What Are The Risk Factors For Fibromyalgia?

May 3, 2020

what-are-the-risk-factors-for-fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a mysterious disorder for many. It causes widespread pain in the body that becomes worse with continued fatigue or excessive strain. More other symptoms can accompany the pain.  These include the following:

  • Migraines or tension headaches
  • Extreme tiredness that does not go away even after an appropriate amount of sleep or rest
  • Difficulty concentrating or mental cloudiness often referred to as fibro-fog.
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Tingling or numbness or tingling in the arms and legs

There is a growing number of people with fibromyalgia today. Women are seven times more prone to have this condition compared to men. The increase is likely due to many factors.

Risk Factors For Fibromyalgia

Genetics, stress, having an infection, trauma or injury, or pre-existing pain processing disorder are just some of the risk factors for fibromyalgia.

  • Genetics – Some believe that specific genetic mutations get passed down through generations. It is what makes some individuals more prone to develop fibromyalgia.
  • Stress – A severe physical or emotional event can trigger the onset of a fibromyalgia flare-up.
  • Trauma or injury – A sports or car accident, or some other type of head or neck injury can also cause the development of fibromyalgia
  • Pain processing disorder – The body's central nervous system (CNS), consisting of the brain and spinal cord, has trouble interpreting and transmitting information about pain stimuli correctly.
  • Infection – Fibromyalgia symptoms sometimes may show after the onset of some infections or illnesses.

Fibromyalgia and The Central Nervous System

The body’s central nervous system controls the coordination of the actions of your body. In addition, it is responsible for aspects like moving the hands and feet. Furthermore, it governs the involuntary processes in the body such as our cardiovascular function, digestion, and sensations. These crucial processes are taken care of by the spinal cord, brain, and all the nerves that branch off of them.

In the case of fibromyalgia, a critical part of the central nervous system also manages the processing of pain and the regulation of the hormones that control our sleep cycles. This is none other than the brainstem, the complicated superhighway of nerves that control every single action we do. 

Central Sensitization

Central sensitization is a disorder of the nervous system linked with chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia. An individual’s pain threshold can become lower and causes an elevated sensitivity to both pain and the sensation of touch.

As a result, this causes anything not generally painful to be interpreted by the nervous system and brain as something extremely painful. Therefore, in other words, for people with fibromyalgia, their pain signals are amplified many times above average.

What Is Your Next Course of Action?

If you have fibromyalgia, there is a high chance that you have already been through a lot of remedies and care options to find the best one that works for you. There are a lot of breakthroughs in research focused on understanding this disorder. Yet, it seems that long-term and safe relief alternatives are very slim.

Typical medications prescribed to people with fibromyalgia include anticonvulsant drugs and antidepressants, in addition to painkillers and anti-inflammatories. Is there a natural and long-term relief alternative? Is there a safer way to deal with fibromyalgia? Yes, indeed, there is!

Fibromyalgia and The Promising Results of Upper Cervical Chiropractic

Upper cervical chiropractic care is one option that is growing in popularity and reputation today among fibromyalgia patients. It is one dependable method for people to have results-driven care for fibromyalgia patients. Upper cervical care focuses on people with disorders originating from the central nervous system (CNS), such as fibromyalgia, among many others.

The brainstem is a significant influence on how the rest of the CNS functions.  You can begin to think of the brainstem as the master switch for the fuse box in your home’s electrical system. If it cannot function properly, then the rest of the nervous system will not work at its best, either.

Now imagine that protecting and surrounding the brainstem are two bones—the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) vertebrae. The atlas and the axis are among the most unique bones in the whole spinal column. Their unique shape and function are what allow for the full range of movements of the head.

Due to their flexibility and mobility, the C1 and C2 are vulnerable to misalignment. The danger of misalignment comes from any type of head or neck trauma or injury from accidents, sports, slip and fall incidents, and due to wear and tear.

Misalignment causes pressure and irritation on the surrounding nerves and especially to the brainstem. If the misalignment remains untreated for long periods, this leads to central sensitization, or improper processing of pain signals, and other fibromyalgia symptoms.

Getting Help Towards Your Recovery and Relief

Get help from an upper cervical chiropractor as soon as possible. It is crucial to correct the root cause of your fibromyalgia. If the brain and body are not in harmony, not able to communicate and function properly, then it follows that the person will not be feeling at their best. 

Upper cervical chiropractic care is precise, gentle, and results-driven. If an atlas misalignment exists in your neck, chiropractors will make gentle adjustments that are tailored to your needs. They correct the misalignment and restore your healthy brain-body communication. It is this simple yet effective approach that has helped countless fibromyalgia patients in case studies finally gain their highly sought hope, healing, and long-lasting relief.

Seek an upper cervical chiropractor in your area. Use the search function on our website to help you with this.

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