The Women Warriors

[MessiahMews]

WHITCOMB METHOD Upper Cervical Spinal Stenosis and Fibromyalgia
From Dr. Whitcomb's site:
http://www.stopfibro.com
NOW the site is http://www.stopfibro.net/ and http://www.nrc.md/

There's the C1 vertabrae thing again.

What is Fibromyalgia?

The name is today a misnomer. Originally it was thought to be fibrous deposits in the muscles causing pain. The only truth to this is that some patients have muscle spasms so badly they become fibrous and add to the problem, but this has nothing to do with the cause (etiology) of the fibromyalgia syndrome.

Years ago fibromyalgia syndrome patients were called hypochondriacs and were, many times, referred to Psychiatrists, often institutionalized. Only recently has fibromyalgia gained respect as an entity that deserves attention. And hopefully fibromyalgia patients are getting more respect as well, believed when they say they have a problem instead of having their symptoms written off. Still, today I have patients regularly reporting being told they are drug addicts, need to be institutionalized, or have some other sinister motive when they claim fibromyalgia as a diagnosis, when all they really need is some one to believe them and get them help.

It is believed that 3.7 million Americans have fibromyalgia, still a very poorly understood disorder characterized by widespread pain and tenderness, but also often associated with nervousness, fatigue, depression and insomnia. In addition, many will suffer from chemical sensitivities, allergies, irritable leg syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, trigeminal neuralgia and a host of other symptoms. Women are far more likely to be diagnosed with the condition than men.

Fibromyalgia is different than most diseases in that it takes away the patients ability to fight. After years of fatigue, depression and pain the patient, not being able to focus on anything but their poor health, pain, just trying to get through the day, becomes discouraged and often their spirit breaks. Family members become worn out with the disease and often abandon the stricken loved one. This brings more devastation to a already distraught victim of this insidious predator.

Early in 2000, I, after years in bed myself and finally recovering from chronic fatigue syndrome, had two fibromyalgia syndrome patients enter my office, both had been disabled in the same auto accident, 3 years previous and were taking the medical triad: pain pills, antidepressants, and sleeping pills, the standard fibromyalgia treatment, that often goes with fibromyalgia symptoms. This I thought was a golden moment, as it gave me the chance to cross check so many things and hopefully find common denominators that could be the cause of their condition. Having treated over 6,000 accident victims in the past and understanding the neurological and physiological implications, gave me a great advantage. I found that both had severely displaced C-1 vertebrae in a position that was previously thought to be found in less than 2% of our patients. But to make it worse this malpositioning was much more severe than what is normally seen. I immediately checked my other fibromyalgia patients and found the same condition.






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[MessiahMews]

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue

A light case of fibromyalgia is often diagnosed as chronic fatigue, because the symptoms are almost identical. Light cases of fibromyalgia usually aren?t associated with pain, but have all of the fatigue, insomnia and depression of Chronic Fatigue.

It is still thought that the Epstein-Bar virus is associated with Chronic fatigue but other things can also cause chronic fatigue, such as allergies and sensitivities to chemicals. Household products and even caffeine to mention just a few. A thorough work up is needed, as well as a differential diagnosis.

http://www.stopfibro.com/tw_content_fatigue.html
The above link is dead. Here are the current posts by Dr. Paul Whitcomb, DC...
http://whitcombpaul.wordpress.com/?s=fatigue



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[MessiahMews]

Depression

Under the heading of depression, may fall depression Syndrome, depression suicide, severe depression, mental depression, stress depression, depression and fatigue, teen depression, bipolar depression, cause of depression, and treatment of depression.

This is a big subject, with 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.

Depression in Relationship to Fibromyalgia

We, as Chiropractors have known for almost a hundred years that depression and upper cervical (neck) problems go hand in hand. We have also known that auto accidents and depression go hand in hand. This has been explained as post concussion syndrome, assuming that the brain either doesn’t heal or takes some period of time to heal, leaving the victim The victim with symptoms that look very much like the following:

Symptomatology of Post Concussion Syndrome

Cognitive
Fatigue
Memory

Emotional Issues
Depression

Headache
Post-Traumatic Migraine

Sleep Disturbance
Neurological
Seizure

Vestibular and Cranial Nerve Symptoms

If you look at this carefully it looks very much like a fibromyalgia patient. This is not to say I don’t believe that post concussion syndrome exists, what I am saying is post concussion syndrome has been a diagnosis long before fibromyalgia was know to exist, and I believe now that it was often a miss diagnosis and we were really dealing with fibromyalgia and throwing everyone with a significant trauma into this bag. Even many today with post concussion syndrome have been misdiagnosed and need reevaluation. Even in my own profession I don’t believe this connection has been made. But armed with this connection between head and neck injury, and fibromyalgia depression, now gives us a new area to look at in making a differential diagnosis, between fibromyalgia depression and Post-Concussion Syndrome Depression.

But even with all of this understanding the etiology of fibromyalgia, depression is still elusive. I understand the combination of sleep deprivation, fatigue and the neurological aspects could explain the entire bases of depression, there seems to be more involved. I also understand that the depression leaves when I remove the pressure from the meninges, but I still believe that somehow this pulling and pressure on the meninges is somehow causing depression independently of the other factors.

I have watched over and over again, with almost predictive regularity, the depression of fibromyalgia patients remit usually within one to two months. This is accomplished solely with the repositioning of the exit of the spinal cord through the foramen magnum and the ring of the first vertebrae, the atlas or C-1.

I once treated a paranoid schizophrenic with severe upper cervical problems, in one month he told me he wanted to stop his meds and return to work at Rockwell International. With his treating doctors help he stopped his meds, went through one month of testing and was returned to work without further symptoms. This patient had been institutionalized two times and was being evaluated for the third admittance when I first saw him. This is what kind of impact this critical relationship can have on your emotional status and depression.

http://www.stopfibro.com/tw_content_depression.html
The above link is dead. Here is his newer link...
http://whitcombpaul.wordpress.com/2012/12/27/dr-paul-whitcomb-depression-and-post-concussion-syndrome/



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[MessiahMews]

Surgery as a cause of Fibromyalgia

It appears at this time that in approximately 25% of my patients surgery was the initiating or an aggravating factor.

I have at least 12 patients who claim their FMS started with one or multiple surgeries. I have some theories about this but nothing solid at this time. We could be looking at something that happens during the surgery that allows the displacement of the atlas, breathing tube placement?

http://www.stopfibro.com/tw_content_surgerycause.html
The above link is dead. Here are the current posts by Dr. Paul Whitcomb, DC...
http://whitcombpaul.wordpress.com/?s=surgery




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[MessiahMews]

Fibromyalgia and Meningeal Compression, Dr Paul Whitcomb
December 27, 2012

http://whitcombpaul.wordpress.com/2012/12/27/fibromyalgia-and-meningeal-compression-dr-paul-whitcomb/

What is Meningeal Compression?

MC is an encroachment on the covering of the spinal cord and brain. One of the subset of symptoms that we believe it creates is Fibromyalgia, others are RSD, Brachia Neuralgia, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Restless Leg Syndrome, Unexplained Diffuse Pain, Depression, Chronic Fatigue, Anxiety, Failed Back Surgeries and so much more. Because of the Magnitude of the shear numbers we will spend more time on Fibromyalgia, but also on many other of its manifestations. Let’s look at Fibromyalgia first.

The name Fibromyalgia is in fact a misnomer. Originally it described fibrous deposits in the muscles, causing pain. The only truth to this is that some patients have muscle spasms so severe that they become fibrous. This adds to the problem, but has nothing to do with the cause of Fibromyalgia.

In the past FMS patients have been called hypochondriacs, and many times were referred to psychiatrists. And it was not uncommon for sufferers to be institutionalized. Only recently has this disorder gained recognition as a condition that deserves attention. In general patients are receiving more respect today and are believed when they say they have a problem. Yet they may still be looked upon as drug addicts, or presumed to have a self-serving motive, when all they really need is someone to believe them and get them help.

So Fibromyalgia is still a very poorly understood disorder. Typically diagnosed by the presence of eleven or more of eighteen specific “tender/trigger Points,” it is characterized by widespread pain and tenderness, and is frequently associated with nervousness, irritability, anxiety, fatigue, depression, and insomnia. In addition to this we often find chemical sensitivities, allergies, Restless Leg Syndrome, cold or burning hands and feet, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. This is an abbreviated list, for the manifestations seem to be endless.

Some authorities believe that 5-6% of the population in America has Fibromyalgia. That brings the total close to eighteen million sufferers. Women are far more likely to be diagnosed with the condition than men. This may be because they are built with smaller bones and therefore have smaller tolerances in the areas that cause Fibromyalgia. This leaves them much more susceptible. In addition they participate in all of the same sports and drive all of the same motor vehicles as men, and are subject to the same traumas. Logically, then, in any accident, they would be likely to experience more severe damage to the skeletal structure.

Fibromyalgia is different from most diseases in that it takes away the individual’s ability to fight. After years of fatigue, depression, and pain—not being able to focus on anything but poor health and pain, and just trying to get through the day—the patient becomes discouraged and the spirit weakens. Family members, too, can become worn out with the disease and may abandon their stricken loved one. This is devastating to an already distraught victim of this insidious predator. Current research offers little hope and only brings more discouragement.

Afflicted, abandoned, alone, these sufferers resign themselves to living with this new destructive life partner, often in dark bedrooms, separating themselves from others, to live out long, lonely days without rest or comfort. Some cannot endure this suffering and take their own lives.

Symptoms may vary from person to person. They may be severe as in a severe case of RSD or Fibromyalgia or be less severe in a milder case of Fibromyalgia, mild Facial pain, fatigue, tight necks and shoulders or Trigeminal Neuralgia. Including the whole galaxy of symptoms would be impractical, because the nervous system controls the entire body and can affect all the systems. Here, then, is a partial list:

Insomnia: Insomnia is particularly troubling in almost all Fibromyalgia patients. It becomes worse in relation to the degree of pressure on the Meninges. (See “Cause and Effects of Fibromyalgia.”) The anxiety, the pain, the overactive central nervous system, and adrenaline overproduction from triggering the sympathetic nervous system, makes sleep almost impossible.

Fatigue: Fatigue naturally goes along with insomnia, but it is a level of fatigue that goes well beyond what would be expected with ordinary insomnia, and it has a much deeper impact.

Emotional instability, depression, irritability, and nervousness: These Fibromyalgia symptoms are often the most difficult to deal with, since they affect the very core of the being and destroy joy and enthusiasm. Life becomes miserable for the sufferer as well as for those around him.

Mild to severe body pain: This can vary from headaches; pressure at the base of the skull; neck pain; arm pain or numbness; torso pain; hip, thigh, and leg pain; or numbness and facial pains. Some of our patients have entire body pain. Often this will be worse in the morning and evening.

Headaches. Usually there is pressure at the base of the skull, and there is sometimes associated pain in the occipital (back side of the skull) and upper cervical spine (neck). Many patients have severe, migraine-type headaches. FMS headaches may vary in location and intensity. We have seen almost every possible combination—unilateral, bilateral, facial, occipital, mild, severe, and sometimes accompanied with nausea and vomiting and even seizures.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: This is present in most sufferers, and is caused by the sympathetic nervous system firing constantly, preventing the parasympathetic nervous system from controlling digestion. The sympathetic nervous system is meant to help us run or fight in emergencies. Its constant firing increases adrenaline production and brings with it anxiety (a feeling of forthcoming destruction). The parasympathetic system works well when we are relaxed, and controls things like food digestion and normal, relaxed bodily functions.

Rashes: Some Fibromyalgia patients will develop rashes on their legs, arms, face, back, or other areas. They are common and almost always go away with the treatment.

Trigeminal neuralgia: Observations suggest that the tugging on the trigeminal nerve as it exits through the Meninges can trigger this symptom. Trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by facial pain, often lancing—usually severe, though it can be mild. The patients we have seen with this condition usually respond well to treatment and immediately to our test.

Calcium deposits under the skin: These are common, usually under pea size, but we have seen them much larger. They can be very painful and even cause bleeding with movement in rare cases.

Communication problems: These are common Fibromyalgia symptoms, and generally suggest a severe case. Many of the patients we see who are this ill are unable to answer questions or keep on the subject. In severe cases will loose their speech.

This lack of focus usually abates in the first two weeks of treatment.

Anxiety: Anxiety is often one of the most severe problems. Many patients don’t even realize they have anxiety until it is pointed out. It is brought on by the sympathetic nervous system firing continuously. It will push the patient like amphetamines, even though he/she may be totally exhausted, and keep them active somewhat; but it is this anxiety that also prevents sleep and rest. Panic attacks—feelings of a need to protect oneself or to run away—are common. When anxiety disappears (usually around four weeks, our patients become very tired and restorative sleep follows. This is when we see leaps in their improvement.

This can be an independent symptom of MC or combined with Fibromyalgia symptoms.

All of the glands of the body can be affected, i.e.: the pituitary, the thyroid, the adrenals, the reproductive glands, the pancreas, etc. These glands malfunctioning can create a host of physical problems as well as mental and emotional problems. This is why balancing hormones give a person a boost.

RSD or CRPS (Complex regional pain syndrome): This is until now, a complex misunderstoodproblem associated with an accident or a surgery. After the event the body part involved will continue to display pain and often cause circulatory problems as well. The pain can be excruciating. This is why a surgery may appear to have failed, but in reality, is a meningeal Compression caused by the surgery itself or possibly increased by the surgery.

Our Test for Fibromyalgia, RSD, Trigeminal Neuralgia, and unexplained diffuse pain.

The advancement in the test for Meningeal Compression will definitely change the way Fibromyalgia, RSD, Trigeminal Neuralgia, and unexplained diffuse pain is looked at forever. For the first time we can prove where Fibromyalgia, RSD, Trigeminal Neuralgia comes from with a simple test. Not only this, but we can usually alleviate most to all of the patients symptoms in five to ten minutes with this test. The test is not only diagnostic but also prognostic. Those we are able to receive relief from their symptoms with the test, will almost always respond to treatment. The relief that comes from the testing is usually profound and lasts from minutes to days. We would like to say more about the dramatic changes that we see with the test but it would sound like we were making it up. The test is not perfect, like anything, but for those who have MC it almost always gives them relief in minutes. We are now able to temporarily remove the pulling of the Meninges, partially in minutes, relieving many of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia, RSD, Trigeminal Neuralgia, failed back surgeries and in rarer cases hearing loss visual problems, severe knee problems and help the pain from rheumatoid arthritis. Relieving the symptoms proves this is where the problem originates and finally solves the mystery of suffering. If we can relieve patient’s symptoms we can make a positive diagnosis of Meningeal Compression. If we can make this positive diagnosis, we can usually alleviate the symptoms with treatment. As a disclaimer on some of these diseases: we realize that there can be other causes of diseases like RH, strokes, hearing problems and blindness, but with some of these cases it appears that the disease causes a MC through a channel of intensity or trauma to the body from the condition, thus causing a MC and increasing the symptoms of the condition significantly.

We are now teaching this test in the U.S. and many other countries around the world. We would like to describe the test here in more detail but it is impossible to explain without and advance knowledge of anatomy and years of experience with palpation.

Cause and Effects of Meningeal Compression and Fibromyalgia


A pulling on the Meninges by way of encroachment or twisting appears to cause MC. This intrusion could indicate a tumor or other malformation, but we find that it is most often due to a change in the Cervical spine that cause this encroachment, which can reduce or distort the space through which the spinal cord and Meninges must traverse.

Any tugging on the Meninges (remember the Meninges attaches to the spinal nerve roots, the brain, the spine and the cranial nerves) can have devastating effects on this critical and sensitive nerve action, which in turn can produce a galaxy of undesirable symptoms.

The Meninges are the three membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord: the dura mater, pia mater, and arachnoid. This strong bag-like envelope holds the cerebrospinal fluid, which brings nutrition and healing to the brain and spinal cord. It is attached to all of the nerves that pass through it.

Nerve roots are extensions of the spinal cord that turn and exit between each vertebra, sending and receiving impulses that control virtually the entire body, even the smallest parts. Since these nerves pass through the Meninges, naturally it follows that every bodily system can be affected by the pulling of the Meninges. These nerve roots also extend fibers to the brain, which transmit impulses that are then received as pain, burning, itching, hot, cold, tingling, or numbness, as well as other parasthesias (that is, odd feelings).

The pulling and irritation of these nerve roots cause nerve fibers to fire maverick impulses to the brain. The brain interprets these fired impulses as pain, itching, burning, coldness, numbness, or other odd feelings. The body, in response to stimuli from irritation, will often twitch or spasm, thus prompting the restless leg syndrome, muscle tightness, and spasms often experienced by Fibromyalgia patients. In more severe cases, the patient will lose the use of one or more of the limbs. Spasms may cause an arm to curl on the chest or oblige the patient to walk on the toes of one foot, or limp.

We have also seen some who have had one-sided pain (see section on one-sided FMS). Interestingly, this condition usually abates more rapidly. If Fibromyalgia were a systemic disease or an allergic reaction or a combination of stress, toxins, and trauma like many are saying, it couldn’t affect just one side of the body, but pulling on the Meninges could.

Typically Meningeal Compression irritates the nerve roots. When it hits levels that are diagnosed as Fibromyalgia, nerve impulses bombard the sufferer’s brain, overwhelming the autonomic and sensory pathways, keeping them in pain, awake at night, fatigued, and depressed.

The variations of Meningeal Compression are as complex as the nervous system itself.

Nerve roots also carry impulses from the brain to the body, most of which tell the muscles to work on command. But in this case, because the nerves fire without legitimate cause, the muscles contract when they are supposed to be at rest. After years of contraction the muscles form scar tissue (resulting from the constant buildup of waste products from the metabolic process and the lack of blood flow in the contracted muscles).

And thus we have the name for Fibromyalgia–fibros indicates scar-tissue-type deposits, myo means muscle, and algia means pain. We have called this a misnomer, since you can readily see that we’re looking at a result rather than a cause. But the name helped all of us as practitioners to look more closely at Fibromyalgia, identify it, and study it more carefully. A more accurate term would be Meningeal Compression Syndrome–an encroachment on the spinal cord structures in the neck involving a Meningial tug or pulling created by Stenosis (narrowing or stricture of a duct or canal).

The results can be devastating. Try to imagine impulses from all over the body firing at one time, muscles contracting without cause, and the brain receiving impulses that you are in pain. Maybe you itch, or have burning or cold hands or feet. . We have had cases where the patient’s arms would wave involuntarily while lying in bed. One little girl had a flapping arm. I these cases there was a full recovery.

But even worse, the sympathetic nervous system fires nonstop. This is the system that is involved when you think you are alone in a dark house and someone startles you. It is meant to help you run or fight in survival situations. When it is firing indiscriminately, the result is constant anxiety, and maybe panic attacks. This constant firing also causes adrenal fatigue. Sleep becomes difficult or impossible.

Let’s pause here for a moment to take a closer look at the Autonomic Nervous System, to better understand what is happening. The ANS includes two subsystems: the Parasympathetic Nervous System and the Sympathetic Nervous System. The PNS has sometimes been called the “rest and digest” response. The PNS slows and relaxes many functions of the organs and body systems. For example, the PNS will dilate blood vessels to the GI tract, while slowing the heart beat and decreasing the force of the heart’s contractions. These effects help to lower the metabolic strain on the body, resulting in energy conservation. The PNS can divert blood back to the skin and the gastrointestinal tract. And the increased blood flow to the GI tract aids digestion.

The Sympathetic Nervous System is frequently referred to as the “fight or flight” system, as it has a strong effect on organs and physiological systems. For example, the SNS constricts blood vessels feeding blood to the GI tract and skin, while dilating skeletal muscle and lung blood vessels. Bronchioles also dilate, allowing more oxygen to be exchanged in the lungs. At the same time, the SNS increases heart rate and contractility of the heart. This vastly increases blood flow to the skeletal muscles and diverts blood away from organs such as the GI tract, which are not important during the “fight or flight” response.

The sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems cannot be active at the same time. Therefore an active SNS shuts down the PNS and the actions associated with it, like sleep and digestion. And now we have another complication. Since normally the parasympathetic nervous system operates during rest or relaxation, when the “fight or flight” response is in motion the parasympathetic nervous system yields to the operation of the SNS. This accounts for insomnia and irritable bowel syndrome. At this point we have a volatile situation.

Now let’s talk about the cranial nerves. They also pass through the Meninges and are therefore affected; they can fire without proper control as well. This can cause changes in the function of the cranial nerves and affect hearing, vision, facial muscle function, smell taste, and anything that is controlled by the cranial nerves.

Pulling on the Meninges causes nerves to fire garbage impulses. The huge amounts of garbage information from the sensory nervous system overwhelms the brain, and the “domino effect” brings about nervousness, depression, fatigue, insomnia, pain, bowel dysfunction, anxiety, irritability, and sensitivity to light. Often the sufferer will want to sit in a quiet room to try to stop some of the damaging input. Rarely will you see these victims listening to loud music or looking forward to a party.

This is what Meningeal pulling can do. Yet with appropriate treatment we have seen the vision cleared, speech returned, and sense of smell regained. Some who said it sounded like they were under water have even had their hearing return. One woman who could only sit and cry with facial pain had relief within three weeks of treatment. These reports seem impossible. They also seem impossible to us, but seeing these things daily bring the impossible to life.

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.
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[MessiahMews]

Dr Paul Whitcomb, Meningeal Compression and Fibromyalgia in Children

http://whitcombpaul.wordpress.com/2012/12/27/dr-paul-whitcomb-meningeal-compression-and-fibromyalgia-in-children/

December 27, 2012

Meningeal Compression and Fibromyalgia in Children

A child sees whatever is going on in life as normal. We have seen many children with Fibromyalgia, and one common denominator is this: they think what they feel is normal until it gets so bad it becomes overwhelming. Most parents will think their kid is just whining or is “just a baby”. Children will not tell you all of their problems unless you ask the right questions; they don’t always know what is abnormal. But consistently, when we ask the correct questions of children with Meningeal Compression or Fibromyalgia, they will shock their parents with answers that reveal just what the child is going through.

Consider that a child with a significant case of Meningeal Compression or Fibromyalgia doesn’t have energy, so he isn’t as active as the other children. His mind is foggy and forgetful so he can’t compete with the other kids in school unless he is extremely bright or has a lighter case. He is emotional, so he is seen as moody. He can’t sleep well, so he gets in trouble for not going to sleep. He is always tired so he is labeled as lazy. He will usually have stomach problems and be charged with faking to avoid school or chores. And he will usually not be good at or even have a desire to compete in sports. This child might take refuge in food or drugs, or maybe end up with troubled kids as friends.

Usually children respond very quickly to normal treatment for back problems, but with Fibromyalgia they seem to take longer. It is also difficult to keep children down when they start to feel better after being ill, and flare-ups will inevitably follow their irrepressible enthusiasm about feeling good again.
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[MessiahMews]

Dr Whitcomb, Light Case of Meningeal Compression and Fibromyalgia

http://whitcombpaul.wordpress.com/2012/12/27/dr-whitcomb-light-case-of-meningeal-compression-and-fibromyalgia/

December 27, 2012

Light Case of Meningeal Compression and Fibromyalgia

The difference between a mild and a severe case of Meningeal Compression and Fibromyalgia is fractional to us as medical practitioners—just a few millimeters of movement in the neck. But to the person who owns that neck it can be life changing. Often the light case can be more devastating than a severe case. The severe case is very obvious and will be attended to, but a light case is often missed completely.

Let’s look at the light case sufferers. They will sleep poorly, often suffer from idiopathic depression (depression of unknown origin), be irritable for no reason, sometimes antisocial, may have light stomach problems, and may be jumpy. These people may be the ones who end up in therapy trying to find out why they feel so bad inside. Perhaps they will turn to drinking to feel better temporarily. How will this affect their lives, their marriages, their promotions, or their friendships?

Often they end up on antidepressants and sleeping pills, and develop poor self-esteem. If you look around, you probably know a few of these people. Maybe they are relatives or work acquaintances. They may not have the outgoing friendly personality of most people. You will notice them because they are often loners. One day they bite your head off and the next they are friendly.

These people are much less likely to get help, because neither they nor their doctor will make the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. They will not have the typical pain patterns of FMS and are apt to be sent for counseling, or medicated, and regarded as just another person who doesn’t deal well with life. Light case sufferers are very likely to go into a full-blown case of FMS following trauma such as surgery, or even a minor auto accident. Yet they respond very well to treatment, and in less time than the more severe cases.

Like wise the light case of RSD will report with a surgery that didn’t work and they still have pain after the third or more surgeries, or maybe just one, but they have on going pain that didn’t resolve after a surgery that was done properly. These patients are suffering from a cycling pain that is brought on by Meningeal Compression caused by the surgery and the pain is relieved at the time of the Meningeal Relief Test. It is easy to see if these patients are truly Meningeal Compression patients, as they respond to the test.
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[MessiahMews]

Dr Whitcomb, The Effects of Meningeal Compression and Fibromyalgia on Relationships

http://whitcombpaul.wordpress.com/2012/12/27/dr-whitcomb-the-effects-of-meningeal-compression-and-fibromyalgia-on-relationships/

December 27, 2012

The Effects of Meningeal Compression and Fibromyalgia on Relationships

The sum effect of all of the problems of Meningeal Compression and Fibromyalgia can leave these sick individuals almost intolerable to live or work with. Yet they are intolerable to themselves also, and need lots of understanding, love, and support. They will probably need it more than at any other time in their lives, because they will probably never be in such a difficult situation again. Many of them feel that even death can seem preferable to living with Fibromyalgia.

Marriage is especially difficult. The spouse is afraid, can’t be touched because of skin sensitivity, is depressed, in pain, and very tired. He or she may yell, be unreasonable, and in more severe cases lose the ability to communicate on a rational basis. This is because the nervous system is on overload and these people can’t function as normal individuals no matter how hard they try. In milder cases of FMS your spouse or co-worker may just appear mean, and may not even have the satisfaction of a correct diagnosis. But these symptoms usually resolve early in treatment.

To put this in perspective, imagine having pain impulses from all over the body being sent to the brain, much as when a heroin addict is withdrawing from heroin. (This may vary from person to person in intensity.) In addition to this, the sympathetic nervous system is being stimulated constantly, causing one to feel as we might feel when walking into a dark home, thinking we’re alone, and someone grabs us from behind. This sensation often continues night and day without relief in the Fibromyalgia patient.

This constant stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system also causes a shutdown of the intestinal system, which in turn causes irritable bowel syndrome. The adrenal glands, constantly producing adrenaline, become damaged and quit functioning properly. The emotional centers become affected, causing depression ranging from mild to overwhelming. Many patients describe feeling waves of depression.

Moreover, the stimulation to the nerve roots sends signals to the muscles to contract, causing constant muscle spasms. These can be located in the neck and shoulders, the low back, and sometimes the entire body all at once. Spastic-type paralysis can occur in rare cases, especially upon arising, sometimes causing inability to walk due to pain in the hips and loss of function in the legs.

Sexual relations are often too painful or unfulfilling; desire may be decreased or non-existent. Testosterone levels in most are decreased greatly. This is a very ill person. How much fun are you when you have a bad case of the flu? We have seen that FMS is much worse than that, and we haven’t even mentioned the effects of drug medication. Those who are close to these sufferers will want to be sensitive to their condition and not expect the impossible of them.

All of these factors combine to place stress on relationships at home, in the workplace, and in all social situations. It requires lots of understanding and patience on both sides.
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[MessiahMews]

Dr Paul Whitcomb, Fibromyalgia and Mental Illness

http://whitcombpaul.wordpress.com/2012/12/27/dr-paul-whitcomb-fibromyalgia-and-mental-illness/

December 27, 2012

Mental Illness

Our focus is on Meningeal Compression and Fibromyalgia, not on mental illness per se. But anyone who works in this area will understand how the mind is affected. As we meet this in our practice, and have consulted with specialists in this field, we see once again the close relationship between the mind and the body. Whatever affects the body will inevitably affect the mind—and vice versa. There are the factors of exhaustion, prolonged pain, and trying to meet the frustrations of cognitive failures and lack of concentration, along with whatever other problems are involved. Naturally there will be emotional and logical thinking problems. In addition there is the issue of medications and their particular effects. There’s no doubt in our minds that Meningeal Compression and Fibromyalgia can bring about mental illness.

We have seen patients who have suffered long term Fibromyalgia. Often they have had Fibromyalgia as children and some received shock treatments, one patient, twenty four times and later another set of chemical shock treatments.

We had another patient who spent fifty years institutionalized on and off with symptoms of Fibromyalgia. We also treated two patients, who at the time they presented, could have been institutionalized and are doing well now.

We tell you this in case it is you or a loved one who is suffering like this, it doesn’t have to mean it is the patient loosing their mind it could easily be a nervous system that is running unchecked because of Meningeal Compression and Fibromyalgia. If Meningeal Compression and Fibromyalgia are bad enough anyone can be like this.
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[MessiahMews]

Dr Paul Whitcomb, Depression and Post-concussion Syndrome

http://whitcombpaul.wordpress.com/2012/12/27/dr-paul-whitcomb-depression-and-post-concussion-syndrome/

December 27, 2012

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.
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[MessiahMews]

Dr Paul Whitcomb, Suicide and Fibromyalgia

http://whitcombpaul.wordpress.com/2012/12/27/dr-paul-whitcomb-suicide-and-fibromyalgia/

December 27, 2012

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 likely hood 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.
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[MessiahMews]

Dr Whitcomb, in Office Studies, Fibromyalgia Statistics

http://whitcombpaul.wordpress.com/2012/12/27/dr-whitcomb-in-office-studies-fibromyalgia-statistics/

December 27, 2012

Fibromyalgia Statistics

Our typical Fibromyalgia patient comes in sick and goes out well. For many this is after decades of suffering. Naturally, there are those who just do not respond to treatment, and fortunately they are few. We are happy these numbers are small, but we continue to study and test new procedures that may bring relief to everyone.

The answers given in the form below include many symptoms that may not have been caused by Fibromyalgia. Therefore, at the end of treatment the patient may still have symptoms from a knee that was injured years ago, which continues to cause pain but has nothing to do with Fibromyalgia. Naturally, this would not disappear with the treatment and would leave residual pain figures on the study. So as you look at the results, remember that some of the symptoms you are seeing are leftover old injuries and have a negative impact on the statistics. Even so, the overall results reveal a 73% drop in symptoms. In addition, the original symptoms are with medications and the end statistics are with little or no medications.

The figures in the following study were compiled from questionnaires, completed without help or persuasion from our staff, by patients who volunteered to be in this study. The “patient numbers” represent each patient participating in the study. “Total First Pain” represents how much pain the patient was experiencing upon arrival at our office. This was determined by asking the patient to rate their pain on a scale of 0-10, 0 being no pain and 10 being severe. The numbers were all added together to reach the numbers below. The “Total Last Stats” are a total of all of the pain ratings at the date of their last report.

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