Not All Pain is a Mystery: Fibromyalgia Decoded

 

Let's talk about fibromyalgia. You know, that condition that affects 2% of people (and 80% of those folks are women, by the way).

The "I Don't Know" Diagnosis

Let me know if this sounds familiar… You're sitting in your doctor's office, and they basically say, "Yep, you're in pain... but shrug we don't know why." First of all, ouch. Second of all, that's not exactly helpful, is it?

The thing is that good doctors actually DO know what's going on. The problem? Our healthcare system is basically running like a fast-food drive-through. "Here's your diagnosis, would you like some pills with that?" Nobody's taking the time to really dig into your medical history and figure out what's actually happening.

 

But Wait, Isn't It Autoimmune?

Okay, here comes the science-y part (but stick with me, I'll make it quick).

People love to come at me with the latest research about how fibromyalgia is autoimmune. There's this wild study where scientists took antibodies (specifically IgG) from fibromyalgia patients and gave them to mice. And guess what? The mice started showing fibromyalgia symptoms! (I know, right? Poor mice.)

Here's what happened: The researchers found that when they transferred these antibodies, the mice became super sensitive to pressure and cold temperatures - just like humans with fibromyalgia. They even showed reduced activity and strength, which totally mirrors what many fibro patients experience.

But here's the kicker: While this research is super interesting (and yes, published in a scientific journal), it doesn't mean fibromyalgia is just a simple autoimmune condition. 

Instead, it's showing us that fibromyalgia is part of a bigger story about inflammation gone wild.

The World's Worst Potluck

Think of fibromyalgia like the worst potluck ever. Everyone brought a dish, and they're all terrible. Here's what's on the menu:

• That old infection that never quite went away? That's the questionable potato salad.
• Those injuries that didn't heal properly? Consider that the burnt casserole.
• Childhood trauma? That's like the mystery dish nobody wanted to touch.
• Environmental toxins? The store-bought dessert with all the weird chemicals.

Mix it all together, and what do you get? A perfect storm of inflammation in your body. When people say "it's autoimmune," they're basically just pointing at the obvious: your body is sending up flares saying, "Hey! Some not-great stuff happened here!"

This is just a way of validating that pain is a symptom of something bad that happened to you. But it doesn’t mean fibromyalgia is a disease with just one cause, or that medicine will ever create a single treatment that cures it. This is why therapies that actually work, like breathwork and proper nutrition, are so effective. They help clean up the whole potluck mess, not just one bad dish. So, what are these different approaches?

The Voltron Approach to Healing

Here's where it gets good. Remember Voltron? (If you don't, Google it - it's awesome.) Just like Voltron was made up of different robots coming together to make one super-cool defender of the universe, treating fibromyalgia successfully means bringing together different approaches:

1. Breathwork: 

Breathing might seem basic (I mean, you're doing it right now), but proper breathwork can be a game changer. We're talking about techniques that:

• Calm your overactive nervous system
• Reduce pain sensitivity
• Help you sleep better
• Give you tools you can use anywhere, anytime

2. Botanical Medicines: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science

This is where things get really interesting. Traditional botanical medicines have been helping people feel better for thousands of years. One of our favorites? Evil Bone Water (yes, that's really its name, and yes, it's awesome). You can check it out here. 

This isn't your average topical treatment - it's a 跌打酒 (diédǎjiǔ/dit da jow), which sounds fancy but basically means "hit wine" in Chinese. Martial artists have been using this stuff for literally thousands of years to:

• Speed up recovery from training
• Warm up stiff areas before exercise
• Improve circulation almost immediately
• Provide relief for both acute and chronic pain across various conditions

Pro tip: You can even use it BEFORE exercise to warm up troubled areas.

3. Nutrition: Food as Medicine 

No, we're not going to tell you to survive on kale alone (though we do recommend you eat plenty of cooked vegetables). Research shows that fibromyalgia symptoms can improve with:

• High antioxidant foods (think colorful fruits and vegetables)
• High fiber foods 
• Low processed foods 
• Healthy fats (avocados, yum!)

Think of it less as a diet and more as giving your body the tools it needs to fight inflammation.

4. Gentle Movement

Remember: we said GENTLE movement like yoga. We’re not trying to train for a marathon here (unless that’s your thing; then we can help you get there). We’re talking about:

• Stretching that feels good
• Movement that brings joy
• Exercise that energizes rather than exhausts
• Activities that make you feel stronger, not broken

One example of gentle movement is Tai Chi. This ancient practice combines flowing movements with deep breathing, helping to enhance balance, flexibility, and overall well-being. Tai Chi can be especially effective for those dealing with chronic pain, as it encourages a sense of calm while gently engaging the body.

Each of these pieces works together to address the different systems in your body that have gone haywire. It’s not just about treating symptoms—it’s about creating a whole-body approach to healing. By incorporating activities like Tai Chi, you can foster resilience and promote a deeper sense of connection to your body in the healing process.

Putting It All Together

The beauty of this approach is that it's customizable. Maybe you start with Evil Bone Water and gentle stretching. Then add some breathwork. Then tackle the nutrition piece. 

When you're ready to go deeper, check out our Fibromyalgia Stages Video Series to see how we differentiate and treat different types of pain. It's not about doing everything perfectly - it's about finding what works for YOUR body and building from there.

The Truth Bomb

Anyone who tells you there's one single cure for fibromyalgia is, well, full of it. Your fibromyalgia story is unique to you, which means your treatment should be too. By breaking down a complex condition like this into multiple stages, we’re able to address most of the common causes of pain in an evidence-based sequence supported by thousands of years of medical tradition.

What Now?

If you're tired of getting the medical equivalent of a shoulder shrug, we get it. At Crawford Wellness, we take the time to understand your whole story - not just your symptoms. We dig deep, we listen, and we create treatment plans that address all those terrible potluck dishes one by one.

Ready to try something different? Something that actually works? Let's talk. Your body has been trying to tell you something - maybe it's time to listen.

Want to learn more or book an appointment? Drop us a line. We're here to help you feel like yourself again - no shrugging involved.