Fibromyalgia Treatment at Pain Care Associates in Little Rock

If you suffer from fibromyalgia, you may feel as if you're battling an invisible opponent who has an unlimited number of weapons. This chronic pain condition causes a wide range of symptoms, from muscle pain and tightness to tingling, insomnia and fatigue, making a normal life all but impossible. But like so many other chronic ailments, fibromyalgia can be successfully managed with the aid of natural therapies and techniques. Here at Pain Care Associates, our Little Rock chiropractors are ready to help you get your symptoms under better control so you can get back to enjoying your life.

Fibromyalgia is a hard condition to understand, partly because its origins are somewhat mysterious and partly because its effects mimic those of so many other potential disorders. Sometimes it appears in response to a specific traumatic injury, while in other cases it develops after an extended period of stress. It's believed that sufferers have abnormally low serotonin levels and abnormally high levels of a chemical called Substance P. As a result, they experience more exaggerated and extreme pain sensations than the general population.

But the pain isn't just "all in your head." Hard muscle knots called trigger points tend to form, referring pain signals throughout the body. Many fibromyalgia patients also have spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that can put pressure on sensitive neural tissues. Chronic fatigue is another hallmark of the illness, and it's made that much worse by the sleep difficulties posed by such an uncomfortable chronic pain syndrome.

Natural Fibromyalgia Treatments for Little Rock Residents

While we don't yet have a cure for fibromyalgia, the good news is that Pain Care Associates can help Little Rock residents reduce their symptoms without any need for drugs or invasive procedures. Your chiropractor (Dr. Stewart, Dr. Vang or Dr. Browning) will perform a detailed physical examination and take your medical history to rule out other possible underlying causes. There's no conclusive test for fibromyalgia, but it can be confirmed in patients with at least 11 identifiable tender spots distributed throughout all four quadrants of the body.

Chiropractic adjustment can be extremely helpful in cases of fibromyalgia. Spinal manipulation and spinal decompression can help relieve the nerve pressure of stenosis while also helping to normalize systemic nerve function (which plays a role in hormonal/neurotransmitter balances). We may also recommend other natural techniques such as trigger point therapy to help relax the muscle knots that cause pain and chronic tension that can contribute to spinal misalignment. Exercise and other forms of physical therapy can play a particularly important role in helping your tissues remain as mobile and flexible as possible.

Visit our Little Rock Chiropractor Today

Since fibromyalgia is a chronic condition, your chiropractor at Pain Care Associates will work with you to develop an ongoing pain management routine. Periodic spinal screenings, treatment sessions and ongoing self-care practices can help you maintain control over your quality of life. Schedule a consultation today!