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Managing Fibromyalgia Naturally with Chiropractic Care

Published Date: 
May 31, 2023
Categories:
A woman is lying in bed and cannot get comfortable because of pain from Fibromyalgia.

Chiropractic Care for Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia makes day-to-day life painful and difficult. Although there is no cure for the condition, there are medications and lifestyle changes that can ease your symptoms. Regular chiropractic care is one of the most effective treatments for managing fibromyalgia symptoms.

Nobody is sure what exactly causes fibromyalgia. Some believe it is related to the following:

  • Genetics
  • Infections
  • Physical or emotional trauma

Living with Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain. It’s one of the most challenging medical conditions for several reasons. It’s difficult to diagnose and is often only diagnosed after eliminating all other potential causes for symptoms. There is no “fibromyalgia test,” and it doesn’t appear on a scan. 

It’s also chronic. You have to continually manage symptoms to keep fibromyalgia from overwhelming your life. Many people find that if they slip up for just a few days, their symptoms flare up.

People with fibromyalgia also experience problems with sleep, fatigue, memory, and mood issues. 

Fibromyalgia causes:

Widespread Pain Throughout the Musculoskeletal System 

People with fibromyalgia describe their pain as a constant dull ache throughout their body. It occurs on both sides of their upper and lower body.

Difficulty Sleeping

People with fibromyalgia tend to experience sleep disrupted by pain. They’re also more likely to develop secondary issues that affect sleep, including sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome. 

Chronic Fatigue

It’s common for people with fibromyalgia to awaken tired, even if they’ve slept for many hours. In part, this is because they rarely get high-quality sleep. Additionally, their condition's chronic pain and emotional burden deplete their energy and will.

Other Possible Symptoms

  • Cognitive difficulties
  • Muscle and joint stiffness
  • Tension headaches
  • Digestive issues
  • Anxiety 
  • Depression
  • Irritable bowel syndrome/digestive issues
  • TMJ/TMD

Should You See a Chiropractor for Fibromyalgia Pain?

Chiropractic care can help a great deal with fibromyalgia pain. It’s safe and non-invasive, so you don’t need to worry about the side effects some people experience when using medication. You can schedule a consultation to discuss your symptoms with a chiropractor if you aren’t sure whether or not treatment will be effective.

Chiropractic Is Natural

Chiropractic treatment is drug-free. 

Chiropractic care is also holistic. Chiropractors don’t treat symptoms one by one. Instead, they treat the whole body because they consider it one comprehensive organism. Each body part is related to all of your other body parts. Treatment is extensive and affects the entire body.

You’ll never be sent off with a prescription for medication and little else when working with a chiropractor. In many cases, chiropractic treatment results in patients needing to take less medication or being able to stop their use of medication altogether. 

Safe and Effective 

You don’t need to worry about a chiropractor “cracking” or “jerking” your neck or back. Many people with fibromyalgia worry they won’t be able to undergo this treatment because it is harsh. This couldn’t be further from the truth, so don’t believe the rumors about chiropractic treatments. 

A chiropractor is administering manual adjustments on a female patient suffering from fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia patients receive the lightest pressure in their treatment. That’s all that is needed, so you don’t need to worry. There are no documented cases of a fibromyalgia patient injury due to a chiropractic adjustment. This isn’t to say there aren’t sometimes side effects. However, most people experience only positive results from their chiropractic visits.

Does chiropractic care help with fibromyalgia pain? 

Absolutely. 

In addition to a basic adjustment, some people have benefitted from adding ultrasound for even better results. And if that wasn’t enough, when chiropractic adjustments included ischemic compression, patients experienced even more improvement.

Not everyone experiences the same results. Nothing cures fibromyalgia. However, there is endless anecdotal evidence from people with fibromyalgia who benefited from chiropractic care.

Relief Is Gradual

Some people feel immediate relief after their first session. However, for others, it takes several visits before they feel better.

Be patient. It takes time for your body to heal. Remember, you aren’t masking your symptoms with drugs. When you use chiropractic care, you’re promoting your body’s natural healing abilities. This takes longer than convincing your brain you aren’t experiencing a symptom.

You’ll Experience Full-Body Improvement

Fibromyalgia causes nerve pain throughout the body. Most patients want chiropractic care for their pain, but they often find treatment improves other symptoms as well.

When a chiropractor adjusts your spinal alignment, it minimizes pressure, increases the range of motion, and improves sleep quality. 

Fibromyalgia is a multifaceted issue. It shouldn’t surprise you that there are several factors to address to treat it completely. True comprehensive care involves more than just adjustments. Chiropractors utilize:

  • Massage therapy
  • Ultrasound
  • Exercise 
  • At-home routines 
  • Recommendations for modifying your current exercise regime

Treating Fibromyalgia Pain Naturally with Chiropractic Care

A chiropractor can provide many benefits for dealing with fibromyalgia. For example, chiropractic care offers:

Pain Relief

Chiropractic care is one of the best ways to manage various types of pain, including that associated with fibromyalgia. Many people have experienced a dramatic reduction in their pain after just a few sessions with their chiropractor. Chiropractors take a holistic approach to pain management. In addition to adjustments improving pain, patients are given other tips to reduce their pain independently.

Muscle Relaxation

Chiropractic care helps with muscle relaxation. It’s a safe and effective way to relieve muscle spasms and pain without taking medication. Overactive muscles often cause muscle pain, so anything you can do to help your muscles relax should reduce pain.

A woman is getting a spinal adjustment from a chiropractor to ease her fibromyalgia symptoms.

Better Sleep

Chiropractic care promotes better quality sleep in several ways, including:

  • Alleviating the discomfort that causes restless sleep
  • Evaluating a patient’s sleep pattern and helping them develop good sleep habits
  • Easing tension in the body so you can relax and sleep better
  • Improving the body’s flow of energy and function

Reduce Stress

Chiropractic care reduces stress and improves a person’s overall quality of life. It can’t remove all stress. However, it can help you feel better and make you better able to deal with unavoidable stress in your life. 

Chiropractors can also help you develop better habits, which makes stress easier to deal with. In addition to your manual adjustment and other hands-on therapies, you’ll receive dietary guidance and fitness recommendations to help you better manage stress.

Chiropractic Treatments for Fibromyalgia Pain

What treatments is a chiropractor likely to use to help you treat fibromyalgia pain?

Chiropractic Adjustments

A chiropractic adjustment improves spinal alignment. It also incorporates some soft tissue work. This minimizes pain for people with fibromyalgia.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is an excellent tool for dealing with various types of pain, including that caused by fibromyalgia.

One study showed that over five weeks, people with fibromyalgia experienced reduced physical pain, anxiety, and depression with massage therapy. It’s a low-risk approach to treating pain that feels great, promotes healing, and allows for human connection.

Acupuncture 

Acupuncture provides many different benefits that help fibromyalgia patients, including:

  • Stimulating the release of endorphins – the body’s natural painkillers
  • Reducing inflammation
  • Calming the brain

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy makes it easier to manage fibromyalgia symptoms. Working with a physical therapist or a chiropractor providing physical therapy means you’ll have an expert resource that can provide you with information and tips specifically tailored to your body. They’ll help you take all of the information out there and apply it to your specific case of fibromyalgia. They can also provide information on support groups and self-help programs for people with your condition.

Physical therapy also helps you use exercise to manage your symptoms. One of the best things you can do when you have fibromyalgia is to reach and maintain a healthy weight. Carrying excess weight taxes your body more and makes it more challenging to deal with the pain. 

Unfortunately, people with fibromyalgia struggle to get active because of the pain. A physical therapist can help you develop a fitness program that incorporates activities such as:

  • Aerobics
  • Swimming
  • Strength training
  • Stretching
  • Yoga
  • Tai chi
  • Deep breathing

All of these things can help you decrease pain and improve your body's overall function. Physical therapy promotes general health and makes it easier to get quality sleep.

Conclusion

While chiropractic care cannot cure fibromyalgia, it can make it easier to live with. Chiropractors focus on overall health and well-being. 

Subluxations, which are misalignments of the vertebrae in the spine, are typically caused by toxins, trauma, and thoughts/stress. Subluxations hinder your nervous system’s optimal functioning and communication. When this occurs, health issues, including fibromyalgia, tend to arise. Chiropractors use gentle adjustments to the spine to ease these subluxations.

If you’re struggling with fibromyalgia or looking for the best way to manage your pain, chiropractic care can help. Look for a chiropractor who has experience working with patients with fibromyalgia.

Dr. Darren Faherty D.C.

In 2004, Dr. Darren Faherty graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from UWEC - University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. Dr. Darren continued education at the highly esteemed University of Western States (formerly Western States Chiropractic College) where he obtained his chiropractic degree in 2007. He has been helping people recover from injuries and return to their normal lifestyles ever since.

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