Many of us have heard throughout our lives that sleep is critical to longevity. It is rested sleep that is critical. One condition that can be a direct result of lack of sleep is fibromyalgia. This condition may appear to be new, but it has been with us for years. People have experienced non-descriptive pain and discomfort dating back to the 19th century. This was usually ignored, primarily because the physicians were men, and many of those reporting the pain and discomfort were women. Additionally, many physicians saw this as psychological because many of the same people had either depression or depressive personalities. What further led to their being ignored was that people were still living with the pain.
As we move forward nearly one hundred years, it was not until the late 1980s and early 90s that doctors and researchers began to take a serious approach to this phenomenon. It was identified as multiple tender points throughout the body with a lack of energy. The group later named it fibromyalgia.
Although this condition now had a name, the cause and treatment were still being decided. What the researchers noticed is that 95% of those diagnosed with fibromyalgia also report not sleeping well. Lack of sleep (7-9 hours of sleep and still exhausted), difficulty having a rested sleep (REM), and frequent wakings during the night.
Furthermore, independent researchers and clinicians have found that prior to diagnosis, these individuals also noted a 5–10-year period of poor sleep, which suggests that the lack of sleep leads to the muscle fatigue associated with fibromyalgia. This lack of sleep was usually a result of some form of trauma such as a car accident or the loss of a loved one.
Understanding that trauma such as a car accident or fall can lead to lack of sleep, which further leads to fibromyalgia, it is important to be proactive. Chiropractic care immediately following an accident is crucial.
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Author: Dr. Jeffrey A. Dunnigan DC
Reference:
National Institutes of Health PMC3691959 July 15, 2008.
Disclaimer:
This information is generalized and intended for educational purposes only. Due to potential individual contraindications, please see your primary care provider before implementing any strategies in these posts.