Fibromyalgia is a pain condition that affects up to 1 in 20 people. It can seriously impact your quality of life because of the pain and the cluster of other symptoms associated with it. While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, careful management can help to reduce the symptoms. Chiropractic care is a treatment option that can help.
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a pain-related condition that causes widespread pain throughout your body, especially at pressure points in your neck, chest, elbows, and knees. It can also amplify any painful sensations that you feel so that something that previously would not cause pain would now be felt as extremely painful.
Alongside the pain, fibromyalgia can also cause:
• fatigue
• stiffness in your muscles
• poor sleep duration/quality
• a reduction in cognitive abilities, such as concentration and memory
• headaches
• IBS
It isn't yet known what causes fibromyalgia, but it can be triggered by a traumatic event such as surgery, an injury, or psychological trauma. Or it can begin out of nowhere and gradually get worse. Fibromyalgia is thought to be a problem with the way the brain processes pain signals, perhaps related to the level of certain neurotransmitters.
How chiropractic care can help with fibromyalgia
There is no cure for fibromyalgia, and many people don't want to rely on using painkillers every day to reduce their pain. A chiropractor can develop a treatment plan for you that is non-invasive, risk-free, and with very few (if any) side effects.
There are a variety of treatments that can be offered by your chiropractor, depending on your condition and your needs.
1) Spinal adjustments
The spine and the spinal cord are integral parts of your nervous system. Spinal adjustments can ensure that your spine is aligned in its correct position to help support your nervous system to work as it should.
2) Massage
Massage is a popular and effective way of reducing fibromyalgia symptoms. It can reduce the tension and soreness in your muscles, improve blood circulation, and boost your mood.
3) Exercise
Your chiropractor will be able to develop an exercise program with you. This can include exercises that are focused on relieving pain, but also aerobic exercise and strength training. Exercise is one of the most effective ways of reducing your fibromyalgia symptoms and it can also help you to preserve your mobility.
4) Nutrition advice
The nutrients that we put into our body have a powerful effect on how it operates, and how we feel. Proper nutrition, including supplements, can help your body to function at its best and help you to manage your fibromyalgia symptoms.
A systematic review, that looked at all of the scientific studies on the subject to date, found that several of the treatments offered by chiropractors, including manual therapy, have evidence to support their treatment of fibromyalgia.
Managing fibromyalgia can be challenging, but with the support and treatments offered by a chiropractor, you can reduce your pain, increase your mobility, and improve your quality of life.