What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal system disorder that causes pain, fatigue, and a host of other medical symptoms. Symptoms are so varied that fibromyalgia is frequently misdiagnosed, and it is believed that for many sufferers, it goes undiagnosed. It is estimated that up to 5% of people may suffer from fibromyalgia.
Healthcare experts are not sure what causes fibromyalgia but suspect it may be due to a unique combination of genetic and environmental factors. Fibromyalgia is a complicated condition that can be as difficult to treat as it is to diagnose, but some promise has been shown with the treatment of the upper cervical spine.
Signs and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
There are many symptoms of fibromyalgia, but the most common symptom that sufferers experience is pain. The type of pain may vary, including dull, achy, stabbing, shooting, stiffness, or a burning sensation. The severity of the pain may also vary, as well as the region of the body in which it is experienced, or it may manifest as an oversensitivity to touch.
Fatigue is another telltale symptom of fibromyalgia. Patients often complain of unexplained physical and/or mental exhaustion. Sleep disturbances are a common occurrence.
If fibromyalgia goes untreated, it can result in a wide range of secondary conditions, including but not limited to: chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, migraines, bladder problems, digestive issues, postural tachycardia syndrome, or temporomandibular joint disorders.
How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Fibromyalgia
Modern research has found that irregularities in brain chemistry may be an underlying factor in fibromyalgia. Symptoms may be caused by an overload in the thalamus. These kinds of irregularities are often caused due to a disruption of nerve signals in the CNS, and the culprit in these disruptions are often misalignments of the upper cervical spine.
The upper cervical spine is made up of the uppermost seven vertebrae that begin at the base of the skull, right where the brainstem connects to the spinal cord to form the Central Nervous System (CNS). These vertebrae run down the neck, protecting the spine. The upper cervical area is also responsible for carrying the weight of the head and facilitating head and neck movement.
This part of the spine is vulnerable and prone to injury. Any jolt, impact, or even poor posture can cause a misalignment of the upper cervical spine. When the vertebrae are misaligned and the area is inflamed, it may lead to pinched or compressed nerves that misfire.
How Our Fibromyalgia Treatment Works
When it comes to fibromyalgia, there are many treatments your healthcare provider may recommend in order to help you manage the symptoms of the disease. Our treatment plan attempts to get to the root of the problem by examining the health of the upper cervical spine. Upper cervical care offers a drug-free, non-invasive, natural treatment for fibromyalgia.
Dr. Bejian Shamloo is an upper cervical specialist who uses state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to assess the health and alignment of the upper cervical spine. Revolutionary technology such as advanced 3D imaging and infrared thermography allows Dr. Shamloo to calculate even the most minute misalignments of the spine. This allows the doctor to make safer, gentler, more precise adjustments that will hold longer.
Once the spine is properly aligned, it reduces inflammation, decompresses the nerves, and puts the body's natural healing devices in motion. As proper nerve function resumes, many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia will decrease, if not disappear altogether.
If you suffer from fibromyalgia, or if you believe your symptoms may be related to this condition, contact Dr. Shamloo for a consultation. The doctor provides upper cervical chiropractic treatment for patients in Knoxville, Alcoa, Maryville, Farragut, Clinton, Oak Ridge, Sevierville, Lenoir City, Karns, Hardin Valley, Powell, Halls, and Fountain City in Tennessee, as well as the surrounding areas.