Over time, the fibromyalgia sufferer can become used to the pain associated with their condition. Being in pain becomes their new normal. It becomes normal to wake up and have pain, even if after a restful sleep. It becomes normal to go out for a simple stroll in the park and have it prematurely end […]
Fibromyalgia and Chiropractic?
Because fibromyalgia patients are often at their wits ends when it comes to finding a solution to their problem, they may be reluctant to consider chiropractic care. Why is that? Maybe it’s because they haven’t read a good explanation as to how treating joint injuries can result in decreased muscle pain. After all, the pain […]
Fibromyalgia and Exercise: The Jury Is In!
Fibromyalgia is a frustrating disease for many patients and physicians since drug treatments seem to provide little benefit. As studies accumulate, hopefully this translates into better treatments for patients. One treatment that has been studied extensively is supervised aerobic exercise and strength training. In 2007, the prestigious scientific review group called Cochrane (Cochrane Database Syst […]
The Fibro-Care Maze
Many patients start off with one little problem, such as fatigue or a headache, which just seems to grow and grow, much like the entourage of doctors we collect to get answers. How many physicians did you see before being properly diagnosed? Unfortunately, most fibromyalgia (FM) sufferers endure years of misdiagnoses, years of visits to […]
Fibromyalgia: What Is It and How Do Different Doctors Deal with It?
At least 2% of the United States population, or six million people, mostly women, have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. This is a chronic (long-term) disease, which is characterized by widespread pain of at least three months duration at multiple body sites, including the legs or arms and the spine. For many years, some doctors thought […]
Fibromyalgia and Long-Term Drug Use – Are There Alternatives?
Most patients with the severe pains of fibromyalgia consult medical doctors for help. Although many patients use chiropractors and other alternative approaches, most continue to use analgesics (pain medications) to get through the day. These drugs come in a wide variety and help with varying degrees of success, but all will have unintended side effects, […]
Is Fibromyalgia-Type Pain Caused by Disk Herniations?
Disorders such as fibromyalgia, whiplash, and irritable bowel syndrome share the common symptom of muscle hyperalgesia (more sensitive to painful pressures and stimulation). Obviously, more sensitive patients may find it more difficult to stress their bodies with stretching or physical exercise. If you are more sensitive to pain, you may be more likely to consume […]
Fibromyalgia: Does Massage Help?
When looking at treating fibromyalgia, there is a range of natural alternatives to choose from. Most fibromyalgia patients use a variety of complementary and alternative approaches including vitamins/herbs, chiropractic, and massage. These more natural approaches carry fewer risks of side effects and should be encouraged. Massage treatment can be helpful to many patients. Some common […]
Fibromyalgia is a Global Problem
What is meant by describing fibromyalgia as a global problem? Well, it does occur in many countries around the world, but more to the point, fibromyalgia is only one piece of a complex full-body puzzle. Patients with fibromyalgia will report widespread pain in the neck, back, and in other areas, but there’s also much more […]
Fibromyalgia?…Got Blood?
The pain of fibromyalgia (FM) can be debilitating. What has perplexed researchers over the years is the source of this pain. Is it scarred muscle tissue? Nerve pain? Is it something in your head? Perhaps the adrenal glands are involved or maybe it’s the stress hormone called cortisol? It is well known that exercise eases […]