Fibromyalgia and Central Sensitization

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain and tenderness along with extreme fatigue and sleep issues.  It is 7 times more common among women and typically occurs in younger to middle-aged women.  When you are dealing with a chronic pain condition, it can affect nearly every facet of life such as self-care, the ability to work, and the opportunity to have a healthy family and social life.

People with fibromyalgia have a heightened sensitivity to pain.  Something that would not ordinarily be perceived as painful is interpreted by the brain as more intense in fibromyalgia sufferers.  This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as central sensitization.  Central sensitization puts the central nervous system in a constant, wound-up state of high reactivity.  Because of this, pain might be experienced long after the initial injury or stimulus occurred.

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Upper Cervical Chiropractic Can Explain the Connection

With fibromyalgia and central sensitization, the brain is not receiving proper signals that convey pain.  It is the job of the skull and the spine to protect the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord.  Any irritation, pressure, or tension on the nerves of the CNS can distort these signals and cause them to be misinterpreted by the brain.  This pressure can easily be caused by a misalignment of the upper cervical vertebrae – the atlas (C1) and axis (C2).

The proper alignment of the upper cervical spine is a vital aspect of normal pain processing.  Upper cervical chiropractic care is the ideal way to evaluate and correct misalignments that might be contributing to the increased pain sensitivity that affects fibromyalgia sufferers.  The solution lies in restoring normal upper cervical alignment in order to return brain-body communication to where it should be.  Upper cervical adjustments are gentle, precise, and individualized for each patient's particular needs.  If you are suffering from fibromyalgia, upper cervical care is a natural approach to achieving improved quality of life.

References:

http://www.instituteforchronicpain.org/understanding-chronic-pain/what-is-chronic-pain/central-sensitization

http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/bone,-joint,-and-muscle-disorders/muscle,-bursa,-and-tendon-disorders/fibromyalgia

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