Fibromyalgia is a chronic stress–related condition that may cause symptoms of chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, irritable bowel, and others.  The symptoms of fibromyalgia are the result of an abnormal response to stress in the body.  The major physical manifestation of fibromyalgia is an increase of a protein called “Ground Substance” within certain areas of muscle.  The characteristic tender areas affected by this protein accumulation are the back of the neck, shoulders, sternum, lower back, hips, shins, elbows, or knees.

Chiropractic is critical for sufferers of fibromyalgia to keep the spine moving correctly.  Fibromyalgia causes the muscles to tighten resulting in a loss of movement of the spine.  The only option is to continually adjust the spine and keep it moving to prevent interference with the nervous system.  It is not uncommon for people with fibromyalgia to be adjusted three to four times a month to keep the spine moving.  The chiropractor may modify the adjustment slightly to be more gentle than normal.  This helps to decrease the stress on the muscles supporting the spine which can be easily injured in people with fibromyalgia. 

Self-care for Fibromyalgia
Daily lifestyle choices greatly influence how much of an impact fibromyalgia will have on our life.  Those who make the lifestyle changes below, in addition to regular chiropractic treatment, have a much more active and higher quality of life than those who do not.

Getting enough sleep
7 to 8 hours every night

Exercising
Start with low-impact exercises like walking and swimming if you are in a lot of pain and feeling very fatigued.  The more active your body is the better you will feel!

Eating well
Limit foods that cause stress to the body such as dairy, eggs, wheat, corn, and foods containing MSG, nitrates, nitrites, or any processed foods.  Eat as much clean, organically grown fresh fruits and vegetables as you can.  Center your diet around whole foods like brown rice, legumes, oats, rice milk, and hormone-free chicken or turkey.

Nutritional supplements
See your Chiropractor or nutritionist for a nutritional assessment for the optimal supplements to meet your needs.