FMS is a common, chronic, and if untreated, often disabling disorder of unknown etiology Most patients can be helped with a combination of chiropractic adjustments, massage, exercise, good nutrition positive mental outlook and maintenance of a regular sleep schedule.
Fibromyalgia is a distinctive syndrome which can be diagnosed with clinical precision. It may occur in the absence (primary fibromyalgia) or presence of other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus (concomitant fibromyalgia). It is rarely secondary to another disease, in the sense that alleviation of the associated disease also cures the fibromyalgia. It may be confidently diagnosed in patients with widespread musculo -skeletal pain and multiple tender points.
Laboratory studies are usually unrevealing in fibromyalgia, their primary usefulness is in excluding early inflammatory or endocrine disorders that may present in a similar fashion. No single pathophysiologic mechanism seems to be the best focus for future studies in fibromyalgia. Instead, it might be best to view fibromyalgia as a group of symptoms in overlap with other poorly understood syndromes. In particular, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, idiopathic low back pain, and chronic tension headache seem to cluster in families and in individual patients with FMS.
What causes FMS
A number of mechanisms have been invoked to account for the symptoms of fibromyalgia. The possibilities can be divided into neurochemical, or central, and soft- tissue, or peripheral. ( 1991 LANCET STUDY ). Hormonal imbalance has been suspected. This is one way chiropractic fits into the treatment because the nervous system controls the endocrine system, and if the nervous system is not working at 100% the body can not be healthy.
Fibromyalgia has been described to have two main etiologies or causes. The majority of FM sufferers have no known causes and may have some family history. The other group is thought to have a traumatic onset . This group develops the characteristic symptoms of FM but the onset is shortly after a traumatic injury such as from a fall or car accident.
Diagnostic Criteria for Fibromyalgia
History of widespread pain has been present for at least three months. Whereas pain is considered widespread when all of the following are present:
- Pain in both sides of the body
- Pain above and below the waist
In addition, axial skeletal pain (cervical spine, anterior chest, thoracic spine or low back pain) must be present. Low back pain is considered lower segment pain. Specific common symtoms and tender points are used to define this disorder.