Is there a relation between Fibromyalgia and Tarlov Cyst?

Published: September 22, 2013
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Dr. T. I have FMS and now Tarlov Cyst (TC) added, according to the TC Foundation a number of their clients have both FMS/TC. Can you address this issue for it is quite painful? A Tarlov cyst is a dilation of the nerve root sheath or outer covering of the nerve. Cerebral spinal fluid gets trapped inside the sheath and forms a cyst. Thanks.

Answer

Interesting. This is the 1st I've heard of it, and I've never seen a Tarlov cysts on MRI in any of my fibromyalgia patients. What's interesting is that although I doubt that the Tarlov cysts would be causing the fibromyalgia, the conditions that cause Tarlov cysts such as dramatic brain injury and increased intracranial pressure can also cause the Tarlov cyst. Because of this, if a person with a Tarlov cyst also has widespread pain, fatigue, and especially trouble with sleeping, there is a high probability that they have a fibromyalgia associated as well. In this case, where the surgery may help symptoms coming from the cyst, it would not help the fibromyalgia. In these cases, adding the SHINE protocol may help the rest of the process. In traumatic brain injury, repeated studies show that hypothalamic pituitary dysfunction is routine and routinely missed, so that treatment with proper hormonal support can be remarkably helpful. Thank you for sharing this information with me. I love that people with these conditions teach me as much as I teach them!

L&B,
Dr. T

Jacob Teitelbaum, MD

is one of the world's leading integrative medical authorities on fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. He is the lead author of eight research studies on their effective treatments, and has published numerous health & wellness books, including the bestseller on fibromyalgia From Fatigued to Fantastic! and The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution. His newest book (June 10, 2024) is You Can Heal From Long COVID. Dr. Teitelbaum is one of the most frequently quoted fibromyalgia experts in the world and appears often as a guest on news and talk shows nationwide including Good Morning America, The Dr. Oz Show, Oprah & Friends, CNN, and Fox News Health.

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