Fibromyalgia and Neuralgia Often Go Hand-in-Hand
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition, but it is often accompanied by other symptoms like insomnia and fatigue. One connected condition that is often missed by doctors is neuralgia, which involves pain, numbness, and tingling as a result of damaged nerves. Trauma is often the cause of neuralgia, and many fibromyalgia patients find that their condition has set in after a head or neck injury, sometimes years later. Could there be a connection?
Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Neuralgia
Since fibromyalgia patients are already in pain, neuralgia symptoms can be mistaken as part of the condition. However, neuralgia often leads to abnormal sensations in the skin, tenderness, and trigger points that are sensitive to the touch.
Some of the nerves that are often affected when a person has fibromyalgia lead to a feeling of swelling in the hands and feet when no swelling actually is occurring. This often occurs in the morning when one is first waking up. Trigeminal neuralgia refers to pain in the face that can be triggered by things as simple as brushing one’s teeth or smiling.
Some fibromyalgia patients have gone years without understanding some of their symptoms only to learn they were also dealing with neuralgia. Is there a natural way to get some relief?
Upper Cervical Chiropractic – Helping Fibromyalgia and Neuralgia Patients
The C1 and C2 vertebrae at the top of the spine protect the brainstem. Furthermore, they help facilitate blood and cerebrospinal fluid flow. Correcting a subluxation in this area has helped some to see improvements in fibromyalgia symptoms. Correcting spinal misalignments can also relieve pressure on the nerves that may lead to neuralgia.
Some fibromyalgia patients worry about the twisting and popping sound in adjustments, but upper cervical chiropractic is different.
Adjustments are gentle and precisely administered. As a result, corrections stay in place longer and give the body time to heal. If you are suffering from fibromyalgia, upper cervical chiropractic may be the natural option you’ve been looking for.
Fibromyalgia and neuralgia can sometimes occur together, creating a complicated pattern of pain and discomfort. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition commonly associated with widespread pain, fatigue, sleep problems, and increased sensitivity to touch or pressure. Neuralgia, on the other hand, refers to pain that follows or affects a nerve and may feel sharp, burning, tingling, electric-like, or shooting.
When someone experiences both conditions, pain may be felt in different parts of the body and can be difficult to describe or manage. Fibromyalgia may make the nervous system more sensitive to pain signals, while neuralgia can add localized nerve-related pain. People may also experience numbness, pins-and-needles sensations, muscle discomfort, headaches, poor sleep, and difficulty concentrating. Stress, lack of sleep, illness, and physical or emotional strain may sometimes make symptoms feel worse. Because symptoms can overlap with other neurological or musculoskeletal conditions, proper medical evaluation is important.
Doctors may review symptoms, medical history, medications, and perform appropriate examinations to determine possible causes. Treatment is usually individualized and may include healthy sleep habits, gentle physical activity, physical therapy, stress management, and medicines when appropriate. Keeping a simple symptom diary can also help identify patterns and triggers. Living with ongoing pain can be frustrating, but having symptoms does not mean that they are imaginary or insignificant.
0Support from healthcare professionals, family, and trusted friends can make coping easier. Understanding the difference between widespread fibromyalgia pain and nerve-related neuralgia pain may help people communicate their symptoms more clearly and receive appropriate care. If pain is new, severe, rapidly worsening, or accompanied by significant weakness or other concerning neurological symptoms, medical attention should be sought promptly.
