Patients consulting a fibromyalgia chiropractic doctor often share similar health complaints. One example of which is fibro fog or cognitive problems. According to reports, approximately 4 out of 5 people with fibromyalgia have impaired cognition. As a result, they experience significant disruptions in work and even relationship troubles. Do you happen to suffer from the same problem? Let’s help you become more familiar with brain fog plus other debilitating effects of fibromyalgia below.
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When people hear about fibromyalgia, they automatically associate it with widespread body pain. However, most aren’t aware that it can cause “invisible effects” such as impaired cognition or fibro fog. Patients explain that fibro fog causes forgetfulness, confusion, and lack of concentration. Some note that brain fog also affects their communication skills because they find it extra challenging to hold a conversation, let alone make sense of the discussion or formulate cohesive thoughts.
Sadly, these effects make it incredibly difficult to navigate everyday life—regardless of an individual's age, work, and other pre-existing health conditions. Additionally, it can impact how patients connect with people around them and seek assistance from healthcare professionals like a fibromyalgia chiropractic doctor.
Studies explain that fibro fog develops because of dysregulations in the neurotransmitter function and neurologic pathways. The slow or disrupted flow of signals in the nervous system causes the brain to perform poorly. Additionally, chronic pain can reduce the size of the grey matter—the tissues that take control of cognitive functions, motor responses, learning, and memory formation.
Besides fibro fog, patients also grow weary because of other equally debilitating symptoms? Are you familiar with them? If not, let’s help you get acquainted with them, so you can devise a better patient care plan or make room for lifestyle adjustments to lessen the impact of the condition.
Pain is a fascinating reflex of the human body. It warns against potential injuries and lowers the risks of worse tissue damage. However, excessive pain signals can wear out the brain. It can also deplete the body’s energy levels as the brain tries to respond to the source of the pain.
Doctors refer to this symptom as chronic fatigue. Notably, this can linger for several days even after the rest of the fibromyalgia symptoms ease or disappear. It also causes patients to miss out on family gatherings, work-related travels, and other things.
Constant worrying about when a fibromyalgia flare-up might happen can be mentally taxing. To some people, their symptoms also cause them to worry about things like:
Patients often get trapped in a vicious cycle of worrying and develop mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and panic attacks.
Researchers have made significant progress in finding the possible root cause of fibromyalgia. Notably, most studies link the condition with central sensitization—a heightened state of sensitivity to pain and pressure stimuli.
According to some research, central sensitization often develops because of cervical spine imbalances – a common side effect of neck or head injuries. As a result, many patients find great relief from their fibromyalgia symptoms after seeking a fibromyalgia chiropractic doctor.
Fibromyalgia can significantly increase a patient’s susceptibility to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). According to researchers, this happens because of the gut-brain connection through the vagus nerve. Patients with pre-existing IBS tend to suffer worse because of increased bloating and severe constipation or diarrhea during flare-ups.
Getting enough quality sleep is imperative in seeking fibromyalgia relief. However, sleeping difficulties is one of the most common symptoms of the disorder. The constant misfiring of the nerves disrupts sleeping patterns and makes it incredibly difficult to calm the mind. That’s why doctors and fibromyalgia specialists remind patients to tap into techniques that can help provide ample restorative sleep at night.
Several case studies have proven that fibromyalgia can stem from neck bone misalignments. In fact, in one clinical study, a middle-aged patient with almost extreme fibromyalgia symptoms experienced massive relief after receiving fibromyalgia chiropractic care.
Her initial visit to the upper cervical doctor revealed that she has C1 subluxation. So, her upper cervical doctor provided cervical spine manipulations to ease the bone back into its original alignment. She received fibromyalgia chiropractic care for six months and reported gradual improvement after each C1 bone adjustment.
Notably, when the C1 and C2 bones slide or shift away from the body’s central axis, they can impinge on nearby tissues. Sometimes, they can impact the brainstem and increase the risk for central sensitization. The bones can also impede nerve and brain function because of disrupted pain signal transmission and lack of blood flow to the brain.
If you suspect having cervical spine misalignments, it might help to schedule an appointment with a nearby upper cervical chiropractic practice. This way, you can get a comprehensive diagnosis of the uppermost neck bones and gauge how long it might take to retrain your spine.
Contact a local fibromyalgia chiropractic doctor and start understanding more about your new holistic and natural option for relief.
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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.
