b'The Most Important Thing You Need to Know about FibromyalgiaBY CAROLYN MCMAKIN, M.A., D.C.T he most important thing youThe most important thing you need to need to know about fibromy-algia is that it can be cured. Fibromyalgiaisacomplexknow about fibromyalgia is that it can neuroendocrine pain condition, but it is notincurable.Unfortunately,itcannotbe cured.be cured simply by managing the symp-toms with medication or picking one en- common.Abnormallevelsofgonadalthin,itisreasonabletoseethatthese docrine item to correct. It is important tohormones, low progesterone, low testos- bulky amino acids have trouble attaching discern how the patient came to developterone, and low FSH and LH are charac- to the transporter. The transporter is the fibromyalgia if you want the patient toteristic. 1 only thing the branched-chain amino acids actually recover. According to the literature, Fibromyal- have in common.They All Look thegia patients also typically have low levelsOne main function of the thalamus is Same When Theyof branched-chain amino acids that inter- to modulate or suppress pain. Research fere with proper serotonin and dopamineshows that for fibromyalgia patients, pain Reach Your Office production and may contribute to abnor- is amplified in the thalamus instead of As a group, fibromyalgia patients allmal thyroid hormone receptor structure. 2 being suppressed there. 3seem to have very similar neuroendocrineBranched-chain amino acids are leucine,Fibromyalgiapatientsdonotexpe-profiles when they reach the pain clinic. Fi- isoleucine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, andriencestage-foursleepwheregrowth bromyalgia patients have higher levels ofvaline. One thing these amino acids havehormone is made in adults. Instead, stage-corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) thanin common is the sodium co-transport sys- four sleep is interrupted by an alpha wave normal patients. They have symptoms oftem in the wall of the small intestine thatthat interrupts it and moves the patient low thyroid function and high but normalabsorbs them into the system. Branched- into a lighter stage of sleep. Poor stage-thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Poorchain amino acids are large and bulky.four sleep means low growth hormone; digestion and irritable bowels are alsoWhen the small intestine wall becomesand central suppression of growth hor-10 H ealtHF reedomN ews /s ummer2023'