For people with fibromyalgia, chiropractic treatment may help to relieve some of the symptoms of this chronic illness. In fact, many patients with fibromyalgia depend on Lakewood chiropractor Dr. Julie Peterson to help them enjoy better function and happier lives.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that is marked by widespread muscle pain, fatigue and multiple tender points. According to the American College of Rheumatology, there are 18 tender points; in order to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a person must have at least 11 of these tender points. More than 90 percent of patients with fibromyalgia are women.
Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
In addition to pain and fatigue, the following are also associated with fibromyalgia:
- Sleepless nights
- Headaches
- Early morning stiffness
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Restless legs syndrome
- Depression
- Cognition and memory problems
- Extremities that tingle or feel numb
- Sensitivity to ambient temperature
- Painful menstrual periods
Treating Fibromyalgia with Chiropractic Care
Lakewood chiropractor Dr. Peterson treats patients who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia to help relieve pain of tender points, back, neck and shoulder pain, headaches and musculoskeletal pain. Chiropractic adjustments can help prevent the spine and muscles from losing movement and range of motion. People who suffer from fibromyalgia tend to experience muscle tightening. As a consequence, there is loss of movement in the spine, which causes muscles to tighten even more. Thus a vicious cycle develops, leading to increased pain and muscle tightness and greater loss of movement.
To combat this, Dr. Peterson adjusts the spine in order to maintain its mobility. Adjustments may be somewhat modified in order to accommodate the diminished healing ability of muscles in fibromyalgia sufferers.
Lifestyle Choices for Fibromyalgia
Making the right lifestyle choices when you have fibromyalgia can have a tremendous influence on the severity of the condition. With this in mind, Dr. Peterson offers the following day-to-day practices you can use to help manage your fibromyalgia symptoms:
Get Enough Rest. Sleeping enough can help ease the pain and fatigue that are often associated with fibromyalgia. However, pain, restless legs syndrome and irregular brain waves can interfere with quality sleep. An oral sleep aid may be helpful.
Exercise. Aerobic exercise has been shown to help relieve the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Walking and swimming are excellent choices, because they are low-impact.
Diet. Pay attention to your body’s response to different foods. Some—dairy, eggs, wheat and corn—may stress your body more than others. Instead, eat fresh fruits and vegetables, brown rice, legumes, lean meats like chicken and turkey, nuts and soy.
Our Lakewood, WA practice welcomes patients from nearby Thurston, Pierce County, and other surrounding areas. Contact us to schedule an appointment today for treatment of back pain in Lakewood or fibromyalgia.
