Fibromyalgia linked to heavy metal toxicity?

Hi, AllieMay, and welcome!  I'm so glad you found us and joined in!  I think the doctor you are reading about is most likely selling something.  There isn't a common link like that with fibromyalgia.  If there was, it would be all over the news...instead of ads for fibro medications.  We all have various stories, some have been tested for heavy metal toxicity, too, with negative results.  Some have gone to the extent of having all their fillings removed and it still didn't change a thing.  There are so many out there with answers for fibro and generally are selling something to help you.  I know I do not have heavy metal toxicity but I have had fibro for nearly 25 years. 

 

It certainly doesn't hurt to have this checked out for yourself.  You might get some help.  I got a lot of help when I found out I was deficient in vitamin D3.  I'm taking supplements for that, am getting some relief, but I still have fibro. 

 

There are as many reasons as there are "cures" for fibromyalgia.  It is believed that fibro was even mentioned in the Bible and this goes back a very long time in history.  They think Florence Nightengale even suffered with this ailment.  So, this isn't something that is new to us or new because of our environment either.  When I was diagnosed, it was called fibrositis.  Here is a good link about this.

 

http://www.ehealthguild.com/fibromyalgia-origins-history-causes-of-fibromyalgia/

 

Be sure to read Fibro 101...the second thread on the forum.  There are links to good information about fibro and you will learn a lot there.  One link in particular might really interest you.  It's called Doctor's Respond to New York Times Article.  Other good links to start out with are called A Thorough Explanation of Fibromyalgia and also What Else Could It Be. 

 

I'm looking forward to getting to know you better.  Don't hesitate to ask questions because we are here to help you.  Hope to hear more from you soon.

 

Sherrine

 

In reading the post above, it sounds to me like its a disguised advertisement for the website and the specific products that are listed. If someone asks where they can get a product and forum members help guide them (such as the malic acid-magnesium supplements that many people ask about), I don't have a problem with that, but I don't think a new member should be able to cite a specific website or be able to promote specific products as was the case here. Just my two cents worth.

When we're at our worst with fibromyalgia, it's easy to jump on board and try out anything and everything to help our pain -- sometimes out of sheer desperation. I would hope that everyone researches this before they go out and start making purchases.

I have a lot of lead in my butt.

Good one, applevenus!  I think that I have that also. 

I have never been tested for heavy metals, but I think that it probably could be a cause-that is in some cases. I believe that they will someday decide that Fibro is  caused by a number of different things,  and that the disease can be very specific to the individual.  I believe that some of us (myself included) were born with it.  I also think that there is a very strong genetic predisposition to it in these cases.  I am fairly certain that my mother had it, but was never diagnosed.  She had a number of the problems that are associated with it, including GERD, all-over body aches, osteoporosis, memory problems, sleep problems, and pernicious anemia, just to name a few.  I have a friend who also has fibro, and her doctor told her that he believed that it was a result of surgery that she had for a brain tumor.  She had not had symptoms prior to her surgery.  Most of her problems (pain, stiffness) center in her feet!

I feel that if a person believes that their problems have been caused by heavy metal exposure, it would probably be a good idea to discuss testing with their doctor.  Although some of the forms of detoxification woud be out of range for most of us, I don't believe that using an over-the-counter detox product can ever hurt.  I have used them before myself. Many of the medications that we take and foods that we eat can cause unhealthy changes in our bodies over time, and these can help to restore the system to a healthier balance.

AllieMay, I really wouldn't be worrying about that.  I'm not sure if that could even be proven.  We fibromites are so desperate to find a cause that we latch on to ideas that seem to make sense to us.  Honestly, if it were that simple, we wouldn't be dealing with this centuries later.  There are too many out there that are willing to say things and take our money, too.  There is a huge profit in the chronic pain field for scammers.

 

Did you have a chance to read the links in Fibro 101 that I suggested to you?  One has numerous learned doctors who are spending their lives trying to find the cause.  It's really quite interesting and sure makes more sense to me.

 

Be sure to join our party, okay?

 

Sherrine

I want to put my two cents in, especial for AllieMay. I don't have Fibromyalgia but please do not discredit me. I know someone who suffers from it and I myself was in a situation where I had chronic pain and developed myofacial pain sydrome. If I would of continued to go to regular doctors, I know they would of diagnosed me with Fibro eventually because I had unexplained pain in my neck and shoulder constantly.

There are two types of medical methods out there. Conventional medicine (western medicine). This is what our nation finds credible. Insurance companies cover mainly on this side because we have committees and associations out there that do medical testing and studies that prove that their treatments are effective. Sadly Conventional medicine highly relies on prescription drugs. Many of you are treated with anti-depressants, pain killers, sleeping pills ect. I'm not judging but what do these pills really do except supply a bandaid for the problem. I feel there is place for medication, especial for those that greatly need it but realize that they are only bandaids.

The other medical practice out there is alternative medicine (eastern medicine, naturepaths, chiropractors, ect). Our nation finds them not credible because there isn't a huge study compiled and/or the understanding of treatments do not concur with western medicine theories. For instance accupunture. Millions of people find the benefits of accupunture but accupunture is based on Chinese medicine and if you read a little about chinese medicine you will think its quite silly with the yin, yang, chi, energy flow lingo. How are conventional doctors suppose to interrupt? The difference between the two is that alternative medicine will try and heal the body completely. Or supplement it with a more natural approach.

Now the reason I go into detailed about these two types of medical practices is that all too often the alternative side is dismissed because our medical system does not allow these alternative treatments to be credible. Basically if there isn't a controlled study done to prove a treatment effective then its deemed that it does not work. But doctors don't have an understanding about everything.

Know let me go back to AllieMay's question about heavy medals. I dont know what video you saw but my personal naturepathic doctor has a video too about how every SINGLE patient that has been diagnosed with Fibro has heavy metals. Every. Single. One. That might not be the only factor but I think its worth a try. If everyone is in so much pain, isn't it worth it to try alternative treatments out? Sure, they might not work but some might. They might be expensive but I guess this is where you put a price tag on your health.

Like I said in the beginning, I didnt end up having Fibro. What I ended up having is a very bad case of TMJ (neck & head pain) coupled by a hormonal imbalance (insomnia), along side a structural issue of flat feet (shoulder & back pain). It's taken years to recover and about $20K in treatment because every single treatment I had was alternative treatment. I first started at UCLA with top doctors who told me that these alternative treatments I was hearing about were false. Turns out, the UCLA doctors helped me out 0% while these other doctors who didn't come close to having those type of credentials helped me out 100%

I know this is off subject but it relates to this topic. My son has autism which is classified under the DSM-IV as a psychological disorder. The only treatment that is considered in the medical community to help children effected by ASD is cognitive behavioral therapy. But I don't trust the "medical "community". I go to an alternative doctor where I have recovered my son so much to the point where I don't need cognitive therapy for him because he doesn't need it. The transformation has been remarkable. So I am all for alternative treatments. Just always weight in the positive and negatives and educate yourself.

From what I understand, checking for heavy metals is not an easy test. I heard it is a very involved 48 hour urine sample test. One of my FMS MeetUp group members had it done a few weeks ago at her naturopath’s office. She is only 44 but she was in so much pain she always used a walker when she came to the MeetUps with her daughter. She told me her test showed positive for 5 different heavy metals. I didn’t know this but the symptoms of heavy metal poisoning are really similar to FMS symptoms, muscle pain, numbness and tingling, memory problems, depression, headaches, etc.

Last Thursday when we had our monthly meeting, she was there by herself and was walking just fine without the walker, and seemed really happy. When I asked her about it, she said she was using a new supplement recommended by her doctor which she was told, was a very powerful heavy metal chelator and detoxifier.

Seeing her so much better than I have ever seen her, I asked if it was a prescription only medication and she said it was not a prescribed drug, it’s made of amino acids and vitamin c, and I could order it online, and gave me the website address. She said not to use it if allergic to shellfish, mushrooms, and gelatin.

I ordered the product on Friday and have not received it yet, I would really be thrilled if it could help me with the pain in my knees, feet, and lower back, fatigue, depression, and help me sleep better at night.



Hi, I deleted the product name and website because promoting a specific product goes against forum rules. But members can still google the info if they are interested. (Or, if you have a HealingWell email account, they can chat with you privately.) I wish you good luck! ~ Debbie

Post Edited By Moderator (Acheybody) : 2/24/2013 6:08:36 PM (GMT-7)