A Natural Approach to Fibromyalgia Care — Important Information for Chiropractic Patients In Tampa Bay Struggling With Fibromyalgia

AN ARTIST’S CONCEPTUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE INNER NECK.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease that causes widespread pain.

It is a common disease and affects more than 5 million adults in the United States.

The pathophysiological processes that leads to development of this painful disease still has many physicians baffled. Some physicians believe that fibromyalgia is a psychiatric disorder and should be treated as such.

Recently, however, the pain associated with fibromyalgia has been identified as having a possible neurogenic origin.

Imaging studies have shown that the amplification of pain perception not normally felt, and the heightened sensitivity to stimuli occur in the central nervous system for these patients.

Two integral parts of the brainstem, the nucleus tractus solitarus (NTS) and the locus coeruleus (LC), have both been associated with modulation of pain.

While drug treatments can lead to a temporary decrease in fibromyalgia pain, many patients are seeking non-analgesic treatment.

This is based on the demands to find more effective long lasting treatment. Many patients develop a need to increased dosage because the pain killer’s effectiveness wanes over time.

In a 2007 study it was estimated that about 34% of fibromyalgia patients spend $100-$1,000 per month in co-payment in order to see healthcare providers and obtain prescription drugs. In my research I explore how specifically tailored upper cervical chiropractic adjustments can help patients with this debilitating disease.

When the top two vertebrae of your spine are misaligned it can cause a torsion of the spinal cord, along with decreased blood flow and cerebral spinal fluid flow.

All these factors can lead to miscommunication or what we call subluxations. Messages that are sent via neural pathways from your muscles, tissues and organ can be effected by misalignments of the top two vertebrae.

Upper cervical research suggests that blood flow to the NTS may be affected during subluxation in the upper neck region due to an occlusion of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery. This artery helps give vital oxygen and nutrients to the NTS as well as other important structure in the brainstem.

When these upper cervical misalignments occur, usually from accidents, falls or even a traumatic birth, they can cause important information about the bodies environment to be misinterpreted. Imagine having a bad phone connection. Upper cervical chiropractic works to improve the communication from your brain to you body and your body to your brain.

For more information feel free to contact us at currentchiropractic@dr.com

If you want the full research article read “Resolution of Fibromyalgia & Polypharmacy Concomitant with  Increased Cervical Curve & Improved Quality of Life Following Reduction of Upper Cervical Subluxation: A Case Study.”