Dr. Kenneth Muhich describes his work with patients who have fibromyalgia as “accidental.” In the early '90s he was asked as a chiropractor to testify at the trial of a former patient who had since been in an automobile accident.
He testified referencing fibromyalgia research from The American College of Rheumatology, and attributes his testimony to winning her case.
The ACR describes the condition:
“Fibromyalgia is a common health problem that causes widespread pain and tenderness (sensitive to touch). The pain and tenderness tend to come and go, and move about the body. Most often, people with this chronic (long-term) illness are fatigued (very tired) and have sleep problems. It can be hard to diagnose fibromyalgia.”
Fibromyalgia is estimated to affect 2-4 percent of the population, mostly occurring in women, states the ACR.
The research done in that initial court case changed the course of Muhich's practice and put him on a mission to help other patients with fibromyalgia. He felt it was his mission to educate and raise awareness about the condition.
Muhich is the author of "Fibromyalgia Falsehoods, Fakers, and Facts." In an interview, he said, “Fibromyalgia goes back to biblical times and the many names given, to name a few, have been rheumatism, fibrositis, neurasthenia, Da Costa's syndrome and myasthenic syndrome.”
He said that the symptoms of fibromyalgia include sleep deprivation or disturbance, fatigue, morning pain and stiffness, and all-over-body pain. Other possible symptoms are headaches, anxiety, depression and irritable bowel syndrome.
“There are many other secondary symptoms including symptoms brought on by weather changes, extremes in cold or heat, paresthesia, dry mouth or eyes (sicca symptoms) and of course at least 11 out of 18 specific points of pain on the body when mildly palpated. “
Muhich said that in order to be diagnosed with the condition, the patient “should have these roaming symptoms at least three continuous months.”
You’re probably wondering about the name of his book. The “falsehoods and fakers” portion is a result of the misunderstanding and treatment of the symptoms, but not the underlying cause of fibromyalgia. He takes a dietary approach, building upon a foundation by Dr. R. Paul St. Amand, an actual fibromyalgia sufferer himself. St. Amand is an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Endocrinology at Harbor-UCLA.
Muhich said that St. Amand “found in his research that from some physical, emotional or chemical trauma the body's cells accumulated excessive amounts of phosphate and calcium that cause numerous body reactions including immune system depravation that allows so many secondary conditions to attack the body.”
St. Amand’s treatment is called the guaifenesin protocol. Guaifenesin is defined as “an expectorant used in cough syrups and sometimes for pain relief from fibromyalgia."
According to Muhich's book his treatment involves the guaifenesin protocol, as well as avoiding salicylate sources.
WebMD states that "salicylates are chemicals found naturally in plants and are a major ingredient in aspirin and other pain-relieving medications. They are also found in many fruits and vegetables, as well as in many common health and beauty products."
With St. Amand’s permission, Muhich added an anti-inflammatory diet/detox program onto his treatment. “We in effect remove all sugar, gluten trans-fatty acids and dairy from their diet. We then have the patient add one food every 72 hours to find if that food causes a negative physical reaction.”
He refers to these symptoms as being like the seven dwarfs “itchy, scratchy, bloaty, headache, etc." A food causing a negative reaction is then removed from the patient’s food source if they wish to continue the protocol. He also has the patients take natural anti-inflammatories, including omega-3 essential fatty acids and other supplements.
Muhich says that the anti-inflammatory approach works because “all fibromyalgia patients have been found to be highly inflammatory and no fibromyalgia patient only has fibromyalgia. They have multiple conditions that are exacerbated by the fibromyalgia.”
Sources:
Dr. Kenneth Muhich Interview. 22 May 2015.
Fibromyalgia: Falsehoods, Fakers & Facts.
http://www.fibrowellnesscenter.com/store
“Fibromyalgia – Rheumatgology.org.” The American Academy of Rheumatology. Web 28 May 2015.
https://www.rheumatology.org/Practice/Clinical/Patients/Diseases_And_Conditions/Fibromyalgia
Guaifenesin Protocol – Fibromyalgiatreatment.com.” Fibromyalgia Treatment Center. Web 28 May 2015.
http://www.fibromyalgiatreatment.com/the-guaifenesin-protocol.html
Guaifenesin – Definition
http://www.bing.com/search?q=what+is+guaifenesin&form=IE11TR&src=IE11TR&pc=CPNTDFJS
Salicylate Allergy. WebMD. Web 28 May 2015.
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/salicylate-allergy
Joanne Sgro-Killworth is a Television Fitness Expert, Certified Personal Trainer and Sport Nutritionist and Publicist. She is Certified in Pilates, Pre-natal/Post-Partum, Yoga and Senior Fitness. She specializes in Weight Loss, Post-Rehab and Post Cancer Training.
Joanne's fitness plans, recipes and lifestyle advice are available globally on her website http://www.happiwoman.com/ She resides in the Phoenix, AZ area with her husband and children, where she runs her fitness and publicity business, JSK PR, http://www.jskpr.com
Reviewed May 29, 2015
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith