Fibromyalgia Treatment Program
We offer an intensive Fibromyalgia treatment program for appropriate candidates. Our treatments for Fibromyalgia are based on the latest research, and continually advancing as new research becomes available. Our treatment approach combines medical treatments with functional medicine, dietary and lifestyle coaching, physical rehabilitation-based pain management, alternative therapies, and whatever else your unique case requires.
Below are some commonly used treatments at Colorado Fibromyalgia Center during our progressive stages: Foundation, Breakthrough, Recovery, and Advanced. If our Fibromyalgia treatment program sounds like a fit for your lifestyle, do not hesitate to schedule a consultation for more detailed information about our program.
Keep in mind, that the phases described within the website and Welcome Packet are examples of care that is typically provided to patients. Please note, that treatment is individualized based on patient diagnosis and history as well as the plan created by current providers. We pride ourselves on offering personalized treatment plans to best serve our patients, which may not follow the phases as shown.
Medications
Overall, medication management at CFC works with a goal of providing patients with medications that may aid in reducing dominant symptoms upon presentation to the clinic. As treatment progresses, the goal is to be able to reduce the reliance on medications to manage symptoms, in many cases we eliminate the need for pain medications.
Trigger Point Injections
Trigger points are sensitive areas in muscles that tend to stimulate more widespread musculoskeletal pain. They are often associated with spasms, inflammation, nodules, and/or taut bands. CFC provides non-steroidal trigger point injections as an option to decrease pain and associated radiation.Â
Physical Rehabilitation
A variety of methods are offered to address the physical changes caused by Fibromyalgia. Both active and passive therapies including massage, chiropractic, myofascial release therapy, dry needling, vacuum cupping, gua sha and post-isometric relaxation in addition to prescribed therapeutic stretches and exercises are options to improve muscle and connective tissue quality and function.Â
Intravenous Micronutrient Therapy
Intravenous (IV) micronutrient therapy is used as “functional medicine” (stimulating a body response through the use of natural agents), and to deliver nutrients to the body while bypassing the digestive system. Colorado Fibromyalgia Center utilizes a modified Myer’s cocktail to provide physiological doses of nutrients to boost metabolism and immune function.
Dietary & Lifestyle Modifications
CFC points patients in the right direction for coaching on proven dietary approaches to Fibromyalgia and general healthy living. We also focus heavily on lifestyle modification including stress management, physical activity pacing, and goal setting.Â
Fibromyalgia Treatment Program Phases
Foundation
Work with our doctors to create a strong platform to build your recovery, focusing on education and gentle hands-on care.
Recovery
Some patients may take longer than others for their bodies to adapt to changes made during the foundation phase.
Breakthrough
After receiving new found vigor and decreasing pain symptoms, we turn the focus to physical therapy progressions.
Advanced
Push yourself further than you thought imaginable and reach your activity goals. This phase is extremely unique to each individual.
Foundation
Work with our doctors to create a strong platform to build your recovery, focusing on education and gentle hands on care.
Recovery
Some patients may take longer than others for their bodies to adapt to changes made during the foundation phase.
Breakthrough
After receiving new found vigor and decreasing pain symptoms, we turn the focus to physical therapy progressions.
Advanced
Push yourself further than you thought imaginable and reach your activity goals. This phase is extremely unique to each individual.
Foundation Phase
This beginners phase will usually be 4 weeks long, the majority of care will begin through visits with Dr. David Evans – DC, CCSP, and medical massage therapists, to begin laying the groundwork for educational needs, beginning manual therapy including gentle hands-on-care, chiropractic, a Home Exercise Program, and much more.
Through this, you will start learning what specific stretches, exercises, and daily movement corrections are vital to eliminate unnecessary inflammation and degradation to your body. Cleaning up these mechanical flaws will help increase energy by requiring less work to achieve your daily tasks.
The Medical Massage therapist will begin to desensitize the body from perceiving exaggerated pain signals, decrease long built up muscle tension, improve stress, and speed up your muscle recovery. This is essential in helping the body succeed with your home exercise program.
During the Foundation Phase, we recommend you work with our in-house nutritionist who will evaluate dietary and lifestyle changes, with supplement recommendations based on your presentation.
Myer's IV
One of the most crucial components during the Foundation Phase, which acts as a platform for our patients’ success throughout the program, is the Myer’s IV treatment.
The Myers Cocktail includes a formula of intravenous vitamins and minerals which was established by the late Dr. John Myers, MD, and then continued by Alan R. Gaby, MD; who is a renowned nutritional medicine expert. They were successful in treating a large number of clinical conditions with this nutrient infusion. This IV includes Saline, B-complex, B-12, Magnesium, Calcium, Selenium, and Vitamin C. Other variations now exist depending on the condition being treated and provider preference.
The intravenous approach used when administering these nutrients ensures absorption and use in the body. It bypasses the gut which can improperly breakdown pill form supplements, due to malabsorption issues, causing the body to not utilize these nutrients properly. Delivering nutrients directly into the bloodstream is the most efficient way to guarantee your body is properly receiving these nutrients.
If you are interested in Myer’s IV Therapy, we would like to inform you ahead of time that it is not covered by insurance. Please check out the link below for more details about pricing.
Click here for in-depth information about the benefits of the Myer’s IV .
Sana Device
As part of the Colorado Fibromyalgia Center’s ongoing effort to provide our patients with the most compassionate and comprehensive care, while maintaining treatment plans that are derived from the best clinical research, we have partnered with a local company called Sana Health.
Sana Health has created a device that has proven effective for treating pain, sleep, mental health, and overall recovery. Patients who are a part of our Fibromyalgia program have seen success in reducing pain symptoms while using Sana.
“Sana is a nonaddictive simple mask and headphones you wear on your head. The device uses audio-visual stimulation to increase balance between the left and right side of your brain leading to greater relaxation. Ongoing use of your Sana mask resembles the effect of long-term meditative practices which leads to a more restful state overall. Sana can clear a busy mind and accelerate physical recovery and improve mental well-being.” -Sana Health
Using the Sana mask and headphones consists of a 16-minute session, which many patients find to induce sleep rapidly. Some of the benefits of Sana Include:
- Clear a busy mind
- Support enhanced rest and relaxation
- Improve sleep management
- Reduce feelings of stress
- Enhance recovery from fatigue
You can learn more about the benefits of using the Sana device and book an appointment for an in-depth overview by visiting their website.
Recovery Phase
The Recovery Phase, on average 4 weeks, will be for patients who are still adapting to all the new changes they have been making to their body. The body may need extra healing time, beyond the Foundation Phase, to get accustomed to increased physical activity and new manual therapies. Although our providers take every precaution to minimize these negative effects, there is a chance the body will need a longer time to recover from these important lifestyle changes.
Breakthrough Phase
For those of you who are already feeling a new vigor and decreased pain symptoms, you may be referred to the Breakthrough Phase. The length of this phase varies based on Physical Therapy progressions. This will push your body to the next level of your treatment goals. During this phase, there will be an increased focus, in the clinic, with Physical Therapy. By now your body will have been prepared through our help, increasing strength, endurance, and stability.
Advanced Phase
After your two-month follow-up, there may be another progression to an Advanced Phase, to achieve the more aggressive, physically strenuous goals one may have created while starting out. This would be to push the body further than patients may have thought imaginable, given the state some patients are in when entering the program. Otherwise, if satisfied with current outcomes, a discussion of management options will begin.
This is where we try to peel back on the frequency of visits and make sure your body can maintain the results we have achieved, while receiving less assistance from our services. This is extremely unique to the individual and can result in a plethora of different avenues based on how the patient has progressed. The main note to take at the end of the program is that “our door is always open” after completion of our program.
Mental Health Resources
If you feel that you need to talk about anything, our in house Mental Health Clinician, Kimberley Roberts LCSW is available as a resource for you. Kimberley uses a combination of goal focused treatment methodologies to help Fibromyalgia patients reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress which in turn helps reduce physical pain symptoms.
“I have been receiving Fibromyalgia treatment at the Colorado Fibromyalgia Center for over 3 years now, and I am incredibly grateful for the high level of care, compassion, expertise, and integrity that I have experienced during that time. I was in complete despair when I first arrived, and they changed my life …
Google Review
“I have been going to the Fibromyalgia center since July of 2017. I was totally frustrated being bounced around from Dr. to Dr. I was in a-lot of pain from these bumps down my right leg. Finally i googled bumps in leg and brought me to the Fibromyalgia center, after reading about Fibromyalgia symptoms I could relate …