Looking for an Alternative to Fibromyalgia Drugs?
Living with fibromyalgia is no easy task. This condition affects nearly every aspect of a person’s life. Support from family and friends can help, but understanding how fibromyalgia impacts someone’s ability to live pain-free is key.
While fibromyalgia can show up in many different ways, common symptoms often include:
Fibromyalgia Facts
Allodynia & Hyperesthesia – Both are conditions of the central nervous system. Hyperesthesia causes an exaggerated response to stimuli, making everyday sensations more painful. It can also increase sensitivity to sound, taste, and texture. Allodynia is similar in that it causes pain from things that shouldn’t normally hurt—often after an injury—and is frequently described as a burning sensation.
Restorative Sleep – Restorative sleep isn’t just about the number of hours spent in bed. It’s the deep, quality rest the body needs to repair and function properly. Many people with fibromyalgia struggle to get this kind of sleep due to constant disturbances from heightened sensitivity to external stimuli.
Why Drugs Alone Aren’t Enough
Patients are often prescribed a wide variety of medications—such as Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Topamax—intended to suppress symptoms. While these can sometimes bring temporary relief, they never address the underlying cause of the condition.
Fibromyalgia Case Study
One case involved a 31-year-old woman who had suffered from fibromyalgia for many years. At age five, she was in a serious car accident that sent her through a windshield, leaving her with multiple injuries. Later in 2007, she was in another collision in which her knees slammed into the dashboard. Over her life, she endured several other traumas as well.
Before starting upper cervical care, she relied on a heavy regimen of medications including Hydrocodone, Cymbalta, Ranitidine, Topamax, and Ultram. She also wore a Fentanyl patch and received Depo shots. Concerned that the drugs were diminishing her quality of life, she began seeking non-pharmacological alternatives.
Her initial evaluation revealed a misalignment in the upper cervical spine. This area—where the brainstem and spinal cord connect—is critical for proper nervous system function. Even small misalignments can create neurological interference, disrupting communication between the brain and body. Research has linked this type of injury to both hyperesthesia and allodynia.
Upper Cervical Results
Over the course of 18 months, the patient required only five upper cervical corrections. One of the unique goals of upper cervical care is sustainability. Unlike general chiropractic adjustments that are repeated frequently, upper cervical care aims to restore proper alignment and allow the body to maintain it. Many patients can hold a correction for months—or even years.
In this case, past head and neck injuries had caused misalignments that disrupted nerve and blood flow. Once corrected, the patient reported:
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An 80% reduction in fibromyalgia pain
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Freedom from all medications
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No joint pain
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The ability to return to the gym
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Improved mental health and overall quality of life
A Path Forward
Fibromyalgia affects not only those living with the condition but also their loved ones. If you or someone you care about is struggling, you don’t have to accept unnecessary suffering. Seek the help of an upper cervical specialist today.
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Dr. Craig Lapenski at Advanced Spinal Care, in Graham, Washington is one of 27 Board Certified NUCCA Doctors worldwide. His clinic serves the highest quality upper cervical care in the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Lapenski also serves a number of patients who are out of state including Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New York, and more! He is uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines, headaches, fibromyalgia, vertigo, neck pain, back pain, and more. More information can be found on our website at https://www.nuccawashington.com/