Chiropractic Care for Fibromyalgia Tender Points: A Complete Guide to Pain Relief & Better Living

Living with fibromyalgia can feel overwhelming, especially when tender points flare up without warning. Today, we’ll explore everything you need to know about fibromyalgia tender points and how chiropractic care can offer real relief. Let’s start this journey toward better living together.

Understanding Fibromyalgia Tender Points

Fibromyalgia tender points are specific areas on your body that become extremely sensitive to pressure. Think of them as your body’s alarm system that’s stuck in the “on” position. When pressed, even lightly, these spots can cause intense pain that seems out of proportion to the touch.

But here’s something important: tender points are different from trigger points. While trigger points refer pain to other areas of your body, tender points hurt right where they’re pressed. It’s like the difference between a fire alarm (trigger point) that warns about danger elsewhere versus a smoke detector (tender point) that signals trouble in its exact location.

The Historical Context

For years, doctors used tender points as the gold standard for diagnosing fibromyalgia. In 1990, the American College of Rheumatology established that patients needed to have pain in at least 11 of 18 specific tender points to receive a fibromyalgia diagnosis.

However, medical understanding evolved. In 2010, the diagnostic criteria changed to focus more on widespread pain and symptom severity rather than counting tender points. Dr. Frederick Wolfe, who helped create the original criteria, later found that the tender point approach was too limiting (Wolfe et al., Arthritis Care & Research, 2010).

Localized vs. Widespread Pain

One common misconception is that fibromyalgia pain stays in one spot. Actually, fibromyalgia typically involves widespread pain throughout your body. The tender points are just the most sensitive areas within this broader pain pattern.

Where Are the 18 Fibromyalgia Tender Points Located?

The original 18 tender points come in 9 pairs, meaning each point appears on both sides of your body. Let me walk you through each location:

Upper Body Points:

• Occiput: At the base of your skull, where your neck muscles attach
• Lower cervical: Along your neck, about where a shirt collar sits
• Trapezius: On top of your shoulders, in the muscle that connects your neck to your shoulder
• Supraspinatus: Near your shoulder blades, above the spine of the shoulder blade

Mid-Body Points:

• Second rib: Just below your collarbone, near where your ribs connect to your breastbone
• Lateral epicondyle: On the outside of your elbow, where tennis elbow typically hurts

Lower Body Points:

• Low back: In your lower back muscles, about where your belt sits
• Greater trochanter: On the side of your hip, over the bony prominence you can feel
• Knee: On the inside of your knee, just above the joint line

Beyond the Classic 18

While these 18 points get the most attention, fibromyalgia pain can show up anywhere. We often see patients with sensitivity in their ribs, hands, feet, and jaw. Don’t worry if your pain doesn’t fit the textbook pattern – every person’s experience is unique.

What Causes Tender Point Sensitivity in Fibromyalgia?

Understanding why tender points hurt so much starts with your nervous system. Research shows that people with fibromyalgia experience something called central sensitization – essentially, your brain and spinal cord become hypersensitive to pain signals.

Dr. Daniel Clauw from the University of Michigan explains it this way: “In fibromyalgia, the volume control for pain in the brain gets turned up too high” (Clauw, JAMA, 2014). This means normal sensations get interpreted as painful ones.

The Chemical Story

Several brain chemicals play key roles in this process:

• Serotonin levels often drop, reducing your natural pain-fighting ability
• Substance P increases, amplifying pain signals
• Norepinephrine becomes imbalanced, affecting both pain and mood

The Perfect Storm

Tender point sensitivity rarely happens overnight. Instead, it typically develops when several factors combine:

Chronic stress keeps your nervous system on high alert. Poor sleep prevents your body from properly recovering. Hormonal imbalances can lower your pain threshold. Even gut health problems can contribute through systemic inflammation.

Factors That Can Make Tender Point Pain Worse

Knowing your triggers is half the battle. Here are the most common factors that can worsen tender point pain:

• Environmental Triggers Weather changes, especially drops in barometric pressure, can increase pain sensitivity. Many of our patients at Southport Chiropractic tell us they can predict storms better than the weather forecast!
• Lifestyle Factors Sleep deprivation is a major culprit. When you don’t get quality sleep, your pain threshold drops significantly. On the flip side, overexertion can also trigger flares, as can complete inactivity. It’s about finding that sweet spot in between.
• Emotional and Physical Stress Emotional stress directly impacts your nervous system. Repetitive movements or maintaining poor posture for extended periods can also aggravate tender points.
• Hormonal Influences For women, hormonal cycles often influence pain levels. Many patients notice their symptoms worsen during certain times of their menstrual cycle or during menopause.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help with Fibromyalgia Tender Points

Your spine houses your central nervous system. When vertebrae become misaligned, they can interfere with proper nerve communication. Think of it like static on a radio – the music is still there, but interference makes it hard to hear clearly.

Research by Dr. Haavik and Dr. Murphy shows that chiropractic adjustments can influence pain processing in the brain (Haavik & Murphy, Chiropractic & Osteopathy, 2012). By improving spinal alignment, we help restore clearer communication between your brain and body.

Not all chiropractic techniques involve forceful adjustments. For fibromyalgia patients, we often use gentler approaches:

• Activator Method: Uses a small instrument to deliver precise, low-force adjustments
• Sacro-Occipital Technique (SOT): Focuses on balancing your pelvis and skull
• Chiropractic BioPhysics®: Emphasizes postural restoration and spinal rehabilitation

Chiropractic & Complementary Therapies

This is where we see some of the most promising results for our patients.

• Chiropractic Strategies We develop individualized adjustment plans based on your specific tender point patterns. The goals are to restore proper nervous system function and reduce overall pain sensitivity.
• Supporting Therapies Gentle trigger point massage, performed by trained professionals, can help release muscle tension without overwhelming sensitive tissues.
• Corrective Exercises We guide patients through specific exercises designed to improve posture and strengthen supporting muscles without triggering flares. These aren’t your typical gym workouts – they’re carefully crafted therapeutic movements.

Natural & Lifestyle-Based Pain Relief

Sometimes the most powerful treatments don’t come in a pill bottle.

• Pain Neuroscience Education Understanding how pain works in your brain can actually reduce pain intensity. When you realize that pain doesn’t always equal damage, you can respond differently to pain signals.
• Sleep Hygiene Excellence Quality sleep is non-negotiable for fibromyalgia management. We help patients create sleep environments and routines that promote deeper, more restorative rest.
• Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition While there’s no specific “fibromyalgia diet”, anti-inflammatory foods can help reduce systemic inflammation that may worsen tender points. Think colorful vegetables, omega-3 rich fish, and plenty of clean water.
• Gentle Movement Low-impact activities like yoga, tai chi, and aquatic therapy can improve flexibility and strength without aggravating tender points. The key is starting slowly and listening to your body.

When Should You See a Chiropractor or Fibromyalgia Specialist?

Certain signs indicate it’s time to seek professional help:

• Chronic fatigue that interferes with daily activities
• Severe morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes
• Progressive worsening of symptoms despite self-care efforts
• Poor posture that’s contributing to pain patterns

Our Evaluation Process

At Southport Chiropractic, we take a comprehensive approach to fibromyalgia evaluation. We assess your posture, examine spinal alignment, and test tender point sensitivity. More importantly, we listen to your story and understand how fibromyalgia affects your daily life.

Questions to Ask Your Chiropractor

• What’s your experience treating fibromyalgia patients?
• Which techniques do you use for sensitive patients?
• How will you track progress?
• Can you work with my other healthcare providers?

Living Fully with Fibromyalgia: Final Thoughts

If you’re reading this while dealing with fibromyalgia tender points, I want you to know something important: your pain is real, your struggles are valid, and there is hope for better days ahead. The key is finding the right combination of treatments for your unique situation. It’s not about choosing between traditional medicine and natural approaches – it’s about building a comprehensive plan that addresses all aspects of your health.

Remember that healing isn’t always linear. You might have good days and challenging days, and that’s perfectly normal. The goal isn’t to eliminate every bit of pain overnight, but to gradually build a life where fibromyalgia doesn’t define your limitations.

If you’re in the Fairfield, Connecticut area and ready to explore how chiropractic care might help your fibromyalgia tender points, we’d love to meet you at Southport Chiropractic. Every journey begins with a single step, and we’re here to walk alongside you toward better health and renewed hope.

FAQs

Can chiropractic help with fibromyalgia fatigue? 

Yes, by improving nervous system function and sleep quality, many patients experience less fatigue. However, results vary from person to person.

Is chiropractic safe for sensitive fibromyalgia patients? 

When performed by experienced practitioners using gentle techniques, chiropractic care is very safe for fibromyalgia patients. We always start conservatively and adjust based on your response.

Will insurance cover chiropractic for fibromyalgia? 

Many insurance plans do cover chiropractic care for fibromyalgia. We’re happy to verify your benefits and help with insurance questions.