Fibromyalgia: Attacking the Cause Instead of Masking the Symptoms

If you or someone you know is suffering from fibromyalgia, you know how debilitating this disorder can be. Fibromyalgia is a form of generalized muscular pain and fatigue that affects approximately 3.7 million Americans. Literally translated, the name “fibromyalgia” means pain in the muscles and fibrous connective tissues (ligaments and tendons). Symptoms of fibromyalgia range from chronic muscle pain, to bowel irregularities, to feelings of anxiety and depression.

Fibromyalgia is a very difficult condition to treat. The traditional approach to treatment usually involves prescription medication designed to slow down the firing of overactive nerves. This can indeed help to improve the patient’s quality of life by masking a number of symptoms of fibromyalgia.

However, this approach never truly addresses the reason why a person’s pain nerves fire as the result of simple movements that shouldn’t cause pain.

The Natural Healthcare Center Approach

Dr. Kurt Hostnik is Clinical Director of Natural Healthcare Center. As a board certified chiropractic neurologist, Dr. Hostnik takes a different approach to the treatment and prevention of fibromyalgia – a conservative, specific and targeted approach aimed at regulating and correcting the cause of the disorder, not just covering up the symptoms.

After a thorough neurological examination, Dr. Hostnik determines which part of the nervous system is not functioning properly and creating the “over-active nerves”. In many fibromyalgia patients, a high firing mesencephalic output is commonly found.

The mesencephalon is the top part of the brain stem. A high output of the mesencephalon can cause:

• Increased pulse and heart rate
• Inability to sleep or waking from restless sleep
• Urinary tract infections
• Warmth or sweating
• Sensitivity to light

Along with a high mesencephalic output, the fibromyalgia patient may have a decreased output of the cerebellum. In addition to controlling all of the body’s involuntary spinal musculature, a major job of the cerebellum is to inhibit the mesencephalon.

Since the mesencephalon is firing at an abnormally high rate, Dr. Hostnik will use modalities that lower the mesencephalic output, including warm water ear calorics, eye exercises, mobilizations or supplementation.  These sensory stimulations essentially “exercise” different areas of the nervous system to make each area stronger and more capable of handling its workload.

What This Means For You

I realize I’ve used a few medical terms and explanations that may be unfamiliar. Unfortunately, there’s no getting around the complexities of brain function. However, the most important takeaways from this are very simple.

First, the phrase “cover up” is never really used in a positive light, especially in medicine. Dr. Hostnik and I are committed to treating the cause of fibromyalgia in order to reduce the flare up of pain instead of temporarily covering up the symptoms.

Second, the solution to a medical problem is not always found in a pill or the operating room. Our goal is to treat fibromyalgia or any other condition using a natural, non-surgical approach to whole body wellness whenever possible. For example, fibromyalgia can be affected by nutrition and exercise. Many times, this condition responds to a change in eating habits, which is why Dr. Oscar Coetzee performs a very specific nutrition review of fibromyalgia patients at Natural Healthcare Center. Dr. Coetzee, Dr. Hostnik and Dr. Proodian also implement the appropriate exercise program as part of holistic, integrated approach to treating fibromyalgia.

This is the year of the family, and nobody wants to see a family member suffer. If you or a loved one is suffering from fibromyalgia, let us help you take your health back.

Do you have questions about the symptoms, causes and treatment of fibromyalgia? Please don’t hesitate to ask!