Chiropractors often will get chronic pain patients that wearily come into their offices after having exhausted traditional medical routes. Fibromyalgia is one such common chronic disorder that chiropractors can assist with, yet it is a complex and often misunderstood condition. Let’s take some of the mystery out of the equation because understanding of a problem is the first step to conquering it.

What is Fibromyalgia?

Not only is the disease name a mouthful, but it’s just no fun at all to deal with, to put it mildly. The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP) defines fibromyalgia as pain in the outer coverings of muscles and tendons in their article titled “Fibromyalgia: Myths, Management and Miracles.” The symptomology related to fibromyalgia has crossover with other major conditions, such as sleep deprivation, so misdiagnosis is not uncommon. Fibromyalgia consists of widespread pain in at least 11 out of 18 specific points in the body, as well as joint stiffness and insomnia. Weakness, overwhelming fatigue and short-term confusion or memory loss are also possible.

There is much that is still being researched and understood about fibromyalgia treatment, but stress management is key in order to mitigate worsening pain. Fibromyalgia patients often experience a cycle of pain flareups called the “Devil’s Triangle” in which severe pain leads to sleep problems, anxiety, more pain, and on and on it goes. Conversely, prioritizing good sleep hygiene and diligent stress management correlates to improved symptoms. It is especially important to have enough time at night to achieve deep REM sleep for restorative healing, correction and growth.

Injury Factors at Work 

Fibromyalgia can affect any person at any age, though it is more common in women. However, it isn’t uncommon in men or even children and young people. There are certain injury factors that may make someone more likely to experience fibromyalgia, such as:

  • Age
  • Repetitive work
  • Accidents of varying type and severity
  • Joint deformations
  • Hormone changes, such as growth hormone, menstrual cycles, low estrogen, testosterone or progestins.
  • High anxiety
  • Workload
  • Lack of stretching of the body
  • Muscle strength, bulk, length and flexibility
  • Nerve function
  • Types of activities
  • Drug side effects on muscles

Fibromyalgia sufferers are experiencing muscle and tendon shortening caused partly by multiple nerve compressions within the spine and limbs. Muscles can put pressure on joints and create pain simultaneously as well. Headaches can be created as a radiation from the neck or from local muscle problems surrounding the head.

Severe pain such as this is miserable to be sure, but it is nature’s way of signaling to us that there is something wrong in the body that it cannot correct on its own. That is when a chiropractor and other essential primary healthcare professionals are needed to address fibromyalgia pain caused by the combination of nerve and muscle dysfunction, as well as minor or major nerve entrapment conditions.

The Physics and the Physical

The average person has absolutely no idea how much hormones affect every aspect of the proper functioning of their body. In the case of our muscles, adults have to be especially careful because as growth hormones decrease in adulthood, so likely does our muscles’ flexibility or bounce back factor. Growth hormones have been seen to have a positive correlation to the muscles’ ability to sustain injury and exercise.

Relatedly, injured muscles will shorten from injuries during rest (sitting, standing, sleeping). This causes joint compression of the spine and limbs, resulting in joint pain, stiffness and, later on, osteoarthritis of the joint. It’s a gradual process over months and years, but it is happening. Muscles that regularly stay in a shortened state will scar into that position and force abnormal joint movement and compression. This often leads to disc compression, herniation, arthritis and spinal misalignment. Joint compression in the limbs and abnormal tracking are also likely and will cause odd wear points and osteoarthritis.

Our spines and muscles are beautifully intwined in an intricate dance within the body, but that does mean that when one area is out of sync, the whole body reverberates with a sour note. The spine is lined with five muscle layers, with the three top layers designed to do the heavy lifting for the spine while the two deeper layers serve as the structural basis. The deeper muscle layers, made primarily of the multifidus, rotator brevis and longus muscles are arguably the most important muscles in the body. These inner two muscle layers are strong but small, allowing the spine to move without falling apart. They are not designed for heavy work, however, and once they are overexposed and injured, painful scarring can occur. Neuropathy (nerve damage or disease) factors into fibromyalgia discomfort as well, commonly in pinched nerves caused directly or indirectly from deep spinal muscle injury.

How to Heal

Like many complicated health issues that are highly individualized, there isn’t one sweeping solution that helps all fibromyalgia patients. Yet, there is hope on the horizon, as most people with fibromyalgia can begin to experience gradual relief with a combination of Chiropractic, exercise, physiotherapy and nutritional supplementation as needed. Some people choose to use medication as well, but Chiropractic offers a drug-free alternative. A qualified chiropractor will work hard to remove the interferences in compressed nerves to allow the muscles affected to relax and straighten out.

Other tools that can be utilized include ultrasound, which can reduce muscle scarring, as well as manipulation, stretching and traction. However, too much movement in the early stages of therapy all at once might prove too painful. Applying moist and dry heat can also prove therapeutic, as well as massage therapy and good posture.

In order to manage ljfe with fibromyalgia, you may need to take a broader look at your lifestyle and see what changes can be made to mitigate potential injury factors. Stress, depression, work and exercise routines can all affect your likelihood for flareups. Nutrition is also key to maintaining your health. Remember to drink six to eight glasses a day of water and eat a balanced diet.

Discuss with your primary health are professionals if nutritional supplements are advisable for you, as fibromyalgia may have connection to nutritional deficiencies related to growth hormones. If sleep aids are needed, try natural ones like melatonin or valerian root. Overall, be proactive and don’t ignore symptoms until they become too painful to ignore. Ultimately, fibromyalgia is simpler to tackle when it is dealt with early on as opposed to allowing it to fester without any correction.

 

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