Fibromyalgia and Functional Medicine
What Is Functional Medicine?
Functional Medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. It is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st century. By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, Functional Medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. Doctors who practice Functional Medicine seek to find and fix causes, not merely treat symptoms. Covering up symptoms with drugs often leads to more health problems.
Treating Symptoms Versus Treating the Person
In conventional medicine medication is used to cover up a person’s symptoms. If the patient stops taking the medication, symptoms generally return. Functional Medicine approaches health problems differently. Instead of masking the problem, it aims at restoring the body’s natural functioning. It’s natural healing systems. Fix the function and you’ll fix the problem.
For example, with fibromyalgia conventional doctors try to cover up or mask the symptoms of fibro-pain, poor sleep, fatigue, low moods, irritable bowel syndrome, restless legs, etc. The problem with treating fibromyalgia symptoms is there are SO MANY, before you know it you’re on four, five or ten different drugs-drugs to put you asleep, wake you up, calm you down, one drug after another, many causing side effects that lead to more drugs. It just never ends, Traditional drug therapy for fibromyalgia is a dead end. Short term treating symptoms can be helpful. Long term it can be a disaster!
Sir William Osler, Functional Medicine Pioneer
The Roots of Functional Medicine
You may be surprised to learn that Functional Medicine isn’t new. It actually represents a return to the roots of modern scientific medicine, captured in this statement by Sir William Osler, one of the first professors at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and later its Physician-in-Chief:
“The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.”
Although some Functional Medicine practitioners may prescribe pharmaceuticals, they are used to gently nudge the patient’s physiology in a positive direction so the patient will no longer need them. Other functional medicine practitioners like myself use no prescription drugs when working with their patients. We aren’t anti drug but do our best to use the raw bio-chemicals, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, amino acids, and over the counter hormones to restore proper function-fixing causes and systems not merely covering up symptoms.
If you sick and tired of covering up symptoms with drug after drug, only to still feel sick and tired, why not do something different. The only way to beat fibro and you can, is to get healthy. You’ll need to work with a doctor who will find and fix the causes of your fibro and not merely sweep the symptoms under the “fibro carpet.”
I’m on a mission to train doctors to use the same functional fibro protocols I’ve been using with success for the last 17 years.
You can see if there is a trained doctor in your area by visiting www.functionalfibrodoctors.com If there isn’t a doctor in your yet then I encourage to set up a phone consult with me. Ninety percent of my practice is phone consults. It can ALL be done by phone.
Call to schedule you phone consult today – 205-879-2383
Learn more about working one on one with me //fibroconsults.com/
I’ve had fibro for 25 years and I was following your page to get new info because I don’t have money to go to a dr or get treatment. One day I came on and it wouldn’t let me comment, I can see everything but someone made it impossible for me to comment as others are, that’s pretty bad. Just thought I’d let whoever it concerns know.
Thanks for sharing. Not sure why that happened sorry for inconvenience.
Being living w/ & self treating for 50+ years. Was quite active in 30s-50s but now that age is slowing me down (76)
I’m finding it harder to cope. Loud head noise/ internal vibration/ joint PAIN especially @ night. Only use Tylenol/ Gabapentin/ diazepam/ambien latter only if can’t fall asleep. Would be interested in any advice.
That sounds frustrating – oftentimes pain can be magnified if your sleep is poor – getting better sleep would be a good first step for you for tackling both symptoms. You can find more advice about sleep in the 3 free chapters of my book here https://yourfibrodoctor.com/freechapters5thed/
I have tried the http://www.FunctionalFibroDoctors.com many times to find a qualified fibro dr near me in st.louis Missouri. I love your Treating and Beating Fibro 5th edition!! Will there be a 6th edition soon? I was on lyrica and it caused many problems but mostly loss of eyesight, memory, and doctor had me on highest dose at end. The withdrawals were worse thing ever!! Worse than any opioid. Thank you for writing this book and staying honest!!!
Traci! Thank you, we are not currently working with any doctors in that area, but Dr. Murphree can work with you remotely as well, so keep that in mind! Also, YES! Dr. Murphree is working on the final edits for his 6th Edition Book! Coming soon!