Yes, there is hope, and it is centered around recent research that may be the answer to the incapacitating fatigue and other symptoms associated with Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
If you are suffering, you may also be experiencing:
There is much more to chronic fatigue than just being tired. If you are struggling you know that you can’t just sleep off this tiredness and other symptoms and you may feel like it’s taking over your life and there is no hope to be relieved from this extreme exhaustion.
Recent research points to head and neck trauma from your past as a possible cause of CFS. This is due to the fact that after head and neck trauma such as whiplash injuries and concussions, the body’s ability to regulate blood and cerebrospinal fluid in the brain is changed. The flow to, through, and from the brain may be impeded by the lingering effects of these injuries leading to symptoms associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
One recent study took a close look at brain perfusion. This is a measurement of the amount of blood and cerebrospinal fluid that is going into and leaving the brain. The result of the study revealed that people with CFS had reduced brain perfusion compared to those without it. Their brain perfusion was significantly and consistently reduced.
So how can this be corrected and is that enough to help with chronic fatigue symptoms?
A specialized form of chiropractic called NUCCA has seen much success in helping CFS patients find relief and it may be due to the changes in brain perfusion that happen after this unique type of care.
By examining the upper neck for misalignments with specialized x-rays and then correcting them, the pressure is relieved from the brainstem. This allows blood flow to become regulated and has been seen to alleviate the symptoms of chronic fatigue. It has been noted that sleep issues can also be helped by correcting upper neck misalignments. It often only takes a couple of adjustments to start seeing positive results.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 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.
Fibromyalgia and migraines often go hand in hand. This has to do with the way the body is functioning behind the scenes. Along with migraines, those with fibromyalgia also experience moodiness, sleeplessness, and other similar issues.
Why do migraines and fibromyalgia occur together? Recent research indicates that people with both migraines and fibromyalgia have an increased level of cerebrospinal fluid compared to those without these conditions. This means if you have fibromyalgia and migraines, you have an increase in your pain response due to central sensitization.
Central sensitization is connected to the nervous system and how it responds to stimuli. When central sensitization kicks in, it causes the body to go into hyperdrive and become super sensitive to pain. The signals coming to the brain via the brainstem are relaying the message that the body is experiencing a lot of pain, when, in fact, it is experiencing very little pain or none at all, leading to fibromyalgia.
When central sensitization occurs, it means the brainstem is malfunctioning for some reason. It may have to do with a misalignment in the bones of the upper cervical spine. The atlas and axis bones (the C1 and C2 vertebrae, respectively) are intended to protect the brainstem. However, if they misalign, they may actually put the brainstem under stress, making it not work properly. It only takes a misalignment of ¼ of a millimeter to wreak havoc on the entire body because of its connection to the brainstem.
Upper cervical chiropractors have specific training that helps us to identify where these misalignments are located. Once this is determined, we use a special technique allowing us to encourage the bones to move back into place without the use of force. We do not have to resort to popping or cracking the neck to get positive results. Once the misalignment is corrected, the body can begin healing itself from the damage done by the misaligned bones. This often results in a reduction or elimination of the symptoms of fibromyalgia and migraines.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 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.
Fibromyalgia affects as many as 100 million Americans. These sufferers are dishing out as much as $1,000 a month in addition to what their insurance covers for alternative therapies. The annual cost to the those in the U.S. comes in at $14 billion on a yearly basis. This accounts for a loss of up to 2 percent of overall productivity. This shows how fibromyalgia not only affects your health and well-being but also your finances.
Fibromyalgia, often abbreviated as FM, is a condition known for widespread pain throughout the body. It impacts you emotionally, physically, and on a social level. The pain is described as shooting, stabbing, twitching, aching, or throbbing. You may also experience the following symptoms:
Those suffering from fibromyalgia may benefit from taking part in a pain management program. Prescription medications may be prescribed by your primary care doctor. He or she may recommend pregabalin, duloxetine, or milnacipran. Other suggestions may include the following:
A connection has been seen between a misalignment in the bones of the upper cervical spine and the onset of fibromyalgia. This area of the neck is rich in nerves that run throughout the body. A misalignment can put the brainstem under pressure and cause the nervous system to malfunction. If improper signals are sent to the brain that there is pain when there is, in fact, no pain, fibromyalgia can ensue.
Here at Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California, we use a gentle method to help realign the bones of the neck without having to crack or pop the spine. This allows the body to heal itself while not adding any further stress or pain to the patient. This often helps restore communication between the body and brain and alleviates some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 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.
Fibromyalgia (FM) brings about pain and suffering for the people dealing with it. Their main concern becomes how they can cope with it the best way possible. FM affects you both physically and psychologically. It remains a mystery among those in the medical field. As many as 5 million people are known to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia. It is most commonly known for the following symptoms:
It has been observed that FM often comes on after a traumatic event, such as surgery, physical trauma, psychological stress, or a severe infection. While this is not true in every situation, it has been seen to be a triggering factor. Some have their symptoms just begin and progress slowly over time. Researchers are continuing to discover more and more interesting facts as time goes by. Especially interesting is how the brain of those with FM seems to not process pain in the same way as those without. For some reason, the brain of FM sufferers intensifies the pain signals. Is there anything that can bring relief?
By seeking care for your family doctor, he or she may prescribe some type of medication to care for your individual symptoms. Adding relaxation methods and mild exercise into your daily routine have been seen to help. However, to care for the underlying cause by using a natural method, a visit to us here at Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California is a good place to begin.
The C1 and C2 vertebrae have the important job of protecting the brainstem and, in turn, keeping the nervous system functioning properly. However, if they move out of place due to injury or trauma to the head or neck, they can put the brainstem under stress, causing it to send improper signals to the brain. For example, if the brainstem tells the brain the body is in a lot of pain, but it is really not, fibromyalgia can be the end result.
We use a gentle method to realign the bones and restore proper communication throughout the body possibly, leading to relief of fibromyalgia.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 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.
You or someone you know may suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). This is an extremely debilitating condition that is known to cause extreme tiredness. It does not matter how much sleep and relaxation you may get, you never feel completely rested. Unfortunately, there is no single test to confirm or deny the existence of CFS. Instead, any illnesses with similar symptoms must be ruled out. This can lead to a battery of time-consuming and expensive testing to find no real answer.
Dealing with this type of tiredness is also very frustrating. Medication is targeted at specific symptoms, such as helping you get better rest, but the side effects can sometimes be worse than the problem itself. Prescriptions are often given for insomnia and depression and may give some relief. However, unless the underlying cause is addressed, CFS will just continue.
A proper, healthy diet can ease the symptoms of chronic fatigue. Things to avoid include:
The above things can slow down the function of the immune system and create inflammation. They also encourage yeast growth. It is much better to fill your diet with the following:
The brain and the nervous system play a vital role in how the body functions. When you have chronic fatigue syndrome, these may not be functioning at their best. The nervous system has the responsibility of regulating the immune system and the endocrine system. In order to fight CFS, these systems must be working at their optimum. It has been seen that a misalignment in the bones of the upper neck can be interfering with the proper function of these systems.
Here at Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California, we examine our patient's necks to determine if a misalignment exists. We then work to correct this using a gentle method. Many patients report relief from their chronic fatigue when the neck bones are back in their proper positions.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 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.
Fibromyalgia is a medical condition that causes widespread pain throughout the body. It affects nearly 20 million of those living in the USA. In addition to pain, you may experience extreme exhaustion, trouble sleeping, fibro fog (impaired thinking ability), and depression. Caring for this condition can be difficult as no one really knows why it happens. Fibromyalgia patients often find the pain and insomnia the worst symptoms to deal with.
Patients and doctors alike are looking for more natural remedies to help ease the pain of fibromyalgia. Recently, it seems as if everyone is trying different supplements to see if they can help reduce inflammation (a reason for the pain). Use caution, however, as these supplements are not regulated by the FDA and have not been approved to help with inflammation.
Keeping a food diary may prove to be helpful. Certain food groups have been shown to cause fibromyalgia flare-ups. Foods containing gluten (wheat, bread, pasta, and crackers) and dairy products may be to blame. Keeping track of how you feel after eating such things may help you realize what you need to avoid. However, that is still not getting to the root cause of why fibromyalgia attacks.
One thing that is often overlooked is a misalignment in the upper cervical spine, particularly the C1 and C2 vertebrae. These bones are located near the brainstem, and a misalignment puts it under stress. This negatively affects the central nervous system. This can be the reason for fibromyalgia as well as inflammation. If the brainstem malfunctions and tells the brain there is pain in the body when there is little or no pain, fibromyalgia can be the end result.
Here at Advanced Spinal Care, we use a very gentle method to encourage the bones to move back into their original place without the use of force. We do not crack or twist the neck. Rather, the method is more natural, resulting in a longer-lasting adjustment. Many documented cases report that after an upper cervical adjustment, many patients feel better and have some measure of relief from their fibromyalgia. Some see it go away completely.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 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.
An interesting link has been discovered between fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). These two conditions are very similar but not the same. Fibromyalgia is known for widespread pain throughout the body. Chronic fatigue is feeling exhausted all the time and not getting any relief no matter how much rest or sleep you get. The probability of getting diagnosed with either of these conditions increases with age. Women are affected more often than men.
Sometimes a person is diagnosed with chronic fatigue shortly following a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. In order for a diagnosis of chronic fatigue to be given, you have to experience the following:
If you have these symptoms, you may have chronic fatigue that was brought on by fibromyalgia. This affects as many as 7% of the population with many more cases going undiagnosed.
Fibromyalgia still remains a bit of a mystery. However, it is known that the problem often begins in the nervous system. It has been seen that those with FM have abnormal blood flow to the thalamus, an area of the brain that causes changes in metabolism and energy levels. The brains of those with fibromyalgia show anatomical, neurochemical, and physiological chemical changes compared to those without FM. Windup is a term used to describe the way the brain reacts in those with fibromyalgia. It is a hyper awareness of pain, even when there is little or no pain.
One area of care seeing great success in helping FM and CFS patients is upper cervical chiropractic care. Here at Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California, we understand the delicate relationship between the bones of the upper neck and the central nervous system. If either of the top two bones of the spine is out of alignment, they can put pressure on the brainstem and cause it to send improper signals to the brain. This can lead to FM and CFS. By gently correcting the misalignment, many patients have seen an improvement in or even an elimination of fibromyalgia symptoms.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 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.
Fibromyalgia leaves its victims feeling disabled and frustrated. It is known for widespread pain in the body, depression or anxiety, being moody or agitated, and sleep issues. The exact cause remains a mystery among the medical community. However, it more than likely has to do with the brain reacting improperly to nerve stimulation due to improper signals being sent by the brainstem. In other words, the brainstem tells the brain there is pain in the body when there is actually little or no pain.
There are a few things you can try at home that may help you find some relief from the pain of fibromyalgia. Here are some suggested lifestyle changes:
One of the major complaints with fibromyalgia is that of not being able to sleep well. Here are some tips for getting a good night’s rest:
The above-mentioned suggestions are helpful, but unless the root cause is addressed, no real relief will be found. Here at Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City CA, we offer our patients a gentle method to help realign the bones of the neck. A misalignment can place undue pressure on the brainstem, causing it to malfunction. Once corrected, fibromyalgia may improve or go away completely.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 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.
Fibromyalgia, while gaining more and more prevalence, still remains a mystery among the medical community. Those suffering hope that the money and time going into studying this condition will eventually lead to a satisfying answer for their pain. One recent study observed those with fibromyalgia and noted that the way they perceive touch is different from those without fibromyalgia. While this may seem insignificant, there is a definite connection between this and the chronic pain that fibromyalgia patients cope with.
Approximately 5 million people in American over the age of 18 have fibromyalgia. Out of this number, up to 90% are women. Some common symptoms of fibromyalgia are:
Interestingly, the common thread among these problems is they are all controlled by the central nervous system.
The central nervous system is responsible for processing all sensations of the body. In those who suffer from fibromyalgia, signals about touch and pain are incorrect when they reach the brain, meaning that even soft, non-painful stimuli can be perceived by the brain as painful.
Here at our Redwood City, California practice, we work to help our patients have a better functioning central nervous system. We accomplish this by correcting any misalignments found in the top two bones of the neck. The C1 and C2 vertebrae have the special job of protecting the brainstem. However, if they become misaligned due to damage or trauma to the head or neck, they can actually put pressure on the brainstem, causing it to malfunction. In turn, the brainstem sends improper signals to the brain about pain sensations.
We use a very gentle method to encourage these bones to move back into place. It does not inflict further pain on one who is already coping with chronic pain. Many of our patients have reported improvement in fibromyalgia symptoms.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 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.
There are usually two hallmark symptoms associated with fibromyalgia – widespread pain or tenderness and extreme fatigue. Disturbances in sleep might even lead to a vicious cycle of experiencing more pain, which in turn leads to poorer and poorer sleep. There are a few things you can incorporate into your daily routine to help with the fatigue and sleep issues associated with fibromyalgia:
Getting more and better-quality sleep can help to ease the other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.
The more that is understood about fibromyalgia, the more it points to being a condition that involves the nervous system. The brain, brainstem, spinal cord, and nerves in your body all play an important role in pain sensation and regulation of sleep cycles. When the nervous system isn't functioning as it was designed to, it can lead to many chronic health conditions, fibromyalgia included.
Upper cervical chiropractic care seeks to optimize the function of the central nervous system by removing any pressure from the brainstem cause by an atlas misalignment. The atlas is the uppermost vertebra in the neck and, being the most freely movable one, can easily misalign. Even a slight shift from normal position can be enough to distort signals traveling via the brainstem between the brain and body. We gently correct atlas misalignments so that your body can function as it was created to. When the brain and body are able to communicate properly, health can be restored naturally.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 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.
