘Leaky Gut Syndrome” and has been
written up extensively in current research.
After this system has been treated,
or concurrently if desired, we can start a therapeutic level of nutritional
supplements (vitamins, minerals, and herbal formulas) to specifically address
the loss of reserve energy of other organ systems in the body that are
contributing to the condition (especially the adrenal glands for energy and the
immune system), and also to detoxify a lifetime accumulation of toxins stored
in the body.
This overall treatment plan can take
from 6 months to 2 years or more to complete, depending on the severity of the
condition and the rate of treatment.
When this treatment is completed, and we have restored 110% reserve
energy to all the body’s organ systems we will maximize the body’s health,
vitality and years of disease free living.
The bottom line to this and most
other health conditions is simply this: when we find what the body needs that
it hasn’t been getting, and when we eliminate the bad things the body has
gotten, only then can we restore health.
This model of health care is has been formed through new medically based
research (Functional Medicine), and is being tested through pilot programs to
improve health. This model of health
care is so successful, it is showing the ability to
reduce health care costs nearly 67%.
Projections are anticipating a 90% overall health care cost savings if
this program could be fully implemented.