| There is a plethora of alternative therapies for | | | | exercises, and relaxation therapy may be used in |
| Fibromyalgia. Each FM patient is unique in so many | | | | addition to spinal manipulation. |
| ways. We all vary in our degrees of pain, where we | | | | My mother now sees a chiropractor who uses a |
| hurt most, what medications work, what therapies | | | | gentle method of adjustments along with natural |
| work, what over-lapping conditions we might | | | | supplements to relieve her Fibromyalgia symptoms |
| have…the list goes on forever! It is important to | | | | and loves it! She relies on this doctor’s method |
| know what is available to us and educate ourselves in | | | | to help manage her pain and, as a result, she is much |
| order to better our quality of life and help manage | | | | more active and her range of motion has dramatically |
| our pain. | | | | improved. |
| The idea of Integrative Medicine was developed to | | | | Craniosacral Therapy was developed by osteopathic |
| help medical and other health professionals to expand | | | | physician, John E. Upledger, following extensive |
| their practices by and integrating accessible, effective | | | | scientific studies at Michigan State University, where |
| Complementary/Alternative Medicine (CAM) protocols | | | | he served as a clinical researcher and Professor of |
| for the treatment of their patients. This would bring | | | | Bio mechanics. |
| patients more complete care and give them all the | | | | CST compliments the body's natural healing |
| help that is available to improve their overall health. I | | | | processes, and is being used more and more as a |
| will be focusing on Chiropractic Therapy and | | | | preventive health measure because of it's ability to |
| Craniosacral Therapy in this article. | | | | strengthen resistance to disease, and is effective in |
| The word "chiropractic" combines the Greek words | | | | the treatment of many conditions associated with |
| cheir (hand) and praxis (action) and means "done by | | | | pain and dysfunction, including: migraine headaches, |
| hand." Chiropractic treatment for Fibromyalgia fuses | | | | chronic neck and back pain, motor-coordination |
| the aspects of the body, mind and spirit. A | | | | impairments, central nervous system disorders, |
| Chiropractor deals particularly with the muscular, | | | | orthopedic problems, traumatic brain and spinal cord |
| nervous, and skeletal systems (muscles, joints, bones | | | | injuries, scoliosis, infantile disorders, learning disabilities, |
| & connective tissues), focusing in the region of the | | | | chronic fatigue, emotional difficulties, stress and |
| spine. To know if chiropractic therapy will work for | | | | tension-related problems, neurovascular or immune |
| you it is a good idea to get regular treatments for at | | | | disorders, Fibromyalgia and other connective-tissue |
| least a 6-8 weeks before determining if it provides | | | | disorders, autism, colic, temporomandibular joint |
| relief of your FM symptoms. | | | | syndrome (TMJ), post-traumatic stress disorder, and |
| Chiropractors have found that interference with | | | | post-surgical dysfunction. |
| Neuromusculoskeletal Systems impairs normal bodily | | | | Patients can perform one type of craniosacral |
| functions, lowering its resistance to chronic pain and | | | | therapy at home using a "still point inducer". The |
| diseases such as Fibromyalgia. Chiropractic care works | | | | inducer is placed on the back of the head at the line |
| to remove misalignments in the vertebrae, release | | | | of the ear, and the patient rests on it for five to 20 |
| pinched nerves to allow the body to heal naturally. | | | | minutes. |
| Spinal manipulation is done through a variety of | | | | There are many other alternatives out there. I will |
| techniques. The chiropractor may use his or her | | | | continue to write about them all because I want to |
| fingers or hands to apply pressure to and move the | | | | give Fibromyalgia sufferers the shortcuts to the |
| vertebrae slightly beyond their normal range of | | | | information I didn’t have when I was first |
| motion. Treatment may also involve gentle twisting | | | | diagnosed. I constantly watch for new information |
| of the head, shoulders, and hips. Heat, ice, corsets, | | | | and treatment options so that we can make |
| ultrasound, biofeedback, strength and conditioning | | | | informed choices and better our lives! |