Chiropractic care has been shown to help people suffering with fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be vague. It can be hard to explain and is not well understood. To add to this, there is no known medical cure. Fibromyalgia essentially translates to “muscle fiber pain”. It is characterized by chronic and debilitating pain all over the body, and heightened pain under pressure. The symptoms from fibromyalgia can cause widespread pain, poor sleep, chronic tiredness and even depression. The cause is unknown but some theories note that the patient’s low pain threshold may be attributed to increased sensitivity in the brain to pain signals. There are other possibilities too such as genetic predisposition; stress; the disruption of normal dopamine related neurotransmission; abnormal serotonin levels and deficient growth hormone secretion. As chiropractors, we believe that fibromyalgia may be caused by dysfunction of the nervous system. If that is the case, it is easy to see why chiropractic care has been shown to alleviate the symptoms.
The treatment found in chiropractic care is based on the idea that illnesses and pain in the body arise from misalignments (subluxations) in the body’s skeletal structure. This also causes stress, irritation, inflammation etc. of the nerves, which go to every part of your body, including muscles. In order for the body to function at an optimal level, the spine and the skeletal structure need to be functioning properly and in a normal position – otherwise problems like chronic pain, like that of fibromyalgia, may occur.
Fibromyalgia causes numerous, tender points to occur all over the body, including back and neck pain and leg cramps. As a result of these symptoms, sufferers of fibromyalgia often seek treatment from chiropractors. Chiropractic treatment helps restore the posture and integrity of the skeletal system and many sufferers find that chiropractic care can help to reduce a significant amount of pain. In some cases, fibromyalgia sufferers can have cervical spinal stenosis, which results in compression of the spinal cord meninges, or the the coverings of the spinal cord. This can result in debilitating pain all over the body. Chiropractic care, by adjusting and making specific corrections to the spine thereby decreasing this compression, may be able to help with cervical spinal stenosis and eliminate the symptoms attributed to it.
Chiropractic care has been shown to be effective through studies involving people with fibromyalgia in which patients were asked which method of treatment, medical or alternative, helped the best with their condition. The majority voted for chiropractic treatment. In addition, effectiveness was also tested using spinal manipulation to relieve fibromyalgia symptoms, and after 15 treatments, results concluded that patients had reduced fatigue and pain as well as improved sleep quality.
While many still suffer with fibromyalgia, it is great to know that there are ways to alleviate the symptoms and live a more normal life. According to the article, “ Fibromyalgia: Debilitating But Treatable With Chiropractic Care,” the President of Life Chiropractic College West University, Gerry Clum, states, “Overall health and wellness is affected by an individual’s nervous system, an area in which chiropractors are proficiently trained to address, making chiropractic care a viable option for fibromyalgia patients.” If fibromyalgia is bothering you, Schluter Chiropractic in Tulsa can help.
If you or someone you know suffers from undiagnosed chronic pain or fibromyalgia, please share this article with them and encourage them to call us for a free consultation at Schluter Chiropractic in Tulsa.
Dr. Jason Schluter is a Chiropractor in Tulsa, OK at Schluter Chiropractic.
Schluter Chiropractic is conveniently located off Memorial Drive in Tulsa, Oklahoma and provides quality chiropractic care to Tulsa and the surrounding areas.
To schedule an appointment, call (918) 664-3571 or visit www.DrSchluter.com.
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