Fibromyalgia

What It Is and How to Manage It.

Does fibromyalgia cause permanent damage?

No. Although fibromyalgia causes symptoms that can be very uncomfortable, your muscles and organs are not being damaged. This condition is not life-threatening, but it is chronic (ongoing). Although there is no cure, you can do many things to help you feel better.

Is there any medicine I can take to help my symptoms?

Several medicines can help relieve symptoms of fibromyalgia. Many of these medicines are taken before bedtime and improve your sleep. They also help the pain and other symptoms although some may have side effects and can be quite expensive please check with your family doctor to see if medicaition is the best option for you.

You will probably begin to notice the benefits of these medicines in about 6 to 8 weeks. When you begin taking these medicines, it is common to feel very groggy the following morning. Other possible side effects include dry eyes and mouth, nightmares, constipation and increased appetite. These side effects are worse when you begin taking the medicine and improve with time.

What else can I do to relieve my symptoms?

One of the best things you can do is low-impact aerobic exercise. Examples of this type of exercise include swimming or water exercise, stationary bicycling and exercising on ski-type machines. You may need to begin at a very low level of exercise (5 minutes every other day is helpful at first). Continue to increase the length and frequency of exercise until you are exercising for at least 30 to 60 minutes at least 4 times a week. Once you reach this point, you can consider switching to high-impact exercises, like walking, jogging and tennis.

Because the symptoms of fibromyalgia are made worse by stress and poor sleep, it is important to cut stress out of your life whenever possible and to get as much sleep as you need. Since alcohol and caffeine cause poor sleep, avoid these substances around bedtime.

Other simple lifestyle changes may be helpful. For example, try keeping your activity level the same each day. Many people with fibromyalgia try to do as much as possible on "good" days, which leads them to have several "bad" days. If you keep your activity level even, you may not have as many "bad" days.

Walking:
Start slowly by walking 5 minutes the first day. The next day, add a minute to this total. Keep adding 1 or 2 minutes a day until you are walking 60 minutes a day. When you reach this point, walk at least 1 hour, 3 or 4 times a week. If you find yourself struggling as you're working your way up to walking 60 minutes, go back to a length of time that was comfortable for you, and continue walking for this period of time for several days. Then continue to increase the minutes again until you reach the goal of 60 minutes. Try as many times as you need to reach the goal of walking for 60 minutes.

Jogging:
After you feel comfortable walking 3 or 4 times a week, you can alternate walking with slow jogging. Walk 2 blocks, then jog 1 block, walk 2 blocks, jog 1 block, and so on. Do this as often as it feels comfortable. Extend your exercise for longer periods if you feel comfortable.

Bicycling:
Stationary bicycles (exercise bikes) offer the benefit of exercising indoors. Keep track of your mileage, or set a goal of bicycling for 60 minutes.

Massage Therapy/Deep Tissue Massage or a Massage Chair:
Massage is actually one of the most beneficial treatments for fibromyalgia pain. One study showed a 38% decrease in pain symptoms after receiving just one 30 minute massage, the length of a typical massage chair session. The benefits of using a massage chair is that you can it whenever you need rather than scheduling an appointment. It can also be more cost effective over time. Additional benefits of massage are;

• increased blood circulation to the muscles, allowing for faster muscle repair
• increased flexibility
• increased range of motion
• decreased stress and depression
• reduced pain
• reduced stiffness
• improved sleep patterns
  

The type of exercise or massage you choose is up to you. It's important that you start and keep doing it. Exercise relieves much of the pain fibromyalgia causes and massage can keep the pain at bay.

This article provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. To find out if this article applies to you and to get more information on this subject, talk to your family doctor. In no way should the information contained in this website substitute for a medical professional advice but is to be used as an educational resource.