Both fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers live with a great deal of fatigue and exhaustion. A fine line seems to exist between the two conditions given that they share many symptoms in common. Research has even found that 50%-70% of people with a fibromyalgia also fit the criteria for a chronic fatigue syndrome. Given the fact that these conditions have connection, we're going to explore their similarities. On top of that, their differences. We'll also provide you with a natural healthcare option for fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
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Fibromyalgia is a condition that brings widespread pain, achiness, and stiffness, mental cloudiness, fatigue, and poor sleep. It is one of the most common chronic pain disorders. It affects with approximately 5 million people across the United States. Studies attribute the pain to an "oversensitivity" to pain. People with fibromyalgia have changes within their central nervous system that affect their normal pain-processing. This creates the conditions under which chronic pain can develop. The area of the brain that processes pain signals interpret painful sensations as being more intense.
The majority (almost 80%) of fibromyalgia sufferers are women, but men and even children can develop the condition. Diagnosis can be a difficult road since fibromyalgia shares its collection of symptoms with many other illnesses. Perfect examples are chronic fatigue syndrome and lupus. There is no specific test for fibromyalgia, so diagnoses rely on a combination of reported symptoms and a physical examination.
The hallmark characteristic of chronic fatigue syndrome is long-standing and disabling fatigue. Fatigue that is not explainable by any other condition or reason that last for 6 consecutive months or longer may develop during or after an illness such as Epstein-Barr virus or Lyme disease. Severe fatigue occurs even after waking up from a full night of sleep and can worsen during periods of high stress or with physical exertion. Other CFS symptoms include difficulty concentrating, joint pain, muscle pain, and headaches. Much like fibromyalgia, we have more to learn about fibromyalgia despite extensive research. Diagnosis relies upon ruling out other diseases that cause a similar set of symptoms.
Whether you're living with the chronic effects of fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, finding avenues to help you sleep better, reduce pain, and generally improve your daily quality of life is key. Many FM and CFS sufferers have been finding long-lasting, natural relief with upper cervical chiropractic care. Upper cervical care, a subspecialty of general chiropractic care, focuses on the area of the spine that controls many of your body's self-regulating functions such as pain processing, hormone production, sleep-cycle regulation, and digestion. Your brainstem coordinates many of these life-sustaining functions and the vertebrae that protect your brainstem sit at the upper part of the neck where it forms a junction with the base of your skull.
When your atlas (C1) vertebra misaligns due to injury or wear and tear, it can interrupt your body's ability to carry out these functions optimally. Over time, this can lead to the development of fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms. Many patients under upper cervical care are suffering from these two chronic, debilitating conditions. Thankfully, once they receive specific, gentle upper cervical chiropractic adjustment, their bodies are able to heal and function better.
If you are living with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome and are looking for a natural solution, then contacting an upper cervical chiropractor in your area can be the first step towards better health.
References:
https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/special-subjects/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/chronic-fatigue-syndrome
TV show host Montel Williams describes how specific chiropractic care has helped his body.
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.