This is an excellent article that I want to encourage people to go to and read in it's entirely, particularly if you're looking for information about pain or any of the senses being hypersensitive -- touch, sound, smell/olfaction, light. This is very well written, reporting on the current thinking from allopathic medicine on the subject.
There is a lot of progress in shifting related health problems together under this 'umbrella' of central sensitivity syndromes. There are some other "cutting edge" progressive providers out there today which I also have covered at Lumigrate which, I think, are onto finding the underlying reasons for people getting the various medical conditions which fall under "central sensitivity syndrome"/CSS. (Hint: Look for information about mental health and foods. Or autoimmune conditions and foods. This, that and the other: foods, drinks, diet!
However, it is not only foods, there are chemical toxins people's bodies have been inundated with in our modern society, such as metals, plastics, and many other things. "Endocrine disruptors", for instance, would seem to dovetail into CSS as underlying, functional reasons. Naturally, allopathic medicine will want to medicate these conditions. This is always an option for YOU to choose to use exclusively or blend with alternative concepts and seek expertise from providers who will complement aspects from the allopathic community.
Functional medicine will want to use medications when absolutely necessary, and focus on looking for the underlying reasons for the body to be out of it's natural wellness state, and solve those as much as possible. Such as what I referred to, above, with information I've provided recently at Lumigrate.com related to 'evolutionary medicine' that focuses on our brains and other body parts being affected by the foods we eat in these modern times compared to what our genes allow our bodies to 'know what to do with'.
Using an integrative approach, including the most appropriate provider types from the palate of provider types in integrative medicine, ideally collaborating with the patient. And the Lumigrate You Model, naturally, is 'about that', and I hope that each person who in intrigued by it will work on creating as close to a collaborative care team of their own, no matter what their providers have been doing historically. 
We can hope that in the future these models of medicine continue to grow in popularity, as they cost less in the long run and the patient has an improved outcome and enjoys a faster return to wellness. And each medical consumer's demand shifts, little by little, the health care system and reforms it as we go.
There's a whole website of information here, and we're only partly complete and always trying to add more GRATE topics to link out to. And I hope that this topic is one that would be welcomed by any provider YOU, the consumer, might offer as something valid and progressive, streamlining the process for all involved and allowing for an improved outcome for YOU.
chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whyfmscfsarelinked/a/Central-Sensitivity-Syndromes.htm
An excerpt from the article in case you have any of these conditions or are researching about them:
Aside from FMS and ME/CFS, the following conditions have been proposed to be part of the CSS family:
- Chronic pelvic pain, including vulvodynia
- Certain Forms of Chronic Headache
- Idiopathic low back pain
- Interstitial cystitis (painful bladder)
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Migraine
- Multiple chemical sensitivity
- Myofascial pain syndrome
- Primary dismenhorrhea (painful period)
- Restless legs syndrome
- Temporomandibular joint disorder
Psychiatric disorders are common in CSS as well. Research suggests that's because they all involve dysregulation of the same neurotransmitters , with the dysregulation in CSS in different regions of the brain than in psychiatric disorders.
Psychiatric conditions that commonly overlap with CSS include:
Again, please follow the link and read all about it! You'll know how to find your way back, and I hope you do. ~~ Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! ~~ Mardy
__________________
Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!
Comments
I found this resource a good overview about RLS / restless legs syndrome and wanted to add it here for our YOUsers.
www.personalconsult.com/articles/restlesslegsyndrome.html [11]
As I frequently do, I copy and paste what is at one topic at a website that I am suggesting to people in order to encourage them taking the trip on the link to 'see the sites' as I say. Here's what you will find at the link, and below it information about who provided the information (their 'about' info, in other words).
POSSIBLE CAUSES OF RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME
After finding a number of patients from three states unable to find a solution to their restless leg problem, I have done some basic research to offer some options and causes that are often missed.
As you know, restless leg syndrome is not trivial, and the jerking of a patient’s leg while sleeping can undermine their sleep, work, school, driving, hobbies, sports and other activities.
Highlights of my research from academic sources:
Bluntly, if one does not read the vast medical research on this mineral they should be more timid with their mouth. I never realized how little I knew until I met an Internist and Neurologist who sent me literally over 500 articles on essential nutrients like magnesium from the leading journals in medicine. I had the curious habit of skipping over them in my reading — I was trained to think nutrition was trivial.
Blood tests and even more sensitive red blood cell magnesium levels are notnecessarily the best way to detect body tissue levels. We test by body tissueintracellular levels. We scrap the cells from under the tongue to test magnesium in the entire body, not just what is in the blood.
If the massive amounts of body magnesium are low, you can have restless legs, cramps of the uterus and other muscles, migraines, and other problems. It is an essential mineral critical in 300 enzyme reactions in the body.
Commonly, forms of magnesium offered are hard tablets of oxides, which may cause diarrhea, because they are poorly absorbed. When magnesium is chelated or connected to amino acids it costs more and is worth it. We have designed topical creams for application in children in which the magnesium is absorbed through the skin-an option for children who dislike pills or nutrient shakes. Liquid magnesium drops also exist as another option.
By the way, it is unfortunate that many companies and physicians are on a pro-calcium fetish, and do not realize what happens when you give plenty of calcium instead of a balance of both calcium and magnesium. According to a classic toxicology textbook in conservative medicine, if you take a lot of calcium and only minimal magnesium, the calcium kicks the magnesium out of your brain and muscle cells.
Diplomate: American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology
Diplomate: Forensic Medicine & Forensic Examination
They have a link for the 'creed' for this MD, Dr Schaller .. here is what is at that link (I found it very impressive):
Creed for Healing
An indirect test for tick infections could be: Parvo virus, HHV-6, CD3/4/56/57, VEGF, TNF-a, IL-6, IL-Ib, EBV, ECP, MSH, CD4 RIA, IL-8 and dozens of others.
ABOUT Dr. Schaller:
About James L. Schaller, MD, MAR
Dr. James L. Schaller was born in Paris, France while his father served in the military. His father, James A. Schaller M.D., was an academic phenomenon and a top OB/GYN physician who taught “Dr. J” many healing pearls as a dear mentor and best friend.
Dr. J is the first born of a very large family and learned to love caretaking and protection as the oldest child. Dr. J is happily married and very close to all of his adult children.
Dr. J was introduced as a young man to at least 10 types of medicine because of his father’s broad medical mind, which was always years or decades ahead of his time in finding solutions and learning from other specialties. Some would say the same of Dr. J — a pioneer far ahead of routine basic medical care who has written in 20 fields of medicine.
Dr. Schaller has some core defining attributes:
He cannot watch suffering or harm—he grew up hearing the NYC story of everyone watching as a lady was killed. He was taught that selfish people watch. It is also why he carries a large CPR bag.
James L. Schaller is a full-time reader and part-time clinician. This means he reads forty hours a week reviewing diverse materials to help you. He tends to treat complex patients that other gifted physicians and integrative healers can only help partly.
Dr. Schaller will tailor himself to you—your speech, learning, fatigue and other things that make working with him easier. He also tailors his treatments to your unique biochemistry and healing preferences. His top respected journal publications include exceptional findings— information sometimes found in no other location. The fifty plus physician reviewers of Schaller’s 27 papers are top experts in the topics, and the respected superior senior editors personally read and approved each article in areas like: medicine, neurology, infections, psychiatry, hormones, surgery, emergency medicine, toxicology, pathology and nutraceuticals.
Dr. Schaller treats patients from the USA and all over the world.
Dr. J alone will have direct patient contact with you. For example, he schedules people personally and never uses physician extenders like PAs or NPs. Further, he has earned awards from both doctors and patients, placing him in at least the top 1/20 physicians.
His charitable interests include the poor in Haiti, India's 250 million Untouchables, non-violent prison inmates and those given no relief by traditional or functional medicine.
Dr. Schaller has written over 30 books and he makes many of his books free.
His creed of practice is:
Treat a patient like a friend or close family member and offer solutions 10 years in the future—now!
Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate [9] and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!