The chronic disorder fibromyalgia (FM) is well-known for causing great pain all over the body, which includes bones and muscles. No wonder many sufferers look for the nearest Dublin chiropractor for fibromyalgia.
Extreme exhaustion and tenderness also accompany FM. These types of symptoms are personal, meaning there isn’t a distinct reason they happen. As a result, the misdiagnosis of fibromyalgia is a common thing.
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Is Fibromyalgia Real?
Some doctors don’t recognize fibromyalgia as a real condition. According to the Mayo Clinic, this increases the risk of depression among patients, besides the lack of proper diagnosis. However, as more and more people suffer from it, they begin to see the truth about the condition.
No single test can confirm nor deny the existence of fibromyalgia. It isn’t effortless to prove its existence. This is part of the problem of why there is a stigma around the condition. Thankfully, more researchers are coming closer and closer to understanding it, causing the stigma surrounding it to go away.
Pain medication is rarely effective in relieving and caring for fibromyalgia. Doctors are now beginning to suggest lifestyle changes to help manage fibromyalgia effectively.
Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia
People with fibromyalgia are familiar with tender points or trigger points on the body. These specific spots on your body can trigger pain even from just a gentle touch. In the past, these trigger points allow proper diagnosing of FM.
Today that is no longer the case. However, these tender spots can be clues that narrow down the list of possible diagnoses. Along with other consistent symptoms and further medical tests, the tender spots can help determine whether you have fibromyalgia or not. To get an FM diagnosis, you must experience pain that affects multiple areas of your body for at least three whole months.
Here are nine specific tender points associated with fibromyalgia:
- Both sides of the back of the head
- Both sides of the neck
- Both sides of the upper chest
- Both sides of the hips
- Shoulder blades
- The top of each shoulder
- The Buttocks
- Insides of both knees
- The outside of each elbow
Other Fibromyalgia Symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Aching feeling or pain in the lower abdomen
- Headaches
- Extreme exhaustion
- Inability to focus or pay attention
- Sleeping problems
- Waking up in the morning still feeling so weak
- Fibro fog – difficulty concentrating and remembering information
Symptoms of fibromyalgia result from the brain and nerves misrepresenting or overreacting to your pain signals. There may be a chemical imbalance that causes this condition.
Fibromyalgia pain is in the joints, muscles, and tendons of the body. The aching feeling attacks both sides of the body and both upper and lower areas. It is a dull ache that may get worse with strenuous exercise. Pain has also felt as throbbing or burning sensations accompanied by numbness and tingling in the limbs. It would seem to get worse in regularly used muscles like those in the hands, legs, and feet.
Stiffness may also be quite regular. Some people report that the pain is more severe when they first get up in the morning, then it would seem to improve during the day. However, it would get worse again at night.
Fibromyalgia and Heart Disease
In Taiwan, researchers have found that fibromyalgia patients have a higher risk of heart disease. They theorized that this may be due to greater health problems due to fibromyalgia or genetics. Currently, they discovered that there is a strong link between heart disease and fibromyalgia, not that one causes the other.
As mentioned earlier, women are three times more prone to developing fibromyalgia than men. Women have different symptoms when it comes to heart disease. This may be the reason why heart conditions in women often go undiagnosed. Since fibromyalgia on its own is still not completely understood, other ailments and conditions are also frequently undetected.
Another study showed that those with FM have been seen to have a higher risk of stroke. Age was seen to have the highest impact on whether or not one will have a stroke. It is interesting to learn that the link between stroke and fibromyalgia had the largest impact on younger people rather than the older ones.
There is a vicious cycle to this situation. Here are a number of reasons it would likely happen. When you feel bad about yourself or you are not feeling well, you are less likely to engage in exercise. Without exercise, there is a tendency to gain weight. When you gain weight, you raise your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Thus, increasing inflammation and it gets worse.
Crucial tips for improving heart health while suffering from FM:
- Care for your mental health by working to manage anxiety and depression
- Develop an easy to follow and regular sleep routine
- Do some light exercises every day such as biking, dancing, or walking
- Massage therapy will help slow down your heart rate
- Reducing stress levels can reduce heart-related problems
Choose Upper Cervical Care for Fibromyalgia
We recommend that you seek help from the nearest Dublin chiropractor for fibromyalgia. Consider consulting with Dr. Andrea Pritchett of Vital Life Wellness Center.
There is a direct link between a misalignment in the bones of the upper cervical spine and the onset of fibromyalgia. This has to do with the stress and pressure that is on the brainstem if a misalignment is found in either the C1 or C2 vertebra. When this occurs, improper signals are transmitted to the brain wrongfully. If the brainstem signals the brain that there is a pain when there is none, then this is how fibromyalgia can ensue.
Upper cervical chiropractic uses a gentle method that helps the neck bones to realign and heal properly. This technique does not introduce further pain. Once the bones are corrected and realigned, many patients can see improvement in their fibromyalgia symptoms. Call 925-281-3889 to learn how to start receiving this proven form of care.
To schedule a complimentary NUCCA consultation, call 925-281-3889 or just 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.
Dr. Andrea Pritchett of Vital Life Wellness Center in Dublin, California is an Dublin Chiropractor and Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). Her upper cervical clinic also serves Pleasanton, Livermore, San Ramon and Danville. She is uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck).
This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including children’s conditions such as ear infections, colic and scoliosis and problems that adults face including migraines and other headaches, fibromyalgia, sciatica, neck and back pain, and more. More information can be found on our website at https://www.vlifewellness.com/