Fibromyalgia (FM) is a health syndrome known to cause chronic pain all over the body for no reason, making people seek the help of a Stow OH fibromyalgia doctor. People with FM have intensified response to pain and pressure. Besides those, they may also experience sleep disorders, fatigue, and memory issues, which can leave them unable to do jobs and activities at their best.

The Classification of Fibromyalgia Syndrome

The medical field has classified fibromyalgia as a pain-processing disorder as specialists believe it is due to an abnormality in the way the central nervous system processes pain. On the other hand, the American College of Rheumatology categorized fibromyalgia as a functional somatic syndrome.

The International Classification of Diseases listed it under a neurobiological disease of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue. The committee does not consider FM a mental disorder, despite its common co-existence with depression and anxiety.

Signs and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Widespread pain throughout the body is the hallmark of fibromyalgia. However, it also causes several other symptoms. You should watch out for these signs if you possibly have fibromyalgia.

• Intensified response to pain
• Extreme fatigue
• Sleep disorders
• Cognitive issues known as“fibro fog”
  • Inability to concentrate for a long period
  • Feeling cognitive overload
  • Short-term memory consolidation
  • Inability to multi-task
  • Impaired speed of performance
• Muscle twitching
• Tingling of the skin
• Nerve pain
• Prolonged muscle spasms
• Weakness in the limbs
• Myoclonic twitches
• Palpitations
• Myofascial pain
• Headaches
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Interstitial cystitis
• Genitourinary symptoms
• Dermatological disorders
• Diffuse non-dermatomal paresthesia
• Temporomandibular joint disorders
• Symptomatic hypoglycemia
• Anxiety and depression

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and fibromyalgia download our complimentary e-book Simple and Extremely Effective Ways to End Fibromyalgia Symptoms without Drugs by clicking the image below.

Theories on the Cause of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia’s exact cause is still a subject of research in the medical community. But there are many theories as to why chronic body pain occurs. Many theories point to central sensitization as a potential cause of fibromyalgia. They imply that people who suffer from FM have a lower tolerance to pain compared to people without the condition. It is said to stem from the increased activity in the pain-sensitive nerve cell in the spinal cord or brain. In short, fibromyalgia patients perceive pain to be much more intense than it actually is.

Neuropathic pain and depression often go hand in hand with FM. Shared genetic factors are possibly the reason behind this. Psychological disorder or stress can produce abnormalities, leading to inflammation and pressure of the pathways that control our mood and pain. As a result, it contributes to the onset of FM or mood disorders.

Risk Factors for Fibromyalgia

Below is a list of some of the risk factors for the development of FM syndrome:

Genetics– A child who has a parent with FM may also suffer from it.

Sleep disturbances–One study theorized how this occurs. Researchers observed middle-aged women while sleeping. When the subjects reached the stage of slow-wave sleep, they experienced constant disruption in sleep. It resulted in increased muscle tenderness and fatigue, like what FM patients experience. When their sleep went back to normal, the participants have also restored their routine activities without any side effects.

Lifestyle–Your lifestyle choices add to your risk for FM. For example, always being under stress can contribute to it. Other habits and lifestyles factors include:

• Obesity
• Lack of physical exercise
• Smoking
• Chronic fatigue syndrome

Non-celiac gluten sensitivity– Some researchers believe this can be a cause of FM, but more research is required to prove this.

Stow OH Fibromyalgia Doctor can Help

There is hope for FM patients. Some methods can help relieve the pain that accompanies FM such as stress reduction and lifestyle modification. Another natural yet proven method of care for fibromyalgia has helped many patients in thousands of case studies. Here is one perfect example:

A 31-year-old woman had fibromyalgia accompanied by low back pain and headaches. She decided to seek upper cervical chiropractic care as medication was not an option for her. An upper cervical chiropractor examined her bones through a series of x-rays and discovered that she had a misalignment in the uppermost bones of her neck. For 18 months, she received gentle, specific adjustments. The therapy resulted in improvements in her FM symptoms. She did not have to rely on medications after that.

What Makes Upper Cervical Care Effective?

This type of care helps FM as it improves the function of the brainstem.

The C1 and C2 vertebrae of the neck protect the brainstem. If misalignment exists in either of these top bones of the neck, it can result in the disruption of the brainstem functions. The bones can cause stress on the brainstem, causing it to transmit incorrect signals to the brain.

In short, if the brainstem submits a signal to the brain about the body’s incorrect pain level, FM can be the inevitable result.

Here at our office, we use the same technique as the study above. We also employ upper cervical chiropractic care, a gentle and specific method to encourage proper neck alignment. This, in turn, maintains the appropriate function of the brainstem.

Fill out our contact form to experience relief from FM and many other health complaints you have. Having your first visit? Here are the things you can expect.