Are you considering getting the help of a fibromyalgia chiropractor in Rochester Hills? You surely have a lot of questions in mind about your chronic illness. Before you visit a professional for help, you need to read the information we’re about to share.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that was tied in some sort of stigma. Some people believed it was not real and was all in a person’s head. Thankfully, as people learn more about the disease from information in studies, we have become more accepting of the illness.
Based on researchers’ discoveries, fibromyalgia is likely a neurological condition brought about by the brain’s misprocessing of pain signals. As a result, oversensitivity to sensory stimuli, pressure, and pain occur in the body.
In order to shed light and debunk some age-old misinformation about fibromyalgia, here are answers to some of the frequently asked questions on fibromyalgia.
Table of Contents
Question #1: Why did some people think fibromyalgia isn’t real?
Because fibromyalgia was a misunderstood disease until recent years. Some medical practitioners did not acknowledge the group of symptoms of fibromyalgia as a separate disorder. In addition, when the cause of a person’s symptoms is unclear, it’s all too easy to dismiss them or label them as something psychological instead of physical.
The great news is that researchers are not stopping their studies until they identify the singular cause of fibromyalgia and the best care methods to manage and resolve its symptoms.
Question #2: Can fibromyalgia be inherited?
Parents cannot pass on fibromyalgia to their children, but the condition looks to occur in clusters within families. A study showed that people with parents or first-degree relatives with fibromyalgia had an increased risk of developing the syndrome than people with no family history of fibromyalgia.
Some DNA studies uncovered several factors that could help clarify fibromyalgia’s genetic factors and other chronic pain diseases. They seem to run in families due to identified genes in the body responsible for the body’s translation and responses to pain.
Question #3: Is fibromyalgia a women’s disease?
While numerous studies have shown that more women have the condition (9 out of 10 cases of fibromyalgia occur in women), men and even children are not exempt from the disease. This misconception resulted from the fact that men do not report their pains as much as women do.
Question #4: I have pain throughout my body. Do I have fibromyalgia?
Having pain all over your body does not automatically mean you have fibromyalgia. Many health conditions can bring about widespread body pain. Since fibromyalgia shares the same symptoms with other conditions, it can be tricky to diagnose. Some of the health diseases with similar symptoms as fibromyalgia are chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and myasthenia gravis.
Question #5: Is pain the only symptom of fibromyalgia?
Muscle and joint pain that affects the whole body is definitely the hallmark symptom of fibromyalgia. However, it is not the only one. Many other signs and symptoms accompany fibromyalgia, such as fibro fog (cognitive difficulties), extreme fatigue, headaches, sleeping disorders, depression, anxiety, among other things. Thankfully, a fibromyalgia chiropractor in Rochester Hills can help anyone dealing with these fibromyalgia symptoms.
Question #6: Does fibromyalgia worsen with age?
There is not enough evidence that fibromyalgia grows or gets worse as people age. In general, it’s not considered a progressive disorder. However, the disease may take an unexpected turn and go on remission for some time and flare up again soon after.
Question #7: Is there a test for fibromyalgia?
A reason for the misunderstanding and misdiagnosis of fibromyalgia is the lack of precise diagnostic tests to confirm the condition. At the moment, the road to fibromyalgia diagnosis is long and complex. Doctors used to examine the different parts of the body and look for tender points as the old diagnostic guidelines required. However, they now follow the new criteria that say widespread pain should be present in the patient for at least three months. Other symptoms, such as fatigue and trouble concentrating or remembering, should be present. In addition, there should be no other underlying condition that can explain the symptoms.
Question #8: What’s the link between fibromyalgia and the nervous system?
As mentioned at the beginning of this post, the nervous system is likely involved in fibromyalgia as it occurs due to the disruption in the processing of pain signals and sensory information, which the brain and nervous system are responsible for.
As a result, amplification of pain signals happens, making people with fibromyalgia feel much worse pain than people without the illness. This explains why ordinary stimuli or sensations appear painful for people with fibromyalgia. Central sensitization is the phenomenon behind it.
Nervous System Care Through Upper Cervical Chiropractic
Now that fibromyalgia’s possible origin is clearer (the nervous system), ensuring it functions at its peak should come first in the priority list of people who suffer from it. Upper cervical chiropractic is the best care option to improve the functions of the nervous system. This niche within the chiropractic field focuses on the bones where the head and neck meet.
The atlas (C1) bone, which protects the brainstem, sits in this spot. Since the brainstem works as the switchboard for the nerve signals moving throughout the body, its malfunction can cause misprocessing and distortion of pain signals that reach the brain. These can happen if atlas misalignment exists.
Upper cervical chiropractic takes a very scientific approach to examine the neck and head alignment. Through this very gentle and safe technique, fibromyalgia patients can learn if abnormal atlas position contributes to their nervous system’s impairment and development of symptoms.
Once your atlas alignment returns to normal, you can experience less pain, improved cognitive function, better sleep, and enhanced quality of life. A fibromyalgia chiropractor in Rochester Hills can help you attain relief. Consult with us here at Balanced Living Chiropractic in Rochester Hills, Michigan, to break free from the debilitating symptoms of fibromyalgia.
To schedule a complimentary NUCCA consultation, call 248-831-0729 or just click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.