Many are excited that Cymbalta, an anti-depressant, has become the second drug approved by the FDA for fibromyalgia treatment. The other is Lyrica, an anticonvulsant (seizure medication). As a result, pharmacological treatments for fibromyalgia are very limited. Plus, facts about the studies that led to FDA approval of Cymbalta for fibromyalgia are not very convincing.
The drug was approved following two successful studies. What constitutes a successful study? More than half of patients have to experience a 30% improvement in pain. In these two studies, only 55 and 51% respectively saw such meager benefits. Also, 1 in 5 patients dropped out of the studies due to side effects. The patient experienced nausea, decreased appetite, constipation, and more.
A 2015 case study reveals the complete resolution of fibromyalgia in a 32-year-old woman after just 8 upper cervical adjustments using a high-velocity, low-force method. The patient reported symptom severity at 8 out of 10 prior to care and 6 out of 10 after just one adjustment. Within 6 weeks, there was an elimination of 90% of the pain.
Why is upper cervical chiropractic care beneficial for fibromyalgia sufferers? Recent studies are also revealing that changes in blood flow to certain parts of the brain have been noted in fibromyalgia patients. The upper cervical spine plays a key role in facilitating this blood flow as the vertebral arteries pass through the top bones of the spine. Thus, keeping cervical vertebrae in proper alignment is vital to maintaining the correct amount of blood flow.
If you are suffering from fibromyalgia and don’t want to deal with the side effects of medication to just have a 50/50 shot at 30% less pain, upper cervical chiropractic may be the natural option for you. Low force adjustments are safe and gentle, and many see benefits after the first adjustment.
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.