Living with fibromyalgia is not easy as it often causes massive disruption in the day-to-day activities of patients. Sometimes, fibromyalgia symptoms like widespread pain, sleeplessness, and tiredness can also trigger mental problems.
By knowing a thing or two about fibromyalgia, such as how to relieve it with Blair chiropractic, you can find better ways to cope. Take control of your symptoms by learning seven facts about fibromyalgia syndrome.
#1. Doctors used to consider 18 tender points for fibromyalgia diagnosis
In the earlier years, doctors primarily relied on the 18 tender points that the American College of Rheumatology identified as a criterion in diagnosing fibromyalgia. These specific points in tender or painful parts occur in cluster zones such as the chest, neck, spine, shoulders, elbows, knees, and hips. Interestingly, most of these painful points occur in the neck and spine, indicating the strong link between fibromyalgia and the spinal structure.
#2. Fibromyalgia diagnosis is quite tricky, tedious, and expensive
Before seeking remedies like Blair upper cervical adjustments, patients need to get a comprehensive fibromyalgia diagnosis. It’s a crucial step to undertake because it can help pinpoint the likely triggers of the condition. Additionally, it would help you eliminate other potential reasons behind your symptoms, such as multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
However, it’s no secret that completing a fibromyalgia diagnosis takes time. A study reveals that suspecting patients tend to wait a year before reporting their symptoms to a physician or neurologist. Then, it takes an average of 2.3 years of waiting time before getting an official diagnosis.
Besides costing you a lot of time, confirming that you have fibromyalgia can also take a toll on your finances. This is because diagnostic tests often come with a hefty price tag. The worse part is that sometimes insurance policies don’t cover such expenses, putting additional stress on ailing patients.
#3. Fibromyalgia often co-exists with other conditions
Researchers from the University of Washington note in their study that fibromyalgia is among the many disorders classified under central sensitivity syndromes (CSSs). Essentially, CSSs features various painful and debilitating conditions, which include:
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Chronic headache
- Pelvic pain syndromes
- Temporomandibular disorders
- Fibromyalgia
These health problems stem from central sensitization or a heightened state of alertness and sensitivity of the central nervous system. They share several symptoms and frequently aggravate other existing diseases or disorders. Besides CSSs disorders, some patients with fibromyalgia patients also develop additional conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
#4. Fibromyalgia patients experience different problems
No two patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia have the same set of symptoms. That’s because everyone has varying body conditions. Additionally, some might have pre-existing health problems like osteoarthritis. Generally, here are the usual signs that fibromyalgia patients observe:
- Pain on various parts of the body
- Migraine attacks
- Headaches
- Mental health problem
- Trouble processing thoughts or thinking what to say
- Sight, sound. and temperature sensitivity
- Irritable bladder or bowels
#5. Fibromyalgia can impact your sleep
Besides the health problems we enumerated above, fibromyalgia also tends to cause sleeping disorders. Statistics show that 90 percent of fibromyalgia sufferers have trouble sleeping or staying asleep. Sadly, lack of quality sleep triggers worse fibromyalgia flareups because the body becomes more sensitive to pain stimuli. It also affects your cognition, making it harder to concentrate or process information.
#6. Plenty of women experience worse fibromyalgia symptoms
While studies haven’t established the possible link between fibromyalgia and hormones, many note it tends to leave more severe effects on women than men. Some think that this mainly occurs due to under-reported or undiagnosed cases of fibromyalgia in the male population.
However, a 2015 study points out that women with fibromyalgia tend to experience worse PMS or pre-menstrual syndrome. Another study notes that fibromyalgia in women also triggers connective tissue diseases, headaches, and psychological problems.
#7. Blair upper cervical chiropractic can bring fibromyalgia relief
It can be frustrating and worrying to have frequent fibromyalgia flareups. Sadly, this is the reality of many patients, especially those with other comorbidities or existing conditions. Your best hope at experiencing relief is finding a procedure that can address the potential root cause of your situation.
As we have discussed above, fibromyalgia is among the disorders that occur because of central sensitization. Essentially, when your central nervous system is in a heightened state of sensitivity, you become more vulnerable to pain and pressure. As a result, your whole body suffers the impact of your misfiring brain and nerves.
While it can help to use certain medications for fibromyalgia, you will most likely experience relief for a brief period only. Then, once the effect of the medicine wears out, you’re back to wincing and feeling helpless and frustrated because of widespread body pain, unexplainable fatigue, and troubled sleep.
If you’ve tried every possible fibromyalgia remedy but experienced minimal improvements, we recommend giving Blair chiropractic a try. This upper cervical chiropractic technique is unique and precise. The process involves getting your neck checked for alignment problems.
Case studies reveal that patients with cervical subluxation often have fibromyalgia because of the irritated or compressed brainstem and nerve roots. By pinpointing the areas that need work, your Blair chiropractic doctor can begin planning and providing the adjustments.
The procedure, all in all, can last for several weeks, depending on the degree of cervical subluxation that you have. Once your cervical spine goes back to its normal curvature, you will start noticing improvements in your fibromyalgia symptoms.
Reach out to Rickards Precision Chiropractic & Wellness to learn about fibromyalgia relief in Escondido through Blair upper cervical care. You can message us online or talk to us at (760) 745-1511.
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If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.