Fibromyalgia Pain Relief With Chiropractic Adjustments
Suffering from fibromyalgia means living with a lot of pain. While it is a very common chronic pain condition, affecting one in 50 people, there is still not that much known about it. Doctors are not sure exactly what it is and what causes it, and diagnosing it is also not that simple. Many sufferers of fibromyalgia survive on pain medication, but this is not the only way to live with the disease.
What Is Fibromyalgia?
While doctors do not have a definite answer as to what it is and why people have the disease. Researchers believe that this condition affects how the brain processes pain so that it is amplified and spread all over the body. This illness is observed more by women compared to men.
Fibromyalgia is also experienced after patients go through severe psychological stress or physical trauma, such as what happens after infection or surgery. Still, other patients develop the condition without any possible trigger.
Clinical Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
The pain is the center point of fibromyalgia. Specifically, it radiates from the axial skeleton and can be felt in the muscles and the muscle-tendon junctions in the neck, hips, shoulders, and the extremities. Patients describe the pain as being unbearable, miserable, or exhausting. Moreover, they complain that being touched, even gently, is quite unpleasant.
Patients suffering from fibromyalgia have also reported being severely fatigued and suffering from insomnia and depression. Fatigue is almost constant, almost every day and for most of the day. They would also feel quite weak and not be able to feel recovered after sleep.
Cognitive abilities may also be affected, with patients having problems with their memory and concentration. Plus, psychological distress accompanies the depression, personality and anxiety disorders.
In all, life with fibromyalgia means having difficulties with daily activities and exercise. In fact, patients will fear it and try to avoid it.
Fibromyalgia patients experience other pain syndromes like headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, and temporomandibular joint disorder.
How Chiropractors Help Patients With Fibromyalgia
Chiropractors have different therapies to offer, and some of them can greatly help patients suffering from fibromyalgia. These treatments focus on the wellness of the whole body and have been quite effective in bringing fibromyalgia relief.
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Chiropractic Adjustments
This treatment will work on realigning the body and at the same time, reestablishing the connection between the body’s nervous system and nerves. It works like a reset button, making it possible for the brain to more accurately process pain. Chiropractors believe that fibromyalgia sufferers have an issue with their central nervous system, that it receives inaccurate or faulty signals, thus making it feel like they have aches all over the body.
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Physical Therapy
This part of the treatment is highly recommended by chiropractors. Fibromyalgia causes a lot of muscular pain, meaning patients stop moving or exercising simply because the pain is too much. Unfortunately, when they do so, they lose muscle tone which, in turn, makes the effects of the condition even worse.
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Lifestyle Adjustment Recommendations
The chiropractor might also recommend changes to the patient’s lifestyle. A part of it is adding exercise to the daily routine, as well as finding a way to deal with the pain without resorting to medication. For example, patients who spend a lot of time sitting would be recommended to take regular walks. These recommendations will vary, depending on the patient’s lifestyle and activities.
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Nutritional Recommendations
Nutrition affects every single aspect of the patient’s body, and it may cure diseases or at least alleviate the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Thus, the chiropractor might recommend dietary changes, as well as using supplements. It will also contribute to alleviating psychological and physical aspects of the condition. When dietary changes are done with other chiropractic treatments, then the whole body can truly be well.
Chiropractors have various treatments to offer patients suffering from fibromyalgia, which is a healthier alternative to taking pain medication. In fact, after one appointment, they already observe a lot less pain in their backs, necks, and legs.
Long-term pain medication is also not good for the body, so opting for this treatment is the perfect solution. Although very little is known about this disease, chiropractic treatments seek overall health and wellbeing of all patients with the condition.