Question
Hello!  
I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, osteo-arthritis, and lumbar spondylosis. I have significant pain, particularly in my lower back.  This is significantly impacting my work, and making some tasks almost impossible do to.  I am a professional performer and music teacher, and the hours standing on my feet to perform (with little or no moving/sitting)  are terrible!  Other times, the pain is present but not excruciating.

What can I expect from Chiropractic treatment?  I why should I choose it over a personal trainer or a physical therapist, since I can only choose one?

Thanks!


Answer
Kelly,

I think it is important that you understand that traditional medicine has little to offer patients with Fibromyalgia except medications that really only address the symptoms and not the underlying cause of Fibromyalgia. Most of these medications only cover up the symptoms of fibroyalgia for a few weeks to a few months and then they no longer work in most of the cases I have seen in my personal practice. I have to say traditional chiropractic has little to offer Fibromyalgia patients as well. Chiropractors do help by getting to the nervous system but in order to help Fibromyalgia patients you need to find a health care provider that combines a functional metabolic blood work up as well as the knowledge to modulate brain and nervous system by allowing and encouraging brain hyperplasticity. This is achieved by doing functional blood work whereas there are several indices that looked at rather than two or three. Additionally functional work ups do not ascribe to just pathological ranges for blood work or hormone work ups. For example let's just say a certain blood index would range from 20-80. In traditional work ups if your work ups shows 21 then you are ok but if it shows at 19 then you are sick! The same would be true if your work up showed 79 you would be considered OK or within the range. But if you come back at say 81 you are considered sick. ( worse yet some health care providers might suggest not to worry as you only over/under a point or two) Whereas Chiropractors who practice functional metabolic work ups try to get you to the middle of the range so in this hypothetical case a functional zone might be 40-65. Makes sense doesn't it. Also please realize that pathological ranges for most traditional blood work ups are different in different regions of the US.

Your Fibromyalgia is a problem with the way your brain communicates with your nervous system. This is a problem with the mesencephalon,the brain stem, the upper brain and the signals that are then sent to your nervous system. Once this pattern is set up it is a downward spiral until you find a healthcare provider that can asses the way these systems are working with all the other systems in your body. This can only be achieved by a neurological exam and a metabolic exam to asses the way these systems are communicating or more importantly how they are mis-communicating and therefore affecting how your body is functioning.These chiropractic providers utilize Brain Based Therapy and metabolic testing.

Please visit www.lifechangingcare.com and www.thyroidbook.com for more information.

As far as your diagnosis of Lumbar Spondylosis that merely means a condition of the lumbar vertebrae. I highly suggest you start with a chiropractor for your low back pain as this healthcare field will deal with the root cause of your low back pain. As far as your osteo arthritis you may only have this at one level and it has to be assessed because if you allow your lower back to continue on the path you are on now it actually will allow your osteo arthritis to become progressively worse.

As far as going to the PT that is a personal choice for you to make. For low back problems I still opine that Chiropractic is a better choice. However I feel PT for what you have described in your question would be better than going to your GP medical professional.

Although these statements are my personal opinion it is vital that you see a health care provider and use my advice as guidelines as to you questions to said health care provider. Please do not hesitate and get to a health care provider of your choice immediately if not sooner. I have more information on my website www.drqdc.com.

Yours in health,
Dr John Q Quackenbush