Re: Part two of Causes of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain
DeeDee Varner
Dee Dee, I am moderating this discussion and will remove improper posts.Thanks!Janet Poutré
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^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^--On Mon, Feb 10, 2014 at 9:49 AM, DeeDee Varner <deedee...@gmail.com> wrote:
I'm not sure I agree with this sort of post on Clairemont General's e-mail. If I'm the only one who feels this way, I'll go ahead and opt out of being on the list. If there are others who share my perspective, perhaps we can do something to sort this out. I am not disparaging Dr. Paul, but rather hoping keep the venue in line with its intended purpose.
~DeeDee Varner--On Mon, Feb 10, 2014 at 9:41 AM, Dr Paul <whitco...@gmail.com> wrote:
--Chapter 5
Why Meningeal Compression and its Subset of Diseases Often Start with Trauma, Surgery, Stress, and Genetic Predisposition
We believe the explanation is quite simple. The delicate relationship between the foramen magnum and the cervical spine is very often impacted by injuries involving the neck. The spinal cord and its covering, the Meninges, traverse gently through these structures with little room for error. In true Meningeal Compression, as we have seen, the boney structures are displaced in such a fashion that it causes a pulling on the Meninges, affecting many of the spinal nerve roots that are attached to it. So trauma must inevitably be implicated as a starting place for this condition. We may have physical trauma, surgery, or even mental trauma involved, as well as genetic predisposition.
1. Physical Trauma
The Number One cause of Meningeal Compression is trauma caused by auto accidents. So many people are left with Fibromyalgia—mild or severe—after auto accidents, that there can be little question of the connection.
Foreman and Croft, in their book, “Acceleration / Deceleration of the Cervical Spine,” describe the effect of whiplash on the neck. We learn that a head, that weighs 10-14 pounds, can reach a pulling weight of 100-140 pounds in a 15 mph rear-end accident. If you happen to be rear ended by a semi truck going 5 mph this can be equal to being hit by a Volkswagen going 50 mph. If a car or truck is traveling at 35 or 50 mph, the pressure pulling back on your head and neck is as if you were on your back and someone dropped a 300 lb. weight attached to your neck by a strap. This impact only lasts for a fraction of a second, but 300 lbs. can do a lot of damage. This is precisely what happens in an auto collision; the head is thrown back and forth like this two or three times, snapping the neck severely, nearly always causing some irreversible damage that leads to long-term degeneration and in many cases leaves the victim with MC.
Now if we think of the head, heavy as it is, thrashing severely on the little bones of the neck, it is no wonder its normal resting position can be changed. This change produces a pulling on the Meninges—which we have seen attaches to the spinal nerve roots—triggering the misfiring of nerve signals that activate the condition we call “Meningeal Compression”.
Since the cause of Meningeal Compression has not been understood, the association with spinal stenosis created by subluxations (also misunderstood) and Meningeal pulling, has been overlooked. Yet our experience suggests that this is a very common cause of Meningeal Compression. Since this underlying cause was not recognized during our schooling, the corrective techniques we are taught actually intensify the Subluxation, making Meningeal Compression worse.
Most Fibromyalgia and RSD patients can remember a trauma or surgery close to the initiation of their symptoms, though some may not. This is usually a car accident or a blow to the head. For example, we have treated injuries of prisoners of war in Vietnam who were hit in the neck with rifle butts; diving injuries in pools; auto accidents; falls; fights; surgeries; childbirth; etc. Other causes include injuries to the neck by way of hitting or whipping the head or neck.
One patient who came to us with a severe case of Fibromyalgia was injured when he slammed on his brakes on the ice to keep from hitting a bus. He avoided a collision, but did hit dry pavement, which snapped his neck—without hitting the steering wheel—and from that time on suffered with Fibromyalgia until treated in our facility. There was no contact with the head and he was only traveling 25 mph.
We are relatively fragile creatures who were not made to do some of the things we do, and eighteen million (estimate of Fibromyalgia suffers accepted by many) Americans will no doubt agree with us. Not to mention the one million two hundred thousand RSD patients and the countless failed surgery patients who didn’t have failed surgeries at all but have on going cycling pain from the insult to the neck during surgery.
- Surgery
We have a good friend who is an anesthesiologist; and after having so many patients claiming their symptoms began after surgery, we sat down and did our best to discover what was happening that could be causing Fibromyalgia during or after surgery. He had no idea how it could be occurring. He told us of the great care and consideration that was taken in the surgical room by almost all of the people he knew. He explained how they supported the neck with foam supports, or sometimes an IV bag, and how gentle they were with the patients. Yet we have had many patients tell us they came out of surgery screaming in severe pain that never let up until treated in our office.
This area needs much more research, which possibly may most effectively be done by a coordinated effort of chiropractors and anesthesiologists. But our initial thought was that when you sleep you have muscle tone, and if you are uncomfortable you roll over or move to adjust your position to relieve the pressure. When you are under anesthesia your muscles have no tone; they are flaccid with no control at all, and you can’t move if you need to. During this time we believe the neck vertebrae are compromised, literally pushing up against the Meninges. Whatever the cause may prove to be, we have seen too many cases of Fibromyalgia and RSD initiated or increased by surgery to be ignored—probably 40% of the patients we see.
- Mental Stress
The connection between mental stress and spinal stenosis secondary to cervical alignment might seem to be a stretch, but we have had many people tell us that their Fibromyalgia started immediately after the death of a loved one, mental abuse, a divorce, or a variety of other stressful conditions. And having recognized the intimate relationship between cervical problems and FMS, it is fair to consider that stress can also be a factor. Though we are not exactly sure how this sort of movement can be caused by stress, we now believe it is. Our presumption is that since stress causes muscle tightness, it can ultimately bring about a shift in alignment. As you would expect, stress control is a very important part of our treatment protocol.
- Genetic Predisposition
One more factor we must consider is genetic predisposition. Our primary focus on spinal stenosis and trauma seemed to preclude a relationship with genetic disposition. But our stance on this has changed after seeing far too many families with multiple Fibromyalgia sufferers. At present there seems to be a genetic weakness that allows certain families to develop FMS more easily than others. We believe it is likely due to the hereditary size and formation of the bones. We had a patient who had thirteen family members with Fibromyalgia. Much more research on this issue is needed.
Chapter 6
One-Sided Meningeal Compression
We have found that in some cases the vertebrae will torque on only one side, causing one-sided pain. This is because the Meninges is impinged on the twisted side and causes those nerves to fire, sending signals of pain to the brain on just one side. We have only seen this in perhaps 5% of our patients, but it does exist. These will respond to treatment just as well or better than the average Meningeal Compression or FMS patient.
We once had a 35-year-old female patient with one-sided Fibromyalgia. She took excellent care of herself, was married to a high-level executive, and had two young children. She told us the only way she could get to sleep was to take her sleeping meds, her antidepressants, and her pain pills, drink wine, and use snuff before bed. Her pain disappeared with the first treatment, and by the end of her first month of treatment she was released, sleeping normally, having no symptoms, and off all meds. These patients usually test very well with a complete remission of symptoms a the time of testing.
Chapter 7
Suicide and Fibromyalgia
If you are considering suicide, you are not alone. Fibromyalgia sufferers have one of the highest suicide rates. Almost every Fibromyalgia patient we see thinks about it. If you have Fibromyalgia and are not thinking about it, you probably have a milder case. For most patients the fatigue, pain, and depression just wear them out. They may feel like life is not worth living. But please, don’t let something so easily corrected take your life. We have seen most of our Fibromyalgia patients overcome their MC. There’s abundant hope and every likelihood that with just a little effort you may get your life back again.
If you are a friend or relative of a Fibromyalgia sufferer, please consider this: In moderate to severe cases, FMS will cause fatigue from sleep deprivation and sympathetic stimulation on a level totally unknown to the average person. A famous radio host once said, “All men are wimps if they don’t get their proper rest”. Fibromyalgia sufferers go way beyond this. Think of never having a rested morning, but waking every day feeling so exhausted you wonder if you can possibly live through the day with your energy this depleted. Now add to this overwhelming pain, panic attacks, inability to think clearly, and massive feelings of depression. So here we have a formula for suicide, even for one who is normally emotionally sound but who has been worn down by years of hopeless anguish. We recently had a patient who presented in a wheel chair, her body jerking involuntarily, crying and begging us to let her die. She had many times tried to kill herself and recently took one hundred and nine pain pills. One week after care began she was walking without her wheel chair and laughing. Taking this pressure off of the Meninges can create powerful results. If you have a clamp on your leg for years you may not believe you could ever be out of pain but if it is removed you could get relief. Why is it so difficult to believe this is different?
Most of these people tell us that death is a welcome thought, as opposed to a lifetime of relentless agony, but they’re restrained because they do not want to hurt their family. Here’s a precious life at stake that could well be saved by a friend or loved one’s understanding and sincere sympathy. Even without a remedy, simply the knowledge that there’s someone who understands can turn the tide. Those of us who are closest to these sufferers may have that privilege. The life of a loved one may be at stake.
Chapter 8
Misdiagnosis and Confusion with Other Diseases
Alcoholics and Addicts
If your Meningeal Compression is severe enough, you will medicate, whether by prescription, alcohol, or street drugs. The sad part is that people who self medicate not only have a serious illness but a degrading label. We do not have statistics on addicts and Meningeal Compression or Fibromyalgia, but we suspect the percentage is very high. One of the more obvious signs of FMS in the addict is if he or she never feels good without drugs or alcohol. We’re talking about after a period of clean time, when the sufferer feels compelled to return to his chemical support because of physical symptoms. Or the symptoms are so severe he can’t even make it without chemical support. This is complicated—there are many factors here, and they all need careful evaluation. You might not be chemically addicted in the usual sense but simply trying to self-medicate in an effort to relieve intolerable suffering.
Multiple Sclerosis
Many of our patients have, at one time or another, been told they may have MS, or have actually been diagnosed with it. It is easy to see how the two conditions can be confused, since they both affect the spinal cord and spinal nerve function. Multiple Sclerosis is a hardening of the lateral tracks of the spinal cord and can affect the brain itself. MS can also cause lesions on the brain and spinal cord. It can produce mild to severe symptoms, such as inability to walk. Fibromyalgia can cause very similar symptoms, including inability to walk.
Both conditions have severe symptoms. Having treated patients with both, we have found that the MS patients in general seem to be happier and much more at peace with themselves.
A good specialist can rule out MS.
We are interested in a research project on Meningeal Compression and MS. Consider this: could it be possible that MC could cause a deficit in Cerebral Spinal Fluid flow and create lesions the same way decubitus ulcers are formed from lack of blood flow. If this were the case an MS patients would take months or longer to see a good response to treatment. They would need time for the lesions to heal. They may see some early response from release of the MC, but take much longer for the lesions to heal if they have not done some permanent damage.
Chemical Sensitivity and Allergies
Other things can mimic Meningeal Compression and Fibromyalgia, such as allergies and sensitivities to chemicals like household products.
A thorough workup is needed to perform an accurate differential diagnosis. It is possible to have both Meningeal Compression and FMS with chemical sensitivities. This makes treatment much more difficult, but not impossible. This is a complicated situation because often the compromise of the nervous system in Fibromyalgia can actually cause allergies and chemical sensitivities, or at least aggravate them. Remember most FMS patients have allergies and sensitivities to some degree. When you have a nervous system that sends the brain bad information, along with leaky gut syndrome in the intestines—which allows larger particles into the blood than can be processed properly—you end up with fertile ground in which allergies and sensitivities can develop. This complicates the pathway to a clear diagnosis and can affect treatment. Fortunately we now have our test to give us a good idea on how well a MC patient will respond to treatment.
Depression and Post-concussion Syndrome
Under the heading of depression we include depression syndrome, depression suicide, clinical depression, mental depression, stress depression, depression and fatigue, teenage depression, and bipolar depression.
This is a large subject involving many causes, such as brain injury, mistakes from the past, unfulfilled life—wanting more from life than you have—lack of thankfulness, chemical imbalances, and many others. However, the one we would like to consider here is depression in relation to Meningeal Compression and Fibromyalgia.
Chiropractors have known for almost 100 years that depression and upper cervical problems go hand in hand. We have also known that auto accidents and depression go hand in hand. Assuming that the brain either doesn’t heal or takes some period of time to heal, this has been explained as Post-concussion Syndrome, leaving the victim with symptoms like these:
Symptomatology of Post-concussion Syndrome
Cognitive trouble
Fatigue
Memory loss
Emotional Issues
Depression
Headache
Post-traumatic Migraine
Sleep Disturbance
Neurological disturbances
Seizure
Vestibular and Cranial Nerve Symptoms
If you examine this carefully it looks very much like Fibromyalgia. This is not to say we don’t believe that Post-concussion Syndrome exists. What we are saying is that Post-concussion Syndrome has often been the diagnosis before seriously considering MC. We now believe that it was often a misdiagnosis, when we’re really dealing with MC. These cases need re-evaluation.
With this new insight into the connection between head and neck injury and Fibromyalgia/MC depression, we have a fresh premise from which to make a differential diagnosis between FMS/MC depression and Post-concussion Syndrome depression. This can be done with our test for Meningeal Compression and Fibromyalgia.
However, even with this information, the etiology of Fibromyalgia depression is still elusive. We understand that the combination of sleep deprivation, fatigue, and the neurological aspects could explain the entire basis of depression, but there seems to be more involved. We have shown that the depression leaves when we remove the pressure from the Meninges; but we also suspect that this pulling and pressure on the Meninges is somehow causing depression independently of the other factors. We believe this because the depression usually leaves during our Meningeal Release Test.
We have watched over and over again the depression of Fibromyalgia patients subsiding within one to two months, with almost predictive regularity. This is accomplished solely with repositioning of the spinal cord through the neck.
We once treated a paranoid schizophrenic with severe upper cervical problems. In one month he said he wanted to stop his meds and return to work at Rockwell International. With his treating doctor’s help he succeeded, went through one month of testing, and was returned to work without further symptoms. This patient had been institutionalized twice and was being evaluated for a third institutionalization when we first saw him. He had a full recovery.
Lyme’s Disease
Lyme’s Disease can mimic Fibromyalgia and needs to be part of the differential diagnosis. We have seen Lyme’s disease patients respond partially to our test. We don’t really understand this fully. Much research needs to be done in this area. But our test is the basis of the treatment. If they have Meningeal Compression they will respond well to our Meningeal Release Test. A person who also has Lyme’s Disease will obviously need to be treated for this as well.
Lupus
Further research is needed here as well. Lupus seems to be a common problem with Fibromyalgia patients. Could it be part of the autoimmune response caused by leaky gut and/or your brain-body communication? We do not really know. There is a theory that Rheumatoid Arthritis may be connected to leaky gut syndrome (the body attacking larger than normal particles entering the blood stream through enlarged absorption points in the intestines, creating an autoimmune response). Could this be true with lupus? We just do not have the information at this point, but it is something to consider. There definitely seems to be some tie between the two, but as we have demonstrated, Fibromyalgia is clearly an alignment problem in most cases, but diarrhea is a common problem with Fibromyalgia and could cause leaky gut syndrome.
Interstitial Cystitis
This is a condition that is usually uncommon, but with Fibromyalgia sufferers it is very common. The bladder feels like you always have to urinate. It is also painful. We have little to say about this, maybe just lack of good nerve control. Another area of research. Maybe you have noticed: so much research can come from our find.
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