Fibromyalgia is a common condition that causes pain and tenderness throughout the body, ranging from a dull ache to throbbing pain and shooting pain. This complex condition is still not fully understood with numerous theories attempting to explain its cause. While the exact reason(s) for the development of fibromyalgia may still be unknown, we are fortunate to be able to offer treatment options that can help with the symptoms.
Understanding Fibromyalgia
A diagnosis of fibromyalgia requires meeting a certain number of criteria, including experiencing 11 out of 18 points of tenderness on the body. You may also suffer from other problems that are often associated with FM, such as fatigue, problems sleeping, irritable bowel syndrome, TMJ or an autoimmune disease.
One of the most difficult aspects of diagnosing FM is that the symptoms can vary so widely from patient to patient. The wide variety of symptoms has led to a number of different theories about what causes FM, but none of the theories has proven to be sufficient to explain all aspects of the condition.
Treating Fibromyalgia Using Chiropractic Care
If you are wondering if chiropractic care can actually help with FM, the answer is “Yes”. Several studies have demonstrated that FM patients have experienced an improvement in their symptoms after chiropractic care.
As with many diseases and conditions, treatment for FM can be effective even if the exact cause of the condition is not known. Some of the treatments we offer FM patients include:
Chiropractic Adjustments
There are some theories that suggest that the irritation of nerves caused by spinal misalignment may contribute to the symptoms of FM. Using chiropractic adjustments, we can realign your vertebrae to relieve pressure on the nerves traveling through your spine. Once the pressure is removed, the nerves and the surrounding areas can start to heal.
Soft Tissue Therapy
Working on the soft tissues of your body using techniques like massage therapy can help to lessen the symptoms of FM in many patients. Using massage and other soft tissue techniques, we can help to reduce scar tissue and improve the function of muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
Rehabilitation
If there are imbalances in your body, such as muscle groups that are too stiff or too weak, it can lead to a cascade effect that can irritate and cause unnecessary pain. Rehab exercises are designed to restore balance to your body, making you stronger, more flexible and more mobile. The better your body can support itself, the less likely you are to experience issues like pinched nerves and spinal subluxations.
