Fibromyalgia and Upper Cervical Care
Introduction
Fibromyalgia is one of the most debilitating and misdiagnosed of all conditions. It is characterized by chronic arthritic-like pain and “tender points” in muscles, ligaments, tendons and other soft tissue areas of the body and it is often accompanied by fatigue. Women are 10 times more likely than men to have this condition and the risk for getting it increases with age.
Fibromyalgia Symptoms
There isn’t any one test that can confirm a fibromyalgia diagnosis. A lab tech can’t detect it in your blood sample nor can a radiologist “see” it in an x-ray. Rather, a diagnosis of fibromyalgia is ruled in or out based on a number of symptoms. In fact, fibromyalgia is called a “syndrome” because it consists of a number of symptoms that occur together.
Sufferers may experience any of the following symptoms:
- Widespread pain in muscles, ligaments and tendons
- Fatigue
- Tender points – areas of the body where even the slightest application of pressure produces pain
- Sleep disturbances, restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea
- Headaches
- Facial pain
- TMJ
- Neck pain
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Incontinence
- Depression
- Abdominal pain
- Chest pains
- Difficulty concentrating (fibro “fog”)
- Tingling sensation in hands/feet
- Muscle stiffness
- Dry mouth, nose, eyes
- Blurry vision
- Heightened sensitivity to heat, cold, smells, bright lights and/or sounds
The presence and severity of symptoms can be affected by a number of factors, including the weather, stress, hormonal changes, physical activity and time of day. For example, many people experience more severe symptoms when they awaken or as they approach the evening hours.
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has established guidelines for diagnosing fibromyalgia that require the experience of widespread pain (pain must occur on both sides of the body, above and below the waist) for at least three months. The ACR also identifies 18 tender points on the body that should be tested; pain at 11 points may indicate the presence of fibromyalgia.
Tender points include:
- Back of the head
- Area between the shoulder blades
- Tops of shoulders
- Upper chest
- Outer elbows
- Upper hips
- Sides of the hips
- Inner knees
Fibromyalgia diagnosis can be further complicated by an array of symptoms, such as headaches, depression and fatigue, that can be present in many other conditions. In addition, a person with fibromyalgia may have a number of co-occurring conditions (conditions that exist along with fibromyalgia), including depression, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis and endometriosis.
Causes of Fibromyalgia
The underlying cause of fibromyalgia baffles the medical community. No one is really sure what causes it and there may not even be a single cause at all. Some medical professionals believe that fibromyalgia is triggered by the increased sensitivity of neurons (pain receptors) in the brain to pain signals. This increased sensitivity may result from repeated nerve stimulation that causes the neurons to “hold on to” pain memories, making them overreact to pain signals. This theory is called central sensitization.
There are several other theories regarding the causes of fibromyalgia which include:
- Genetics/Heredity
- A defect in the central nervous system that causes it to interpret pain abnormally
- Injury to the upper cervical spine that affects the central nervous system (resulting from an accident, fall, sports injury, etc.)
- Psychological stress
- Physical/emotional trauma (i.e., post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Sleep disturbances
- Bacterial or viral infection
- Hormonal factors
- Decrease in blood flow to the muscles that causes weakness and fatigue
Fibromyalgia Treatment (Conventional)
Conventional treatment of fibromyalgia includes drug therapy with antidepressants, anti-inflammatory pain medications and/or Lyrica for pain and the depression associated with fibromyalgia. Other forms of treatment include physical therapy, psychological therapy (to learn how to deal with and reduce stress), support group participation, exercise, eating a balanced diet and avoiding caffeine (to help with sleep issues) and over-the-counter OTC pain relievers.
Upper Cervical Care and Fibromyalgia
Upper Cervical doctors are specially trained to address trauma to the upper cervical spine, which can cause misalignment of the atlas (the top vertebra in the spine). This misalignment may result in nerve interference that compromises the body's own natural ability to function and heal properly.
An injury to the upper cervical spine can affect the central nervous system and may cause fibromyalgia. This type of injury can result from a fall, an accident or a sports injury.
An Upper Cervical doctor applies a safe, gentle correction to the atlas, also known as the C1 vertebra. The effect of this single adjustment removes irritation to the nerve centers that control muscle activity, often alleviating the symptoms and the cause of fibromyalgia.
Through the use of very precise diagnostic tools, including X-rays and digital infrared imaging, an Upper Cervical doctor can determine the exact location of an atlas misalignment. Following the application of a very specific Upper Cervical adjustment, these same tools confirm that the proper correction has taken place.
In a study of 23 participants, who had fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, all received Upper Cervical care. Every participant was able to resume normal activities, including full-time work, within seven months of beginning care.
For fibromyalgia sufferers, the good news is that Upper Cervical care can end their longstanding battle with pain and fatigue and give them their lives back.
