Functional Medicine Strategies for Chronic Pain & Fibromyalgia
A Functional Medicine Approach to Chronic Pain
We help patients uncover and address the root causes driving chronic pain so they can reduce inflammation, support healing, and move toward long-term relief.
We help address the root causes behind chronic pain.
Chronic pain is not always an isolated pain problem. It is often a sign that the body is inflamed, overwhelmed, or out of balance.
We have worked with countless patients over the years who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia or endured chronic pain that has disrupted their daily life, energy, sleep, movement, and overall wellbeing.
Chronic pain can show up in many forms, including:
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches and migraines
- Endometriosis pain
- Neuropathic pain
- TMJ
- Plantar fasciitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Arthritis
- Bursitis
- Tendonitis
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
Just name your “itis.”
Conventional medicine often treats the symptom of pain with pills, procedures, and injections. While these may temporarily suppress pain, they rarely address why the pain is happening in the first place.
These root causes may include:
- GI microbiome imbalances
- Gut lining permeability
- Food sensitivities
- High toxic burden
- Ongoing toxin exposures
- Medication side effects
- NSAID or antibiotic-related gut inflammation
- Lack of flexibility
- Musculoskeletal imbalances
- Inactivity or improper movement
- High cortisol states
- Nervous system dysfunction
- Poor dental health
- Undiagnosed dental infections
- Foreign bodies such as breast implants
- Systemic inflammation
Our functional medicine approach strives to uncover and address each person’s unique root causes and mediators so the body can begin to heal without lifelong reliance on symptom suppression.
Get to the Root Cause with Functional Medicine
Our process always begins with a very thorough medical and lifestyle history, including a close look at the timeline of symptom onset, past diagnoses, medications, surgeries, injuries, dental history, toxin exposures, stress, sleep, digestion, and movement.
Our investigations are not brief. We leave no stone unturned.
We often begin by addressing the foundations for optimal health and healing, starting with gut health. Many patients begin seeing improvements in pain when gut function, inflammation, food sensitivities, and microbial balance are addressed.
From there, we support the body’s natural detoxification and drainage pathways while helping patients actively reduce ongoing toxin exposures. Moving, sweating, pooping, hydrating, and getting good sleep can create huge gains when it comes to reducing the imbalances and toxic burden that may be mediating chronic pain.
When appropriate, we may also guide patients in evaluating medications that could be creating roadblocks to healing, and we may recommend additional evaluations, such as biological dental assessments, when hidden infections or inflammation may be contributing.
Feel Confident in Your Care Team
Experience sets us apart
- Extensive education and training
- Compassion and a Christian worldview
- Years of clinical experience
- A personal Functional Medicine Journey
- An ongoing, weekly mentorship with Dr. Beard
Amy Beard, MD, IFMCP
Owner, Founder, Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner
Dr. Amy Beard is a Board Certified Family Medicine MD, an Institute of Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner, a Dietitian, an ER Physician, a previous Cardiac Rehab Medical Director, and has extensive clinical and personal experience in Functional Medicine...
Lindley Kinard DNP, APN, FNP-C
Certified Functional Medicine Practitoner
Dr. Kinard is a Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate of Nursing, an Institute of Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner, a previous Registered Nurse in CVICU at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, and a mother of two young boys. Lindley is an exceptional Functional...
Hannah Tikson, MS, FMCHC
Functional Medicine Consultant
Hannah is a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach; she has a Master’s in Exercise and Nutrition Science, professional experience as a coach, educator and researcher, and is a mother of two young girls. Hannah is passionate about helping people optimize...
Laura Postlethwait, RN, INHC
Functional Medicine Consultant
Laura is a Certified Integrative Nutritional Health Coach. She has been in the medical field since 2005 and a Registered Nurse since 2011. She has been on two medical mission trips to Kenya, Africa. She and her husband were foster parents for 7+ years. She has been an...
Anna Allen, FDNP, CNP(S)
Functional Medicine Consultant
Anna is a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner with a Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics and a minor in Strategic Communication. Her path to Functional Medicine began with her own unresolved health struggles. Those challenges, along with guidance from the Lord,...
Paul Buch
Owner, Head of Research, Product Development, and Customer Service
Paul is, first and foremost, Dr. Beard’s husband. Together, they run AmyBeardMD.com as their passion and ministry. Paul manages many aspects of the business, including, but not limited to, research, product development, sales, and client satisfaction. His...
Blake Harrell
Pastor, Teacher, Guest Speaker
Blake Harrell is a pastor, teacher, and guest speaker who has spent the last 10 years leading a family of believers in central Arkansas. (Yes, he’s Dr. Beard’s pastor!). Before entering ministry, Blake worked for a decade in the medical field, preparing to...
What We Treat
Spoiler: We treat all chronic conditions because they all have a root cause!
Digestive Issues
Autoimmunity and Inflammation
Chronic Fatigue
Hormone and Thyroid Imbalances
Body Composition & Weight
Skin Conditions
Infant & Children’s Health
Asthma & Allergies
Cognition & Brain Health
Joint Pain/ Chronic Pain
Jump In and Become a Client
Step 1 – Schedule a free 15 minute Exploratory Call
Schedule a free 15 minute Exploratory Call with our patient liaison to make sure we are a good fit for your care and learn about how our functional medicine clinic operates. After your Exploratory Call, you will be sent a link to schedule your First Step Appointment either with Dr. Beard or Dr. Kinard. Regardless of who you see, Dr. Beard always oversees all cases in our practice.
Step 2 – Schedule a first step medical investigation.
Schedule a first step appointment with a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner ($300).
Step 3 – Invest in the recommended 2 month package.
Why a two month package? We can help you make substantial improvements to your health in that amount of time. Many patients see complete resolution of their issues and most see substantial improvements by the end of two months. At the end of the two months you will be left with a detailed plan to either continue on your own or with guidance from the appropriate member(s) of our team. One of our main goals during this two month timeframe is to empower you with the knowledge to take charge of your health.
Dr. Beard will guide you to the proper package that will best meet your medical needs and financial ability. There is no one-size-fits-all plan; we customize your treatment plan for your unique needs.
What to expect at your first step medical investigation:
An in-depth medical investigation
with an experienced medical doctor who leaves no stone unturned.
A medical, lifestyle and symptom timeline
from birth to present.
Evaluation and assessment
of medication side effects, surgical & procedural impacts
In-depth evaluation
of diet and nutrient intake, gut health, toxin exposures and toxic burden, sleep hygiene and quality, sun exposure and biological rhythms, movement and exercise, mitochondrial function, nervous system status, detox and drainage status.
Discussion of next step
(may include but not limited to): specialty and standard lab testing, protocols, medication weaning and changes, supplement changes, referrals to other specialists (biological dentists, for example)
Plenty of time
for concerns and questions to be addressed.
2 Month Treatment Packages:
Option 1:
First Step medical investigation + four RN functional medicine practitioner visits
$975
At the end of two months you will be provided with a care plan to continue on your own or with the help of the appropriate clinic member.
Option:2
First Step medical investigation + four RN functional medicine practitioner visits with Dr. Beard’s oversight $1375
This is the most cost effective way to involve Dr. Beard in your care. Dr. Beard and your RN practitioner meet frequently to discuss your case and direct your care as warranted.
At the end of the two months you will be provided with a care plan to continue on your own or with the help of the appropriate clinic member.
Additional Costs & Options:
- 30-minute appointments with Dr. Beard can be added at anytime for $250
- 40-minute appointments with RN Functional Medicine Practitioner (outside of 2 month package) $125
- Specialty and standard labs: we do not mark up the cost of labs in an effort to save you money. Dr. Beard takes a conservative approach to ordering labs, but also understands their importance in certain clinical situations.
$50-$300 per test panel - Protocols: many patients are prescribed protocols during their two month treatment plan according to their needs. $300-$600 per protocol
We try VERY hard to keep our services affordable. Even though Dr. Beard is one of the most credentialed and experienced functional medicine doctors in the country, she charges less because this is her personal ministry.
