Do you wake up feeling
tired, washed out, and dragged down? Do
you have generalized pain throughout your body that doesn’t seem to respond to
anything you’ve tried? Do you wake up
multiple times a night and fight getting back to sleep? These are classic symptoms of fibromyalgia
(FM). However, when caught early and treated appropriately, FM can resolve or
at least be controlled. Chiropractic
care and management of FM is very effective and is becoming increasingly
popular among FM sufferers. The goal of
managing FM is to return you to a productive, enjoyable lifestyle allowing you
to function and perform all of your desired activities.
Chiropractic care is the
most popular and sought after form of alternative care or complementary
medicine as 20% of American men and women utilize chiropractic care at some
point in their lives. Of all the health
care options, few have been found to be as satisfying to their patients as
chiropractic with 80% of those seeking chiropractic treatment reporting
significant pain relief, better functioning and an increased sense of
wellbeing. Still, many ask questions
such as, what is the science behind chiropractic and, what exactly does a
chiropractor do?
The original hypothesis or
theory of chiropractic that led to its founding in 1895 is that skeletal or
bone misalignments cause nerve interference resulting in pain, loss of
function, and a host of other symptoms related to the nervous system. The entire body is connected through bones,
joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, with their supporting circulatory or blood
flow system and nervous system. When the
skeletal structure is in good alignment, the body can handle the many stresses
and challenges we all face on a daily basis.
When there is a breakdown in this system, symptoms manifest and when
left untreated, these symptoms can develop into chronic pain, including
conditions such as fibromyalgia. Chiropractors focus to reduce pain and the
many other symptoms by correcting the imbalances in the skeletal system with
the objective of reducing nervous system dysfunction. Many of the techniques utilized in
chiropractic care include manipulation of not only the bony structures, but
also the muscles, tendons, and ligaments through various forms of manual or
hands-on therapy, stretching, posture correction methods, exercise, lifestyle
modification recommendations including diet and nutritional management, and
activity modifications. Chiropractic
care also includes discussions and instructions for modifying methods of
performing tasks including bending, lifting, pulling, pushing in both at work
and home activities. Work station
modifications are also thoroughly investigated, especially when symptoms are
consistently worse after the work day.
Patients with fibromyalgia
classically have generalized pain and tender spots throughout their body and
often present with back pain, neck pain, headaches, as well as arm and/or leg
pain. Chiropractic care can effectively
reduce the pain associated with FM by reducing bony misalignments, restoring
muscle tone, and improving posture.
Proper exercise training has been found to be very important in
maintaining long-term control of FM and is included in the management of FM. Diet and nutritional counseling may also be
beneficial. Research has been very
supportive of chiropractic care for patients suffering from FM.