Autoimmune Diseases Conflicts In Treatments
In this century autoimmune disease seem to be running Rampant! Two of the most prominent are:
Guillain-Barre Syndrome, an ascending paralysis in the entire body, is thought to be caused by an autoimmune attack on the nerves. Some believe a recent viral infection or vaccination may be responsible for this autoimmune reaction. There is no true effective treatment; yet again nutritional supplementation has given very good response.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS In which the immune system attacks the myelin sheath around the nerve and causes an inflammatory response. Aspartame products have been traced to being one of the instigators of MS.
Click “All About Multiple Sclerosis” for more information.
Last but not the least, as it probably affects the most people:
FIBROMYALGIA
FMS (fibromyalgia syndrome) is a widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder for which the cause is still unknown. Fibromyalgia means pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons–the fibrous tissues in the body. FMS used to be called fibrositis, and fibromyositis implying that there was inflammation in the muscles, but research later proved that inflammation did not exist.
PAIN– The pain of fibromyalgia has no boundaries. People describe the pain as deep muscular aching, burning, throbbing, shooting and stabbing.
FATIGUE– This symptom can be mild in some patients and yet incapacitating in others.
Click “Dealing With Chronic Pain And Fatigue” for more information.
SLEEP DISORDER – Most fibromyalgia patients have an associated sleep disorder.
Click “The Sleep Disorder in Chronic Pain” for more info.
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) – Constipation, diarrhea, frequent abdominal pain, abdominal gas and nausea represent symptoms.
CHRONIC HEADACHES – Recurrent migraine or tension-type headaches are seen in about 50%.
A detailed article on this subject.(Chronic Daily Headache Syndrome)
TMJD (Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome) – This syndrome causes tremendous face and head pain in one quarter of FMS patients. (Chronic TMD Treatment Options)
MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome) – Sensitivities to odors, noise, bright lights, medications and various foods is common in roughly 50%.
ALSO – Painful menstrual periods (dysmenorrhea), chest pain, morning stiffness, cognitive or memory impairment, numbness and tingling sensations, muscle twitching, irritable bladder, the feeling of swollen extremities, skin sensitivities, dry eyes and mouth, frequent changes in eye prescription, dizziness, and impaired coordination can occur.
KNOWN FACTS: Patients who are suffering from any autoimmune condition have significantly more free radicals to handle. And the key to preventing oxidative stress is balance. You want to have enough antioxidants on board to handle the number of free radicals the body is producing by attacking itself. People who are suffering from any autoimmune disease have a tremendous amount of oxidative stress (imbalance in the number of free radicals to antioxidants).
CONFLICT IN TREATMENT for autoimmune conditions arise with different points of view in treatment.
One viewpoint is that the immune system has to be destroyed in that particular area (nerve) so as not to cause further problems. Nerve blocks are used.
Another is; Very high amounts of antibiotics or other drugs are used. (Creating even more free radicals.)
Still another point of view is to try and rebuild and re-energize the immune system, by giving it all the antioxidants it can take – more than the basic amounts. That ensures optimum doses of all the nutrients required in a form that the body can metabolize immediately. Moreover they are balanced and completeso no guessing is required.
The University of Missouri (Columbia) researchers analyzed 49 fibromyalgia studies and concluded that exercise, relaxation, and other non-drug treatments are more effective than drugs for the condition. Patients are often given antidepressants, muscle relaxants and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen. Patients in non-drug therapies reported fewer pain symptoms and less fatigue.
I concur with Columbia, that is exactly how I choose to Treat my 30 year bout with FMS, but only after twenty years of letting doctors use me as a guinea pig of sorts. Then I turned to nutritional, antioxidant, herbal and exercise and found relief! My wish is for your life to be pain free and happy!
