If you or a loved one suffers from fibromyalgia, chiropractic care may be right for you. Fibromyalgia is the most common cause of widespread pain. Women are more 10 to 20 times more likely to have fibromyalgia than men. Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic diffuse pain that is longer than 3 months accompanied by 11 of 18 soft tissue tender points. The condition is frequently associated with stiffness, fatigue, lack of sleep, paresthesia, headaches, dysmenorrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome. The treatments of the condition are unknown. However some treatment plans have included: prescription of low-dose antidepressant medications, light aerobic exercise and cognitive behavioural therapy.
In this case study, a 64 year old female is presented to chiropractic care with previous diagnosis of fibromyalgia. The woman had been diagnosed 6 years prior to presentation. Other complaints included sleep apnea, loss of coordination, glaucoma, and degenerative disk disease. She also had state complaints of arthritis, depressed, photophobia, indigestion, changes in her bowel habits, frequent urination, sinusitis, allergies, muscle pain and high cholesterol and hypertension. She could not walk long distances without assistance and described her neck and upper back pain as moderate. She described the low back pain as severe and shoulder pain as mild.
The patient’s care plan consisted of 3 visits a week for one month and then 2 visits a week for two months. At the first reassessment, the patient has state that her neck, shoulder, middle back pain had improved as well as her eye sight. During her second reassessment, she reported having much more energy and strength as she was able to stand and walk for a longer period of time with no pain. The patient is still currently under care measures of the patient’s progress and improvements and still being monitored.
The progress of this case study shows an improvement of a patients suffering from fibromyalgia with upper cervical chiropractic care.
Bennett, C. (2012). Improvement in a Patient with Fibromyalgia Following Knee Upper Cervical Specific Care: A Case Report. Journal Of Pediatric Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic4, 4 (2)
