Hormones like progesterone and testosterone can help fibromyalgia by reducing pain, as higher levels are linked to less severe symptoms, potentially due to anti-inflammatory effects, while melatonin and potentially estrogen (in HRT), and even growth hormone (GH) (for some with deficiencies), may offer relief, with low progesterone and high cortisol being a particularly painful combination. Balancing these sex hormones, especially during menopause, is a promising area for symptom management.
As mentioned in the article posted earlier this month, fibromyalgia is regularly first detected in women during a major hormonal change like puberty, pregnancy and menopause. Considering this connection, we've taken a look into the various ways fibromyalgia patients can balance their hormones to keep symptoms at bay.
Easy bruising could also result from nutritional deficiencies often associated with fibromyalgia. "Vitamin deficiencies, like vitamin C, can also increase blood vessel friability, making the vessels more likely to collapse under pressure," adds Pellegrino.
These results suggest that progesterone and testosterone play a protective role in fibromyalgia pain severity. Sex and other hormones may serve to both increase and decrease fibromyalgia pain severity.
6 ways to manage your fibromyalgia
Küçük et al15 compared 58 women with fibromyalgia with a control group of women without fibromyalgia and noted that the vitamin D, B12, and ferritin levels were lower in the patients with fibromyalgia than in the control group and that there was a negative correlation between the number of tender points and these ...
Lab Tests for Fibromyalgia
Progesterone works by activating the brain's relaxation pathways and regulating your body's natural sleep-wake cycle. When levels are low, especially during the luteal phase of your cycle or during menopause, you may find it harder to unwind at night.
Endorphins are a type of neurotransmitter, or messenger in your body. They attach to your brain's reward centers (opioid receptors) and carry signals across your nervous system. Endorphin comes from the words “endogenous,” which means within the body, and “morphine,” an opiate pain reliever.
Joint swelling, damage and stiffness. Changes in skin color that range from white and mottled to blue or red. Muscle spasms, tremors, weakness and atrophy. Decreased ability to move the affected body part.
It turns out, the answer is “yes.” Royo found significantly elevated blood glutamate levels in the fibromyalgia patients compared to controls. He suspects glutamate enters the bloodstream due to leakage in the intestinal lining.
In 2020, a large-scale population-based study reported that mistreatment in childhood was associated with a significantly higher risk of developing fibromyalgia later in life. Another study in 2022 found that 88.2% of people with fibromyalgia had experienced childhood trauma.
How does bioidentical hormone therapy help with fibromyalgia? BHRT helps balance key hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, which play a crucial role in reducing inflammation, improving sleep, and enhancing pain tolerance.
FM patients have significant symptoms of pelvic floor distress, including pain, urinary and colorectal dysfunction, and pelvic organ prolapse. Our findings also suggest that symptoms of pelvic floor distress are positively correlated with worse overall FM pain and functioning.
Aches and stiffness aren't always due to aging or overuse. Estrogen has anti-inflammatory effects and helps maintain joint flexibility and mobility. When levels fall, inflammation can increase, and tissues can become less elastic. It can lead to joint pain, particularly in the hands, knees, or hips.
Dopamine: Often called the "happy hormone," dopamine results in feelings of well-being. A primary driver of the brain's reward system, it spikes when we experience something pleasurable. Praised on the job? You'll get a dopamine hit.
When a woman takes progesterone, it prepares the uterus for pregnancy and helps maintain early pregnancy, but it also causes side effects like bloating, breast tenderness, headaches, mood swings, tiredness, and irregular bleeding, as it influences many body systems, impacting digestion and sleep too, with benefits including relief from menopause symptoms or aiding conception, but risks for blood clots, stroke, and cancer, requiring medical supervision.
What progesterone does. Progesterone is sometimes called the “happy hormone” because it tends to keep your mood balanced and positive. Progesterone helps you stay pregnant once you've conceived a child.
Herbal remedies such as red clover contain plant hormones that can act in a similar way to oestrogen, while black cohosh is believed to balance oestrogen and progestogen levels. These may help with some menopause symptoms but this is not supported by scientific evidence.
Taking progesterone without estrogen is safe for many women, and it can minimize symptoms like hot sweats, sleep problems, and vaginal dryness.
Top 7 foods and remedies to boost estrogen
There's no specific fibromyalgia test. But your GP may do some blood tests to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms to fibromyalgia. Sometimes, your GP may refer you to a specialist for further tests or treatment.
Several rheumatic diseases can mimic fibromyalgia. These include sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Lyme disease, polymyalgia rheumatica and lupus. They have symptoms of widespread pain along with joint involvement. Most rheumatic diseases are treated with medication and physical therapy.
The new FMS test uses biomarkers found in the blood and appears to be able to distinguish FMS patients from other patients with Lupus, OA (Osteoarthritis) and RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis). The test makers say they found biomarkers specific to FMS which are not found in lupus/RA patients.