If you have fibromyalgia you feel achy, fatigued, and stiff in multiple muscle groups. You may have other associated symptoms as well. So fibromyalgia is a systemic disorder that acupuncture can provide care for naturally. Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia is about the above.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia affects two – four percent of people, women more often than men. It is a type of rheumatism (condition with pain in muscles, joints, or fibrous tissue). Although it most often starts in middle adulthood, it can occur in the teen years and in older ages. You are at higher risk for fibromyalgia if you have a rheumatic disease (health problem that affects the joints, muscles and bones). These include systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis.
Fibromyalgia is a Syndrome
Fibromyalgia is a syndrome (condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms) of chronic pain of musculoskeletal origin, but uncertain cause. Recent research says it is a neurologic health problem that causes widespread pain and tenderness (sensitivity to touch). Many fibromyalgia patients report that certain weather conditions seem to aggravate their symptoms, but scientists have not found out why.
Several theories have been proposed focusing on lowered pain-threshold levels and decreased serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter. It acts as one of the body’s chemical messengers used by the nervous system to transmit messages from one area of the brain to another. So brain cells related to mood, sleep, memory and some social behavior could be affected by this. Additionally, it is believed that stage 4 sleep (deep sleep that lasts for about 30 minutes) is interrupted in fibromyalgia patients. This could be due to intrusions of alpha rhythms (pattern of slow brain waves in normal awake persons at rest with closed eyes) during stage 4 sleep. Consequently, fibromyalgia is accompanied by severe fatigue, sleep issues (waking up unrefreshed), memory/thinking clearly and mood issues.
Moreover, some patients also may have:
- Depression and anxiety
- Persistent early morning stiffness
- Paresthesia (pins and needles feeling)
- Digestive problems: irritable bowel syndrome (commonly called IBS) or gastroesophageal reflux disease (often referred to as GERD)
- Irritable or overactive bladder
- Pelvic pain
- Temporomandibular disorder – often called TMJ (a set of symptoms including face/jaw pain, jaw clicking, and ringing in the ears)
Diagnosis and Causes
There are no lab or imaging (i.e.,x-rays, MRI) tests for diagnosis of fibromyalgia. It is diagnosed by the tender sites and the associated symptoms experienced by the patient. Also, there should be no other health problems that would explain the pain and other symptoms. Therefore, lab tests or x-rays may be done to rule out any other cause for your symptoms.
There is most often some triggering factor that sets off fibromyalgia. It may be spine problems, arthritis, injury, or other type of physical stress. Emotional stress also may trigger this illness. The cause may be different in different people. Nevertheless, the result is a change in the way the body communicates with the spinal cord and brain. Fibromyalgia is not an autoimmune or inflammation based illness, but current research suggests the central nervous system is involved (brain and spinal cord).
Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia: Treatment
Seeing a chiropractor who is also certified in acupuncture can provide excellent care for fibromyalgia. This is done by getting your nervous system working at its best through acupuncture and adjustments (chiropractic manipulative therapy).
Acupuncture has been used for over 4000 years to treat pain and other health problems. The acupuncture treatment stimulates the imbalanced pathways along the meridians to bring balance back. Mainly, the goal is to activate the body’s natural healing abilities. It’s often used as part of a broader approach to healthcare.
Acupuncture has a beneficial effect when treating many diseases and painful conditions. Therefore, acupuncture is thought to be useful as a complementary, alternative and integrative therapy for Fibromyalgia.
Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia: Research
The mechanism by which acupuncture provides pain relief is unclear. However, studies suggest neuromodulation is happening. Neuromodulation is when a therapy alters nerve activity by delivering stimuli to the nervous system. Furthermore, this re-calibrates faulty signals to treat various conditions. So Acupuncture treatment leads to neurotransmitters’ release into the plasma and CSF (cerebrospinalfluid) that promotes pain alleviation. Our body’s enkephalins and endorphins are released. These are our body’s natural opioids and can dramatically relieve pain. Additionally, once these neurotransmitters are moving about, our blood vessels vasodilates. And this gets blood into the affected areas, initiating healing.
Several clinical trials were carried out and were able to show alleviation in pain and improvement in accompanying symptoms and quality of life with acupuncture; Acupuncture improves blood flow and calms the nervous system. Researchers believe when an acupuncture needle is inserted, the sensory and proprioceptive nerves are stimulated. This sends a message to our brain and nervous system.
Recently, a team of researchers led by neuroscientists at Harvard Medical School has looked at the underlying neuroanatomy of acupuncture that activates a specific signaling pathway. In this study, they specifically investigated acupuncture as a potential treatment for inflammation. They found “acupoints” or acupuncture points on the body’s surface are mechanically stimulated, triggering nerve signaling that affects the function of other parts of the body, including organs.
Where can I find the best chiropractor certified in acupuncture for fibromyalgia in West Palm Beach?
While there is no cure, there are treatments for the management of Fibromyalgia.
Jan Chambers, President of the National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association (2015), states, “…I started seeing a chiropractor who provided a thorough examination, ordered x-rays and then …created a very rigorous program to address the problems in my neck and lower back. Years later, I still do therapy at home, but it is the chiropractic care that was my lifesaver. I feel like chiropractic care literally saved my life.” (1)
If you are suffering from Fibromyalgia contact Meiri Chiropractic. Your chiropractic physician certified in acupuncture in West Palm Beach will get you better. Call 561-253-8984 to make an appointment or to learn more about Chiropractor West Palm Beach: Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia.
Reference: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8567806/