Fibromyalgia & fibrosis

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients,  August-Sept, 2005  by Jule Klotter

• E-mail
• Print
• Link

In an article posted at his web site, William Wong, ND, PhD, says that the pain of fibromyalgia stems from the formation of fibrous scar tissue in contractile (voluntary) muscles. Fibrosis binds the tissue and inhibits blood flow, resulting in pain. After developing fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue in 1990, Wong searched for ways to improve function and relieve pain. The treatment that he found to be most helpful addresses fibrosis, low ATP production, and low cellular oxygen levels.

Wong uses proteolytic enzymes to break down excessive fibrin, an insoluble protein that the body uses to form blood clots and scar tissue. Studies have shown that proteolytic enzymes are helpful in eliminating fibrocystic breast disease and have been used to treat deep vein thrombosis. Both conditions indicate an imbalance in fibrin production and disposition. Hormones, particularly estrogen, also have a role in fibrotic conditions. Wong says that "[e]strogen is a known fibrinogenic agent and has been found to be the spark that induces fibrotic conditions of the breast, ovaries, and uterus." In addition to proteolytic enzymes (i.e., Vitalzym), Wong recommends natural progesterone cream and diindolylmethane, an indole found in cruciferous vegetables, to reduce estrogen dominance.

To address chronic fatigue, which usually accompanies fibromyalgia, Wong suggests Progressive Resistance Exercise (PRE) to increase the number of energy-producing mitochondria in muscle cells. PRE is not aerobic exercise, which uses up energy reserves. Instead, it increases strength needed to perform daily activities. PRE can be done in short sets (about 2 minutes) with rest periods of about 5 minutes between sets. Wong recommends leg presses and front pull-downs (chin-up hand position) "with a resistance equaling 70-80% of the patient's 1 Rep Max for that exercise." (1 Rep Max refers to the maximum amount of weight at which a person can perform the exercise properly one time.) Leg presses and front pull downs exercise 70% of the body's muscles, according to Philip Rasch, PhD, head of the Naval Human Performance Laboratory in the 60s and 70s. To strengthen the other 30%, Wong recommends crunch sit-ups (3 sets to failure) or using an abdominal machine (5-7 repetitions according to the program below).

During the first week, the program calls for three sets of five repetitions, with several minutes rest between each set. The sets increase to 6 repetitions for the second week and seven repetitions for the third. During the fourth week, resistance increases by 10 pounds and the number of repetitions drops to 5 to begin another cycle. Proteolytic enzymes and magnesium should reduce exercise-induced muscle soreness that may arise in the first few weeks. Wong recommends doing these three exercises twice a week and no more than three times a week. Overtraining can impair immune function. Wong says that the combination of proteolytic enzymes, natural progesterone cream or other means of reducing estrogen dominance, and exercise usually brings improvement in daily functioning in 6 to 8 weeks.

Wong W, ND, PhD. Fibromyalgia; its Root Cause of Pain--Fibrosis with Treatment Protocols for Recovery. www.drwong.info/drw-fibro.htm (accessed 6 June 2005)

COPYRIGHT 2005 The Townsend Letter Group
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group