Fibromyalgia is one of the most common chronic pain conditions that people in the US suffer from. It is a painful condition that can cause widespread pain throughout the body’s muscles and skeletal structure, as well as chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and sleeping disorders.
If you are asking can chiropractors help with fibromyalgia, then you’re doing it right! Although it has been difficult to diagnose accurately due to its wide range of symptoms, chiropractic treatment can help patients reduce their fibromyalgia pain significantly.
Chiropractors believe that misalignments in the spine cause inaccurate signals sent through nerves leading to heightened sensations of pain all over our body – making spinal adjustments an effective treatment option for musculoskeletal pains like those associated with fibromyalgia.
We’ll here explore how chiropractic care can offer relief from painful conditions such as fibromyalgia. We will also provide valuable information about this natural treatment method whilst discussing ways chiropractic care helps in treating different types of general muscular pains too!
Complications Associated with Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a painful condition often characterized by musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and poor quality of sleep. Beyond the physical symptoms, there are various complications associated with it that need attention. Let’s take an up-close look at these debilitating concerns.
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Increased Risk of Depression
Fibromyalgia often increases the risk of developing depression in patients suffering from this condition. A survey showed that nearly 90% of fibromyalgia patients experience symptoms linked with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
Researchers also found that after one year, approximately 50 percent of those hospitalized for some fibromyalgia complication took repeated psychiatric treatment compared to only a few with similar rheumatic disorders.
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Elevated Rates of Injuries and Suicide-Related Deaths
Fibromyalgia sufferers are at an elevated risk for injuries and suicide-related deaths. According to a study conducted by the American College of Rheumatology, fibromyalgia patients have an increased rate of self-injury and attempted suicide compared to those without fibromyalgia.
In addition, there are daily musculoskeletal symptoms related to chronic pain in these patients. These people receive more accidental kicks from falling or other sources, leading them more at risk for injury than people without pain complaints.
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Greater Prevalence of Other Rheumatic Disorders
Fibromyalgia is often associated with other rheumatic disorders like osteoarthritis, lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Women who have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia are five times as likely to suffer from some other chronic pain disorder and two-and-a-half times more likely to develop another related autoimmune disease, such as Sjögren’s syndrome or Rheumatoid arthritis, than women without the condition.
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Frequent Hospitalizations
Patients with fibromyalgia are often hospitalized due to various complications and emergency visits, leading to greater costs of healthcare. A report says that the rate of hospitalization for patients suffering from fibromyalgia is 73% higher than for other rheumatic disorders.
The high rate of hospitalization also increases the likelihood of these patients experiencing depression and anxiety during follow-up appointments, underlining the need for innovative methods for managing their symptoms while reducing healthcare costs at large.
Signs and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is characterized by several symptoms that can make day-to-day life difficult for those who suffer from it. Some of the most common signs and symptoms include:
– Widespread pain throughout the entire body
– Chronic fatigue
– Sleeping disorders or issues with maintaining sleep quality
– Severe psychological stress, anxiety, depression, or mood swings.
– Muscular pain anywhere on the body
Many patients may also experience other conditions associated with fibromyalgia, such as migraines/postural headaches, IBS, joint stiffness, and numbness/tingling in fingers!
It is important to note that each case will vary. So if you suspect you might be suffering from this condition, then please seek expert medical advice promptly.
4 Ways That Chiropractors Can Help with Fibromyalgia Pain
Your suffering from fibromyalgia pain can be mitigated to a great extent with chiropractic care! Below are four ways chiropractors can provide relief, including spinal adjustments, physical therapy approaches, lifestyle adjustments to manage symptoms, and nutritional support to aid recovery.
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Chiropractic Adjustments
Chiropractic adjustments involve manual joint manipulation, with two common techniques known as spinal manipulation and soft tissue manipulation.
Spinal manipulations generally focus on correcting misalignments of the spine associated with fibromyalgia, improving the overall range of motion in patients, and reducing their pain. Diversified chiropractic techniques are also regularly implemented during diagnosis and treatment to identify problematic areas.
In contrast, soft-tissue mobilization may help reduce the amount of muscle tension within painful trigger points located throughout the body – which can be specifically important when treating conditions like fibromyalgia that stimulate pain signals from accumulation in these tissues.
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Physical Therapy Approaches
Physical therapy techniques can help fibromyalgia patients with spine and body movement, increase the range of motion, and lead to more pain relief.
Some chiropractors work with a network of other health care professionals, like physiotherapists or massage therapists, who specialize in treating the symptoms of fibromyalgia, like therapeutic exercises and specific stretches that don’t put too much strain on the muscles and are safe for many people with this condition.
Massage therapy treatments like myofascial release might also offer some symptom management benefits.
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Lifestyle Adjustments for Fibromyalgia Management
In addition to the specific physical therapies and spinal adjustments chiropractors offer, they will also provide advice on lifestyle adjustments you can make to manage your fibromyalgia symptoms. By focusing on ergonomics, postural corrections, stress-reduction techniques, and mind-body approaches like yoga or meditation, chiropractic care can help you gain control of your life once again in a natural way.
Examples of some effective relaxation techniques include deep breathing exercises when sitting up straight at work or doing other activities that require staying still for long periods throughout the day, as these help decrease muscle pain while increasing focus levels, so we become more efficient workers overall without having any adverse effects over time- Truly amazing, right?
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Nutritional Support for Fibromyalgia Relief
Nutritional support can offer an excellent way to mitigate fibromyalgia symptoms. Chiropractors often recommend anti-inflammatory diets, which include eating fresh vegetables and fruits, oily fish like salmon or mackerel, whole grains, beans, and legumes. These reduce muscle inflammation levels, thus helping reduce pain sensations throughout your body.
In addition to anti-inflammatory diet recommendations, the chiropractor also suggests various nutritional supplements that are good for pain management, such as-
-Omega-3 supplements that reduce inflammation systemically in the entire body;
-Vitamin D3, which is an essential nutrient for musculoskeletal health;
-Magnesium supplements, as it regulates nerve signal transmission among many others, each potentially aiding recovery from this painful condition!
Get Help From Chiropractic Specialist
The Brost Clinic is a chiropractic and natural healthcare clinic in Minnesota specializing in the treatment of fibromyalgia pain, and we can be your answer to seeking natural care! With more than a decade of experience under our belt, we can help patients alleviate their painful conditions using hands-on treatments that focus on aligning the spine to reduce musculoskeletal pain.
During your visit to The Brost Clinic, you will receive guidance from our professional chiropractors, who can provide customized care plans based on individual patient needs. We encourage those suffering from fibromyalgia or any chronic condition to seek expert advice before trying out other options.
It’s important for individuals to take control of their journey towards healing by educating themselves about ways and methods that could aid them – achieving this through seeking professional guidance!
So why wait? Take action today by scheduling an appointment with our dedicated team at The Brost Clinic!