Fibromyalgia and Mercury Poisoning

Do you have silver fillings? Most of us do and have been chewing on them and grinding away at them for decades. Silver fillings or amalgams contain 50% mercury. This mercury escapes as a vapor every time we chew, grind and have our teeth cleaned. The vapor is quickly released into the bloodstream where it is carried to the brain, tissues and the hypothalamus and pituitary glands.

But silver amalgams are not the only source of mercury poisoning in our toxic world. Mercury is found in fertilizers, pesticides, car exhaust, drinking water, fabric softeners, fish, paint pigments, floor waxes, polishes, batteries, mascara, body powder and air conditioning filters.

Since mercury can cross the placenta of a pregnant woman, an unborn fetus can be affected. Mercury can also be transferred to a baby through breast milk.

Link between Mercury Poisoning and FMS

Some researchers now claim that the brain dysfunctions that cause FMS are a direct result of mercury toxicity. But since everyone is effected differently and experiences different symptoms, it is hard to present solid facts. As a result, many doctors refuse to take the studies seriously. 

Despite the controversy, researchers continue to investigate the effects of mercury poisoning and have now linked it to many other diseases including MS, CFS and lupus. Chronic mercury poisoning is also connected to Alzheimer’s, asthma, arthritis, ALS, Crohn’s Disease, diabetes, acrodynia, emphysema, eczema and autism.

Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning

The symptoms vary from person to person. Some are subtle and take many years to develop. Some people are more sensitive to mercury than others. However, one person may have toxicity but have no symptoms, while another person may have lower levels, yet exhibit symptoms.  

If you have two of the following symptoms, it may be worthwhile to get tested:

Memory loss, brain fog, anxiety, hair, teeth and skin loss, exaggerated reactions, double vision, swelling, high blood pressure, tremors, shyness, chronic fatigue, reduced pain threshold, poor concentration, compulsive behavior, phobic behavior, depression, vision problems and insomnia.

Testing for Mercury Poisoning

Mercury is not so easy to detect as it is locked inside body tissues. Often a physician will first look at a patient’s health history and consider complaints of pain, ask about previous dental work, possible exposure to mercury in the workplace and family history.  If there is concern, the doctor can order a test. There are tests using hair, urine and blood analyisis, although these tests are not always reliable. A test must be done five days after eating fish as the methylmercury in fish can skew the results. The doctor may also order a CBC test (complete blood count), fecal blood detection test or an MRI. 

Other options to determine sensitivty to mercury include a mercury patch test. However, if you are sensitive to mercury, you can experience bad reactions to this test. There is also 

a white blood cell viability test. This poses no risk and is not expensive. Another less conventional test uses vibrational medicine. Here the known frequency of mercury is compared to the frequency in a patient’s nervous system, organs and acupuncture meridians. 

Getting Rid of Mercury Poisoning

There is much debate over this as sometimes removing mercury can only exacerbate the problem. Many people choose to replace their silver fillings with white amalgam. However this must be done carefully as removing the filling can release high levels of vapor and particles into the body. 

Others recommend chelation therapy, although this too is very controversial. Many people who have tried this claim that their symptoms only worsen after the treatment. This is most likely because the mercury gets redistributed in the body. Chelation therapy involves many injections over the course of days. Other medical practitioners claim that cilantro and chlorella treatments can help, although chlorella cannot be tolerated by many people.

Yet other professionals recommend improving our gut flora. Their theory is that healthy gut flora will chelate mercury naturally and take it out of our bodies. Our job is to help repopulate beneficial gut flora, which means improving our diets and cutting back on sugar, fast food, white flour, pasta and white rice.

A healthy diet seems to be the best way to go. Not only will it help reduce mercury levels, it will boost our immune system, give us more energy and a better sense of well-being.

The same only different. That sounds like an oxymoron, but in fact, that is exactly how multiple sclerosis (MS) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) tend to appear. They share many symptoms in common and even have a similar history in terms of diagnosis. Less than twenty years ago, people with multiple sclerosis had to fight for a decision from their medical practitioners, unless they were very advanced in the disease. It really wasn’t until the MRI came into regular use that people with MS started getting serious answers to their very serious, usually eroding condition.

Unfortunately, fibromyalgia sufferers aren’t able to have an MRI that will detect the brain lesions that are the trademark of MS. Instead, they have to find a doctor who understands the syndrome and is willing to take the individual on as a patient with pain, but little hard evidence to show cause. It’s a very frustrating situation, to be sure.

FMS and MS – The Same in So Many Ways

In another place on this site we’ve taken a look at multiple sclerosis for the benefit of understanding something of the disease and to help us discern it from fibromyalgia. Here we will look at the similarities of symptoms, limitations and potential for disability. Because of the similarities of MS and FMS, they are often confused for a period of time until a clear diagnosis is made.

Those with MS and FMS share the following symptoms and conditions (and probably more):

• depression
• anxiety
• headache
• irritable bowel syndrome
• chronic fatigue syndrome
• systemic lupus erythematosus
• rheumatoid arthritis
• pain

FMS and MS and Depression

Both FMS and MS provide their victims with a good serving of depression. It is estimated that 50% of people with MS will experience depression in their lifetime with 14% depressed at any point in time. It is thought that the depression in MS is a symptom originating in the central nervous system. Depression stalks fibromyalgia sufferers and is thought to be associated with the low levels of certain brain chemicals – particularly serotonin. However, like most everything with FMS, there are no clear causes for depression. They seem to have similar sources but nothing is nailed down in either illness.

Headaches are Common for Both FMS and MS Sufferers

Headaches are common to both FMS and MS, with migraines being the most frequently experienced type of headache in the two conditions. The other type of headache fibromyalgia sufferers deal with is muscle tension headaches caused by tension in the neck and shoulders.

Limited Range of Motion for Both People with MS and Those with FMS

Both conditions cause limitations in movement and range of motion. People with fibromyalgia experience muscle pain, stiffness and soreness that makes movements challenging and painful. There does not seem to be a solid answer as to why this happens other than the fact that people with FMS have lower pain thresholds. It is thought to be connected to brain chemicals – but again, there is no research on it yet. Those with MS also may experience pain, stiffness, and challenge in muscle movement. With MS, this is a result of the autoimmune response of the body in the person with MS. As the body attacks itself, motor abilities like walking and balance are affected.

Mental Health Challenges Affect MS and FMS Victims

Fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis both cause mental health challenges. Feelings of isolation, high levels of stress, varying degrees of anxiety and depression are all mental health issues that people with fibromyalgia face. It seems to stem from the constant pain and other symptoms that make FMS so difficult to live with. The person with MS experiences the same symptoms, however, the cause is the breakdown of the myelin sheath around the brain.

The Common Denominator for FMS and MS – Pain

When it comes to pain, people with fibromyalgia experience widespread, chronic pain that can become debilitating. The search for something to deal with the constant pain is often foremost on the mind of an FMS sufferer. In some cases, the pain is generated from the central nervous system in the form of sensitivities that cause pain. Sometimes the pain is neurological.

People with MS also experience varying degrees of widespread pain. Interestingly enough, there are experts who say that MS is considered to be a “painless” disease. They think that any pain the person is experiencing is not connected to the MS. However, if you talk to anyone with MS you’ll hear the truth – MS is a painful disease that manifests as fibromyalgia pain manifests – in many different locations and in differing degrees of intensity. That is why people with MS think they have fibromyalgia (until they receive a clear diagnosis). It is possible for one person to have both illnesses going on in their body at the same time.

FMS or MS – Either One Can Disable a Person

In spite of the fact that there are many similarities between fibromyalgia symptoms and multiple sclerosis symptoms, the conditions are very different and have different sources. The one thing they do have in common in terms of bottom line is that they both have the capacity to leave the person suffering with the condition disabled – either partly or severely.

Here we go again. So many symptoms associated with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) are similar to symptoms of other illnesses that making a clear diagnosis is often very difficult. Such is the case with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. All conditions have many symptoms in common, although they are distinctly different issues.

IBS is Not IBD

IBS is a syndrome, meaning that it is a collection of symptoms that indicate a particular disorder or condition. IBD (either Crohn’s or Colitis) are diseases that include bleeding and that can put patients at risk for colon cancer. The treatments vary greatly for IBS and IBD and if the wrong protocols are used for one or the other the end result can be ineffective or worse, dangerous.

Shared Symptoms of IBS and IBD

Some of the symptoms of IBS and IBD that are the same include the following:

· Abdominal pain

· Bloating or distension

· mucus in the bowel

· persistent diarrhea

· worsening of symptoms during menses

· urinary conditions

· fibromyalgia

· anxiety

· depression

There are many symptoms associated with inflammatory bowel disease that are not at all associated with IBS; however, in spite of this, there is often a misdiagnosis of IBD as IBS or vice versa.

Connection between IBD and Fibromyalgia

According to a study done at the Department of Internal Medicine B, Soroka Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Be’er Sheva, Israel, there was a clear connection made between IBD and fibromyalgia. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of FMS and assess the pain thresholds for FMS in people with Crohn’s Disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).

One hundred and thirteen patients with IBD, 72 with UC and 41 with CD were assessed for the presence of FMS tender points, based on the diagnosis criteria of the American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria. The healthy control group numbered 120. Their findings were:

· FMS was found in 30 of the 113 patients with IBD, or 30%

· FMS was found specifically in 49% of patients with CD

· FMS was found specifically in 19% of patients with UC

· There was not FMS found in any of the control group

· Those with CD experienced more tenderness and had more frequent and severe FMS symptoms than those with UC

· Patients with CD had higher tender point count (11.3) than those with UC (6.4) while the control group count was 0.1

· Tenderness thresholds were lower in those with CD (2.9) than UC (3.9) with controls at 5.8

The conclusion of this study was that IBD is common in people with FMS, especially Crohn’s Disease. The fact that the people with Crohn’s had a lower pain threshold linked Crohn’s to FMS. By recognizing fibromyalgia in people with IBD, misdiagnosis can be avoided and correct treatment administered.

A Possible Reason Why IBD is Connected to FMS

There are a number of theories as to why fibromyalgia is common among those with Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. One such theory is that because the onset and progression of symptoms for both conditions often occur at the same time, it may be that they have a common cause, that being excess pro-inflammatory cytokine activation. In a study done in 2009 at the Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital of Heraklion, University of Crete Medical School in Crete, Greece, this theory was backed up. It found that:

· In 25% of people with IBD, musculoskeletal symptoms develop – the most common of which are arthritis and fibromyalgia.

· The symptoms happen either before or at the same time as IBD, not afterward, indicating that whatever caused the IBD could be accountable for the other conditions.

· Symptoms of IBD and the other conditions manifest and move parallel to one another.

· Successful treatment of the IBD often results in remission of musculoskeletal symptoms.

The bottom line of this study – and what appears to be consistent in dealing with IBD and fibromyalgia – is that controlling intestinal inflammation is a cornerstone therapeutic approach for the treatment of fibromyalgia.

Our article on Crohn’s Disease goes into great depth about this specific IBD. Read about it in this section.

Pain. That’s the earmark of fibromyalgia.  Pain, all sorts of pain, flows through the bodies of those with FMS and can make life less than pleasant.

Although most of the pain we associate with fibromyalgia is the kind of muscular pain that sits in the shoulders, back, neck and larger muscle groups of the legs, there are pains in the hands, arms and feet that are equally distressful.

Many people who suffer with fibromyalgia experience pain in their feet.  However, medical doctors do not feel foot pain is symptomatic of fibromyalgia since FMS tends to present with muscle and soft tissue pain rather than joint and bone pain.

They associate foot pain more with a condition like arthritis.  However, when you check symptoms and treatments, you will often find the treatment of fibromyalgia pain listed on arthritis sites and in arthritis literature.  It is quite evident that a person can be dealing with both arthritis and fibromyalgia at the same time.

There have been several studies conducted in a bid to link fibromyalgia to other conditions that may present with foot pain.

Some of those conditions are:

• Plantar fasciitis
• Morton’s Neuroma
• Metatarsalgia

Source of Foot Pain with FMS:  Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a relatively common foot pain that can affect anyone.  This type of pain is often found in highly active people like runners and athletes.  It occurs in older people as well and generally in people who may be on their feet a lot.

The pain in the foot is the result of inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that stretches from the heel to the front of the foot, supporting the arch of the foot.  As with many things in our bodies, it becomes less resilient with age and can be damaged by frequent or intense physical activity.

Plantar fasciitis is caused by:

• excessive pronation, when the feet roll inward too much when walking
• high arches or flat feet
• walking, standing or running for long periods of time, especially on hard surfaces
• overweight
• poorly fitting shoes or worn out shoes
• tight calf and Achilles tendons

Irritation and swelling of the tissues within the foot and heel cause serious pain and for people with fibromyalgia syndrome and the heightened sensitivity to pain that is inherent in the syndrome, the pain can be severe.

Plantar fasciitis can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers as well as wearing shoe supports, special splints at night, physical therapy, and in extreme cases, surgery.

Source of Foot Pain with FMS:  Metatarsalgia

Another source of foot pain that is often found in people with fibromyalgia is metatarsalgia, inflammation of the metatarsals of the foot.  It shows up as a burning, sharp or aching pain in the ball of the foot and can be felt in the area around the second, third and fourth toes, or only near the big toe.

Other signs of this kind of pain include:

• pain that worsens with walking, standing or running but gets better when resting
• sharp or shooting pains in the toes
• numbness or tingling in the toes
• gets worse when feet are flexed
• feet feel bruised
• pain worsens when walking on hard surfaces barefoot

The pain can come suddenly upon an increase of impact movement like running or jumping.  However, it is likely to be a gradual increase of pain over time.

The What and Why of Metatarsalgia Foot Pain in FMS

The factors that cause metatarsalia are mostly related to the mechanics of the foot and the way weight is distributed in the body and ultimately onto the feet.

Each foot has five metatarsal bones running from the arch of the foot to the toes.  The first is short and thick and the other four are about the same length and thinner.

Whether walking, running, jumping or moving, the weight of the body is transferred to the toes and metatarsals during the push-off phase of the movement.  The first two metatarsals take the brunt of the punishment, usually about 275% of the body weight.

Depending upon how the weight in the body is distributed, and how much weight there is, excessive pressure can be put onto those bones that lead to pain and inflammation in the bones and the tissues around them.

Some of the same risk factors that exist for plantar fasciitis apply to metatarsalgia, along with a few others.  Certain foot shapes, bunions, hammertoes, stress fractures, a condition called Morton’s Neuroma along with aging are all factors in metatarsalia.

Morton’s Neuroma Foot Pain in those with FMS

As with all pain in the body, pain in the feet becomes worse with fibromyalgia.  Although fibromyalgia may not be a direct cause of the symptoms of foot pain, it definitely a factor in the level of pain experienced.  Learn more about foot pain in our article about Morton’s Neuroma on this site.

Understanding MCSS

Eerily familiar in its many symptoms and mysterious origin to fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome (MCSS) is a syndrome in which sufferers experience a wide variety of symptoms when exposed to a minute amount of irritant. Like FMS, MCSS may be linked to a hypersensitive central nervous system. Additional theories as to its origin included immune dysfunction and impaired detoxification by liver enzymes.

Again, like FMS, people who suffer with the consequences of MCSS are thought to be dealing with a psychological issue, regardless of the fact that there are mountains of evidence to the contrary. When you think about it, fibromyalgia has been around as an identifiable condition for more than 100 years. It is only in recent years that any credence has been given to those suffering with FMS. Now, with the increase in environmental toxins and dangerous chemicals, people who are sensitive to the effects of them have to fight for acknowledgement and treatment.

Finally, An Agreed Upon Diagnosis Criteria for MCSS

Even though there is no accepted universal definition by the medical community, experts on multiple chemical sensitivity have developed criteria for diagnosis that have so far been unrefuted in published literature about MCSS. These criteria are:

· The symptoms are reproducible with repeated chemical exposure.

· The condition is chronic.

· Low levels of exposure (lower than previously or commonly tolerated) result in manifestations of the syndrome.

· The symptoms improve or resolve when the incitants are removed.

· Reponses occur to multiple chemically unrelated substances.

· Symptoms involve multiple organ systems.

But, No Agreement on the Name MCSS

In disagreement with the name Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Disorder, the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, along with other institutions, have renamed the syndrome Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance. Idiopathic means “unknown cause.” The reason for this change is that there is no proven involvement of the immune system in the condition and since the word “sensitivity” technically refers to an immune reaction (in medical speak), they say the name MCSS is incorrect. The general population tends to understand sensitivity and intolerance to be the same thing, so the original name is still being used. More and more, the struggle to have the condition recognized sounds like the same struggle experienced by those with fibromyalgia and those advocating for FMS.

The Impact Upon the Life of Someone with MCSS

The impact of MCSS on those who suffer with it is not only the physical distress of the symptoms, but the impact that hits all areas of life. Hypersensitivity causes sufferers to isolate themselves because being in public places puts them at risk of a reaction. Often they lose their jobs because they are unable to tolerate the chemicals in the workplace. Relationships fall apart as a partner cannot understand or adapt to the sensitivities of their mate. And, as many of those with fibromyalgia have experienced, the medical confusion over the syndrome has often meant MCSS sufferers are labeled as hypochondriacs or attention grabbers. They often have to fight – sometimes in court – to gain disability benefits and appropriate housing.

Research into MCSS is Encouraging

Even though research into MCSS is not as extensive as some would like it to be, there are still a high number of studies that have found consistent abnormalities in MCSS patients as well as convincing evidence of possible sources of origin in animal and lab models.

One of the more common findings is that of the part of the brain known as the “limbic system”. The Limbic system is strongly connected to that part of the brain that is engaged with the olfactory system (sense of smell and taste). When people with MCSS are exposed to chemicals or irritants they are sensitive to, increased electrical activity in the brain is noted in those with MCSS. One of the primary jobs of the limbic system is to regulate mood and autonomic nervous system functions, which gives understanding as to why MCSS symptoms involve mood changes and thought and sensory information changes as well. The bottom line is that researchers suggest that in MCSS, the brain has become hypersensitized so that small amounts of chemicals cause brain activation.

Other Research for Possible Causes of MCSS

Further research added confirmation to this theory in findings that show that the limbic systems of animals exposed to either short-term high concentrations of chemicals, or long-term lower concentrations, became so hypersensitized that further exposure to a substance that previously was not an irritant created high electrical activity in the limbic system.

There are many research articles that confirm the fact that consistent abnormalities exist in MCSS patients, some of which are:

· Abnormal regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) – those with MCSS have reduced flow of blood.

· Porphyria – diseases that occur due to deficiencies of enzymes used in the production of heme (the blood protein that contains iron).

· Increased nitric oxide

It appears that MCSS is closely tied to FMS and to chronic fatigue syndrome. However, as recognition was slow coming to FMS, it appears it may also be slow coming to MCSS.

The Problem with Fibromyalgia

The list of conditions that have the same or similar characteristics as fibromyalgia is staggering, which is why getting a firm diagnosis can take years. In this section of our site, you will find articles on a vast number of conditions that have similar symptoms to those of fibromyalgia. By spending some time going through them, you will appreciate how challenging it is for a person with FMS (fibromyalgia syndrome) to receive an accurate diagnosis.

Everyone Has an Opinion

If you look into the medical literature, you will discover that fibromyalgia is defined as a type of rheumatic disorder with primary symptoms of persistent and widespread muscle pain along with extreme physical fatigue. It goes on to say that the disorder causes aching and stabbing muscle pain upon waking in the morning which gradually fades in intensity as the day progresses. Additionally, sleep and rest do not refresh and revitalize, instead, the individual is fatigued and exhausted virtually all the time. These symptoms may be constant or they may be intermittent, initially coming and going over the course of months.

Nothing to Go On

FMS is difficult to diagnose because symptoms can also be quite vague at times. Blood tests and x-rays usually come up without any visual abnormalities. For many years it was this phenomenon that often lead doctors to think those with FMS were somehow imagining their illness. Today, doctors use a variety of methods to distinguish FMS from other conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome or depression. One of the established baseline tests is the tender point test in which 11 of 18 specific points on the body exhibit a certain level of tenderness when touched or depressed. The prominent points are at the base of the skull and in the neck, shoulders, ribs, upper chest and collarbone, elbows, knees, lower back and the buttocks. Another type of confirming sign is a period of fatigue and muscle pain exceeding three months at a time that can’t be linked to any other underlying condition.

Associated Conditions

Lyme disease is linked to ticks and other insects, lupus is an autoimmune disease, and rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease. These and many other associated conditions have disease parameters and medically researched data that point to a cause. The underlying factors that cause FMS remain a mystery. Once thought to be a psychological condition (all in your head), it has morphed into a condition with many probable causes including low neurotransmitters (serotonin) in the brain. The idea of a central nervous system malfunction actually ties a lot of the symptoms together. Low levels of the chemical serotonin, a compound used in the brain to transmit message through the central nervous system, can be the cause of muscle pain, interrupted sleep, and worsening symptoms associated with FMS. Chronic fatigue syndrome is often said to accompany fibromyalgia.

Another research link has been discovered in the high levels of substance P that is present in the bodies of those who have fibromyalgia. Substance P is believed to be involved in the transmission of pain signals from the body to the brain. In this theory, pain sensitivity is the cause of the FMS, thus substantiating the link of the presence of high amounts of this transmitter to the condition. Other probable causes include the flu, an impaired or weakened immune system, and pathological stress. Whiplash injuries have been implicated as a cause, especially since they tend to damage muscles and nerves in the back of the head, the neck, shoulders and ribs – all places that are common sources of tender points in FMS sufferers.

Treat the Symptoms, Hope for a Cause

At the end of the day, there are few definite, isolated symptoms that earmark fibromyalgia outside of the tender points and chronic pain and fatigue. However, research does continue and what people with the condition are finding is that it is chameleon-like in its presentation. One simply must treat the symptoms and find relief through the use of a variety of disciplines.

There may never be a root cause discovered – but that doesn’t mean that research should not continue. The more we learn about this mysterious condition, the more we are able to help and understand those who suffer with it. Knowledge builds bridges that lead to understanding.

The list of associated conditions is a long one, but it will help you appreciate the challenge in determining a diagnosis for fibromyalgia.