A chronic pain condition characterized by muscle and joint pain, headaches/migraines and extreme fatigue, fibromyalgia is thought to originate from a dysfunctional nervous system overwhelmed by systemic inflammation. Fibromyalgia Treatment is available at all 3 of our locations from Los Angeles to Orange County.
Other factors playing key roles in the onset of fibromyalgia include suffering a lengthy illness, dealing with long-term emotional and/or physical stress, traumatic events disrupting a person's life and perhaps a genetic component. In fact, researchers are investigating the possibility that people with fibromyalgia may have inherited certain genes that regulate the way a body processes pain signals.
Fibromyalgia is often a debilitating disorder, preventing those affected from maintaining employment and an acceptable quality of life. In addition to pain and fatigue, fibromyalgia causes:
Traditional treatments prescribed by primary care physicians for fibromyalgia include over-the-counter NSAIDs, prescription analgesics for pain, antidepressants (some doctors think fibromyalgia may involve serotonin dysregulation) and an anti-epileptic drug called Lyrica meant to slow down signaling between the brain and muscles. However, none of these treatments address the underlying cause of fibromyalgia, which chiropractors consider to be a nervous system suffering inflammation from compressed nerves within the spinal vertebrae.
Chiropractors incorporate massage therapy in fibromyalgia treatment programs to help promote blood flow, stimulate the production of endorphins (a hormone naturally produced by the body to relieve pain) and detoxify the body by forcing waste and toxins out of muscles and other soft tissues. Massage therapy also restores flexibility and strength to the deepest layers of muscles and connective tissues suffering inflammation and soreness. In addition, massage therapy has been proven to alleviate depression, anxiety and cognitive issues associated with fibromyalgia by triggering production and release of oxytocin and serotonin, two important hormones responsible for relaxation and elevating mood.
Physical therapy includes passive and active therapy that improves joint movement, flexibility, and core stability while benefiting overall health. Your chiropractor will work with our in-house Physical Therapist to develop a program personalized to address their specific physical, psychological and cognitive needs. Active treatments focus on invigorating abdominal (core) muscles to enhance spine support. Strengthening and stretching exercises to boost muscle flexibility not only improve agility but also ensures muscles remain healthy enough to successfully manage pain.
Passive physical therapy for fibromyalgia includes cryotherapy, a treatment used by chiropractors to trigger an anti-inflammatory response within the body. Cryotherapy involves the use of dry, cold air to sustain reduced muscle temperatures without disrupting the body's core temperature of damaging skin. Following completion of a cryotherapy session, your skin temperature returns to normal. However, deeper muscle and soft tissue temperature stay cold to prolong the anti-inflammatory effects of cryotherapy
Chiropractors understand that fibromyalgia is an inflammatory disease arising mostly from a dysfunctional nervous system. By restoring normal positioning of out-of-place spinal vertebrae with an adjustment, chiropractors remove nerve compression causing systemic inflammation and widespread pain. When nerves are allowed to communicate and functionally effectively, inflammation disappears and symptoms of fibromyalgia diminish.
When adjustments, cryotherapy, massage therapy and physical therapy are included in a whole-body treatment program, fibromyalgia sufferers report rapid relief of joint and muscle pain, fatigue, depression and other health problems attributed to fibromyalgia.
Diet and lifestyle choices also impact the severity of fibromyalgia. Manage your symptoms without drugs by:
Call Zaker Chiropractic today to schedule an appointment for holistic treatment of fibromyalgia. Immediate appointments are available. For more answers about fibromyalgia and pain management, make an appointment with Zaker Chiropractic. Our chiropractors provide a wide variety of services to diagnose and treat pinched nerves. Zaker Chiropractic has several locations to serve you. Call (949) 734-4454 for an appointment in Newport Pain & Wellness in Newport Beach, (424) 235-1562 for South Bay Pain & Wellness in Torrance, or (310) 831-0003 for an appointment with San Pedro Pain & Wellness in San Pedro. Each clinic offers a multidisciplinary list of services.