Fibromyalgia affects an estimated 4 million adults in the United States roughly 2% of the population and women are diagnosed at nearly twice the rate of men.

It most commonly develops between the ages of 30 and 60, and those with a family history of fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus are at significantly higher risk.

Unlike a broken bone or a herniated disc, fibromyalgia doesn’t show up on an X-ray. It’s a chronic pain condition defined by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive difficulties often referred to as “fibro fog.”

Because its symptoms overlap with so many other conditions, fibromyalgia is frequently misdiagnosed or dismissed for years before patients find real answers.

Our Denver Chiropractor, Dr. Al Simeone and Dr. Rick Roope, takes a hands-on, results-driven approach to fibromyalgia care.

Rather than masking your symptoms with medication, they work to identify the underlying structural and neurological factors contributing to your pain. Here’s how

What Causes Fibromyalgia Pain?

Fibromyalgia is believed to involve a problem with how the brain and spinal cord process pain signals.

Researchers refer to this as central sensitization, a state where the central nervous system becomes amplified and hypersensitive, causing ordinary sensations to register as painful.

This means fibromyalgia pain isn’t imagined; it’s a real neurological dysfunction that makes the entire body more sensitive to pressure, temperature, and touch.

While the exact trigger isn’t always clear, our team looks at the full picture including spinal health, nervous system function, and lifestyle factors to understand what’s driving each patient’s symptoms.

Here are the most common contributors to fibromyalgia:

Physical Trauma or Injury

A car accident, fall, or repetitive physical strain can trigger the onset of fibromyalgia in some individuals.

Physical trauma may activate or amplify the central sensitization process, particularly when spinal misalignments or soft tissue damage go untreated.

Symptoms:

Widespread pain that began or worsened after an injury
Persistent muscle aching, burning, or stiffness
Tenderness at specific pressure points across the body
Fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest

Spinal Misalignments (Subluxations)

When vertebrae particularly in the cervical (upper) spine shift out of their proper alignment, they can interfere with normal nerve signaling between the brain and body.

Some research has focused specifically on the upper cervical spine as a key area linked to fibromyalgia symptom severity.

Symptoms:

Neck stiffness and chronic headaches
Radiating pain into the shoulders and upper back
Heightened sensitivity to touch along the spine
Sleep disruption linked to pain or discomfort

Sleep Disorders and Poor Sleep Quality

Sleep disruption is both a symptom and a driver of fibromyalgia. People with fibromyalgia often fail to reach deep, restorative sleep which impairs the body’s ability to repair muscle tissue and regulate pain.

Over time, this creates a cycle where pain worsens sleep, and poor sleep worsens pain.

Symptoms:

Waking unrefreshed despite a full night’s sleep
Restless legs or frequent waking
Morning stiffness and grogginess
Daytime fatigue and difficulty concentrating

Chronic Stress

Prolonged psychological or emotional stress can dysregulate the autonomic nervous system, lowering the body’s pain threshold and triggering or worsening fibromyalgia flares.

The connection between the nervous system and musculoskeletal pain is a key reason chiropractic care plays a meaningful role in fibromyalgia management.

Symptoms:

Symptoms that flare during periods of high stress
Anxiety, depression, or emotional sensitivity
Tension headaches and jaw tightness (TMJ)
Gastrointestinal issues such as IBS

Inflammatory and Autoimmune Conditions

Fibromyalgia frequently co-exists with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and osteoarthritis.

While fibromyalgia itself is not an inflammatory disease, these co-occurring conditions can amplify pain signals and complicate diagnosis.

Symptoms:

Overlapping joint pain and widespread muscle tenderness
Symptom flares that coincide with autoimmune flares
Increased fatigue and immune-related symptoms
Difficulty identifying which condition is causing which symptom

Rare but Serious Causes

In some cases, widespread pain that resembles fibromyalgia may be caused by other underlying conditions that require urgent medical attention:

Hypothyroidism can mimic fibromyalgia with fatigue, pain, and cognitive symptoms
Polymyalgia rheumatica presents with similar pain patterns, especially in older adults
Multiple sclerosis may cause widespread neurological pain

Red flags that warrant immediate evaluation include sudden onset of severe pain, significant unexplained weight loss, night sweats, weakness in the limbs, or bowel/bladder changes.

Chiropractic Care Is an Effective Treatment for Fibromyalgia

A 2024 randomized controlled trial studying 60 female fibromyalgia patients found that those who received high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulation twice a week for three weeks reported pain scores 37% lower than the control group at the three-month follow-up. The treatment group also showed significant improvements in disease severity and overall physical functionality results that outlasted the treatment period itself. These findings build on a 2015 Egyptian randomized controlled trial involving 120 patients with severe fibromyalgia. Patients who received upper cervical chiropractic adjustments alongside education and exercise showed 15% or more improvement in standardized questionnaire scores compared to the control group. Chiropractic care works for fibromyalgia because it directly addresses one of the condition’s core mechanisms: nervous system dysfunction. By restoring proper spinal alignment and joint mobility, chiropractic adjustments help reduce the neurological interference that drives central sensitization and pain amplification.

FAQs About Fibromyalgia

What Is Fibromyalgia and What Causes It?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep problems, and cognitive difficulties. It’s caused by central sensitization — a dysfunction in how the brain and spinal cord process pain signals — and is often triggered or worsened by physical trauma, chronic stress, sleep disorders, or co-existing conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

Can a Chiropractor Help With Fibromyalgia?

Yes. Multiple clinical studies show that chiropractic spinal manipulation significantly reduces pain scores, improves physical function, and alleviates fatigue and sleep disturbances in fibromyalgia patients. Chiropractic care is particularly effective because it targets spinal misalignments that contribute to nervous system dysfunction — one of the key drivers of fibromyalgia.

What Is the Difference Between Fibromyalgia and Arthritis?

Arthritis causes joint inflammation and structural damage that is visible on imaging. Fibromyalgia does not damage joints or tissue — instead, it causes the nervous system to amplify pain signals throughout the body. Many patients have both conditions simultaneously, which can make accurate diagnosis more challenging.

What Soft Tissue Treatments Are Used for Fibromyalgia?

Dr. Al Simeone may use ischemic compression, myofascial release, and trigger point therapy to address the muscle tenderness and soft tissue dysfunction associated with fibromyalgia. Studies show these techniques can produce over 77% improvement in pain intensity when combined with spinal manipulation.

Is Chiropractic Care for Fibromyalgia Non-Invasive?

Yes. Chiropractic adjustments and soft tissue therapy are entirely non-invasive, drug-free treatments. For fibromyalgia patients who are already managing complex symptoms and sensitivities, this makes chiropractic care a safe and well-tolerated option with no side effects or medication interactions.

How Long Does It Take to See Results With Chiropractic for Fibromyalgia?

Results vary by patient, but the clinical studies referenced above showed measurable improvements over 3 to 12 weeks of consistent treatment. Patients who responded well within the first 15 sessions tended to see continued improvement through 30 sessions and maintained those benefits for at least a month after treatment concluded.

Get Lasting Relief Today

Living with fibromyalgia doesn’t have to mean living in constant pain.

Dr. Al Simeone understands how exhausting and frustrating this condition can be and he’s here to help you find real, lasting relief through a personalized treatment plan built around your specific symptoms and goals.

Don’t wait to take the first step toward a better quality of life today.

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