Fibromyalgia and Multiple Sclerosis: Same Causes and Same Treatment?

Written by Devin Wilson, ND

Fibromyalgia and Multiple Sclerosis; two common conditions you have probably heard of, but never knew may be caused by the same thing, and both could be treated with a novel, safe and effective therapy.

Fibromyalgia, is a disorder characterized by chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain. It more commonly affects women and it is estimated that 6.4% of the American population suffer from this condition. Despite more than 4,000 published research papers, the primary cause of fibromyalgia largely remains a mystery. Many hypothesizes exist such as infection, and immune dysregulation, but one notable suspected cause, chronic oxidative stress and the resulting mitochondria dysfunction, is thought to be a major contributor to this conditions. The treatment of fibromyalgia, includes pharmaceutical intervention, nutrition and diet modifications, exercise programs, counseling, etc.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition, characterized by inflammation and damage to nerve tissues. It is estimated that over 400,000 American’s are afflicted with this condition with woman between the ages of 15-45 years old, being more commonly affected. Similar to fibromyalgia, researchers are still unclear about the primary cause(s) of MS. They believe it could be due to genetics, infection, immune system dysregulation, and low and behold, chronic oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Treatment for MS typically includes pharmaceutical intervention using steroid medications and immunosuppressants. 

Fibromyalgia and MS may both be caused or at least exacerbated by chronic oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. But what do these terms mean?

Chronic oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance between ‘free radicals’, which cause damage to cells and reduces there function and health, and the antioxidant system of the body, which reduces “free radical” and damage caused by them. A chronic oxidative stress increases so does the damage it causes and the mitochondria unfortunately incur much of this damage. Mitochondria, are basically energy power plants that live in every cell of your body to supply cellular energy. When mitochrondrial function is altered due to infection, poor nutrition, chronic oxidative stress, etc., dysfunction occurs reducing available cellular energy.

Fibromyalgia and Multiple Sclerosis, though strikingly different, may share a common cause; chronic oxidative stress, and may be treated with the same therapy; Intravenous (IV) Ozone Therapy. IV Ozone Therapy is an effective therapy that uses medical grade oxygen-ozone gas to treat a wide range of acute and chronic conditions. Ozone therapy significantly reduces oxidative stress, increases the capacity of the antioxidant system, stimulates mitochondrial function, increases blood and tissue oxygenation, reduces pain and more.