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Many patients, newly diagnosed with fibromyalgia or not, search for a chiropractor for fibromyalgia in Pittsburgh. Fibromyalgia can shake the world of anyone who has it. It is definitely a major life change to deal with chronic pain, fatigue, and stigma attached to the disorder. Aside from those, patients also must cope with other symptoms and results of fibromyalgia.
If you’re facing these problems, we’re here to help. Below are five tips to help you adjust easier to life with fibromyalgia.
1. Start an exercise program
This may seem tough to do, especially when your body is in constant pain. Overexertion may even cause fibromyalgia flare-ups. Believe it or not, regular daily exercise can make you feel better. A study found that aerobic exercises can improve the muscle stiffness, pain, and quality of life of fibromyalgia patients.
Exercise has several other benefits for people with chronic health conditions such as fibromyalgia. Some of them are the following:
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Avoids weight gain and joint stiffness
Carrying extra body weight and staying inactive can increase your pain level all the more. Exercise can help you manage your weight and keep your joints from becoming brittle. Once you include exercise in your daily activities, it would be easier to move your joints.
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Reduces fibromyalgia pain levels
When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, the “feel good” hormones in the brain. It helps in relieving pain and stress. So, it boils down to discovering the sweet spot where you release endorphins in your body without tiring yourself out.
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Boosts blood circulation
Some studies claim a connection between abnormal blood flow in certain parts of the brain and different symptoms of fibromyalgia. In short, do not overlook the benefits of exercise in improving your blood flow.
The ideal way to begin an exercise program when you have fibromyalgia is by starting slowly and eventually adding more activities once your body has learned to adjust. For example, you may begin with simple stretching. By consistently increasing your everyday movements, you can later have a usual exercise plan without triggering a fibromyalgia flare-up.
To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and fibromyalgia download our complimentary e-book Simple and Extremely Effective Ways to End Fibromyalgia Symptoms without Drugs by clicking the image below.
2. Cope with stress positively
One of the most prominent triggers of fibromyalgia is stress. Stress is a fact of life, but you can minimize or eliminate some forms of stress. Once you can manage your stress positively, you can avoid flare-ups of your symptoms.
For example, use your time and energy on people who understand your condition instead of feeling resentment for those who just don’t understand. Some fibromyalgia patients also find technology adds to stress. You may want to lessen your social media time and instead focus on meaningful forms of interaction offline.
Also, you should practice healthy coping mechanisms whenever you are under stress. Some of the several options you can try are:
- Exercise
- Getting a hot bath
- Meditating on positive things
- Massage therapy
- Relaxing hobbies
- Taking an occasional vacation or staycation
3. Avoid inflammatory foods in your diet
There is no such thing as an ultimate diet plan that will eliminate all your fibromyalgia symptoms. However, you can try to avoid certain foods in your diet that can be aggravating your symptoms. For example, processed foods and fast foods are not best for the health of anyone, especially those with chronic pain conditions. Also, exclude sugar and artificial sweeteners in your diet. In general, artificial and processed foods can increase inflammation in your body, which can make the pain you’re feeling much worse.
4. Find your own personal support group
It would help you a lot to be around people who understand your condition and support you without judgment. People who you can speak openly with and be yourself around. These can be your family members or friends. You can also find it externally in different fibromyalgia support groups. It is essential to have a secure personal support system, so it would be easier to live with your condition. Also, it can reduce your stress and lessen the frequency of your flare-ups.
5. Care for your central nervous system
Researchers believe that fibromyalgia pain all begins in an issue in the central nervous system (CNS), particularly the method of pain processing of the brain. They said it is due to central sensitization, a situation under which the body raises its response to stimuli, including pain levels. It is a normal process that should only occur when the body is under imminent danger, such as when you accidentally touch something extremely hot and burn your skin. However, fibromyalgia patients are permanently dealing with central sensitization.
Therefore, fibromyalgia patients should give their central nervous system a boost, so it functions optimally. Begin by checking if you have an upper cervical misalignment, which can affect the overall function of the CNS significantly.
A Chiropractor for Fibromyalgia in Pittsburgh Can Bring Relief
We want to recommend upper cervical chiropractic care, a natural method that can help you address the potential root cause of your fibromyalgia.
Upper cervical chiropractic can bring back the proper alignment of the C1 and C2 vertebrae of the upper neck. When either of these bones misaligns, it can negatively affect the CNS in many ways. For example, it can make the brainstem malfunction, a key component in fibromyalgia as it transmits the pain signals to the brain, then to the body. Central sensitization occurs if the brainstem tells the brain that the body is in heightened pain, even when it is not.
If you have fibromyalgia, upper cervical chiropractic care can help you mitigate your symptoms naturally and change the quality of your life for the better. To learn more, we encourage you to consult at Tranquility Specific Chiropractic in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. You can either call (412) 833-1314 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment with one of our upper cervical doctors. Your first visit can be your first step towards fibromyalgia relief.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Bragg & Dr. Gurcak, call our Pittsburgh office at (412) 833-1314. You can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
