Fibromyalgia (FM) cases continue to rise over the years in Georgia, prompting patients to seek a fibromyalgia chiropractor in Decatur. Despite this fact, not so many people are aware of or familiar with the condition. If you have fibromyalgia or happen to know someone who does, this blog can serve as a guide on everything about the mysterious syndrome. Later, we will talk about a natural method to relieve the debilitating symptoms of fibromyalgia.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Let’s get one thing straight first and foremost: you cannot catch fibromyalgia from another person. Unlike infections, it is not contagious and cannot be transmitted from person to person. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that makes a person affected suffer from widespread musculoskeletal pain in various parts of the body. Other FM signs and symptoms include:
- Fibro fog: Cognitive problems affecting thinking ability and memory
- Extreme exhaustion: FM sufferers often wake up exhausted despite having long hours of sleep the previous night.
- Moodiness: Often, the mood changes are due to pain. Non-stop pain can drain the energy and leave a person feeling anxious and stressed out.
- Sleep disorders: Pain disrupts the sleep of FM patients. Some of them also have insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome.
Conditions That May Accompany Fibromyalgia
Reports showed that 9 out of 10 cases of fibromyalgia are in women. Several other conditions may accompany fibromyalgia, such as:
- Anxiety and depression
- Tension headaches
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Migraines
- TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders
- Interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome
A study revealed that fibromyalgia amplifies the pain signals that reach the brain. Researchers noted that in most cases, the onset of fibromyalgia symptoms happen following a physical injury, psychological stress, infection, or surgery. Sometimes symptoms just appear out of the blue without any apparent trigger.
How is Fibromyalgia Diagnosed?
Diagnosing fibromyalgia in the past was different. Doctors used to look at 18 different spots in the body and press them firmly to see if they would react to pain. But after they have realized that pain is subjective and unreliable (one day the pain points may hurt but the next day they may not), things changed for good. Today, doctors need to rule out other disorders with similar symptoms and consider the pain duration the patient is experiencing. To get a fibromyalgia diagnosis, you must have a widespread body pain for more than three months. Only doctors can diagnose fibromyalgia, but a fibromyalgia chiropractor in Decatur can help relieve its symptoms.
Who is at Risk for Fibromyalgia?
- Women
- Those with a family history of fibromyalgia
- People with chronic conditions like lupus, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.
Why Does Fibromyalgia Occur?
The medical community believes that genetics play a role in fibromyalgia. Specific gene mutations may make a person more prone to having the syndrome. Other contributing factors are infections, stressors, and injuries from accidents. However, the most interesting theory on the origin of fibromyalgia is the study that says the brains of fibromyalgia sufferers change more often when nerve stimulation happens. This leads to the soar in the levels of neurotransmitters, the brain chemicals that transmit pain signals. Simply put, the pain receptors in the brain become more sensitive to pain, causing them to overreact to stimuli.
What is The Best Care for Fibromyalgia?
When it comes to managing FM, conventional care alternatives focus on improving the symptoms and overall health of patients.
Medications
Doctors may prescribe these medications:
- Painkillers: Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, and other over-the-counter pain may help FM sufferers. Physicians may also recommend prescription painkillers, such as tramadol.
- Antidepressants: Medications that ease pain and fatigue are also available, including Cymbalta and Savella. Muscle relaxant cyclobenzaprine or Amitriptyline can improve sleep.
- Anti-seizure pills: Some people feel less pain after taking medications for epilepsy, although body reactions to these types of drugs differ for every person. Neurontin and Lyrica can also care for FM.
Therapies
Fibromyalgia patients may also benefit from these therapies:
- Physical therapy: Staying active and doing some exercises can help reduce pain and boost your stamina, strength, and flexibility.
- Occupational therapy: A specialist can assist you in adjusting your workstation to make things convenient for you. You can also gain more strategies to cope with stress, a common fibromyalgia trigger.
- Counseling: Sharing your thoughts and experiences to someone who understands does not only helps improve your mood but also offers a new method to help you deal with stress.
You can also opt for practical strategies to improve your life with fibromyalgia. Daily exercises do wonder in improving your symptoms and relieving pain. They don’t need to be vigorous. Gentle, low-impact exercises will do, such as walking and yoga. Be sure also to get adequate sleep and eat a healthy diet.
Get the Help of a Fibromyalgia Chiropractor in Decatur
In many case studies, upper cervical chiropractors have been successful in helping patients manage their fibromyalgia symptoms. Quite a lot of studies have pointed to faulty pain processing and signals as the reasons behind fibromyalgia. What transpires these events? If the uppermost bones of the neck move out of alignment, they cause stress on the brainstem, resulting in the sending of wrong signals to the brain. If it dictates the brain that there is pain even when there is none, fibromyalgia can be the unpleasant result. By letting a fibromyalgia chiropractor in Decatur correct the issues through upper cervical chiropractic, you can achieve relief from fibromyalgia. This method involves the precise and gentle adjustment of the C1 bone to encourage it to return in position naturally. You can expect this unique and lasting form of care here at Atlanta Upper Cervical Chiropractic in Decatur, GA. If this is something you would like to try, do not hesitate to call us at (470) 347-3737 or accomplish our form to request an appointment with our chiropractor.