Besides complaints of chronic pain, patients who seek our Escondido fibromyalgia chiropractic relief care share the cognitive symptoms they experience due to fibromyalgia. Known as fibro fog, or sometimes brain fog, the cognitive symptoms are problems that affect the concentration and memory of people living with fibromyalgia. Let’s take a closer look at some of the cognitive difficulties that come along with fibromyalgia.

1. Concentration Problems

Those who experience fibro fog may have a similar problem as those people with attention deficit disorder (ADD). Focusing on work tasks or home duties, or even just on conversations can be difficult. Adding to the problem is lack of concentration and problems with short-term memory and retention. Some fibromyalgia sufferers can hardly remember where they left their keys, what they went to the grocery store for, or what the last conversation they had was about.

2. Memory Issues

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, fibromyalgia patients experience impairment in different types of memory, such as the following:

  • Working memory

This is a section of short-term memory that involves the ability to absorb and process facts. As a result, people with fibromyalgia may have a hard time with reading, solving math problems, language skills, and other procedures that require provisionally storing data in the brain.

  • Semantic memory

This comprises the ability to remember general information.  

  • Metamemory

This contains self-awareness of your own memory. Fibromyalgia impacts someone’s ability to use memories as support in learning. Metamemory is vital in decision making, and the loss of it may result in impaired judgment among fibromyalgia patients. 

3. Impaired Cognitive Abilities

Studies reveal that people living with fibromyalgia have a diminished ability to perform simple cognitive duties. This includes many cognitive functions of the brain from mentally solving a simple equation to completing problem-solving tasks.

4. Difficulty Multi-Tasking

The inability to concentrate or keep focused and the lack of attentiveness get worse when a fibromyalgia patient faces multiple tasks at the same time. They may jumble in their head the instructions on how to accomplish each task. They may also partially complete tasks without finishing them. The worst thing is that they may completely forget responsibilities.

5. Impaired Judgment 

This pertains to the impact of fibromyalgia on metamemory. When you’re unable to make use of your memory to make sound decisions, you may repeat past errors.  This is the case for people living with fibromyalgia. It’s not that they can’t remember memories. They have a reduced ability to relate memories to results to foresee the consequences of present-day actions. 

6. Inhibited Verbal Skills

Sometimes fibromyalgia sufferers have difficulties finding the right words to express themselves, even when they have a good vocabulary. This goes back to issues with both the working and semantic memory. The inability to remember general facts affects a person’s vocabulary recall. The obstructed working memory makes it more challenging to recall the first half of the sentence while looking for words to say the second half. The outcome is verbal fluency suffers, and it becomes harder to learn new reading or verbal skills. Speech may transpire slowly or be altered in other ways.

How to Fight Fibro Fog 

Through some lifestyle adjustments and self-care, you will be able to counteract the cognitive symptoms of fibromyalgia even at home. Here are some of the practices you can apply:

  • Maintain a Regular Sleep Schedule

Sleep inadequacy can worsen the cognitive symptoms of fibromyalgia.

  • Use Reminders

Through trial and error, you can find out what works best for you. Write on sticky notes, maintain a calendar, or set alarms on your phone – do whatever assists you in recalling things the best.

  • Reduce Caffeine Intake

Too much caffeine can aggravate retention and attention issues. If possible, choose to stay away from caffeine altogether. 

  • Choose a Nutritious Diet

Healthy nutrition is crucial for cognitive processing. 

  • Stick to Your Routine

Routine can help you tremendously in remembering tasks and finishing them. For example, if you always leave your phone on a table next to your computer, you never have to wonder why it’s missing. When you do an exercise, always start with the same workout and stick to a specific order so that you won’t miss something.

A Natural Remedy for Fibromyalgia

This natural remedy may also help you to go after the very root cause of fibromyalgia. Cognitive issues and chronic pain conditions can originate from a specific misalignment of the C1 (atlas) vertebra. Atlas misalignment can hinder the proper flow of oxygen-rich blood to the brain, and at the same time, obstruct brainstem function.

Upper cervical chiropractic therapy in Escondido is a niche in the chiropractic profession that involves exact measurements of the atlas and gentle adjustments that lead to better blood flow and the restoration of function of the nervous system. After receiving upper cervical chiropractic care, some patients experience the complete resolution of the cognitive symptoms and other hallmark signs of fibromyalgia.

To get more information about upper cervical chiropractic and how it can help you or a loved one get fibromyalgia relief in Escondido, contact Rickards Chiropractic in Escondido, California. Schedule a no-obligation consultation with us at your convenience. This could be your opportunity toward freedom from the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

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To schedule a consultation with Dr. Rickards, call our Escondido office at (760) 745-1511. You can also click the button below.

If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.