The Chiropractic Doctors Can Help You Deal With Fibromyalgia

The phase "sick and tired" might have been coined with fibromyalgia in mind. This debilitating chronic pain syndrome can cause everything from unremitting muscle stiffness to digestive issues and crushing fatigue. To make matters worse, standard modern medical protocols can make obtaining the necessary treatment a long and difficult process. Thankfully, you can benefit from a variety of conservative care techniques to help reduce and control those fibromyalgia symptoms -- and we're happy to offer such services right here at The Chiropractic Doctors in Grand Rapids MI.

Why and How Fibromyalgia Affects Your Body

The "why" of fibromyalgia remains a somewhat elusive question for medical science. While lack of physical conditioning, stress, and inadequate sleep have been offered up as possible factors, the underlying issue seems to be a biochemical imbalance. This would help explain why women are much more prone to fibromyalgia than men, because women produce less of a neurotransmitter called serotonin. It's believed that imbalances of serotonin and another neurotransmitter called substance P create a state of heightened sensitivity to pain signals.

Fibromyalgia's effects on the body are more obvious, although they can often be mistaken for signs of other ailments. They include:

• Muscle tightness, spasms and knots that cause both localized discomfort (tender points) and referred pain
• Headaches and migraines
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Chronic insomnia
• Chronic fatigue
• Weakness and poor stamina
• TMJ, neck, or facial pain

The Chiropractic Advantage in Treating Fibromyalgia

Natural treatment approaches such as chiropractic care have one great advantage over standard medical routine -- they don't require an official diagnosis. Medical doctors cannot treat fibromyalgia until they have observed pain in 11 out of 18 known trigger points, in all four quadrants of the body, over at least 3 months. That's a long time to wait for the relief you need from this crippling ailment.

Here at The Chiropractic Doctors, we can focus on identifying and treating the problems your fibromyalgia is creating in your body. For instance, many fibromyalgia sufferers are known to suffer from stenosis, a spinal condition that impinges nerve tissue. By using chiropractic adjustments and spinal decompression to relieve nerve pressure and improve spinal alignment, we can control a major contributor to the discomfort amplified by fibromyalgia. Spinal adjustments are also good for relieving imbalances that produce muscle tightness, headaches, and other issues associated with fibromyalgia. The improved nerve function may even have a positive benefit on your biochemical processes.

Soft tissue therapies are equally helpful for controlling fibromyalgia symptoms. Periodic massage therapy, for instance, can work out those painful muscle knots and spasms while also relaxing you and promoting more restful sleep. Nutritional counseling that emphasizes anti-inflammatory foods may also present your fibromyalgia with less pain to aggravate.

Contact Our Chiropractic Clinic In Grand Rapids Today to Schedule Much-Needed Relief

You can get control over your fibromyalgia -- with the aid of The Chiropractic Doctors. Contact (616) 432-3103 today to schedule personalized fibromyalgia treatment!