What is fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a neurological disorder that causes chronic pain, stiffness and burning in the neck, shoulders, lower back and hips. Some can also experience depression, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, numbness, dizziness, headaches or even sleeping disorders. Minor exertions can aggravate the pain and increase fatigue.
Did you know that fibromyalgia is one of the most common musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorders in the U.S.? In fact, it affects up to 10% of the population. Fibromyalgia occurs mostly in women between the ages 20 to 50. Most sufferers seek conventional medical treatment for fibromyaglia. This includes pain killers, muscle relaxants, antidepressant drugs, sleeping pills, steroid injections, and in extreme cases, surgery. Most of these treatments have dangerous side effects.
So what causes Fibromyalgia?
The cause for fibromyalgia is not well understood. Clinical studies and trials show that fibromyalgia often develops after traumatic neck injuries. In fact, nearly 70% of fibromyalgia patients relate the start of their symptoms to specific injury to their neck. These injuries can be caused by sports injuries, work accidents, slips and falls, car accidents and even traumatic births.
Renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Rosner, states that when the neck is hyper-extended backward, the spinal canal narrows, impacting the spine and brain stem. This can occur in cases of whiplash in auto accidents, extended dental work in which the head is bent bak or severe bouts of coughing. Even activities like painting a ceiling can cause injury to the neck and may lead to fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia and the Brain Stem
The brain stem can be compared to a telephone cable with thousands of individual wires or nerve fibers sending signals between the brain and the body, controls nearly all vital functions. Misalignments in the upper cervical spine (neck) can affect the function of the brain stem, which can be a critical factor in the development of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
Trauma or compression of the upper neck can cause the same symptoms seen in fibromyaglia or patients with CFS. These symptoms may appear immediately after the injury or several years later.
Upper Cervical chiropractors are getting exceptional results with fibromyalgia patients. Clinical trials and case studies document the improvement in fibromyalgia patients are making under Upper Cervical Care.
Our team at Corrective Spinal Care of Colorado is always ready to answer any questions you have, call us today!
Buskia D, Neumann L, Vaisberg, G. Increased Rates of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Cases. Today’s Chiropractic, May 2000.
Ericsen, K; Upper Cervical Subluxation Complex – A Review of the Chiropractic and Medical Literature. Baltimore, MD, Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2004.
