Are you suffering from fibromyalgia and located in the Mission Valley area? Here at Blakely Chiropractic, we’ve helped many women (and men), receive pain relief from fibromyalgia symptoms to help relieve the pain.
Fibromyalgia is a very difficult pain condition to diagnose by medical doctors and chiropractors alike. When a patient enters our chiropractic office in Mission Valley, it is important to rule out other conditions that may be contributing to the suspected fibromyalgia symptoms so that appropriate treatment can be administered. Due to it’s broad range of symptoms, it is considered a disorder rather than a specific condition because the cause of fibromyalgia is widely debated.
How Do I Know If I Have Fibromyaglia?
It is important for a doctor of chiropractic to rule out any additional conditions that may be contributing to the pain, but here is some of the typical criteria associated with fibromyalgia:
Widespread pain – This means it typically occurs at various points across the body and is generally not all within the same region.
A test often used during an initial exam is palpating 18 specific points on the body. If 11 are painful or considered “trigger points” then a fibromyalgia diagnosis is considered.
Fatigue and trouble sleeping
Cognitive problems – Mood, Concentration, Memory, etc.
Additional painful areas including the jaw, eyes, and skin.
This criteria is not set and stone and each case can present differently, which is why a fibromyalgia diagnosis is so difficult for practitioners.
What causes this pain?
Doctors believe it occurs due to hypersensitivity in the body’s pain receptors. Sensitivity in these receptors basically means that the pain threshold is much lower so it does not take as much stress to create a pain response. This sensitivity to pain may be due to repetitive trauma, family history of the condition, emotional stress, reduced sleep, or infection. It is not known what exactly causes fibromyalgia.
What Are Treatment Options for Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia can not be cured. This is important to understand as it is a very complex disorder. Our focus at our Mission Valley chiropractic clinic is to reduce symptoms and pain levels so that our patient’s can continue living normally and participating in activities they love to do. It is important to create an individualized treatment plan to each specific patient, especially with fibromyalgia patients. This might mean co-treatment from a “medical team” with a few different doctors or may be able to be treated just within Blakely Chiropractic.
Treatment may include:
Muscle work – Myofascial release, trigger point therapy, IASTM (Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization)
Chiropractic adjustments
Medication
Physical Therapy and at-home recommendations
Relaxation Therapy
Acupuncture
If you are currently suspecting your symptoms may be due to fibromyalgia, call our Mission Valley chiropractic clinic today to schedule a comprehensive exam and find out what treatment options are available for you.