Fibromyalgia is a diagnosis you get when no one can find the cause. That's not a dead end. It's a starting point. The question worth asking is what's actually driving the pain.
Key Takeaway
Fibromyalgia is not a disease. It's a cluster of symptoms that emerges when gut infections, dysbiosis, parasites, mold toxicity, or heavy metals have been disrupting the nervous system and immune response long enough. H. pylori eradication alone has been shown to reduce fibromyalgia pain points significantly, which tells you something important about what's generating the signal.
Fibromyalgia affects millions of people throughout the world and conventional medicine has yet to discover meaningful solutions to this rapidly spreading condition. However, in recent years there has been an increase in research on the underlying causes associated with fibromyalgia, a condition that causes pain in soft tissues and muscles throughout the body. Other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia include:
- Chronic Fatigue
- Anxiety / Depression
- Joint Pain
- Sleep Disorders / Poor Quality of Sleep
- Headaches / Migraines
- Gastrointestinal Issues (IBS, Food Sensitivities, Painful Bloating)
- Face and Jaw Pain / TMJ
- Burning and/or Twitching Muscles
- Brain Fog
Essentially, fibromyalgia is a cluster of symptoms that is labeled as a condition. Fibromyalgia can be a symptom of a larger underlying problem and is diagnosed when a doctor cannot pinpoint the root cause.
What are the Root Causes of Fibromyalgia?
1) Gut Infections: Gastrointestinal issues and an altered gut microbiome are common amongst Fibromyalgia patients.
- H. Pylori Infection: A 2020 study stated that their experimental fibromyalgia group "reported a significant reduction in pain, as evaluated by the number of tender points, following H. pylori eradication."
2) Unbalanced Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes Ratio: A 2019 study found an imbalance of specific bacteria abundantly found amongst fibromyalgia patients. Additionally, another 2019 study stated that overall "the diversity of bacteria is reduced in fibromyalgia patients."
3) Bacterial Infections: Generally, any gut infection can cause symptoms of chronic fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, muscle/joint pain, and mental disorders which may form into fibromyalgia. Mycoplasma is an overlooked bacterial infection that causes fibromyalgia-like symptoms and is found in 82% of people with Lyme disease.
4) Parasitic Infections: Parasites are an extremely undiagnosed root cause for fibromyalgia. A parasitic infection can cause nutritional deficiencies, mitochondrial dysfunction, and systemic inflammation, all of which can contribute to fibromyalgia.
5) Mold/Mycotoxin Exposure: Mold toxicities are a common root cause for fibromyalgia. A 2013 study found that 93% of chronic fatigue syndrome patients were positive for at least one mycotoxin. Mycotoxins are known to cause mitochondrial damage, systemic inflammation, and neurological damage.
6) Heavy Metal Toxicities: Heavy metals are known to cause significant neurological symptoms, muscle weakness, and fatigue, all of which are symptoms of fibromyalgia.
7) Emotional Trauma: The connection between trauma and fibromyalgia is well-established. A 2010 study found that holocaust survivors had significantly increased rates of fibromyalgia compared to the rest of the population.