Treating Fibromyalgia With Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care

Treating Fibromyalgia With Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Known as a chronic pain health concern that most typically affects women ages 20 to 50 (and around 10 million Americans), Fibromyalgia commonly co-exists with other illnesses such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. The most common symptoms of fibromyalgia are chronic widespread pain, chronic fatigue, numbness, headaches, dizziness, stiffness, and difficulties sleeping.

For a person to reach a fibromyalgia diagnosis it usually takes an average of five years. In fact, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that people with fibromyalgia experience at least one hospitalization every three years due to severe pain, and the annual medical costs can be as high as 6,000 dollars per person. With this in mind, what is causing this widespread illness, why is it becoming increasingly more common, and how can it be treated?

The Diagnosis Criteria For Fibromyalgia

• A person must fall under the following criteria (according to the CDC) in order to be accurately diagnosed with fibromyalgia: 
• A Widespread Pain Index (WPI) greater than 7 and a symptom severity scale ( or SS) greater than 5
• Fibromyalgia symptoms have been present at a similar level for a duration of at least 3 months
• The patient does not have an existing disorder that would otherwise explain the symptoms or pain

Fibromyalgia Causes

While many experts claim that the causes of fibromyalgia are unknown, recent research is beginning to show physical trauma to the neck as a definite contributor (or ‘trigger’) to the onset of the illness. In fact, a Canton, Ohio-based physical medicine specialist, who specializes in treating fibromyalgia patients, carried out a recent analysis of the records of 2,000 of his patients who had been diagnosed with the illness. 

This led him to determine that 65% of these patients had reported the start of fibromyalgia symptoms after a traumatic event. Of these patients, 52% had been involved in some sort of motoring accident with whiplash injuries being the most common type. Meanwhile, 31% of these patients had sustained work-related injuries, while the remaining 17% had suffered other types of trauma such as recreational or sporting injuries.

Treating Fibromyalgia

Many believe that there is no known cure for fibromyalgia, however, upper cervical chiropractic care is producing amazingly effective results when it comes to the treatment of fibromyalgia. Due to the overwhelming evidence that points to fibromyalgia being caused by a traumatic injury or recurring injury, it makes sense to consider chiropractic’s ability to successfully treat all of the symptoms of fibromyalgia. 

Of all the fibromyalgia patients our doctors see on a consistent basis at Upper Cervical Chiropractic of Georgia, most can relate the onset of the fibromyalgia symptoms directly to a specific neck injury they had sustained in the past. This is very important to note, as the neck is where the atlas and axis vertebrae are located, and when these vertebrae become misaligned, the function of the brain stem is negatively affected.

When the nerves of the brain stem become compressed signals between the body and the brain — which are normally sent out to control vital bodily functions — get stopped in their tracks, which can result in fibromyalgia.

Dr. Nick Tedder is located in Dacula GA and services the communities of Atlanta, Auburn, Austell, Braselton, Buford, Cumming, Dacula, Duluth, Dunwoody, East Point, Flowery branch, Gainesville, Grayson, Hoschton, Hamilton Mill, Johns Creek, Lanier Islands, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Norcross, Suwanee, and Winder