What are my treatment options?

Any fibromyalgia treatment must address the patient's ability to function: to hold a job, to perform routine household tasks, and to lead a healthy, fulfilling social life.

Chiropractic care is especially suited to help manage and even eliminate the pain and fatigue associated with fibromyalgia. In fact, numerous studies indicate that chiropractic may be among the most effective treatment options available for fibromyalgia sufferers.

To find out for yourself if chiropractic is right for you, CALL NOW 801-491-8688 to schedule your complimentary fibromyalgia assessment.

Some scientific studies linking chiropractic care to the improvement of fibromyalgia symptoms are available at pubmed.com

J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2000 May;23(4):225-30.

• Hains G
• Hains F

Private practice of chiropractic, Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada.
OBJECTIVES: To provide preliminary information on whether a regimen of 30 chiropractic treatments that combines ischemic compression and spinal manipulation effectively reduces the intensity of pain, sleep disturbance, and fatigue associated with fibromyalgia. In addition, to study the dose-response relation and identify the baseline characteristics that may serve as predictors of outcome. DESIGN: Subjects were assessed with self-administered questionnaires taken at baseline, after 15 and 30 treatments, and 1 month after the end of the treatment trial. SETTING: Private practice. METHODS: Participating subjects were adult members of a regional Fibromyalgia Association. Participating subjects had fibromyalgia for more than 3 months. They received 30 treatments including ischemic compression and spinal manipulation. The 3 outcomes being evaluated were pain intensity, fatigue level, and sleep quality. A minimum 50 improvement in pain intensity from baseline to the end of the treatment trial was needed to include the patient in the respondent category. RESULTS: Fifteen women (mean age 51.1 years) completed the trial. A total of 9 (60) patients were classified as respondents. A statistically significant lessening of pain intensity and corresponding improvement in quality of sleep and fatigue level were observed after 15 and 30 treatments. After 30 treatments, the respondents showed an average lessening of 77.2 (standard deviation = 12.3) in pain intensity and an improvement of 63.5 (standard deviation = 31.6) in sleep quality and 74.8 (standard deviation = 23. 1) in fatigue level. The improvement in the 3 outcome measures was maintained after 1 month without treatment. Subjects with less than 35 improvement after 15 treatments did not show a satisfactory response after 30 treatments. A trend, determined as not statistically significant, suggests that older subjects with severe and more chronic pain and a greater number of tender points respond more poorly to treatment. CONCLUSION: This study suggests a potential role for chiropractic care in the management of fibromyalgia. A randomized clinical trial should be conducted to test this hypothesis.
PMID: 10820294 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

• Citak-Karakaya I
• Akbayrak T
• Demirturk F
• Ekici G
• Bakar Y

Mugla University, Mugla School of Health Sciences, Mugla, Turkey. ilkim74@yahoo.com
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the short-term and 1-year follow-up results of connective tissue manipulation and combined ultrasound (US) therapy (US and high-voltage pulsed galvanic stimulation) in terms of pain, complaint of nonrestorative sleep, and impact on the functional activities in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). METHODS: This is an observational prospective cohort study of 20 female patients with FM. Intensity of pain, complaint of nonrestorative sleep, and impact of FM on functional activities were evaluated by visual analogue scales. All evaluations were performed before and after 20 sessions of treatment, which included connective tissue manipulation of the back daily, for a total of 20 sessions, and combined US therapy of the upper back region every other session. One-year follow-up evaluations were performed on 14 subjects. Friedman test was used to analyze time-dependent changes. RESULTS: Statistical analyses revealed that pain intensity, impact of FM on functional activities, and complaints of nonrestorative sleep improved after the treatment program (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Methods used in this study seemed to be helpful in improving pain intensity, complaints of nonrestorative sleep, and impact on functional activities in patients with FM.
PMID: 16949941 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE

• Wahner-Roedler DL
• Elkin PL
• Vincent A
• Thompson JM
• Oh TH
• Loehrer LL
• Mandrekar JN
• Bauer BA

Department of Internal Medicine and Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minn 55905, USA. wahnerroedler.dietlind@mayo.edu
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency and pattern of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in patients referred to a fibromyalgia treatment program at a tertiary care center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients referred to the Mayo Fibromyalgia Treatment Program between February 2003 and July 2003 were invited on their initial visit to participate in a survey regarding CAM use during the previous 6 months. An 85-question survey that addressed different CAM domains was used. RESULTS: Of the 304 patients invited to participate, 289 (95%) completed the survey (263 women and 26 men). Ninety-eight percent of the patients had used some type of CAM therapy during the previous 6 months. The 10 most frequently used CAM treatments were exercise for a specific medical problem (48%), spiritual healing (prayers) (45%), massage therapy (44%), chiropractic treatments (37%), vitamin C (35%), vitamin E (31%), magnesium (29%), vitamin B complex (25%), green tea (24%), and weight-loss programs (20%). CONCLUSION: CAM use is common in patients referred to a fibromyalgia treatment program.

• Holdcraft LC
• Assefi N
• Buchwald D

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Box 359797, 325 Ninth Ave, Seattle, WA 98104-2499, USA. holdcraf@u.washington.edu
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has gained increasing popularity, particularly among individuals with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) for which traditional medicine has generally been ineffective. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs on CAM studies for FMS was conducted to evaluate the empirical evidence for their effectiveness. Few RCTs achieved high scores on the CONSORT, a standardized evaluation of the quality of methodology reporting. Acupuncture, some herbal and nutritional supplements (magnesium, SAMe) and massage therapy have the best evidence for effectiveness with FMS. Other CAM therapies have either been evaluated in only one RCT with positive results (Chlorella, biofeedback, relaxation), in multiple RCTs with mixed results (magnet therapies), or have positive results from studies with methodological flaws (homeopathy, botanical oils, balneotherapy, anthocyanidins, dietary modifications). Lastly, other CAM therapies have neither well-designed studies nor positive results and are not currently recommended for FMS treatment (chiropractic care).
PMID: 12849718 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE

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