Fibromyalgia is a complex “autoimmune” disease, describing widespread muscle and skeletal pain, fatigue, cognitive disorders, and “somatic” symptoms (headache, dizziness, gastrointestinal disorders, bladder, sleep disturbances, fatigue, anxiety, and brain-fog). Fibromyalgia patients have increased oxidative stress and neurogenic inflammation (inflammation arising in nervous tissue). Their microglia overproduce TNF-alpha, cytokines, and other chemical substances that trigger pain. They have an altered microbiome, which negatively impacts the gut-brain pain connection, and induces an overreaction to mild sensory stimulus. Fibromyalgia is more common in women; and is likely underdiagnosed in men, with arthritic symptoms.

Microglia are the macrophages of the central nervous system—the first and main immune defense, in the spine, brain, and peripheral nerves. Immortal intracellular pathogens infect the microglia and become a Trojan horse in the nervous system, spreading the pathogen, damaging cell function, consuming the energy of the cell, reducing the ability of the cell to bring oxygen across the cell wall; and signaling the release of TNF-alpha, cytokines, and other markers of inflammation and pain.

Fibromyalgia and related “somatic” symptoms are caused by chronic infection with immortal intracellular pathogens. Chlamydia species infect the microglia and set off a cascade of pain and inflammation, an autoimmune reaction within the nervous system, and cause symptoms and findings in fibromyalgia.