Treating fibromyalgia is like completing a large task such as building an office or writing a long book: It’s difficult but it can be done. As all large tasks require, you must identify large pieces of information first, before addressing the smaller details. Each of these are significant problems that must be overcome with the fibromyalgia patient.

• Everything that causes back pain plays a large role in fibromylagia
  A loss of postural alignment of our skeleton as a result of the muscle imbalance between our trunk flexors and our trunk extensors, lead to incredible chronic stresses to our spine. The muscles that are required to hold our skeleton erect as we perform our daily jobs become painful. Over time, these muscles are not healthy anymore. The pain that you feel is actually your body trying to get your attention. They are telling you something needs to be done. This imbalance can be corrected easily.
• Stress caused by unresolved emotional issues
  In my opinion this is one of the largest causes of fibromyalgia and one of the most difficult to address. Since it is psychological in nature, it goes beyond the practice scope of a physical therapist. However, some honest soul searching can go a long way toward identifying past emotional issues that prevent you from being a healthy person. If it is in the past, leave it there and move forward.
• Being overweight
  When you are overweight you increase the amount of work your body has to do for every task, from breathing, walking, cleaning house etc. this in turn increases friction and inflammation of practically your entire body. As if this were not bad enough, extra adipose tissue or fat, reduces your body’s ability to produce a chemical that allows the body to reduce inflammation. A viscous cycle to be sure. So the more we relieve your pain the more active you can become, the more weight you can lose and the healthier you will be.
• Insomnia
  Pain does not allow you to be as active as you would like to be. This in turn leaves you unable to burn calories and fatigue muscles that are necessary to become tired enough to sleep. It is impossible for you to be healthy without getting sufficient sleep. Again, it’s all about increasing activity to a level that meets your bodies minimal requirements for health.
• Myofascial Adhesions
  Your entire body has a layer of fascia just under the skin. It’s a layer that separates skin from underlying muscle. In healthy individuals it’s what allows skin and muscle to glide over one another. Injury and inactivity can cause areas of fascia to adhere or “grow” to skin and muscle eliminating normal movement and causing pain. This is where our massage therapists do some of their best work. Massage is an excellent way to restore glide to fascia within the body.

Each of these corrective measures will allow you to become more active. Once your activity levels increase, you can be sure you are the path to becoming healthy.