What is fibromyalgia and who does it affect? Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal disorder that affects up to twenty million people. Generally, women are diagnosed ten times more often than men. It causes muscle pain and fatigue. Pain and sensitivity are felt throughout the body. Some other symptoms are problems with sleep, being unable to think clearly, and headaches.
When a person suffers from fibromyalgia, their bodies do not process pain in the normal way. The central nervous system, made up of the brain and spinal cord, is not functioning properly. There are changes in body chemicals that cause something called wind-up, which basically means the body is on high alert and hypersensitive to stimuli resulting in pain. Research reveals that people with fibromyalgia have a reduced genetic production of the chemicals that are needed for proper function of the immune system.
To learn more about the connection between fibromyalgia and head and neck injuries download our complimentary fibromyalgia e-book by clicking the image below.
Natural Relief
Upper cervical chiropractors have seen success in helping their patients find some relief from symptoms of fibromyalgia. They do this by focusing their attention on the C1 (Atlas) vertebra. That is the top bone in the upper neck. Research has proven that when this top bone is out of alignment, it can hinder the flow of cerebral spinal fluid, oxygen, and blood flow to the brain. This can result in wind-up that sends improper signals to the brain from the body causing pain to be felt to a heightened degree. The neurological network that produces the genes needed to correctly produce chemicals to control pain is also affected, along with immune system function.
Upper cervical chiropractors, such as Dr. Henri Dallies of Hendersonville, North Carolina, use specific tests and techniques to find the possible root cause of fibromyalgia. If they determine that you do indeed have a misalignment in your neck, an adjustment is given to correct this. Once the Atlas bone is properly aligned once again, immune system function can be restored. The body and brain will begin communicating properly again, and the symptoms of fibromyalgia may be reduced.
References:
1.Clauw DJ. Fibromyalgia: an overview. Am J Med. 2009; 122(12A): S3-S13.
2.Abeles A, Pillinger M, Solitar B, Abeles M. Narrative review: The pathophysiology of fibromyalgia. Ann Intern Med. 2007; 146:726-734.
3.Ceko M, Bushnell MC, Gracely RH. Neurobiology underlying fibromyalgia symptoms. Pain Res Treat. 2012; 585419:1-8.
4.Light, A. R., Bateman, L., Jo, D., Hughen, R. W., VanHaitsma, T. A., White, A. T. and Light, K. C. (2012), Gene expression alterations at baseline and following moderate exercise in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Syndrome. Journal of Internal Medicine, 271: 64–81. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2796.2011.02405.
5.Kent C. Models of vertebral subluxation: a review. J Vertebral Subluxation Res. 1996;1:11–17. 10.
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