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Click on this 3 minute movie link for an overview of the Lamb Program For Stretching
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Clearing the Brain-Fog of FibromyalgiaMany of our readers have asked for my opinion about "brain-fog" or "fibro-fog" related to chronic pain disorders- in particular, fibromyalgia. Many patients suffering from fibromyalgia and related pain disorders will eventually complain of an unclear head. The vision in their eyes may be clear but their ability to concentrate and to organize thought will be impaired. Most of my patients with significant upper or even lower body pain will complain of a fuzziness or "brain fog" that is generally always present. The condition is typically present with a profound recurring or constant fatigue, often named "chronic fatigue syndrome." Dr. Byron Hyde, Chairman of the Nightingale Research Foundation in Ottawa has studied the effects on the brain with sufferers of both Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). Many clinicians consider the terms to be interchangeable, however, some clinicians will separate CFS to be a gradual insidious disease often associated with chronic pain syndromes, while ME may be more specifically related to a recent infectious outbreak. Dr. Hyde recommended a complete fatigue work-up with blood tests including a CBC, ESR, thyroid function tests, liver function tests, kidney function tests, urinalysis, a protein analysis, neuroSPECT and Xenon scans. Although 90% of the subjects in his small study showed no blood abnormalities, a large proportion did show neuroSPECT and Xenon scans abnormalities .To summarize, 60% of the patients demonstrated hypoperfusion (decreased blood flow) in areas of their brains and some showed a vasculitis pattern (brain vessel inflammation). Many of the patients showed abnormal Xenon scan results, demonstrating decreased blood flow after exercise, stimulating sensory activity or intellectual thought.
As a pain specialist, these scan results are very exciting. Many experts feel that CFS and ME are strictly complications of some unknown infectious disease. Many others, myself included, feel that CFS and ME are multifactorial- that is to say there may be many factors and causes related to the condition. For example, some sufferers may indeed have developed the disease as a result of exposure to a virus, bacteria or even a chemical - some people may even have some form of genetic predisposition. However, we should not overlook the obvious. Many, if not most, of the cases of CFS or ME are related to people suffering from a chronic pain syndrome, namely fibromyalgia. Many chronic or severe whiplash patients ultimately suffer from this . Many of the people who successfully rid themselves from "fibro" have made full recoveries, even from the fatigue and brain-fog. I myself suffered the fatigue and brain-fog, which was completely resolved once my pain syndromes and sleep disorder recovered. My suggestion is to rule out the obvious and the less than obvious medical causes of fatigue and then investigate and treat the pain syndrome. The resolution of the pain syndrome may help to restore the biochemical and functional abnormalities in the brain, as well as the sleep disorder and frequent mood abnormalities. I also recommend a highly concentrated professional grade Omega 3 liquid that has made a huge difference in some of my patients with fibro fog. Check out the product I recommend on the Omega 3 page. It is also a helpful supplement for inflammation, mobility, brain and heart function. Although much of the research is very early, Dr. Lamb believes that "brain function" scans are likely to be helpful from a research and eventually therapeutic nature for CFS and ME.
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