What Causes Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a complicated condition that likely has more than one cause — although most researchers agree that the primary cause is a breakdown in the normal function of the central nervous system, which creates an abnormal perception of pain.

“The cause of Fibromyalgia must involve one or more abnormalities by which the Central Nervous System interprets pain signals.”

FIBROMYALGIA AWARENESS AND INFORMATION

“Fibromyalgia appears to result from a Central Nervous System derangement — the peripheral tissues and tender points are secondary phenomena.” 16

SOFT TISSUE RHEUMATIC PAIN TEXT

“The actual cause of Fibromyalgia is likely an interaction of many processes involving neurological conditions that affect blood flow, sleep, muscle use, and the transmission of pain.”

COPING WITH FIBROMYALGIA

“An interpretive defect in the Central Nervous System may be responsible for abnormal perception of pain in the absence of recognizable tissue injury.”

JOURNAL OF MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN

“An oversensitive nervous system generates false alarms spontaneously or from ordinary nonpainful stimuli. Physiologists now recognize that nerves and muscles can generate abnormal impulses and the technical term for this is supersensitivity.”

CHAN GUNN, MD

A recent study found an increased prevalence of Fibromyalgia among workers after a neck injury. Fibromyalgia was 13 times more frequent following neck injuries than following lower extremity injuries.

Why do so many people involved in car accidents develop fibromyalgia?

In any serious car accident the sudden impact will cause the body to do two things: First, the body and head will move in opposite directions, causing the head to jerk suddenly backward (hyperextension) and forward (hyper flexion). Then, the neck muscles stiffen in an effort to prevent serious injury to the spinal cord and brain, which can cause tearing or the muscles, and stretching of ligaments and muscles in the back of the neck.

In short, there is a lot of muscle trauma involved in most car accidents, particularly rear end collisions associated with whiplash.

Acute flexion-extension injuries, typically seen in auto accidents, can cause whiplash trauma to the cervical spine, even in the absence of bony damage and immediate pain. These injuries are extremely common and often lead to conditions such as chronic headaches and Fibromyalgia.

What causes the nervous system to become overly sensitive? Research indicates that trauma, injuries, and even repetitive “micro-trauma” might be the trigger for Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia syndrome is often associated with repetitive strain or overuse syndrome as a result of occupational tasks.

The nervous system is the master control system of the human body and every single function reflects its activity.

“An intact nervous system will lead to optimum functioning of the human body.”

DORLAND’S MEDICAL TEXT

“All body systems would be immobilized without the nervous system. It controls and regulates every bodily activity down to the workings of the tiniest cell.”

WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SCIENCE

Disturbances to the nervous system are referred to in scientific literature by several names including neuritis, dysponesis, nerve dysfunction, double-crush phenomenon, neuropathophysiology and subluxation, all of which cause interference to the nervous system.

The primary cause of nerve interference is found in the spinal column. When the vertebrae become misaligned often as the result of trauma or injury), irritation and interference occur in the nerve pathways. Nerve dysfunction caused by spinal misalignments is called “vertebral subluxations” and are well-documented in scientific literature.