We are getting closer to the core reasons but the key issue still evades us. What we lack is the “key” cause.

We know that patients are miserable with an array of signs and symptoms.  
We know that our technology at this points can not easily see the ”key.” It is too small.
We know it can’t be repaired with surgery.
We know there is no pill or pill combo that will reverse all the symptoms.
We know that it looks like medical problems that are due to deficiencies ie Thyroid.
We know it looks like medical problems that are toxicity or poisoning or overdose ie Cholesterol meds or cancer meds.

In the 50’s some doctors dabbled with a theory and therapy of stressed muscles and ligaments breakdown and repair called trigger points. These doctors use injection therapy with saline or glycerine and other chemicals. Trigger Point Injection or Prolotherapy are the names.
In the 80’s it was thought that it was all in the head or mental.
In the 90’s it was thought to be infectious either bacterial or viral.
After the 90’s until the present we’ve discovered that we can not treat it with a magic pill or combo of pills.

In the 90s, I had a minor ah-ha moment when a patient I was following was sincerely better despite all my pills and referrals with Acupuncture. Why? Possibly related to the trigger point theory.
In the 90s early 2000, a Dr Gunn uses what he calls Intramuscular Stimulation to treat neuropathic pain problems. Possibly related to the trigger point theory.
In the past decade a lot of my patients are getting great relief with massage and something called Myofascial Release Therapy. Possibly related to the trigger point theory.

In 2013, what do we know is that we can begin the healing or repair process with a “Therapy Program.” Please don’t discriminate, all of these items have to be put into the pot to simmer and keep the healing process going. Pain patients have to be proactive in their care. Here are some therapies that can be done at home. Hourly, daily, weekly and monthly.

Self-Care and hands-on care;
>Regular physical therapy, massage therapy, sports medicine.
>Chiropractic medicine.
>Stretching, yoga and Pilates.
>Aerobic and any exercise are vital.
>Vitamins and minerals (Magnesium glycinate)
>Sleep hygiene.
>Stress management, Wellness, Mindfulness and forgiveness.
>Get some Epsoms salts for tub soaking.
>Get a high quality oral magnesium.
>Get on the floor or bed and start stretching.
>Get a foam roller to work on your upper and lower body area.
>Swimming, Aqua-Therapy and Hot-tub Spa therapy.
>Rolfing or other hands-on therapy.
>Review this Youtube self-massage.
>Use self-trigger point release with your hands or a Thera-cane.
>Find a PT specialist who can perform “Spray and Stretch.”
>Professional massage.
>Find a John F. Barnes myofascial therapist.

More invasive or minimally invasive care with Myofascial Release Therapy with needles.
>Acupuncture of the body. (Not just the Ear, Foot or Scalp)
>Formal Dry Needling
>Gunn-IMS
>Prolotherapy (not alone)
>Botox injections (rare)
>Travell, MD Trigger Points Injections.

I’ve been in medicine for a 30 years and this is unfortunately not a “ah-ha” moment. But a confirmation that FM has no key but is a pot of stuff that simmers down to the disease we see today. There is something at the core which is altering this microscopic change from healthy tissues to unhealthy tissue changes. Now we can see these changes at the microscopic level.