Fibromyalgia (FM), a chronic condition “that causes pain all over the body (also referred to as widespread pain), sleep problems, fatigue, and often emotional and mental distress,” affects approximately 4 million adults in the U.S. (about 2% of the entire adult population in our country). Often, FM is difficult to diagnose and to treat, as symptoms vary from person to person. For instance, while pain/tenderness is most common with FM in the back of the head, between the shoulder blades, and the top of the shoulders, it can occur anywhere in the body. It may present as widespread pain but can also be associated with sleep disturbances, fatigue, stiffness, mind fogginess, and even irritable bowel syndrome. “The spectrum of fibromyalgia ranges from mild symptomatology, requiring no medical attention, to severe, with disabling widespread pain and exhaustion.” FM can occur in people of all ages but is more commonly diagnosed during middle age and is more likely to occur as you get older. In addition, women are twice as likely to have FM as men.

While FM was once classified as a musculoskeletal disease, it is now known as “an illness that primarily affects the central nervous system,” so it’s not surprising that some symptoms of fibromyalgia are also symptoms of whiplash-associated disorders. DCs should not be quick to diagnose FM, as it is an extremely tricky diagnosis to make and may cause patients to ignore more critical health conditions that could be causing their symptoms, such as anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, or Lyme disease.

However, chiropractors who are familiar with the condition can use gentle adjustment techniques to relieve the chronic pain of patients with FM, including pain in the neck and back, leg cramps, and compression of the spine. One study conducted on 15 women with FM found that, after 15 and 30 treatments of chiropractic care, there was a lessening of pain intensity as well as an improvement in sleep quality and fatigue level. While FM is not currently curable, chiropractic can certainly be used as a treatment program to improve the quality of life of patients and make FM symptoms more manageable.

1. “Fibromyalgia.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/fibromyalgia.htm.

2. “Understanding fibromyalgia and its related disorders.” Primary care companion to the Journal of clinical psychiatry vol. 10,2 (2008): 133-44. doi:10.4088/pcc.v10n0208

3. Id.

4. “Fibromyalgia.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/fibromyalgia.htm.

5. Id.

6.  Schneider MJ, Brady DM, Perle SM. “Commentary: differential diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome: proposal of a model and algorithm for patients presenting with the primary symptom of chronic widespread pain.” JMPT. 2006 Jul;29(6):493–501.7  

7. “Chiropractic care may benefit fibromyalgia sufferers.” The Joint Chiropractic. Retreived from https://www.thejoint.com/california/lake-forest/lake-forest-31004/chiropractic-care-may-benefit-fibromyalgia-suffere 

8. Hains G, Hains F. “A combined ischemic compression and spinal manipulation in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a preliminary estimate of dose and efficacy.” J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2000 May;23(4):225-30.