FYI-Fibromyalgia

[deedee332]

Ischemia: Cause of Fibromyalgia Pain?
Saturday April 18, 2009

Did you know that some fibromyalgia (FMS) pain may be caused by low blood flow to our muscles? The medical name for that is ischemia (ih-SKEE-mee-ah). We've had some limited evidence of ischemia in FMS for a few years, and it's an area that researchers are pursuing. Basically, muscles hurt and can't work right when they don't get enough blood and the oxygen it carries - think of how hard it is to walk after your foot has fallen asleep!

This is good news for several reasons: 1) ischemia is detectable by certain types of ultrasound, so it could lead to a diagnostic test; 2) even if it doesn't lead to a diagnostic test, it at least is easily obtainable, physical proof of pain; 3) ischemia is treatable by drugs, supplements and lifestyle changes that are already available.

Remember that this is preliminary research - if you go to your doctor next week and say, "Give me an ultrasound to check for muscle ischemia," you'll likely be disappointed. This is more of a long-term hope, as we need further research to confirm the findings. Similarly, it will likely be awhile before doctors are prescribing us medications for ischemia, called vasodilators.

Certain treatments, however, are available to you right now. To combat ischemia, you need to improve your circulation. We already know several supplements that promote heart health also help ease fibromyalgia symptoms, including:

Vitamin B12
Vitamin D
Magnesium
CoQ10
Omega 3
Carnitine
Rhodiola
Theanine
Massage therapy also can improve blood flow, as can exercise. Appropriate levels of exercise are well proven to help alleviate FMS symptoms. The ischemia theory also explains why too much exercise is so hard on our bodies - muscles hurt more when they don't get enough oxygen during exertion.

Possible causes of FMS-related ischemia could be allergic hypersensitivity, toxins, stress, inflammation (from other conditions), or the fact that FMS involves nervous-system dysregulation.

What do you think? Does this sound like a viable theory? Have you had luck with some of the treatments mentioned above? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below!

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[suseq505]

Sounds like what I have developed, after being diagnosed 13 years ago.
After menopause I did get more fibro symptoms. (Now approaching 60)
My circulation issues I've been told are connected to the lymphatic system.
Just returned from a lymphatic massage to keep me moving with less pain hopefully.....(Must drink lots of water with this illness and after any form of therapeutic massage, too.)
This vasodilator study, has really interested me...Hopefully we will hear more regarding this.

[deedee332]

Yes, I understand, it sure sounds like that could be the case to me.  Who the heck knows?  They don't.  LOL

[Monkey1mill]

I have had fibro for 20 years. In last five years I was told I have hardening of the arteries of the brain and now PAD in my legs. Is this the same as ischemia.? Neuro said I have low blood oxygen flow to leg muscles because of PAD. Maybe with low blood flow to brain my brain cells transmit pain messages to muscles in rest of body?  Who knows?

[deedee332]

Yes, my dear, I totally agree with what you are saying.  They can't seem to get it together.  Have a good day

[VaBreeze]

I'm not sure if ischemia is the cause or the result of fibromyalgia.  I am leaning more towards it being a result due to the dysregulation of our CNS.  There are times when my whole body hurts (which would mean low blood flow to everything), unless it were due to brain ischemia...which they have mentioned this in research previously, but still haven't found the cause for it.

It will be interesting to see this research done and the final results shown.  Thanks for sharing this with us.

Breeze