Taking the Fear Out Of Fibromyalgia With Help From Your Chiropractor
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that affects the lives of almost 10 million Americans. While everyone is at risk, most fibromyalgia patients are women. Fibromyalgia symptoms vary widely—some patients have almost no side effects from the disorder, while others find themselves almost completely debilitated.
Symptoms
Fibromyalgia symptoms include:
- Chronic muscle pain and tightness
- Muscle spasms
- Migraine or tension headaches
- Muscle pain following exercise
- Fatigue
- Anxiety or depression
- Abdominal pain or bloating
- Pain in the jaw or face
- Irritable bladder
- Difficulty focusing or remembering
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Insomnia or sleepiness upon waking
- Decreased levels of energy
- Sensitivity to sound, noise, or temperature
Treatment
According to the National Institutes of Health, about 90 percent of fibromyalgia patients use some form of alternative or complementary medicine. Because fibromyalgia is typically treated with a wide variety of medications, many sufferers turn to alternative types of healing to avoid overmedicating themselves.
Most patients who visit a chiropractor to treat their symptoms continue to see their primary care physician. It’s very important for patients with this condition to utilize a variety of treatments to cope with the many different symptoms they deal with.
Chiropractors are able to treat patients with fibromyalgia in a variety of ways. Of course, the biggest way that they help is by performing therapeutic adjustments. Chiropractic manipulation may relieve much of the pain associated with fibromyalgia, it may also improve immunity by helping the spine align itself properly.
Of course, chiropractic care doesn’t end at an adjustment. Chiropractors frequently improve the quality of their patients’ lives by working with them on lifestyle changes that can vastly improve their overall health, while relieving specific symptoms. Some of the most common changes that chiropractors suggest for their patients are:
- Dietary- A healthy diet that’s low in caffeine and red meat has been shown to relieve the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
- Exercise related- Exercise is a crucial complement to conventional medical treatments and can greatly improve the outcome for people with fibromyalgia.
- Sleeping habits- Fibromyalgia is unusual in that sufferers frequently cope with insomnia while constantly feeling fatigued. Improving sleep patterns not only helps the patient feel better—it can actually reduce fibromyalgia pain.
- Aiding in a plan for coping with stress. Tension can make the symptoms of fibromyalgia worse, so it’s important to learn how to deal with it. Your chiropractor can help explain the importance of stress relief and work on a plan with you on how to manage it.
If you’re coping with fibromyalgia then you may feel frustrated with traditional medical care. If you’re not getting any better, or if you only feel relief after taking medication, it may be time to consider chiropractic care. Chiropractic is safe for everyone and has been shown to be an effective way to manage the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. Talk to your chiropractic team today to find out how they can help.
Always consult your chiropractor or primary care physician for all your health related advice.