Mitochondrial Dysfunction Could Play Significant Role In Fibromyalgia

Published: // Updated: March 13, 2021

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Several studies in the past few years indicate that fibromyalgia symptoms may arise from mitochondrial dysfunction. But what does that really mean? In this post, I am going to explain what mitochondrial dysfunction is and how it leads to not only pain and fatigue, but many other fibromyalgia symptoms as well.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction Could Play Significant Role In FibromyalgiaPin

As scientists have learned more about the mitochondria’s role in health and in disease, they have concluded that mitochondrial dysfunction is at the root of many diseases and conditions. The list of known diseases and conditions with a mitochondrial dysfunction component is long and growing longer. It is even responsible for the aging process itself.

Mitochondria are the powerhouse of almost every living thing with complex cell structures including animals, plants and human beings. They provide energy for cells to move, divide and all the things they need to do to function properly.

The main function of mitochondria is to take in nutrients, break them down and create energy for the cells. Every cell in our body contains mitochondria. Some cells need lots of energy such as brain and muscle cells, so they contain thousands of mitochondria. Cells that don’t require a lot of energy contain fewer mitochondria.

How The Body Produces Energy

The brain, heart, muscle, nerve cells and so on all have different jobs to do. To do these jobs requires energy. Energy is supplied to the cells by mitochondria. The mitochondria take in nutrients and create a chemical energy in the form of ATP (Adenosine Tri-Phosphate). The ATP molecule contains stored energy. Once the energy is used up it converts to ADP (Adenosine Di-Phosphate).

ADP then passes back into the mitochondria, where it is recycled back to ATP. The process requires oxygen and is extremely efficient. In a healthy person, ATP is recycled about every 10 seconds. If the process goes slow, then the cells go slow, all bodily functions go slow and problems arise.

When our body needs more energy faster than it can be supplied, there is another way the body tries to supply this energy. When the body is short on ATP, it can make a small amount directly from glucose (D-ribose) by converting it into lactic acid.

However, this results in two serious problems. First, lactic acid quickly builds up, especially in the muscles causing pain, heaviness, aching, and soreness. Secondly, no glucose is available to make D-ribose, so new ATP cannot be made. Energy demand exceeds energy delivery resulting in fatigue.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction & Fibromyalgia

Multiple studies suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction could play a significant role in fibromyalgia. Muscle biopsies have found patterns of mitochondrial dysfunction (abnormal mitochondria, mitochondrial defects, and muscle fiber abnormalities) similar to those typically found in mitochondrial disorders.

Just about every single symptom of fibromyalgia can be explained by mitochondrial dysfunction. Pain, fatigue, headaches and migraine, IBS, heat and cold intolerance, sweating, mottling of the skin, heart rate and blood pressure problems, dizziness and balance problems, blurry vision, trouble sleeping and so on.

Mitochondrial dysfunction can affect any organ or organ system in the body.  According to Dr. Mark Hyman, mitochondria are not well protected and easily damaged by toxins, infections, allergens, and stress. But one of the biggest insults over time is the standard American diet.

Another major cause of mitochondrial damage is medications. All classes of psychotropic drugs (which includes antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds) have been documented to damage mitochondria, as well as statin medications, analgesics such as acetaminophen, and many others. Here is the link to the list of reported drugs with mitochondrial toxicity.

Mitochondrial dysfunction makes sense to me because it explains why we have so many different symptoms. Most important is that we can improve our overall mitochondrial function.

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38 thoughts on “Mitochondrial Dysfunction Could Play Significant Role In Fibromyalgia”

  1. Does anyone know if there is a blood test for Mitochondrial dysfunction and/or CrP/ATP function?
    I feel for years that my lack of energy and my chronic fatigue are due to metabolic dysfunction. Since I minimized my nutrition , I haven’t had pains during the day . At night , after several hours without a movement I wake up with enormous aches , take a Motrin pill and fall asleep . My unsolved problem is my fatigue. I have had the notion that I lack enzymes that disassemble carbs and sugars , and my body doesn’t get the right nutrition from the food , on one hand , and my digestive system works too hard , on the other way , and that causes my fatigue and lack of energy. This article gives me another perspective of what could be the problem and what might be the solution. I have been suffering from Fibromyalgia for the last 25 years . I was never on Meds. I’m furious when I read again and again that Lirika and Symbalta are given as a routine treatment. I’m so glad to realize that there is a new direction . It gives me a lot of hope.

    Reply
    • Hi, Ziva. It is my understanding that Mitochondrial dysfunction is diagnosed with DNA testing or a muscle biopsy. Plus you will have to find a doctor that is experienced in that area. You can find a list of Mitochondrial Disease Specialists at MitoAction.org.

      Reply
  2. As Ken mentioned, fluoroquinolones cause symptoms very similar to fibro. Doctors will give a fibro diagnosis when they don’t know what else it is. The FDA added another black box warning that Cipro, Levaquin, Avelox and Floxin should not be given as a first line for sinus infections, bladder infections, bronchitis etc. but they continue to prescribe them because they don’t read the warnings. Patients are being damaged daily from these drugs but no one is putting two and two together. People diagnosed with fibro should check their pharmacy records and see if they have taken these drugs. There are FB support groups for help in recovery. Also, eating meat that is not organic, has traces of fluoroquinolones and can cause terrible flares. These drugs came out in the 80’s and have been damaging people since then, but it took social media to figure it out!

    Reply
    • Hi, Cheryl. That’s very interesting. I am pretty sure I have taken Cipro and Floxin. There are so many things that have been damaging our health for years. But government agencies will never admit that and sadly, they are going to continue to allow it.

      Reply
  3. I have FMS my husband has MS. We both live in pain. I find sleep a dream I chase I’m exhausted. He on the other hand sleeps all the time. My skin has now changed. The itch is making me crazy. I itch until I bleed then scab and itch more. My arms and back are scard. The scabs look as if someone burnt me with cigarettes. My skin has hurt my entire life. Even my nails hurt. Unfortunately my husband will not understand how tired I am or how much I hurt. He expects me to take care of him. I can’t. He gets mad tells me I’m to stupid we fight. FMS and MS took away our dreams.

    Reply
    • Hi, Connie. I am so sorry. It is really tough to be a caretaker when you are exhausted, in pain, and can barely take care of yourself. My prayers are with you.

      Reply
      • Mine to. We don’t want to be this way. Nothing has come along medically to help. I guess not enough money in reserch. The one same old pill that never works for most.
        After a lot of years I went to a Behavioral assistant, after talking I was given a script. In a week I felt so much better. My mind wasn’t foggy I did take mild pain medication. But, I’m so much better. Can get out and take care of business

        Reply
    • I suffered from mysterious itching for years. Doctors had no idea what was causing it. Finally found out it was due to food sensitivities. In particular dairy proteins and egg proteins. Food sensitivity testing is worth a look.

      Reply
    • There is a lot of crossover of symptoms between FMS, EDS and MCAS. I have all three so I’m not sure which is actively causing what, BUT my itching went from the bloody scabbing you described to rare and short lived as long as I take an h1/h2 inhibitor cocktail. Mine is basically cetirizine and omeprazole. I take one of each (together) everyday and another set when my symptoms flare. For me itching is a big one, but so are difficulty swallowing, hot flashes and dry heaves. I don’t have to know which demon I’m trying to kill as long as it goes down.

      Reply
  4. I’m glad that you have found improvement without drugs. I, unfortunately, am one of the 30-50% of those with fibromyalgia and small fiber Neuropathy. It has made my life a living hell. I literally feel like I am burning, inside and out, all the time. I have tried just about everything I can afford, including the AIP diet for the last 5 months. It is an incredible amount of work to take care of yourself! Nothing takes away this pain. If you have found any amazing cures that aren’t too expensive, n the last year, please let us know.

    Reply
    • I can understand why you would need medication. The fibro probably increases the Neuropathy pain. It must be terrible. I wish I would find some amazing cures. I promise to keep searching. 🙂

      Reply
      • Hi Sue. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 25 years ago. Only thing that helped was Vicodin but did not like feeling drugged. Went to an acupuncturist who put me in remission for 15 years. No drugs!!. 3 years ago I was diagnosed with ehlersdanlos lll. I well know pain, pots, fatigue and alot more. This mitochondrial dysfuntion sounds promising. Thank you.

        Reply
    • I have the same problem. And the only thing that has helped me is pregabalin. Horizant is in the same family and help some. Hope this helps. Because living in pain fatigue and beeing on fairs really sucks and makes for very agonizing days when they flare at the same time.

      Reply
      • I also take Pregabalin and Meloxicam. It has lessened the severity of my pain and I seem to have more good days now where I can actually get out of bed and do some things around the house or go on outings. However it is not a cure for sure.

        Reply
      • Hi guys, I’ve only just found your site and noticed you mentioned taking preclinical. I’ve been on this for years along with 8 other tablets. The one problem I have found with this amazing drug is for me anyway that I piled the weight on. So I went back to our gp and he said it’s water retention so he put me on the highest dose possible. This doesn’t seem to do much. So I’ve lowered the dose which has obviously lessened the relief I got from it in the early years. I went from a size 12 to a size 22. I’m chuffed that I’ve managed to hold on to this size for the last 3 years. I need various ops the replace worn out joints but my consultant won’t do anything till I lose some weight. It’s a catch 22 situation. He suggested I give up the pregablin which even though because I take 75ml twice daily instead of 3 times daily I used to be on 150ml 2-3 times a day. If I ring to see if anything new has come out and explain how I am now he just says, “M——e what do you want me to do? You’re on a wide range of meds but you seem to want a miracle”. So am asking too much. I found out a few years ago by chance that one of the tablets he gave me for helping me to sleep and for depression that they were given to patients with a severe eating disorder because they make you eat and out weight on. It’s no wonder I was going up 2 sizes a year. Do think about the pregablin though any of you could be one of the lucky ones that aren’t affected by the side effects. Good luck to you all. I’ll cheap checking in now and then and see if anything meds wise has changed. Thanks for your website it’s an eye opener.

        Reply
    • Have you tried Cymbalta. Took away pain in my back, all over pain in my joints and burning in my feet from neuropathy. I itch all the time in cold weather, on my back. Have to use antihistamines till it stops.

      Reply
  5. Hi, I have fibro and have the burning/stinging/itching pain if I don’t take lyrica in sufficient doses which is 150mg 3 times a day. They tell me that’s a lot but its what I need and I’m lucky because I have no side effects. Also I follow a low sulphur diet, I seem to be allergic. I have a list of foods if anyone wants it. The guy who came up with it is Andy Cutler. They took down the original post where I got the foods from. No garlic, chocolate, coffee, crucerferious vegis, no horse radish, no Lactobacillus, no dairy, no eggs, no sesame seeds (most others are fine) google it for me.

    Reply
    • I would love a copy , om allergic to Sulphur especially Sulphur based medications , tammy smith thank you, and any other info on fibro with this type of side illness, I also suffer from erosive arthritis. Suppose to be seeing a pain specialist , had some issues, but my Dr swears by it, that it would be beneficial for me, and trying out the pain patches , but I’m so scared of those , since I have so many pain issues throughout my body 😢

      Reply

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