• Belcher JN
• Slinger J

• Female
• Fibromyalgia / therapy
• Middle Aged
• Open Access Document
• Pain Management
• Veterans

Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that affects an estimated 10 million people in the United States, and veterans may be at higher risk of developing this condition due to their exposure to physical and psychological trauma during their military service. The diagnosis of fibromyalgia can be challenging, and treatment often involves a combination of medications, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes.

Case Presentation: A 58-year-old female veteran presented to a chiropractic clinic with a chief complaint of low back pain. The patient had previously been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and wished to pursue chiropractic treatment. The patient completed outcome assessment tools that revealed chronic pain and psychological components. Activities of daily living were also noted to be affected. Examination pointed to fibromyalgia as the cause of low back pain. Conservative chiropractic treatment was administered 2 times a week for 12 weeks. Treatment included chiropractic manipulative therapy (CMT), Jeanie Rub (mechanical massage) to the surrounding tissues, and recommendation of at home exercise.

Results: There was a decrease in tender point sensitivity both subjectively and upon palpation. After 12 weeks of treatment, the patient was given the same outcome assessment tools as at the initial examination. Scores were decreased compared to the start of treatment and activities of daily living were less affected. Results demonstrated relief of pain when mechanical massage was paired with CMT.

Conclusion: A career veteran diagnosed with fibromyalgia experienced pain relief with conservative treatment. This veteran’s response to conservative manual therapies and exercise was promising but cannot be generalized to larger populations. Larger studies would be required to assess the efficacy of chiropractic manual therapies for those with fibromyalgia in the veteran and civilian populations.

Author keywords: veteran, pain management, fibromyalgia, chiropractic

This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher. Click on the above link for free full text.