Fibromyalgia is one of today's most common chronic pain conditions. According to the American College of Rheumatology, around 1 in 50 Americans currently suffer from fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, the condition is difficult to diagnose, and, being chronic in nature, can linger for several months or even years. Fibromyalgia typically causes pain throughout the body and creates areas so tender that the slightest pressure hurts.

  Patients diagnosed with the condition have both traditional and alternative treatment options available to them. Traditional approaches to managing the pain and treating fibromyalgia are anti-inflammatory prescriptions, sleep medications, and muscle relaxers. Patients frequently choose natural remedies instead of or in addition to traditional medication, such as vitamin therapy, acupuncture, and meditation. One of the most common treatments is chiropractic care.

  The main ways chiropractic care benefits those who suffer from fibromyalgia are:

Reduces pain levels

  The most difficult issue to deal with for fibromyalgia sufferers is the constant pain, which often affects the entire body for weeks or months at a stretch. Although these patients initially seek care for the pain they’re experiencing, they soon realize that chiropractic also helps restore overall health and aids the body in self-healing.

  By adjusting the spine to improve alignment, as well as incorporating some form of soft tissue work, chiropractors can assist fibromyalgia patients in minimizing their painful pressure points. Many who suffer with this condition look for relief with chiropractic treatment options, and experience a decrease in the tender spots.

Increases range of motion

  Chiropractors are also able to adjust the body's joints and help loosen them. For fibromyalgia patients, this can sometimes increase their range of motion and allow them to move more easily.

  Sometimes it takes several treatments to see significant results, so it's important to note that chiropractic treatment of fibromyalgia takes a commitment from the patient. The effects, however, are well worth the time invested.

Boosts sleep quality

  A common by-product of the pain associated from fibromyalgia is lack of sleep. As anyone knows, being unable to snag several hours sleep can leave you feeling tired, foggy, and irritable.

  By working with a chiropractor to loosen their joints and manage their tender points, patients suffering from this condition can enjoy a deeper sleep, and stay asleep longer.

Complements other treatments

  Sometimes medicines counteract with each other, or mix together and cause side effects. A big advantage of chiropractic care is it can be utilized in tandem with medications or other remedies, whether traditional or natural.

  An individual who is diagnosed with this condition should speak to his or her chiropractor about the various ways to treat it, and remember that there is not a one-stop solution. A treatment regimen should be built on a case-by-case basis tailored to the specific needs of that patient.

Empowers the patient

  Individuals who must cope with painful, chronic illnesses can become exasperated with treatment options, and feel as if they have no control over their situations. Unfortunately, these feelings can bring on stress and depression, which only works against getting better. By working with a chiropractor, patients can feel more in charge of their pain management and more optimistic in their recovery. 

  People who are diagnosed with fibromyalgia need to understand that there are options available to them for pain management, and they may decide to try more than one at a time. Chiropractic care is a valuable tool to treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia, and patients who will commit will see the benefits of less pain, greater mobility, and better sleep. And, perhaps the best benefit of all, they can take control of their circumstances and be a vital part of managing their personal well-being.

  If you or a loved one are suffering from fibromyalgia, don’t do it alone. I have a passion for helping sick people get well. So contact us today to schedule an appointment.

  It's no big secret that exercise is good for you. Many articles and books have been written and studies completed on the subject of physical fitness. However, lately it's been discussed as to whether that five mile run or spin class is really enough. Is our work environment undoing any positive effort we put into staying healthy?

  The short answer is YES. Human bodies were not built to sit for long periods of time. Our twenty-first century workplace; (working behind a desk, typing on the computer, endless video conferences); unfortunately stacks against us to keep us on our; well, not our feet.

  There are four harmful results on a person's body that stem from sitting at work.

 Sitting for many hours each day takes a toll on our backs.

  Working at a desk for many hours a day causes employees to stay in one position for an extended length of time. This puts a great deal of pressure on their backs. Over time, painful back problems can develop and, if left untreated, continue to worsen.

 Sitting also takes a toll on our waistline.

  Obesity is at an all time high in the United States, and at least a good chunk of the reason is our sedentary lifestyle. Sitting for a long period (8 or more hours a day) decreases our metabolism, causing us to burn fewer calories. The time at our desks can end up packing on the pounds.

 Sitting can increase the chance of developing a life-threatening disease.

  Studies show individuals with sedentary jobs have more health problems than their active counterparts. Cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes are both examples of health issues that arise more often in people who regularly sit down most of the day.

 Sitting can cause premature death.

  This may sound melodramatic, but it's true. As we talked about above, sitting for prolonged periods of time puts you at greater risk of diseases that may end up killing you. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found "people who sat for over 11 hours a day had a 40% greater risk of dying within three years from any cause than people who sat less than 4 hours a day."

  So, what should a sedentary office person do to improve their health and decrease the risk many hours of daily sitting causes?

• Get on your feet! Schedule times during the day to stand up and walk around. If you can't remember to do it, add an alarm on your cell phone. Even a couple minutes on your feet every hour will help balance prolonged sitting.
• Learn to sit correctly. If you must sit, make certain your chair isn't causing more damage. Select a chair that is height and angle adjustable. The seat should support your lower body, and the back should fit the curves of your spine. Special bonus points go to chairs with lumbar support and that rock.
• Visit your chiropractor. Back problems brought on by a job behind a desk are not going to magically go away, and can get worse over time. Make a chiropractor appointment, get examined, and work to correct the issue.
• Invest in a standing desk. A growing trend is to turn a sitting job into a standing job. Desks that are taller have the ability to keep you on your feet longer, which will provide many health benefits in the long run.

 

  Good health is one of our greatest assets, and it pays to protect it. By understanding the risks of a sedentary working environment, we can be proactive in increasing activity and promoting our individual fitness.
 
  If you or a loved one needs more insight on how chiropractic can guide you toward a healthier lifestyle, give us a call. We’re here to help!

  Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a serious, painful nerve injury that affects many people in the United States. CTS occurs when the median nerve, which runs down a person's forearm to his or her hand, gets compressed in the eight bones in the wrist called the carpal tunnel. This injury is frequently caused over time by repetitive motion such as assembly line work, and is the most expensive work-related injury. Symptoms of CTS include pain and numbness of the hand and wrist. While there are a variety of treatment options available to those who are afflicted with carpal tunnel syndrome up to and including surgery, chiropractic care has become a popular and effective option. 

Here are four ways patients with carpal tunnel syndrome benefit from chiropractic care.

Chiropractic care is documented to work on carpal tunnel syndrome

  While there are no guarantees that any one mode of treatment will work on every person, two studies have shown strong results that back the effectiveness of chiropractic treatment on CTS.

  In both cases, the majority of participants showed significant improvement in several measures such as range of motion, finger sensation, and pain reduction. These studies provide evidence to people suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. Patients can feel confident in improving their symptoms when choosing to pursue a chiropractor's care.

Chiropractors provide a less invasive treatment option

  Carpal tunnel syndrome, particularly cases that have gone undiagnosed or treated for an extended period of time, that ends up being too painful and advanced to be handled with medicine may face surgery. However, chiropractic care often helps minimize that option as a last resort. Regular visits to a chiropractor can show positive results in the controlling and healing of many of the CTS symptoms.

Chiropractic care offers an alternative to drugs to manage pain

  As with surgery, daily doses of medicine may be a less than ideal plan when managing carpal tunnel syndrome. Certain patients may suffer from issues with the medicine, CTS medicines may conflict with other medication, or they may simply not want to take daily medications.

  If medicinal treatment is not an attractive option, a chiropractor appointment is the next logical step. Chiropractic care often helps CTS by adjusting the patient's elbow and spine.

  Another common treatment is bracing. This technique limits the hand's movements with the goal of allowing the wrist and tendons to heal and recover.

  A chiropractor who is experienced with carpal tunnel syndrome is able to review each case individually and make solid treatment recommendations that can alleviate the patient's dependence on managing the pain with drugs.

Allows patients to learn how to manage carpal tunnel syndrome

  Unfortunately, health problems that produce chronic pain can take a toll on the patient not only physically, but psychologically. Dealing with CTS can make a person feel powerless over their own body. Working with a chiropractor to relieve, control, and heal the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome empowers the patient to be able to feel ownership of managing and improving his or her health.

  Workers who perform repetitive tasks daily as part of their job need to be especially aware of the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Feeling pain, numbness, tingling, or burning in their palms or fingers may be the first symptoms of CTS. The earlier it's diagnosed, the more effective less-invasive treatment will be.

  Of all the carpal tunnel syndrome treatment choices, chiropractic care offers the dual benefits of being a highly effective treatment while still employing tactics that are not as invasive as other options. If you or a loved one are suffering from this condition, give us a call. We’re here to help!