vaccinations and the relationship to fibromyalgia

Dr. Manuel Martinez-Lavin is both an Internist and Rheumatologist, who happens to be an expert in Cardiology as well.  One of his chief areas of interest is Fibromyalgia, of which he has written four books about.  Besides being a treating physician and professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, he has been involved in publishing over 100 studies in peer-reviewed scientific journals since the late 70’s.   Because we are in Missouri, I will also mention that back in the early 1970’s, he did post-doctoral work at SLU.

His most recent study (Hypothesis: Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Syndrome-Small Fiber Neuropathy and Dysautonomia Could be its Underlying Pathogenesis) came out in the May issue of Clinical Rheumatology that hit the shelves (and computer screens) just yesterday.  After describing many of the reactions to HPV VACCINATIONS as, “inexplicit” (unexplainable), he goes on to say that the most common symptoms include, “chronic pain with paresthesias, headaches, fatigue, and orthostatic intolerance [the development of symptoms when standing upright which are relieved when reclining]“.  He further goes on to tell us something that many of you are already aware of.  “Adverse reactions appear to be more frequent after HPV vaccination when compared to other type of immunizations“. 

Of course, this begs the question of what he considers to be “adverse“?   Naturally, he talks about Fibromyalgia — that’s what this post is about.  But he also talks about some others as well.  Specifically, he mentions, “Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).”  We all know people with POTS.  This is fairly easy to test for, and we see varying degrees of it in the office routinely.  However, CRPS is another animal altogether.  It’s the living, breathing nightmare that until recently, went by the name Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). 

He also talks about something called “Dysautonomia” (a type of neuropathy affecting the nerves that carry information from the brain and spinal cord to the heart, bladder, intestines, sweat glands, pupils, and blood vessels), going on to say that, “Sympathetic nervous system dysfunction seems to play a major role in the pathogenesis of these syndromes.”  Sympathetic nervous system dysfunction?  What exactly does he mean?  What’s he talking about here?

In case you are not aware, any number of BRAIN-BASED neurological problems and AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES are being heavily associated with something called “SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE” in the peer-reviewed literature.  When the Sympathetic Nervous System (the part that controls your ‘fight-or-flight’ response) becomes predominant, you have real problems on your hands.  Furthermore, he relates all these together when he says that, “small fiber neuropathy has been recently recognized in” all of these previously-mentioned problems.  But what is Small Fiber Neuropathy (SFN)?

To understand what SFN is, you first need to understand what NEUROPATHY is (just follow the link).  Furthermore, a year ago I gave you my post, “FIBROMYALGIA AND NEUROPATHY: IS THERE A CONNECTION?”  This is a paragraph from that article.

“I bring all of this up to tell you that there is a growing number of physicians and researchers who believe that Fibromyalgia is the result of Neuropathy found throughout the smaller nerves of the body.  In other words, many believe that instead of Central Sensitization [a component of Sympathetic Dominance] with Fibromyalgia, the chief problem is that Neuropathy is present not only in the larger nerves of the Nervous System, but the smaller nerves as well (“Small Fiber Neuropathy”).  There is actually a lot of research that backs this theory up, with the latest study coming out of the most current edition of Arthritis and Rheumatology.  It seems that not only were there about 20% fewer superficial nerve fibers present in those who had been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, but they also had high levels of a specific marker of Inflammation (IL-2R — a marker in some Autoimmune Diseases)“

Dr. Martinez-Lavin concludes his study by saying that, “Clinicians should be aware of the possible association between HPV vaccination and the development of these difficult to diagnose painful dysautonomic syndromes.”  Although I would agree that most American physicians are vaguely “aware” of the numerous problems associated with Vaccinations, they will almost to a man (or woman) deny their existence (HERE) — that is until it actually happens to THEIR CHILDREN.  It’s easier to play the part of the ostrich and roll merrily along collecting a regular paycheck than it is to have to explain to your employer why you are writing another report to VAERS.  After all, who wants to end up like WAKEFIELD or FUDENBERG?  This is why you’re not going to see widespread mainstream coverage of this study.