Women and Fibromyalgia

“Far more than you may realize, your experience, your world, and even your self are the creations of what you focus on”, Winifred Gallagher

I have long been searching for the exact definition of fibromyalgia given that I have written so much and spoken so often about the various systems that are compromised within the body of someone with this dis-ease. To-day I have finally found the right way to express all that I have written about in these blogs and in my book. In particular, I can finally put the theory I espouse in my book to the test as I work to take this demon to a higher level of understanding. In the book I painstakingly explain the social and psychological conditions that are responsible when a person  develops fibromyalgia. Here I present the end result of this theory I developed. The words have been articulated by my massage therapist/osteopath, Peter Goodman who has worked for so many years with clients who have struggled with fibromyalgia, myself included. These are his words (they are very technical, but bear with us), edited somewhat by me, worked through together as a summary of both our views: Fibromyalgia is a syndrome marked by habitually restricted circulation due to a build up of lactic acid within the myofascial system. It is caused by a sympathetic nervous system dominant stress disorder with accompanying dysfunctional brain maps. The work of Dr. Mick Thacker (found online: NOI notes Wednesday October 28, 2009) confirms our view as he believes “that much of chronic pain could be conceptualized as an ‘inflammation in the brain’ “. The PBS documentaries on positive neuroplasticity fill me with hope that someday soon there will be those writing about fibromyalgia and how to change the brain as we understand that link to exciting advances with neuroplasticity  and pain.

I shall go through the definition I embraced more simply. In the highly sensitive person who is very reactive to real or perceived threats or social obligations/responsibilities and unable to let go easily of the resultant anxiety, the nervous system becomes hyper-aroused. The muscles become constricted though the habit of over reacting to stimuli (negative neuroplasticity)and lactic acid builds up. The circulatory system becomes somewhat compromised, resulting in more pain. And, all of  this caused by the maps in our brains that continue to feed us negative messages of fear and flight.

On a personal note, I believe that the leg/knee/feet pain are circulatory problems that I experience because of this feed back loop of lifelong tension and hypervigilance, constricting the muscles, building up of lactic acid and diminishing blood flow to not only my legs but arms as well. The myofascial system connects every cell to every other cell within our entire body. It records physical as well as emotional messages sent to the brain (the amygdala). When it is in good shape it supports the entire muscloskeletal system  and protects the neurovascular system from external pressure. IT HOLDS MEMORY! But, in those of us with fibromyalgia because of the diminished blood flow there is irritation of the fascia (soft tissue) which causes pain (in the brain).

We must educate those who believe that fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue are due to chemical sensitivities or a virus. It is true that a virus or some  environmental irritants can trigger a flare up, just as weather changes, surgery, diseases, emotional trauma can also precipitate an attack. But, in and of themselves they are not the root cause of fibromyalgia. What has been called ‘primary’ fibromyalgia develops slowly in the highly sensitive person whose nervous system has (slowly) become hyper-aroused. The label of ’secondary’ fibromyalgia develops in the ultra-sensitive person after an accident, surgery, sickness or emotional trauma.

I have recently heard an interview with Winifred Gallagher in which she discusses her book Rapt. She spoke specifically about being mindful and quieting our minds. She said it is important to oberve what you are doing all day because as a society we suffer from “attentional crisis”.  We should pay more attention to negative emotions and shift by an act of will to that which is productive as there is no utility in these negative emotions, she admonishes. What gives us pleasure is where we should choose to pay attention. A good hint she gives is to write down 5 things that you do a day and how you feel about it. The ones which do not give us joy could perhaps be given or thrown away! It isn’t easy to throw away pain and remap the brain.

While I have accepted these pieces of advice from her and others I am still struggling with pain which seems to become worse as I grow older. It isn’t easy to live with the constant fear engendered in us on a daily basis. Check out the content of TV for example. The constant messages with which we are bombarded are related to being hypervigilant: the flu virus and possible deaths from it, wars, terrorism, cancer, food warnings, air travel, every disease imaginable…the list is endless. It is impossible to read a newspaper or watch TV without warnings being sent to our brains that we too could be subject to these horrors. Living moment to moment means trying to stay sane in insane places (like TV and the newspapers). It is no wonder that those of us with constant pain that is erratic and chronic fatigue that often slays us for days on end leads to depresssion and a sense of hopelessness. But Gallagher herself seems to have learned not to focus on the negative and has been able to shift her attention to other more positive and productive emotions. I am trying to do the same, so far without much success but I have to try as there is no other alternative.

Happy Halloween!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 7:58 am and is filed under Fibromyalgia, PBS documentaries, RAPT book, TV content, attentional crisis, chronic fatigue, dysfunctional brain maps, environmental irritants, fibromyalgia and growing older, flu virus, hyper-aroused nervous system, irritation of fascia, knee pain, lactic acid build up, leg pain, muscloskeletal system, myofascial system, negative brain messages, negative emotions, neuroplasticity, neurovascular system, pain in feet, primary fibromyalgia, restricted circulation, root cause, secondary fibromyalgia, surgery, sympathetic nervous system, virus, winifred gallagher. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.