Fibromyalgia is one of the most common chronic pain conditions in the United States. Estimated to affect as many as 1 in 50 people, this extremely debilitating condition is almost as hard to diagnose as it is to treat. Doctors and pain management specialists often recommend a variety of treatments for fibromyalgia. However, exactly what works can vary significantly between patients. Nevertheless, one therapy that is particularly valuable and broadly effective is chiropractic treatment.


Chiropractic treatment is not a cure for fibromyalgia. There isn’t currently any known cure for the condition. However, it can be very effective at helping to reduce the effects of fibromyalgia on patients – particularly the pain and discomfort associated with it.


Here’s what you need to know about fibromyalgia and how chiropractors can help to relieve fibromyalgia pain.

 

What causes fibromyalgia?

Doctors still haven’t been able to pinpoint a specific cause for fibromyalgia. It is believed to be a problem with the way the brain processes pain. Instead of being manageable and localized, the pain that a fibromyalgia sufferer experiences is amplified and felt throughout the body.


The severity of fibromyalgia can vary between patients, and although the condition is chronic, the severity of the pain can intensify and ease.


 

What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?

Unsurprisingly, the primary symptom associated with fibromyalgia is chronic pain. However, other effects of the condition include:

 

• Excessive fatigue/sleeping
   

• Mood swings
   

• Memory loss
   

• Brain fog
   

• Low mood/depression

Many people with fibromyalgia suffer from specific conditions that run alongside it. Known as co-morbidities, they can include tension headaches/migraines, anxiety and depression, irritable bowel syndrome, and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ disorder).


 

How can chiropractic care help relieve fibromyalgia pain?

There are mainly three areas in which your chiropractor could help reduce fibromyalgia pain. These are:

 

1. Manual manipulations

Also known as chiropractic adjustments, this is the most well-known technique used by chiropractors. It involves them using their hands to apply careful pressure and force to your body to realign the bones, muscles, and connective tissues. Doing this helps to re-establish the connection between the nervous system and nerves. This helps the pain to be processed and therefore experienced properly.


 

2. Physical therapy

Physical therapy is another common technique that chiropractors use. It can be very beneficial for patients with fibromyalgia as it focuses on building and strengthening the muscles in your body. This is important since many patients with fibromyalgia find that they are in too much pain to take part in regular exercise. Not using your muscles can lead to wastage and weakness. This makes the effects of fibromyalgia worse, but physical therapy can prevent this from happening.


 

3. Lifestyle recommendations

Many patients with fibromyalgia are surprised to learn that making some changes to their lifestyle choices can have a significantly positive effect on their condition. For example:

 

• Exercise prompts the release of feel-good hormones called endorphins, which can counteract pain
   

• Regular exercise can also keep your muscles strong and healthy, and prevent your condition from worsening
   

• Maintaining the right posture can help to reduce fibromyalgia pain, and your chiropractor can advise you of the changes you need to make to improve your body position, at work, at home, and even when you sleep
   

• A healthy, balanced diet packed with nutritional value can boost your overall health and can make the pain easier to cope with
   

If you would like to find out more about how chiropractic treatment can help relieve fibromyalgia pain, visit M Powered Chiropractic at our office in Georgetown, Texas. Call (512) 548-4355 to book an appointment today.