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Anatomical
Tender
Points
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1.
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Occiput:
bilateral, at the suboccipital muscle
insertions. |
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2.
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Low
cervical: bilateral, at the anterior aspects of
the inter-transverse spaces at C5-C7. |
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3.
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Trapezius:
bilateral, at the midpoint of the upper border. |
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4.
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Supraspinatus:
bilateral, at origins, above the scapula spine
near the medial border. |
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5.
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2nd
rib: bilateral, at the second costochondral
junctions, just lateral on upper surfaces. |
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6.
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Lateral
epicondyle: bilateral, 2 cm distal to the
epicondyles. |
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7.
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Gluteal:
bilateral, in upper outer quadrants of buttocks
in anterior fold of muscle. |
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8.
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Greater
trochanter: bilateral, posterior to the
trochanteric prominence. |
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9.
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Knees:
bilateral, at the medial fat pad proximal to the
joint line. |
The Fibromyalgia
Syndrome
The
precipitation of fibromyalgia can be seen to
occur when immune system dysfunction begins. We
showed the analogy of the kettle and how
different factors can have an additive effect
until the kettle is full and the immune system
is left with no reserve capability to meet any
additional challenge. We demonstrated how one or
more additional challenges such as (1) an
infection (2) physical trauma or (3) severe
emotional trauma can be the overwhelming event
which causes the kettle to overflow. Thus the
downward spiral into fibromyalgia begins.
A toxic state begins from the immune system's
inability to perform its normal functions of
cellular repair and removal of cellular debris
and toxins. Muscle pain becomes noticeable and
sleep patterns begin to be disrupted. We saw how
quickly this can happen during an experiment in
which healthy subjects, when deprived of deep
sleep for just three nights, began to display
symptoms similar to what the fibromyalgic
experiences. The regulation of the metabolism of
that important neurotransmitter, serotonin, is
adversely affected because that regulation
occurs during deep sleep. Thus one enters into
what is called the "low serotonin
syndrome."
continued
at the top of column 2------->.
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This
syndrome causes further disruption of immune
function
because activation of natural killer (NK)
cells, our
first line of immune defense, depends
upon serotonin.
One of many viscous cycles begins.
Serotonin helps
regulate deep sleep. Lack of
deep sleep interrupts serotonin metabolism,
resulting in even less serotonin
to regulate deep sleep.
More and more toxins build up in tissues.
More
and more symptoms begin to develop such as
increased muscle pain, morning stiffness and
cognitive
impairment (the dreaded "FIBROFOG").
The
production of ATP needed for energy
production begins to
decline, resulting in the
onset of unrelenting fatigue.
Lowered energy
production disrupts the normal churning
and
propelling action of the intestinal tract. This
results in the development of the symptoms
of irritable
bowel syndrome (IBS), which can
then result in
"leaky gut syndrome" (LGS).
LGS allows harmful
macromolecules and
toxins along with harmful
micro-organisms to be
absorbed through the now permeable
intestinal
mucosa. This causes more immune system
stress
as the already dysfunctional immune
system tries to
remove these micro-organisms
and toxins.
The immune system also often mis-identifies
some of the
inappropriately absorbed
macromolecules, resulting in a mis-directed
antibody response toward certain of our own
tissues, resulting in auto -immune disease
symptoms.
Inappropriate absorption also places
great stress on the
liver as it attempts to oxidize
the toxins absorbed,
causing an extremely high
rate of formation of free
radicals which cause
further cell damage and therefore
even more
stress on the immune system. The intestinal
mucosal cells themselves become disrupted
and their
ability to absorb essential nutrients
such as magnesium
is impaired, resulting in
nutrient deficiencies. Lowered
magnesium
absorption compromises multiple systemic
systems such as further disruption of ATP
production
which exacerbates the feeling of
fatigue which has now
become so prevalent in
the fibromyalgic.
The decreased total magnesium level contributes
to the
already present muscle pain and stiffness,
to headaches
which become more common and
severe, and to such
symptoms as TMJ syndrome
and urinary spasms, excessive
menstrual pain,
amplification of PMS symptoms, restless
leg
syndrome, and cardiac arrhythmias and palpitations.
Physiologically, one is now in a full blown, immune
system dysfunctionally produced fibromylagia. The
many
other signs and symptoms listed on the
"Signs and
Symptoms of Fibromyalgia" area of
this site may
also start to appear, adding to the
total body distress
suffered by the fibromyalgic.
And to think --- many have
said "it's all in your
head!!". May they walk
in your shoes for a day,
if you are able to walk at all
on that day. As
stated earlier, a wise healer has said
that if
given the proper nutrients and sufficient time,
the body has an astonishing ability to heal itself.
Let's now discuss those nutrients that the
fibromylagic
so desperately needs.
Fibromyalgia Exposed Links
What Is
Fibromyalgia?
Anatomical
Tender Points
Fibromyalgia - Sleep Disturbances
The Immune System Messengers
Immune
System Dysfunction
Fibromyalgia and Fatigue
Fibromyalgia and Female Hormonal
Imbalance
Day & Night....Fibro AMJ
Fibromyalgia
Recovery Program
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