Did you know that Chiropractic can help with fibromyalgia?  Fibromyalgia is a complex and mysterious disorder which has no known cure.  Chiropractic has helped many people by reducing the symptoms associated with it hence improving the quality of life.  Since there are no specific tests to determine if an individual has fibromyalgia, many physicians deny that the disorder exists.  Many will associate the symptoms of fibromyalgia with emotional or psychological causes.

Some researchers suggest that fibromyalgia is a disorder that stems from the central nervous system. Individuals who suffer from fibromyalgia appear to have abnormalities in the neurotransmitters that transmit nerve impulses. Because of this finding it has been suggested that fibromyalgia is a problem of central nervous system hypersensitivity.  Since the main theory behind Chiropractic is that the health is controlled by the state of the individual’s central nervous system, it is only natural that Chiropractic could help with this disorder.

The question then arises, what is fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a syndrome, and not a specific disease; which means that people with this condition will have a variety of symptoms. This particular disorder is diagnosed by a process of elimination.  When there is no other explanation for the symptoms it is believed that fibromyalgia is the culprit.  To have fibromyalgia, the individual must have widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body that lasts more or less continuously, for at least three months. The person will also have extreme pain in the predetermined tender points in the body.  There are 18 tender points in the body and the individual suffering from this disorder will experience hypersensitivity in at least 11 of the 18 points.

Some symptoms associated with fibromyalgia are, morning stiffness, chronic headaches, fatigue, menstrual irregularities, sleep disorders, muscle weakness, depression as well as anxiety.

It is difficult for a person suffering from fibromyalgia to receive the correct diagnosis.  Many sufferers have sought help and because of the difficulty of diagnosing have had to endure painful surgeries and invasive methods and still get no relief.  The symptoms seem very erratic and can affect the entire body in a variety of ways so many will seek relief through holistic approaches such as those provided by a Chiropractor.

In order for a Chiropractor to successfully diagnose an individual with fibromyalgia, he must be a good listener.  Communication is the key in determining a correct diagnosis and the patient must feel comfortable in order for good communication to occur.  Initially, the Chiropractor will take a complete health history as well as a physical assessment.  An evaluation of the spine will also be performed along with palpation of muscles and thumb point pressure placed on the predetermined tender points.  In a healthy individual, the tender points will hurt when pressure is applied but for one suffering from fibromyalgia, the pain will be significantly intensified when minimal pressure is applied.  The Chiropractor may also apply pressure in areas where pain is not normally felt to compare the two areas.

After the tender point evaluation, the Chiropractor will adjust the neck and spine.  Adjustments are done using the hands and usually consist of a short, sharp thrust that may cause a popping sound. The ultimate goal of these adjustments is to correct misalignment of the spine. Once the spine is correctly aligned, pain symptoms in any parts of the body, not just the spine and neck, should be reduced or disappear. When pain is reduced, other problems, such as disrupted sleep, fatigue, and depression, tend to disappear.

Although there is no cure for fibromyalgia, Chiropractic treatment has been shown to help individuals suffering from this disorder and therefore reducing the symptoms and improving their overall quality of life.

{ Comments on this entry are closed }