By Dr. Goodman, DC, and Dr. Bradberry, DC | ReliefNow Laser Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina
Fibromyalgia affects an estimated 4 million adults in the United States, and women make up roughly 75 percent of those diagnosed, according to the CDC. For women in Charlotte, Pineville, Matthews, Ballantyne, and Myers Park, the condition can bring widespread pain, fatigue, cognitive fog, and disrupted sleep. Standard medical care, which often includes antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and lifestyle guidance, sometimes leaves patients with only partial relief. These symptoms reach into work, family life, daily movement, and emotional well-being. Many patients keep looking for supportive options beyond conventional symptom management.
What Makes Fibromyalgia So Difficult to Treat?
Part of the challenge is that fibromyalgia involves more than a single source of pain. Medication on its own does not address the peripheral musculoskeletal contributors that feed into the nervous system. Easing peripheral pain input can influence the amplified pain processing cycle that defines the condition. For that reason, many care plans now look beyond pharmaceuticals toward approaches that consider the tissues and the nervous system together.
How Does Central Sensitization Shape Fibromyalgia Pain?
Central sensitization describes a state in which the nervous system amplifies pain signals. Research published in Arthritis and Rheumatism documented measurable neurological changes in fibromyalgia, including substance P levels in cerebrospinal fluid roughly three times higher than in people without the condition, alongside brain imaging changes consistent with amplified pain processing. Research published in the journal Pain found that peripheral nociceptive input drives and helps maintain central sensitization. Put simply, what happens in the tissues can shape how the nervous system processes pain.
What Is the Regenerative Medical Laser Approach?
ReliefNow Laser Charlotte offers the Regenerative Medical Laser™ protocol, a drug-free, non-invasive approach built around Class IV photobiomodulation. Photobiomodulation delivers light energy that cells absorb, and researchers have studied its role in tissue-level processes. A 2021 systematic review in Frontiers in Neurology reported that photobiomodulation was associated with improvements in fibromyalgia pain scores, tender point counts, fatigue, and sleep quality. The clinic presents this approach as one component within a broader fibromyalgia care plan rather than a standalone solution.
Who Are the Providers at ReliefNow Laser Charlotte?
Dr. Goodman completed post-graduate training in acupuncture, a modality relevant to the central sensitization side of fibromyalgia. His nutrition training reflects an interest in the role that systemic inflammation can play in the condition. Dr. Bradberry brings experience with chronic pain in athletes, a setting where central sensitization from cumulative training stress is well recognized. Their backgrounds inform a clinical approach that takes the neurological dimension of fibromyalgia seriously.
Readers can find more information about the practice through ReliefNow Laser Charlotte’s provider page (do-follow) or watch the patient education videos on the ReliefNow Nation channel (no-follow). The clinic is located at 4601 Park Rd, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28209, and can be reached at 704-527-7246.
About the Authors
Dr. Eric Goodman, DC, studied at UNC-Charlotte and Palmer College of Chiropractic, with post-graduate training in neurokinetic therapy, acupuncture, laser, rehabilitation, and nutrition. Dr. Douglas Bradberry, DC, studied at the University of Florida and graduated with honors from Palmer College of Chiropractic, holds the CCSP designation, and has worked in sports medicine with Olympic-level athletes. Both are providers in the national ReliefNow® network, co-founded by Dr. Robert Hanopole, DC.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment guidance. The information provided is intended to support general awareness and should not replace a consultation with a qualified healthcare provider. Individuals experiencing symptoms of fibromyalgia, chronic pain, fatigue, sleep disruption, or any related condition should speak with a licensed medical professional to determine the care options that may be appropriate for their specific health needs. Treatment results can vary from person to person, and no specific outcome should be expected or assumed based on the information presented. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before beginning, changing, or discontinuing any treatment program.
