Fibromyalgia is a very common condition, with over 3 million cases in the US per year.  It is a condition that causes widespread pain in the body, along with sleep issues, extreme fatigue, and memory and mood issues.

While most people nowadays are aware of the condition, this wasn't always the case.  Fibromyalgia has been around for centuries, and only now are we beginning to shed more light on it.

• Early 1800's: The condition was first described by doctors as "muscular rheumatism" and at that point was considered to be a mental disorder.  Recognized symptoms were stiffness, aches & pains, and sleep troubles.
• 1820's: tender points first described by a doctor in Scotland.
• Early 1900's: The term "fibrositis" started to be used.  The suffix "-itis" was used because inflammation was thought to the cause of the pain.
• 1976: the name of the condition was changed to "fibromyalgia" and inflammation was no longer thought of as the cause of pain.
• 1981: the first scientific study confirmed symptoms and tender points in the body.
• 1990: the first set of guidelines to aid in diagnosis was published.
• 2005: the first relief guidelines were published by the American Pain Society.
• 2007: the first FDA-approved prescription medications became available for fibromyalgia sufferers.

For a long time, fibromyalgia was not recognized as a "legitimate" disorder, but as the body of research grows, the more it's understood that fibromyalgia affects the way the brain processes pain.  

Fibromyalgia, Pain Processing, and Your Nervous System

When there is a misalignment of the vertebrae in the upper neck, the brainstem and nervous system can begin to work improperly.  The brainstem is the part of your central nervous system that connects the brain with the spinal cord and is protected by the atlas and axis vertebrae.  A brainstem that is not functioning correctly can lead to miscommunications between the brain and body, including the improper processing of pain signals.

Upper cervical chiropractic care is aimed at identifying these specific misalignments that are creating the miscommunications over the nervous system and ultimately healing fibromyalgia.  At Besso Clinic, we work with our patients to restore normal atlas alignment.  Once corrected, the nervous system can start to function optimally, and the body can begin the healing process.  Some patients report a better quality of life even after their very first adjustment.