5 Signs of Fibromyalgia

Pain isn’t something you ever have to deal with, especially when it comes on suddenly and isn’t easily relieved. Pain can be caused by a number of different problems, including fibromyalgia. However, if it’s your only symptom, how do you know if this condition is what’s causing your chronic discomfort?

At Pinnacle Health Chiropractic, our goal is to treat your pain, no matter what the cause. Our board-certified chiropractor, Dr. Jason Ablett, helps you deal with your fibromyalgia pain through a variety of different methods, including chiropractic manipulation.

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a complex disorder that’s not completely understood due to its vague symptoms. However, it can really affect the way you live your life by making you miss out on your favorite activities due to the widespread pain it produces.

This condition causes intense pain in the muscles all over your body — but the cause is often unknown. It’s understood that fibromyalgia somehow changes the way your brain interprets pain signals, often intensifying them to the extreme, even if it’s a minor ache.

There currently are no definitive tests that can diagnose you with this disorder; so a proper diagnosis is often attributed to your symptoms. Dr. Ablett does a full history and exam to determine if fibromyalgia may be the culprit of all of your symptoms.

Signs that you may have fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that can mimic many other conditions, so understanding the specific signs that point to the correct diagnosis can save you from years of improper care. So how do you know if fibromyalgia is what’s causing all of your pain? Here are five common signs that can clue you in:

1. Widespread pain

Fibromyalgia leads to pain all over your body, and can flare up at the most inopportune times. Pain can hit at any time, and is usually enough to affect your daily activities. Along with the pain, you may also experience muscle stiffness.

2. Memory problems

Memory problems, along with difficulty concentrating, are another common finding with this disorder. You may have heard it called fibro fog, which describes the foggy mind that you experience with fibromyalgia. This may come and go, or occur pretty frequently, and make it hard for you to remember even the simplest things.

3. Fatigue

Fibromyalgia can lead to chronic fatigue, often associated with difficulty sleeping that goes along with it. Your fatigue may get so bad at times that it feels as though you’re fighting the flu. You may not feel like doing any kind of activity, even things as easy as grocery shopping or cooking dinner. 

4. Trouble sleeping

Trouble sleeping could be due to the pain you're experiencing with fibromyalgia. You may feel as though you’ve slept all night, but you wake feeling exhausted. If you have fibromyalgia, you may also suffer from other problems like restless leg syndrome or sleep apnea. 

5. Headaches

This disorder can lead to painful headaches that not only ruin your day, but also lead to other problems like trouble concentrating. The headaches could be caused by the chronic tension in your muscles that goes hand-in-hand with this disorder. You may also regularly suffer from debilitating migraines. 

Fibromyalgia can also lead to depression from dealing with constant pain related to the disease. If you have more than one of these symptoms, and nothing is working to control your pain, make an appointment with Dr. Ablett to see if fibromyalgia is the problem.

How chiropractic care can help

If you’re suffering from the pain of fibromyalgia, getting treatment for your flare ups is vital to a happy existence. Traditional treatment options usually involve medications that help to decrease your discomfort. These medications can range from antidepressants to antiseizure drugs, all of which may have undesirable side effects.

Lifestyle modifications can help as well. This includes yoga, stretching, and meditation to help ease the symptoms related to fibromyalgia. But when all of these interventions aren’t enough, Dr. Ablett can help with the many therapies he offers. 

Chiropractic care isn’t just for back and neck discomfort; it actually helps your body in many different ways. Dr. Ablett specializes in a few different types of treatment for your pain that allow him to release the tension in your muscles due to the disorder. 

He does this by using specialized tools and instruments that allow him to loosen up the fascia in your muscles, thus relieving the built up pain you’ve been feeling all over. He may also do manual manipulation or massage to help lessen your discomfort. 

If you think your pain is due to fibromyalgia, getting help is key. Schedule a diagnostic evaluation with Dr. Ablett online or by calling Pinnacle Health Chiropractic today.