Roger Clifford, D.C., D.A.C.N.B.

Fibromyalgia (FM) affects at least 6 million Americans (1) and is the third most prevalent rheumatologic disorder (after osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis) representing 5% of family practice office visits and 20% of rheumatology visits. Approximately 90% of FM patients are women between the ages of 40 and 60 years, with an average age of 49. [..]

It seems a month doesn't go by when yet another scientific study is published proving the benefits of exercise for fibromyalgia patients. For example, a 2008 study by Finnish researchers looked at 26 women who were postmenopausal with fibromyalgia symptoms such as widespread pain and fatigue. In the study, the participants either completed a supervised [..]

Fibromyalgia is a complex disease that requires a comprehensive approach. Often, the spine is neglected and chiropractic care is, therefore, underutilized. This seems surprising since so many patients have spinal pain and chiropractic care is one of the most proven treatments for this condition. Chiropractic care for the fibromyalgia patient may also incorporate a structured [..]

How can a spinal problem possibly contribute to fibromyalgia symptoms such as chronic musculoskeletal  pain? In many disorders involving musculoskeletal pain, the nervous system is involved in some degree and the nervous system itself can get affected by structural changes in the spinal column. When viewing the neck from the side, there should be a [..]

Many patients with fibromyalgia have long-standing depression, which is more substantial than just having the occasional morning blues. Their muscle pain can either be a cause for their depression or even the effect of a prolonged, depressed state of mind. Or the two may not be linked at all and simply co-exist at the same [..]

Worldwide, fibromyalgia affects up to 5% of the population and about 15 million people in the United States alone. Fibromyalgia is not a disease in the sense that it has a known viral or bacterial cause. Rather, it is a collection of symptoms, mostly pain, that affect the neuromusculoskeletal system. Since other types of diseases [..]

A report presented at the 24th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine in February 2008 suggests that your level of physical fitness can have dramatic effects on pain, both immediately and over the long-term.A lack of physical fitness often goes hand-in-hand with chronic pain, because when you hurt, you may exercise less. [..]

In 2007, Lyrica was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of fibromyalgia symptoms.Lyrica was originally used to treat neuropathic (nerve) pain associated with shingles or diabetes. Since many suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms in the United States alone (at least 3-6 million), it's little wonder that patients may be [..]

Over time, the fibromyalgia sufferer can become used to the pain associated with their condition. Being in pain becomes their new normal. It becomes normal to wake up and have pain, even if after a restful sleep. It becomes normal to go out for a simple stroll in the park and have it prematurely end [..]

Because fibromyalgia patients are often at their wits ends when it comes to finding a solution to their problem, they may be reluctant to consider chiropractic care. Why is that? Maybe it's because they haven't read a good explanation as to how treating joint injuries can result in decreased muscle pain. After all, the pain [..]