Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia

If you’re living with fibromyalgia, there’s help. Are you ready to find relief for your fibromyalgia symptoms?

Do you know if you have been living with fibromyalgia? It can sometimes be difficult to tell, as the symptoms can vary. It is normal to experience a little bit of pain from time to time. You may feel sore from exercising too much, or you may stub your toe on a piece of furniture. Most of the time, you’re able to shake it off or take ibuprofen and go about your day. However, sometimes you can experience pain that’s widespread and chronic, failing to diminish despite your best efforts. This can cause a large impact on your life that anti-inflammatory drugs simply will not fix.

If you are suffering from chronic pain that is accompanied by fatigue, changes in mood, or irregular sleep patterns, you may be dealing with a more serious physiological condition, known as fibromyalgia. Chiropractic care can help.

Since fibromyalgia is not a disease, but rather a range of symptoms, there is no single, surefire treatment for the condition. Primary physicians will typically prescribe some sort of pain medication or an anti-depressant to manage symptoms; however, those medications do not address the chronic nature of the condition or the loss of function that chronic pain and distress typically bring.

Chiropractic treatments will typically begin with pain-relieving modalities to provide relief and promote healing. This may include the use of trigger point therapy, massage, stretching, electrical stimulation, or other therapeutic tools that will aid in your recovery. After this, your treatments will shift toward active therapies, such as muscle strengthening, range-of-motion activities, and cardiovascular exercises.

So, what exactly is fibromyalgia? The exact causes of fibromyalgia are still unclear, although some medical experts believe it may be caused by an overactive sympathetic nervous system – the part of your body that elicits “fight or flight” responses.

This theory makes sense, as people tend to develop their first symptoms of fibromyalgia after experiencing a physically or emotionally traumatic event, though it has never been scientifically proven.

Fibromyalgia is somewhat of an umbrella term used to describe someone who is experiencing a certain combination of symptoms. Some people who develop fibromyalgia begin with chronic bouts of stress or depression, while other symptoms build over time. Fibromyalgia also tends to affect more women than men, and your likelihood of developing it increases if you have a family member with the same condition.

The most common symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

Nausea
Fluctuations in mood
Forgetfulness or disorientation
Disrupted sleep cycles/irregular sleep schedules
Sensitivity to touch/numbness
Chronic and/or sharp muscle pains
Tender areas of the body
Fatigue

If you are dealing with fibromyalgia, symptoms and you are looking to find long-lasting relief, talk with, Dr. John T. Toth, our dedicated chiropractor at Vitality Health Center by calling 651-773-9414.

Vitality Health Center serves patients in White Bear Lake, White Bear Township, Gem Lake, Little Canada, Vadnais Heights, Mahtomedi, Maplewood, North St. Paul, Shoreview, Oakdale, Lake Elmo, Woodbury, Arden Hills, North Oaks, Pine Springs, Grant and surrounding areas.