What Is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic (ongoing) condition of widespread pain, tenderness and fatigue. The word fibromyalgia comes from “fibro” – meaning fibers (connective tissue or muscle); “my” – muscle; “al” – pain; and “gia” – meaning the condition of. Thus, fibromyalgia literally means a condition of pain in the muscles and connective tissue fibers. However, individuals with fibromyalgia can and frequently do have pain anywhere in their body.
It is estimated that there are 12 million Americans living with fibromyalgia. The majority of them are women, but men can also experience fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia can happen at any age but most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50.
Does Fibromyalgia Really Exist?
There are many misconceptions about fibromyalgia. Some people think it isn’t a real medical problem or that it is “all in your head.” It’s sometimes thought of as a “garbage-can diagnosis;” if doctors can’t find anything else wrong with you, they say you have fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia does really exist. Being diagnosed with fibromyalgia requires that you meet specific criteria. These include painful Tender Points above and below the waist on both sides of the body.
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
The cause is unknown, but there are a number of possible factors involved:
- Physically or emotionally stressful or traumatic events
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Illness
- Fibromyalgia also can occur for no reason at all. People with fibromyalgia may have a gene that causes the body to react strongly to stimuli.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
Pain is the main symptom of fibromyalgia. Painful areas are called Tender Points. Among the Tender Points that patients with fibromyalgia suffer from, they can also experience:
- Pain that feels like a deep ache, or a shooting or burning pain.
- People with fibromyalgia tend to wake up with body aches and stiffness.
- For some people, pain may improve during the day, but gets worse at night. Others have pain all day.
- Pain may get worse with activity, cold or damp weather, anxiety, and stress.
- Sensitivity to loud noises
- Fatigue, depressed mood, and sleep problems are seen in almost everyone with fibromyalgia.
Treatment for Fibromyalgia in Augusta GA
The good news is that fibromyalgia isn’t progressive or life-threatening, and treatments tailored specifically for fibromyalgia can help alleviate many symptoms. At Georgia Clinic of Chiropractic we can customized treatments tailored specifically for your fibromyalgia. By greatly relieving the pain from fibromyalgia, our patients experience a significant improvement in psychological distress, cognitive abilities, sleep and functional capacity. We also understand that fibromyalgia pain can be debilitating, and what provides relief for one patient may not work for another. That is why it is crucial to not only find a doctor that specializes in fibromyalgia, but also one that creates customized treatments that are based on each individual patient.
Additionally, we are the only clinic in Augusta GA that can provide the combination of chiropractic treatments and cold laser therapy. The FDA has approved the use of low level lasers for relief of chronic or acute pain, including the pain associated with fibromyalgia. Several studies have shown this treatment to be an effective alternative to prescription medication, especially with no known side effects.
Our goal for you: • Reduce your sense of suffering • Improve the quality of your life • Increase function.
The Georgia Clinic of Chiropractic Blog is written by Dr. Mark Huntsman.
Augusta GA Chiropractor Georgia Clinic of Chiropractic provides customized services. Visit our main website at www.georgia-clinic.com for a chiropractor in Augusta GA and a chiropractor in Evans GA that provide customized care.
Choose several options to schedule your appointment: call (706) 814-5053 or use our online form.
