Fibromyalgia is a condition that is increasing in its prevalence. This could be because it is being more readily recognized than in years past, which is leading to the proper diagnosis for many people suffering with fibromyalgia.
Approximately 4 million adults across the United States are affected. While it is readily known that fibromyalgia causes a great deal of pain, some other facts and statistics can be surprising to learn:
- Women are predominantly affected. Approximately 80-90% of those diagnosed with fibromyalgia are women.
- Higher rates of depression — fibromyalgia sufferers are 3 times more likely to have major depression than adults without the condition.
- Reduced quality of life — women with fibromyalgia can have 40% less physical function and 67% less mental health.
- It’s not just pain. People with fibromyalgia also suffer with headaches, insomnia and other sleep difficulties, cognitive issues, digestive problems, and more.
To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and Fibromyalgia download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.
Fibromyalgia and Your Nervous System
Your central nervous system (your brain and spinal cord) is responsible for relaying signals that are constantly travelling between your brain and body. This system controls and coordinates every single function of the body. Pain processing relies on the normal communication over the central nervous system. A hindrance of these pain signals can result in abnormal pain processing, which is a big factor in fibromyalgia. Central nervous system dysfunction can occur because of a misalignment of your atlas, the uppermost vertebra in your neck. When aligned properly, the atlas protects the brainstem. However, when the atlas misaligns, it can prevent normal brainstem function, distorting the information being carried over the nerves.
The job of an upper cervical chiropractor is to identify atlas misalignments and to understand how they are impacting normal brain-body communication. At Upper Cervical Care Edwardsville, we take the time to understand each patient’s individual health history, including any accidents or injuries that may have created an initial atlas misalignment. If an atlas misalignment is found to be contributing to any nervous system dysfunction, a gentle upper cervical adjustment is given to restore normal alignment. Given time for the body to heal, this can lead to a reduction or even elimination of fibromyalgia symptoms.
References:
https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/fibromyalgia.htm
https://www.niams.nih.gov/health_info/fibromyalgia/fibromyalgia_ff.asp
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