The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown. Some research indicates that the body becomes more sensitive to stress, altering the way that it signals pain in those people. Some people appear to be at higher risk, including those with rheumatoid arthritis, a virus or infection, or emotional stress or depression. Trauma or injury can lead to the onset of fibromyalgia. An Israeli study of 161 causes of traumatic injury showed that adults who suffered a neck injury were 13 times more likely to develop fibromyalgia within one year of their injury than those who experienced fractures of the lower extremities.[2]Women are nine times more often afflicted with fibromyalgia than men, and the condition appears most frequently between the ages of 20 and 50. Fibromyalgia often coincides with other syndromes, such as chronic fatigue, irritable bowel, jaw dysfunction, and chronic headache.
In addition to the lack of clarity regarding the cause of fibromyalgia, the diagnosis is difficult. The condition does not create inflamed muscles, so x-rays will show no abnormalities. Blood tests are equally useless. Detection is usually made first by ruling out other possibilities, like anemia, hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, nerve disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis, mononucleosis, or various other conditions with comparable symptoms – which can be a long and painful journey for the patient.
Because fibromyalgia seems to impair the manner in which the brain receives pain signals, chiropractic is a logical alternative. Chiropractic medicine treats spinal misalignments (subluxations) with connective tissue manipulation to improve the functions of the spine as well as the muscles and nerves that emanate from this area. Subluxations can put added pressure on those nerves that communicate pain signals to the brain. A chiropractor can make adjustments to realign the vertebra and restore skeletal balance. Although the treatment does not provide a cure, chiropractic care can deliver valuable benefits:
- Alleviate the pain
- Increase range of motion in joints
- Enhance blood flow that had been restricted
- Promote muscle healing
- Improve sleep
- Stimulate production of endorphin’s, the body’s natural painkiller http://chirosports.com.au/clinics/coogee