Fibromyalgia Specialist
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Pinnacle Health Chiropractic
Jason Ablett, DC
Chiropractor & Massage Therapist located in Kirkland, WA
Fibromyalgia is a common pain-causing condition in the United States, affecting more than 10 million adults. This chronic disorder can be tough to diagnose and treat, which is why you need a trusted doctor with extensive experience working with fibromyalgia patients. If you are in the Kirkland, Washington area, make an appointment at Pinnacle Health Chiropractic — either online or over the phone. You can meet with fibromyalgia expert and chiropractor Jason Ablett, DC. Dr. Ablett welcomes new patients who are living with chronic fibromyalgia pain and need treatment.
Fibromyalgia Q & A
What causes fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a common disorder that leads to widespread musculoskeletal pain. Medical experts believe that when you have fibromyalgia, your body amplifies even minor pain sensations, forcing your brain to overreact to pain signals. The exact cause of fibromyalgia is not always obvious, but you may have a higher risk if you:
- Are female (more than 75% of fibromyalgia sufferers are women)
- Have a family history of fibromyalgia
- Are over age 80
Fibromyalgia is typically diagnosed when you are between the ages of 20-50, although the chances of having fibromyalgia increase as you age. After age 80, approximately 8% of seniors in the US meet the fibromyalgia diagnosis standards, even if they have never formally been diagnosed.
How does a chiropractor diagnose fibromyalgia?
Diagnosing fibromyalgia requires Dr. Ablett to review all of your symptoms, as well as their frequency. Older diagnostic techniques include pressing on multiple points all over your body to see if they caused you pain.
Though part of your physical examination may include pressing on specific points, Dr. Ablett also evaluates your entire body and overall symptoms. He could also request laboratory work to check for inflammatory markers.
If you have old medical records or imaging, bring those to your appointment. Dr. Ablett can look through everything to see if you have ever had an abnormal blood test or if something was missed in an X-ray. These tools help him confirm a fibromyalgia diagnosis.
Can a doctor treat fibromyalgia?
Yes. Because Dr. Ablett regularly works closely with musculoskeletal care management experts, he has extensive training in providing the most advanced fibromyalgia treatments. Dr. Ablett often uses either fascia treatments or Graston treatments for fibromyalgia sufferers. Both types of therapies allow Dr. Ablett to relieve muscle and fascia tension throughout your body.
So if you have “knots” or painful spots when your fibromyalgia flares up, Dr. Ablett uses specialized instruments to work through those areas to loosen up soft tissue and ultimately relieve your pain. Your fibromyalgia treatment plan is tailored to you, so it could also include:
- Manual chiropractic adjustments
- Ultrasound therapy
- Massage therapy
- Rehabilitative Exercise or rehabilitation
