Fibromyalgia and other chronic pain may have some connection to childhood trauma, a recent article claims. Is this a legitimate cause? If so, does this take us back to the days of people claiming chronic pain is psychological rather than physiological? While some are labeling the article as “dangerous,” it may actually point to a real physical underlying cause of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
The hypothesis of doctors Davis and Vanderah is that childhood abuse, accidents, or other trauma may be to blame for chronic pain such as fibromyalgia later in life. These doctors believe that early trauma changes the way the brain processes pain. Therefore, the body becomes hypersensitive to pain, and chronic pain conditions occur with little to no stimuli causing widespread pain.
However, some who specialize in the field of chronic pain are calling this theory a dangerous shift that could cause people to seek psychological treatment as opposed to needed medical care for pain. Is there something that can tie these two ideas together?
Let’s say a child had an accident or suffers physical abuse. These incidents cause more than just psychological trauma. Head or neck injuries can lead to an upper cervical subluxation. Such a misalignment can restrict blood flow to the brain, and put pressure on the brainstem. Cerebrospinal fluid drainage may be interrupted, and vital nerves and soft tissue are subject to damage. The effects of this misalignment can compound over time and lead to fibromyalgia and other issues later in life.
Therefore, it is easy to combine the ideas of these two doctors—that childhood trauma is connected to chronic pain—with the modern understanding that chronic pain conditions are physiological and not psychosomatic. Upper cervical chiropractic brings both the theories together by explaining the underlying problem. It also offers a solution.
Upper cervical chiropractic is a gentle way to correct upper cervical subluxations. Correction of misalignments can result in the restoration of proper blood and cerebrospinal fluid flow and return of function of the brainstem and central nervous system. If you suffer from chronic pain and have suffered head or neck trauma (whether in childhood or more recent times), this may be the natural solution you have been searching for.
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The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.
