Fibromyalgia

The word fibromyalgia comes from the Latin term for fibrous tissue (fibro) and the Greek ones for muscle (myo) and pain (algia). Fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic disorder which includes widespread muscle pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points that affects 3-6 million people in the United States.

According to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), fibromyalgia is defined as a history of pain in all four quadrants – in the right and left side of your body as well as above and below your waist – of the body lasting more than 3 months. The ACR also described 18 characteristic tender points on the body that are associated with fibromyalgia and in order to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a person must have 11 or more of those tender points. In addition to pain and fatigue, people who have fibromyalgia may experience:

• Sleep disturbances
• Morning stiffness
• Headaches
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Painful menstrual periods
• Numbness or tingling of the extremities
• Restless legs syndrome
• Temperature sensitivity
• Cognitive and memory problems (sometimes referred to as “fibro fog”)

For reasons that are unclear, more than 90% of those who develop fibromyalgia are women. It is not currently known whether the predominance of women who suffer from fibromyalgia is a phenomenon of the socialization of women in the American culture or whether it is some combination of the female reproductive hormones and other genetic predispositions.

One of the major physical abnormalities that occur with fibromyalgia lies in the muscle itself, where there is a build-up of a protein called “Ground Substance.” Ground substance is normally found in muscle, bone and connective tissue all over the body and is responsible for making the tissues stronger and less susceptible to tearing. In a normal person, when a muscle is injured, the muscle tissue itself is able to regenerate and over time, completely heal itself. In a person with fibromyalgia, the muscle is unable to completely heal itself. Instead, an abnormally large amount of ground substance builds up in the injured area. It is the ground substance, coupled with local muscle spasm it creates that creates the muscle ‘knots’ associated with fibromyalgia.

A number of tests may be done to rule out other disorders and an examination can reveal whether a person has the characteristic tender areas on the back of the neck, shoulders, sternum, lower back, hips, shins, elbows, or knees, but there is currently no diagnostic laboratory tests. Because there are no clinical tests for fibromyalgia, some doctors, unfortunately, conclude that a patient’s pain is not real, or they may tell them that there is little they can do. But a combination of chiropractic, trigger point therapy, and lifestyle changes have proven to be very effective in decreasing the severity and duration of the physical pain and disability of fibromyalgia.

Chiropractic care is critical for those who suffer from fibromyalgia in order to keep the spine and muscles from losing too much movement. Because fibromyalgia causes the muscles to tighten up and lose some of their natural pliability, it results in a global loss of movement in the spine. The loss of movement in the spine results in a neurological reflex that causes the muscles to tighten further. This vicious cycle will continue and over time will lead to increased pain, increased muscle tightness, a loss of movement, more difficulty sleeping and the development of more trigger points.

It is not uncommon for those with fibromyalgia to be adjusted three to four times per month to keep everything mobile and relaxed. The biggest concern in treating people with fibromyalgia is that their muscles have a diminished healing ability and for this reason, chiropractic adjustments are usually modified slightly to be more gentle than normal. This helps to decrease the stress on all of the small supporting muscles of the spine, which can be easily injured. We are familiar with the muscular changes that occur with fibromyalgia allowing us to effectively treat it.

Your day to day lifestyle choices has a tremendous impact on fibromyalgia symptoms. Those who make lifestyle changes to help their fibromyalgia suffer much less pain, are able to remain more active and have a much higher quality of life than those who do not. If you have fibromyalgia, listed below are some of the main things that you can do on a daily basis to help your body.

Getting Enough Sleep

Getting enough sleep and the right kind of sleep can help ease the pain and fatigue of fibromyalgia but is something that can be hard to get. Many people with fibromyalgia have problems such as pain, restless legs syndrome and brainwave irregularities that interfere with restful sleep. Insomnia is very common. Practice relaxation techniques before bedtime, avoid eating big meals close to bedtime and avoid screens in the bedroom.

Exercise

Improved fitness through exercise is recommended. Studies have shown that fibromyalgia symptoms can be relieved by aerobic exercise. Though pain and fatigue may make exercise and daily activities difficult, it’s crucial to be as physically active as possible. The best way to begin a fitness program is to start with low impact exercises, like walking and swimming. Starting slowly helps stretch and mobilize tight, sore muscles. We can prescribe an exercise regimen tailored for your body and lifestyle because the more you can exercise, the better off you will be.

Make Changes at Work

Most people with fibromyalgia are able to continue working, but they may have to make big changes to do so. It may be necessary to reduce the number of hours at work, find a job that will allow you to have a flexible schedule, or switch to a less physically demanding job. Many people with fibromyalgia require specially designed office chairs, adjustable desks or other adaptations in order to continue working. If you face obstacles at work, such as an uncomfortable desk chair that leaves your back aching or difficulty lifting heavy boxes or files, your employer may make adaptations that will enable you to keep your job.

Eating Well

Foods, just like anything else, have the ability to either add stress to your body or to help your body heal. Foods that tend to be stressful on the body include; dairy, eggs, wheat, corn, as well as anything with monosodium glutamate (MSG), nitrates or nitrites (as are found in processed foods). Several environmental toxins may also contribute to the overall physical stress on your body, therefore fish should be avoided as well. It is important that you eat as much clean, organically grown fresh foods as possible. Base your diet on whole foods such as; brown rice, legumes, oats, spelt, rice milk, soy, hormone-free chicken or turkey, roots, nuts, and berries. We can discuss best nutritional options for your body and lifestyle.