Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition resulting in a number of debilitating physical and mental symptoms that can make you feel like staying in bed all day. Some of the common symptoms include widespread pain, fatigue, sleep problems, depression and anxiety. While there's no known cure, a number of treatments can help with symptom management. Additionally, since some patients with fibromyalgia are thought to suffer from a magnesium deficiency, magnesium injections may also help. Consult your doctor if you're considering receiving magnesium injections.
About Magnesium
Magnesium is an essential mineral that plays a crucial role in a number of biological processes, including energy metabolism, helping to maintain cardiovascular health, regulating levels of other nutrients like calcium, potassium, zinc and vitamin D and helps with enzyme activation. Magnesium is found in foods like leafy greens and whole grains, yet many people do not obtain enough magnesium from dietary sources, although true deficiencies are unusual. Magnesium is used in supplemental form to treat a variety of conditions, including fibromyalgia, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Some research has shown that since many fibromyalgia patients have lowered levels of magnesium, supplements may offer some relief from symptoms. However, studies regarding the efficacy of magnesium injections have had mixed results.
Pros and Cons of Magnesium Injections
Magnesium injections in the form of magnesium sulfate for the treatment of fibromyalgia can be painful but are also thought to be very effective. Some practitioners, like Dr. Sarah Myhill, a general practitioner in the UK, state that the only way to guarantee that your magnesium levels will improve is through injections. Magnesium injections are thought to significantly improve muscle pain and tenderness in some patients with fibromyalgia. However, according to a lecture Dr. Charles Lapp delivered to fibromyalgia, myalgic encephalopathy and chronic fatigue syndrome patients in Nashville in April 1997, magnesium injections can "burn like fire, so sometimes the treatment is often worse than the disease itself." Additionally, some research trials have actually found that magnesium injections are ineffective for symptoms.
Clinical Evidence
A study, published in a 1991 issue of "The Lancet," found that patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition whose symptoms are closely related to those of fibromyalgia, who received intramuscular magnesium sulphate every week for six weeks experienced a significant improvement in symptoms, including emotional state, pain and energy levels, when compared with those who only received a placebo. However, another study, published in 2010 in "Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine," found no benefit of magnesium injections for patients suffering from fibromyalgia. More clinical studies are needed to fully evaluate the benefits of magnesium injections for symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Considerations
While magnesium injections may help certain symptoms of fibromyalgia, you should discuss the pros and cons of magnesium injections with your health care provider. If you take certain prescription medications or have specific medical conditions, you might not be able to use magnesium injections. Do not attempt to self-diagnose your symptoms. If you think you have fibromyalgia, consult your doctor.
References
- DoctorMyhill.co.uk: Magnesium by Injection
- "ProHealth"; The Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia; Charles Lapp, MD; July 2006
- "The Lancet"; Red Blood Cell Magnesium and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; I.M. Cox, et al.; March 1991
- "Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine"; The Use of Intravenous Magnesium for the Treatment of Fibromyalgia: A Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Trial; E. Voogd, et al.; 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Magnesium
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