Fibromyalgia FMS (Fibromyalgia Syndrome)
Fibromyalgia, also known as fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), is a disorder that causes widespread pain in the body and affects the joints, muscles, tendons and other soft tissues.
The symptoms of FMS vary immensely from person to person, making diagnosis complex and uncertain. The symptoms are often debilitative and long term, resulting in a patient feeling exhausted and emotionally fragile.
Other Symptoms
- Fatigue that can become extreme. Good and bad days without explanation.
- Stiffness in the muscles which can be described as pain, typically in the large muscle groups such as the powerful quadriceps in the legs or the trapezius muscle in the shoulders.
- Reduced pain threshold – pain sensitivity.
- ‘Brain fog’. A cloudiness which makes constructing complex thoughts difficult and can interfere with work.
- Headaches, neck and shoulder pain.
- Interrupted sleep.
- Altered bowel function such as bloating or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
The full cause of fibromyalgia is not known and this makes diagnosis both difficult and frustrating. It affects women significantly more than men and usually occurs in the mid-30’s to mid-50’s age group. Very occasionally children or the elderly are affected.
• Fibromyalgia (FMS) affects 7 women to every man. Its symptoms are often linked to overall health and wellbeing at the time. This means that clients often report times of doing much better before describing a period of increased intensity – often without being able to pinpoint the cause.
• It is commonly assumed that there is no cure. There are ways to manage the effects of fibromyalgia (FMS) and to reduce the impact it has on your life.
Causes of Fibromyalgia
As the symptoms are varied in nature and each person has a different experience, it is thought that there are several inter-related causes occurring at the same time. Whilst the list is incomplete, historically infection and inflammation were thought to mediate this unusual condition.
Newer research indicates a link to brain chemicals and the central nervous system (the main nerves in the body including spinal nerves, the spinal cord and the brain) and this can have a profound impact on many functions of the body.
Other factors seem to include genetic predisposition, a history of marked infection, a large negative life event (such as overwhelming emotional or psychological trauma) or trauma of a physical nature. Typically, this would be something that continues for an extended period of time.
Fibromyalgia varies significantly from one person to another. It encompasses the full spectrum from minor pain to pain serious enough to impact and interfere with daily activities.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help
Whilst it is commonly accepted that there is no cure to fibromyalgia, many of our clients report that chiropractic helps significantly in controlling symptoms and helping to manage their condition. There is much anecdotal evidence in the effectiveness of chiropractic care in reducing symptoms in those with fibromyalgia (FMS).
• Many people with Fibromyalgia (FMS) describe sensitivity in their muscles. As a result they often find massage too painful and are concerned about any type of physical treatment.
• Chiropractors have special low force techniques that provide gentle, safe treatment favoured by those with fibromyalgia.
When assessing those with fibromyalgia (FMS) chiropractors look to identify areas of the body with a loss of function. Typically this is under the skull, suboccipital, the shoulders including the thoracic spine and rib joints, the thoracolumbar junction where the floating ribs join the spine and the pelvis and lower back.
This reduces the load on the central nervous system by improving the proprioceptive system of the body. This allows greater control of muscle firing, resting muscle tone and helps make movement more accurate, reducing stress on joints and ligaments. Improvement over time is evident with greater freedom of movement, improved coordination, improved lymphatic function and increased blood flow – essential for healing and repair.
Chiropractors use the term ‘adjustment’ rather than ‘manipulation’ because not all treatment, especially with fibromyalgia (FMS), is manipulative. Many clients do not have any form of spinal manipulation. We utilise more gentle methods to improve the function of joints and soft tissue, resulting in improved function.
• Chiropractors use the term ‘adjustments’ rather than ‘manipulation’. This is because when they adjust the body to function more efficiently, they may not be using manipulation. This is very common when helping those with fibromyalgia (FMS).
• Using special low force techniques (favoured by fibromyalgia sufferers) chiropractors can often help the body to function more efficiently, resulting in enhancing healing.
These adjustments help the body work better mechanically, helping nerve signals travel more easily, improving joint mobility, restoring a range of motion and reducing increased muscle tone. This can have a profound impact on pressure and tension in the skeletal structure.
Clients typically report:
- Reduced pain
- Improved sleep
- Increased blood flow
- Reduced fatigue
- Increased mental clarity
- Enhanced range of motion and coordination
• Those who suffer with fibromyalgia experience other issues just like everyone else. They might describe shoulder pain, arm pain, lower back pain, sciatica or headaches. Whilst some of these things can have a link to fibromyalgia (FMS), these symptoms are often injuries in their own right.
• Fibromyalgia sufferers often find that healthcare professionals ‘blame’ everything they experience on fibromyalgia (FMS) rather than understand that these conditions are common and need to be addressed.
What to Do Next – Increasing Certainty
Chiropractors examine and assess the physical structure, which provides increased certainty that chiropractic care can helping in the management and reduction of your fibromyalgia symptoms.
At Inspired Chiropractic our care is designed to allow your body’s structure to regain its optimal function. Call us on 01603 764777 or email reception@inspiredchiropractic.com to schedule your appointment when we can discuss how care may help you. We always undertake a thorough evaluation to understand your needs.
★★★★★
I’ve been visiting Jonathan for over a year now as I had chronic pain, lethargy and was finding climbing stairs and walking difficult. I’d been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and arthritis and had quite honestly lost hope of ever feeling well again. I can hardly put into words the difference that Dr Jonathan’s treatment adjustments have made to me. I feel 20 years younger and my old self again! I can now walk over a mile and climb stairs easily, something I never thought I’d be able to do again. Thank you so much for giving me my life back Jonathan, I now recommend you to everyone I hear complaining about pain and ailments. Bridget C
