Even though fibromyalgia has been a recognized diagnosis since the late 1980s, it is still often a diagnosis of exclusion. Dr. Frederick Wolfe, a known rheumatologist in the field of fibromyalgia, found that chiropractic treatment was a popular form of pain relief in the '80s when he conducted one of his studies, and finds that is it still a sought-after treatment today. Always make sure licensed professional is treating your spine.
Spinal Manipulations
The main practice of chiropractic is to assess and address any spinal misalignment. A thorough physical exam is performed to determine what areas of the spine need to be addressed. Chiropractors most commonly will use their hands to perform a type of fast adjustment to the pre-identified areas of the spine. Often a crack or pop is heard and felt with the adjustment. When the spine is in alignment, it will allow the nerves and surrounding musculature to function optimally. There is sometimes post-adjustment soreness, similar to a post-workout muscle ache, but most of the time patients feel relief.
Trigger-Point Work
Fibromyalgia has 18 distinct areas on the body that can have tender points. Due to the nature of the disease, there are often trigger points, or "knots" in the muscles, other than the specific tender points. Chiropractors can do several forms of muscle or trigger-point work to help decrease the size and number of trigger points. This will help with the general ache felt in the area. Chiropractors will use their hands directly on the muscles or even some forms of electrical modalities to help relax the muscles.
Microcurrent
Microcurrent is another form of electrical modality but it is such a small amount of current that many patients do not even feel when the current is on. This low dose, even though not felt, helps increase energy production and waste removal from the cells in the body. Having more energy and less waste in a cell makes for a more energetic and less achy body.
A specific type of current, Frequency Specific Microcurrent, has settings that are specific to the muscle aches and complaints that are commonly felt with fibromyalgia. This treatment is often used on a patient with the practitioner wearing graphite gloves and working on the patient, or placing the gloves in wet towels on the body.
References
- Cecil Essentials of Medicine Third Edition by Andreoli et al 1993
- Review of Chriopractic and Fibromyalgia
- Chiropractic Treatment and Fibromyalgia
