One of the reasons why people seek a chiropractor for fibromyalgia in Dublin is to relieve their symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 5 million individuals have fibromyalgia (FM). Most of these FM patients suffer from depression, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, and various other symptoms.
Fibromyalgia is a life-changing chronic condition. If not all, most FM patients feel as if their lives have already gotten stolen from them. Medication frequently deals with specific symptoms only. Doctors are unsure how to care for this condition as a whole.
Various theories offer ways to understand fibromyalgia better. One prevalent theory shows that fibromyalgia is highly associated with a malfunction of the central nervous system (CNS). Therefore, there is one factor that contributes to the pain linked with this condition. It is called central sensitization
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Fibromyalgia And Central Sensitization
First, let’s discuss some points about central sensitization. It is not a regular term that we hear regularly. Central sensitization is a condition of the nervous system that causes chronic pain to develop. If central sensitization occurs, the nervous system undergoes through a specific process that is called a wind-up. In other words, the body goes into a state of high reactivity. Then it stays there for long periods, never going back to normal. A chiropractor for fibromyalgia in Dublin knows how to deal with central sensitization.
When you get injured, the body’s initial reaction is to wind up the pain receptors. As a result, you can immediately react and remove yourself from whatever is causing your pain. However, imagine if your pain receptors stayed on all the time. These things would happen:
- Every bump or touch would record as pain in your brain.
- Your brain is in a state of a heightened sense of pain at all times.
- Every intensified sense of pain you experience would make you feel as if you are going insane.
Someone merely touching your arm should not produce the amount of pain you are getting. However, when you have fibromyalgia, the pain can feel very real to you.
What Causes Central Sensitization?
Central sensitization can be due to a stroke or a spinal cord injury, but not in every case. Another thing that can contribute to this condition and FM is a misalignment in the upper cervical spine. The C1 (atlas) and C2 (axis) vertebrae protect the delicate brainstem and spinal cord. The brainstem is the central hub of communication between the brain and the body.
However, if you suffered an accident or trauma of some kind, you might suffer from a misaligned vertebra. When this happens, your brainstem suffers from stress. As a result, it can start sending the wrong signals to the brain. When it does, the brain will receive messages saying there is severe pain when there is only a little or no discomfort. Thus, fibromyalgia can be the result of such misalignment in the upper cervical spine.
Therefore, this also would explain why so many medications recommended for fibromyalgia patients only offer temporary relief. They only deal with the symptoms. Medicine does not solve the underlying cause of FM. If the root cause becomes ignored, there can be no complete or long–term relief. A chiropractor for fibromyalgia in Dublin can provide long-term relief from fibromyalgia using a natural and non-intrusive technique, which we will discuss later.
Self-Care Tips To Improve Fibromyalgia
Besides getting a spinal adjustment with the help of a chiropractor for fibromyalgia in Dublin to correct the misaligned bones in your upper cervical spine, there are a few more things you can do to improve your fibromyalgia symptoms. These self-care options can help minimize the impact of central sensitization. These are natural ways of helping you deal with your FM.
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Drink More Than Enough Water
Keeping yourself hydrated is right for your body. Proper hydration keeps the joints lubricated well enough, and your body refreshed, ready to flush out toxins and waste. Avoid dehydration.
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Work At Improving Your Posture
A good posture can help keep your spine healthy and properly aligned.
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Eat A Healthy Diet
Yes, this can be a cliché, age-old advice, but that is because it works. We recommend a diet rich in seafood, protein, eggs, and fruits and vegetables. Also, make sure to keep your weight within a healthy range.
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Exercise
While this recommendation may seem impossible if you are in pain, mild exercises prove to be effective in minimizing the pain experienced by FM patients. It keeps the muscles and spine healthy and helps with your flexibility and blood circulation. It also can help you sleep better at night.
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Get Complimentary Therapy
Acupuncture and massage may be helpful when it comes to reducing your pain. However, sometimes they can only help temporarily.
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Get Regular Good Night’s Rest
Having a poor sleep is common for FM patients. However, do not give up hope. Try your best to get as much quality sleep as you can. Prepare your room and make it dark, quiet, and serene. Also, try taking a warm bath before bed to soothe and relax your muscles. Find a good sleep routine that works for you. Make a routine time, so you can start sleeping and waking at the same time each day. Listen to some soothing music before bed. Make sure you do not drink a lot of water a couple of hours before your sleep schedule. This is to save yourself from waking up often in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.
Consult With an Upper Cervical Chiropractor for Fibromyalgia in Dublin
Numerous studies have proven the success and effectiveness of upper cervical chiropractic care. Visit us here at Vital Life Wellness Center in Dublin, California. Our chiropractor for fibromyalgia in Dublin may help you experience significant improvements in your fibromyalgia symptoms. We do this by examining your neck for any tiny misalignments that may be the underlying cause of your chronic pain and other fibromyalgia symptoms. Then we will use a method that is extremely gentle and precise to correct the misalignments.
Our approach is very tender, non-invasive, and highly effective. It can lead to a significant reduction in your symptoms. Some patients even report complete freedom from fibromyalgia after receiving upper cervical chiropractic care.
Call us at 925-281-3889 or fill out our appointment request form to consult with our chiropractor.
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/