The main fibromyalgia symptoms include deep muscle pain, painful trigger points or tender points, and morning stiffness. Other major symptoms of fibromyalgia include sleep disorders, fatigue, and anxiety.

What are the common symptoms of fibromyalgia?

Common symptoms of fibromyalgia, also known as fibromyalgia syndrome or FMS, may include: Anxiety, Concentration, and memory problems -- known as fibro fog Depression Digestive disorders, Discoloration of hands and feet (Raynaud's phenomenon), Dryness in mouth, nose, and eyes, Fatigue, Headaches, Irritable bowel syndrome, Morning stiffness, Pain, Painful menstrual cramps, Restless legs syndrome, Sleep problems, Swelling, numbness, and tingling in hands, arms, feet, and legs, Trigger points, Urinary symptoms. 

Is pain the most common symptom of fibromyalgia?

Yes. Widespread pain is characteristic of more than 97% of patients with fibromyalgia. In fact, pain is usually what forces a person with fibromyalgia to see his or her doctor.

Unlike the joint pain of osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia pain is felt over the entire body. It is a deep, sharp, dull, throbbing, or aching pain that's felt in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments around the joints. The Arthritis Foundation describes the muscle and tissue pain as tender, aching, throbbing, sore, burning, and gnawing.

For some people with fibromyalgia, the pain comes and goes. The pain also seems to travel throughout the body.

Case Studies -  Fibromyalgia

This 20-year-old female suffered from several health problems following an accident in which she was hit by a wave while swimming in the ocean. The wave caught her off guard and knocked her to the ground. She described how her face and jaw hit the ground first, and then her legs rolled up and over her head from the force of the water, severely "pinching" her neck. Immediately following the impact, her jaw "locked up" and emergency room physicians "forced open" her jaw in order to take x-rays of her neck. No fractures were found.

Subsequent to the accident, she developed chronic problems with her jaw. Her jaw frequently "locked up" and while she wore a mouth splint regularly, the jaw problems continued. In addition, she suffered with pain and muscle spasms throughout her spine and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. She described all of her muscles as being painful and weak.

After no success with multiple different therapies and treatments, she sought help from upper cervical chiropractic care. During her evaluation, a spinal injury stemming from her upper neck was found. During her upper cervical care period, her symptoms gradually lessened. She was able to go without wearing the jaw splint and was able to close her mouth completely and open and shut it without having it lock up on her. In addition, all of her pain decreased dramatically and she was able to get back to a regular exercise, work, and school schedule.

This 47-year-old female suffered from fibromyalgia for four years prior to seeking help from upper cervical care. Her symptoms began one month following an auto accident in which her head whipped back and forth (whiplash). She felt the pain most often in her back, neck, shoulders, chest, and hands. The pain in her chest became so strong at times that it hurt to breathe.

During her initial exam, myofascial trigger points were palpable throughout her back, neck, chest, and legs. Her hands were so painful that she had difficulty opening them or making fists. She rated the pain as an 8 or 9 on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the most severe. She tried many drugs including amitriptyline to reduce the pain enough to help her sleep at night. Her upper cervical exam revealed an upper neck injury, which most likely occurred during her auto accident. After 6 months of upper cervical care, she routinely reported the pain being down at a tolerable "3" level-- a level which no longer ruled her life. She was able to discontinue medications. She had not had pain during breathing and participated more actively in life with minimal discomfort.

This 43-year-old female suffered with chronic pain and fatigue for over two decades before finally being diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. She tried physical therapy, water therapy, medications, and massage to no avail. Her pain and fatigue levels had caused her to quit work as a seamstress because lifting bolts of fabric, etc. had been too painful for her.

During her upper cervical chiropractic evaluation, an upper neck injury was discovered. She was questioned as to past traumatic accidents and remember two severe auto accidents that preceded the onset of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue symptoms-one rollover auto accident and one in which she was rear-ended at 70 mph. After two months of upper cervical care, due to the fact that her sleep had improved tremendously, her energy was increased, and her pain levels were greatly reduced, she was able to return to work as a seamstress without pain.

Female, Age 46 years, Fibromyalgia, Neck Pain

During her upper cervical chiropractic examination, an upper neck injury was found, which probably stemmed from her overhead bin luggage accident. After several months of upper cervical care, her pain was greatly reduced and she was able to return to full hours at work. On days where she did not work at the computer at all, she was pain-free.

Female, Age 40 years, Fibromyalgia, Neck and Back Spasms

At this patient's initial consultation, she claimed she had always believed her problems were coming from her neck because she had sustained several injuries to her neck prior to the onset of her symptoms. She had suffered a whiplash auto accident, a fall on a waterslide, and a sledding accident. She had tried numerous practitioners over the years to fix her neck injury but nothing was successful. Finally she was referred for an upper cervical chiropractic examination.

During her upper cervical exam, an upper neck injury was discovered, which was still present despite her previous treatments and therapies. During her first two months of care, the pain levels lessened and spasm episodes decreased. In addition, she began to sleep through the night and felt increased energy and well being. Several months later, she was free of pain and muscle spasms.

Fibromyalgia Testimony

"I've had Fibromyalgia for 20 years, also intense headaches and the inability to sleep for more then a couple of minutes at a time. After my atlas was adjustment by my Upper Cervical doctor, I was able to sleep two hours straight and my headaches are completely gone!"

View and/or download a pamphlet on how Upper Cervical Care can help with Fibromyalgia here.

The pamphlet is saved as a PDF file. It can be viewed by downloading Adobe Acrobat. It is a FREE download from Adobe. Click on the logo below to download.

Is your Head on Straight?

©Cedar Valley Upper Cervical 2008