What is Fibromyalgia, and can chiropractic help?

Fibromyalgia is a very controversial topic. There are some healthcare providers that claim there is no such thing as fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, there is no single test that can fully diagnose fibromyalgia. There is even a debate over diagnostic criteria and whether an objective diagnosis is possible. Basically, this boils down to it being very difficult to make a true diagnosis of fibromyalgia. In addition, many patients are misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia. This usually occurs after years of seeing multiple doctors and not receiving any help with the provided treatment options.

Now, let’s take a step back and discuss what we currently know about fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a medical condition characterized by chronic widespread pain and a heightened pain response to pressure. Patients often suffer with extreme fatigue, sleep problems, and short-term memory issues.

The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown and females are affected about twice as often as males. Although there is no single test for this disease, patient’s typically have a history of widespread pain lasting more than three months. This widespread pain will affect most, if not all four quadrants of the body. Some providers may still use the 18 designated possible tender points to help guide their diagnostic options. However, the diagnosis is no longer based on the number of tender points.

So, can chiropractic help or not? My answer is yes…..and no…..and sometimes. Yes, this is vague I know. Unfortunately, there is no blanket answer for this topic. Fibromyalgia is considered to be the result of an overactive nervous system. Chiropractic care is able to generate amazing results for patients that suffer with nervous system issues. But…patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia must be treated cautiously. Treatment that is too frequent or too aggressive can cause a patient with fibromyalgia to suffer with soreness and flare-ups. In addition to chiropractic care, fibromyalgia patients should be given specific exercises to help them cope with their widespread pain.

Do you know someone suffering with fibromyalgia? Do you think you might have fibromyalgia? Seeking the proper treatment care can avoid years of misdiagnosis and worthless treatments. Bring any questions you might have about fibromyalgia the next time you are in the office. I encourage you to share this blog post with any friends or family members that are fighting with this horrible disease. Lastly, don’t forget to take advantage of our free consultations for any loved ones with fibromyalgia. I would be happy to go over any and all of their questions.

Click here for a great article about Fibromyalgia and Chiropractic.