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.
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.
Walking/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.
The type of exercise you choose is up to you. It's important
that you start exercising and keep doing it. Exercise relieves
much of the pain fibromyalgia causes. Some people even find that
exercise makes all their pain go away. You will also feel better
if you have some control over your own care and well-being.
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