What it feels like
Widespread muscle pain and tenderness. Exhaustion that sleep doesn't fix. Pain that moves around your body. Brain fog and difficulty concentrating. Feeling like your body is falling apart.
What’s actually causing it
I'm going to be honest: fibromyalgia is not my specialty. But I have a perspective on it that might be useful, because the name itself is part of the problem. "Fibro" means fibrous tissue. "Myo" means muscle. "Algia" means pain. Fibromyalgia literally just means "your muscles hurt." That's not a diagnosis — it's a description of your symptoms. And when you get a label that just restates the obvious, it doesn't tell you or your doctor anything about what's actually wrong. What I believe is happening in many fibromyalgia cases is tissue breakdown from chronic depletion. Think of it as your body running on empty for too long — whether from chronic stress, adrenal fatigue, poor sleep, nutritional deficiency, or some combination. When the body is depleted at a systemic level, the muscles are the first thing to suffer. They hurt because the raw materials needed to maintain healthy tissue aren't available.
How I treat it
I test the muscles around the affected area individually, find which ones aren’t firing, and reset the connection using gentle techniques. No cracking, no popping.
How long it takes
Most patients feel a difference after one session. Chronic cases typically resolve in 4–6 sessions.
Why the Label Frustrates Me
Fibromyalgia has become a catch-all diagnosis. You've been to multiple doctors, your bloodwork is normal, your imaging is normal, but you hurt everywhere. So they call it fibromyalgia and prescribe medication. That's not a solution — that's giving up on finding the answer. The label itself closes the door on further investigation because now you have a "diagnosis." But what you really have is a description of symptoms without an explanation of cause.
What I Think Is Actually Happening
In my experience, many people diagnosed with fibromyalgia are dealing with some form of chronic depletion. Adrenal fatigue, chronic stress, years of poor sleep, nutritional gaps — whatever the underlying cause, the body's ability to maintain and repair muscle tissue has been compromised. The muscles hurt because they're breaking down faster than the body can rebuild them. This isn't something I can fix with myofascial release alone. It requires addressing the systemic depletion — which often means working with a functional medicine provider, a naturopath, or an integrative physician who can dig into the "why" behind the depletion.
What I CAN Do
While the systemic issues get addressed, myofascial work can help a lot with the pain. Gentle, targeted release of the muscles that are hurting the most provides real relief. I'm not going to claim I'm treating your fibromyalgia — I'm treating the muscle pain that comes with it. And for many patients, that makes a significant difference in quality of life while they work on the bigger picture with the right specialist. I also use muscle testing to see if there are specific compensation patterns contributing to the widespread pain. Sometimes what looks like "everything hurts" is actually a chain of compensations radiating out from one or two key dysfunctions.
Resources Worth Exploring
If you have a fibromyalgia diagnosis and you're not getting better, consider looking into functional medicine or integrative health providers who specialize in adrenal function, chronic fatigue, and nutritional biochemistry. The answer to fibromyalgia isn't in the name — it's in the underlying depletion that nobody's addressed yet. I'm happy to work alongside those providers to help manage the muscle pain while the root cause gets sorted out.
“I had been suffering for years and was unsuccessfully treated by others. In one visit, Dr. Ladd was able to find and address the real issue.”
Patient review · Fibromyalgia patient
Techniques I use for fibromyalgia
Common questions
Can you cure my fibromyalgia?
I won't claim to cure it. But I can reduce the muscle pain significantly with myofascial work, and I'll be honest about what I think is actually driving it. Fibromyalgia needs a team approach — I'm one piece of that.
Why does the name bother you?
Because it translates to "muscle pain" — it just restates your symptoms in Latin. A real diagnosis should tell you what's causing the problem, not just describe it. The label often stops further investigation.
Should I see someone else instead?
Ideally, in addition to me, not instead of me. A functional medicine or integrative health provider can dig into the systemic causes. I handle the muscle pain and compensation patterns. Both matter.
Will the myofascial work hurt?
I keep it gentle for fibromyalgia patients. The goal is relief, not more pain. We go at whatever pressure level your body can handle and build from there.
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