What is the Cause of Fibromyalgia?
Is Fibromyalgia Just a Name…
or Is There a Real Cause?
Many people hear the word fibromyalgia and feel confused or even frustrated. It’s often described as widespread pain, tiredness, and brain fog. But doctors sometimes say, “We don’t know what causes it.” That can leave people feeling hopeless.
But here’s the truth: fibromyalgia is not just a mystery illness. There are real, body-based reasons why people hurt. And functional medicine helps us figure them out.
Let’s break it down.
What Is Fibromyalgia, Really?
Fibromyalgia is a label. It means someone has:
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Muscle and joint pain all over
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Trouble sleeping
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Feeling tired, even after rest
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Brain fog (hard to focus or think clearly)
But this name doesn’t explain why these things happen. It’s like calling a car “broken” without opening the hood to see what’s wrong.
Functional medicine says: Let’s look under the hood. Let’s find the root cause.
What Could Be Causing the Pain?
Functional medicine doctors believe fibromyalgia symptoms come from a few real problems in the body—problems that can be tested and treated. Here are some of the biggest ones:
1. Mitochondria Trouble (Low Cell Energy)
Every cell in your body has little “power plants” called mitochondria. These help your body make energy.
If your mitochondria aren’t working right, your muscles get tired and sore more easily. Your brain can feel foggy. You feel wiped out all the time.
🔍 Tests can check for poor mitochondrial function. Good nutrition and certain supplements can help repair it.
2. Hidden Infections
Some people with fibromyalgia symptoms actually have infections their body can’t fully fight off. These might include:
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Epstein-Barr virus (the one that causes mono)
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Lyme disease
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Yeast overgrowth (candida)
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Reactivated viruses (like HHV-6)
Your immune system works overtime, which leads to pain and fatigue.
Special lab tests can find these hidden infections.
3. Gut Problems
Did you know your gut is connected to your brain and muscles?
If your gut is inflamed or leaky (called leaky gut), it can lead to:
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Inflammation throughout the body
All of this can make pain and fatigue worse.
A functional medicine stool test can help uncover what’s going on in your gut.
4. Toxins and Mold Exposure
People with fibromyalgia symptoms are sometimes reacting to toxins their body can’t get rid of well, like:
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Mold from water-damaged buildings
- Toxins in artificially scented products
These toxins irritate the nervous system and muscles.
Urine or blood tests can check for toxin buildup.
5. Nervous System Overload (Too Much Stress!)
When the brain and nerves are always on “high alert,” the body feels pain more strongly. This is called central sensitization.
Stress, trauma, and poor sleep make this worse.
Tools like heart rate variability and cortisol testing show if your stress system is stuck on “on.”
Meet Shannon at Intentional Wellness, Inc.
If you’re tired of being told “it’s just fibromyalgia,” Shannon at Intentional Wellness, Inc. is here to help you dig deeper. She specializes in solving the mystery behind chronic pain and fatigue, and she uses proven functional medicine tools to uncover the real reasons behind your symptoms.
Shannon takes the time to listen, test, and personalize a plan just for you—so you can start feeling better, faster.
You Don’t Have to Stay Stuck
Fibromyalgia is not “just in your head.” It’s not a mystery that you have to live with forever.
There are answers—and you can find them with the right help.
Ready to start your healing journey? Sign up for a discovery call with Shannon.
Your body has a reason for the pain. Together, we can find it—and help you feel like you again.
