Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that affects the soft tissues and muscles. It’s characterized by fatigue, tenderness in specific parts, and widespread pain in muscles and bones all over the body. The reasons why fibromyalgia occurs are unknown. Also, the symptoms are similar to other conditions, making it difficult to detect. But if you feel any pain, you should get checked up as soon as possible.
Symptoms of fibromyalgia
There are several symptoms indicative of fibromyalgia:
- Non-localized pain: This kind of pain is widespread through the body and lasts for more than three months. It occurs on both sides of the body as well as the waist.
- Muscle spasms: Muscles feel tight and there are spasms and pain in the joints. When there is chronic pain, these types of spasms are your body’s reaction.
- Mental fog: The inability to focus, concentrate and pay attention due to fibromyalgia pain is also called “fibro fog.” It’s experienced when pain becomes severe.
- Fatigue: Fibromyalgia patients tend to sleep longer than average and wake up feeling tired.
- Decreased energy: Since you won’t be getting enough rest and sleep due to the pain, your energy level stays low which affects mood and your willingness to participate in various day-to-day activities.
- Lower abdominal pain: This symptom is often accompanied by nausea, bloating, constipation and diarrhoea.
- Tenderness in face and jaws: This is a severe symptom where jaw muscles feel tender or locked, posing difficulty for chewing.
- Swelling: Fibromyalgia also leads to a feeling of swelling of the arms and legs with no actual physical sign of swelling. This is also called phantom swelling.
Chiropractic for fibromyalgia
The chronic pain posed by fibromyalgia can be effectively managed with chiropractic care. Consult your doctor first and let them assess the severity of the problem so they can recommend the appropriate treatment. Chiropractic for fibromyalgia is used to relieve pressure points and shoulder pain, and help manage neck and back pain.
