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Muscle Spasm, Trigger Points and Fibrositis |
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Many of the millions of people
who visit their doctors of chiropractic annually do so because
of chronic pain, strain, spasm, irritation, inflammation or other
musculoskeletal conditions. Since about 60% of our body is muscle
and bone, it should come as no surprise that these problems are What Are Muscles?Muscles are organs that contract.
The 650 or so muscles that are connected to our bones - Facia (Connective tissue)Wrapped around the outside and
lining the inside of muscles and nerves is a strong sheet of
connective tissue called muscle facia; you see it event time
you separate meat from a bone or pull a piece of meat apart -
it looks like plastic or cellophane, and it carries the many
nerves, blood vessels and lymphatics that supply the muscles.
If the fascia are damaged, the blood, nerve and Muscles and nervesNerves make muscles move; when a nerve is stimulated the muscle to which it is connected contracts. Nerves also supply muscles with growth nutrients. If you can cut a muscle's nerves, two things happen:-
Cut or severed nerves are not the only cause of muscular paralysis. Neuromuscular diseases like multiple sclerosis or polio can also cause a loss of nerve conduction to the muscles. Chronic Muscle Spasm. Fibrositis, FibromyalgiaFeeling "tight"; always needing to stretch; feeling constant aches and pains in the back of the neck, lower back, and hips; feeling old and stiff; being plagued by morning fatigue, sleeping problems or tender points (sensitive areas on the body surface) are the symptoms of chronic muscle spasm. This condition is also called fibrositis or fibromyalgia, and by a host of other names: myofascial spasms, nonarticular or muscular rheumatism, myofascitis, myositis or myotendinosis. Trigger PointsTrigger points are tender, sensitive
areas that, when pressed, stuck, heated or cooled can be exquisitely
painful. They may exist before as well as after the appearance
of muscular aches and pains. In fact, patients may first discover
their trigger points when they are surprised by someone pressing
a seemingly pain-free area. The pain of trigger points may not
only be felt in the area pressed but may also be referred to
other areas of the body. Trigger points are common in chronic The Medical ApproachTo standard medicine, muscle
spasm, fibrositis and trigger points are a mystery. General Practitioners
and rheumatologists searching for a viral or chemical cause have
come up empty-handed. Medical doctors have tried injections with
pain-numbing agents such as novocaine, procaine, and xylocaine;
cooling sprays; muscle relaxant drugs and injections (including
cortisone); The Chiropractic ApproachThe most common disruption of
the nerve-muscle relationship occurs as a result of the vertebral
misalignment stresses. The spinal bones (the vertebrae) become
misaligned and irritate, impinge, or otherwise disrupt the spine's
nerve-muscle-bone relationship; the spinal chord, spinal nerves,
fascia, meninges and other tissues can also become damaged. Vertebral
misalignment stress can cause ConclusionThe doctor of chiropractic corrects
the mechanical (muscle, bone and joint) factors that play a major
part in chronic muscle spasm or fibrositis: the nerves, muscles,
and bones (the neuromusculoskeletal system). For some, chiropractic
may prove to be the key to alleviating chronic muscle spasm.
Nearly anyone suffering from this condition should make sure
that his/her spine is free from spinal nerve stress. A healthy
spinal column- nerve system is a necessary |