Chiropractic and Fibromyalgia…. Keeps Your Pain Down!
As fall changes into winter into Chicago, more and more Chicagoans are saddened by the colder weather and indoor activities, but don’t let the cold weather stop from you from being active. It is important to remain active and work on your flexibility and movement during the winter months due to the colder weather. One condition, particularly, fibromyalgia, or muscle fiber pain can become painful when one is not active.
Fibromyalgia is a complex condition characterized by having pain on both sides in many areas of the body starting in your scalp and moving all of the way down to your hands and feet. Specifically, there is a classification system detailing where the tender points are located on both sides of the body to allow the doctor to arrive at a clearer diagnosis. Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose via imaging (X-rays, CT, and/or MRI) as they do not reveal anything and there are no clear orthopedic tests that can accurately define fibromyalgia. A thorough and chronic history alongside where the tender points are in your body bring about a health care provider closer to the fibromyalgia diagnosis.
Once diagnosed, fibromyalgia patients can treat their chronic pain by visiting a chiropractor. Chiropractors can manipulate one’s joints reducing inflammation, improving movement, and flexibility. Also, it helps fibromyalgia patients live with their chronic pain because they tend to feel better when getting chiropractic manipulation consistently. Studies that will be referenced in this blog show the benefit of chiropractic care.
If you are able to see a sports chiropractor, addressing nutritional needs and being stretched further help patients combat their pain and have it more under control. Stretching via Active Release Techniques improve movement, and flexibility, and eating properly create less inflammation. These measures improve daily function and allow for one to live with fibromyalgia for years to come. The key to any chronic disease is consistency and maintaining consistent chiropractic care alongside proper nutrition, and exercise allow one to keep one’s pain at bay while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.