Fibromyalgia syndrome is a common and chronic disorder that affects millions of Americans each year. It is characterized by widespread muscle pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points. And despite its prevalence, Fibromyalgia is often misunderstood and under diagnosed in the medical community. Doctors have yet to understand the exact cause of the condition or locate a cure for it's symptoms. However, that does not mean that Fibromyalgia sufferers are doomed to a life of constant pain and exhaustion. There are several things that you can do to fight Fibromyalgia and get your life back.
14 Points To Remember
1. Keep Moving: Regular daily exercise is the key to regulating the growth hormone that maintains good muscle and soft tissue health and assisting in deep sleep. So often, people who suffer from Fibromyalgia respond to the pain in their muscles and joints by reducing their daily movement. But this is actually one of the worst things you can do. Reducing movement can aggravate the pain and stiffness in the body and increase the possibility for injury. Exercise is a necessary and vital way to fight the symptoms of Fibromyalgia. It also helps to improve the circulation, maintain bowel regularity, and reduce stress.
2. Talk To Your Doctor: You should always check in with your health care provider embarking on your new fitness plan. Your doctor can help you evaluate the exercise that would be most beneficial for your condition.
3. Know Your Limitations: The goal of your Fibromyalgia exercises should not be overexertion. Vigorous exercise will make your muscles contract and jar your sensitive joints. Incorporate exercise into your routine slowly.
4. Don't Forget To Stretch: Gentle stretching exercises can help to improve the stiffness of muscles and ligaments. They also improve the range of motion and help to loosen contracted muscles. Be sure to include stretching exercises at the beginning and end of each exercise session.
5. Make It Fun: Exercise does not have to be painful or boring in order to be effective. Choose exercises that you enjoy, such as walking, bicycling, or swimming, and aim for thirty minutes of movement each day.
6. Set Goals: The key to Fibromyalgia exercise is not to push yourself beyond your own limits. But you can still work towards accomplishing achievable goals. Just be sure to listen to your body and make sure that the exercises you are doing will not aggravate your condition further.
7. Make Sleep a Priority: Patients who suffer from Fibromyalgia often report feelings of overwhelming exhaustion. Fibromyalgia disrupts sleep patterns and may leave its sufferers feeling more fatigued in the morning than before they went to sleep. But healthy, restorative sleep is a very important component in the treatment of Fibromyalgia.
8. Set A Schedule: It is important to try to maintain a regular sleep schedule, going to bed and waking at the same time. Setting a regular sleep schedule will help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep throughout the night.
9. Block Out Distractions: If you know that the neighbor has a noisy dog, or that your spouse will start snoring in the night, take measure to block out these distractions before they become a problem. Wear ear protection and an eye mask to bed if necessary to block out all light and sound.
10. Skip The Coffee: Caffeine beverages can disrupt sleep patterns well into the night. Stay away from coffee, chocolate, and caffeinated beverages for at least four [4] hours before bed time.
11. Reduce Stress: Stress can be just as harmful to the body physically as it is emotionally. It can aggravate the tension in the muscles, increase pain in the joints, disrupt sleep patterns, and upset the digestive system. If you suffer from Fibromyalgia, your body is under enough stress without adding an additional burden. Make an effort to reduce the emotional stress in your life so that your body can focus on healing.
12. Take A Deep Breathe: Stress management techniques such as deep breathing, tai chi, yoga, and meditation are great ways to reduce stress and calm the body.
13. Learn To Say No: Most of us do not know how to say "no." We over commit ourselves at work, at home, and with our friends. This is especially problematic for people who suffer from Fibromyalgia as the pain and fatigue of the condition can make it impossible to accomplish even the most ordinary daily tasks. It is OK to say "no" if you do not feel up to a certain task or outing.
14. Change Your Scenery: Some people are "stress producers." They live for stressful events and seem to conjure up stress and drama if none currently exists. Do not hang around with people make you feel bad about yourself, or in any way contribute to the stress in your life.
A Fibromyalgia Support Group can also keep you in touch with the latest news and events for more information. We recommend the forum at http://www.fibromyalgia-support.org/forum/. We also recommend viewing the fibromyalgia product information at http://www.ghchealth.com/recommended-fibro-products.html
Dr. Edward F. Group III, D.C., Ph.D. is an internationally recognized natural health and fibromyalgia expert and the President of Houston-based Global Healing Center. For more information on fibromyalgia treatment, visit The Fibromyalgia Treatment Center at http://www.fibromyalgia-support.org