Vitamin D deficiency

Just read an article on Web MD's Fibromyalgia Center about research being done on Vitamin D and pain associated with Fibromyalgia.  In the article a  Dr. Florian Wepner, of the Orthopedic Hospital Vienna Speising, ran a study to determine if there was a connection between low Vit D levels in people and pain.

The Research paper published in the journal PAIN but after trying to find it to read I found out it would cost me $31.50 for a copy...Suffice it to say on my disability I can't afford to buy the pub.  The gist of the article is it was a randomized placebo study where some patients were given placebo and others were given Vit D.   Researchers said those who took supplements reported less pain and morning fatigue over time than those who did not receive the supplements.  "[Vitamin D] may be regarded as a relatively safe and economical treatment and an extremely cost-effective alternative or adjunct to expensive pharmacological treatment," Wepner said in a journal news release.  If you would like to read the abstract of the article go here.

I have had experience with this issue in my Fibro travels.  In 2011 I had such an increase in pain and fatigue that I went to a rheumatologist hoping that I would get a quick fix diagnosis and all my "fibro crap" would go away because you see I had never really accepted the fact I had fibro.  I still thought that I was being miss diagnosed and they hadn't really found what was wrong with me because Fibro was a catch all for those they didn't know what was wrong or those people seeking drugs. 

This rheumatologist ran several thousand dollars worth of tests on me ...xrays, lab, MRI, etc. etc., and nothing showed up exceptionally low levels of Vitamin D and my liver test showed almost Hepatitis levels of toxicity.  I was given orders to quit the Ibuprofen 800mg that I had been taking 4 times a day for over 10 years and to start on Vitamin D 50,000 IU weekly for 8 weeks.  I then started taking 5,000 IU Daily after that.  I really did start to feeling better after about 3 months of taking the drug.  It cost me about $5 a month for the Vitamin D and the pain relief we better then when I was taking Ibuprofen.  BTW for me coming off the Ibuprofen wasn't fun.  I had all sorts of weird pains and really had problems with getting comfortable when I tried to sleep.  I would contact a doctor before trying the Vitamin D and get your levels checked.  If you are out side in the sun a lot you probably are manufacturing enough but get checked anyway.

I saw my rheumatologist last week and my levels of Vitamin D were within the normal ranges and my liver tests were better.  I am going to continue to taking the Vit D as I have been cause it seems to be working for me.  I am curious to see how this will impact the medical community as a whole because big drug companies aren't going to like it that a little vitamin might do better then their drugs.  It will be interesting to watch the story unfold!