Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia

A chronic pain condition affecting the soft, fibrous tissues of the muscles, tendons and ligament. They linger and torture you like a house guest from hell. If fibromyalgia has taken up residence in your body, you may feel deep muscle soreness or burning, throbbing, or shooting pains. 

 

You may ache all over and/or have extreme tenderness at specific spots-called myofascial trigger points – located in your neck, shoulders, lower back, elbows, and knees and beneath your buttocks. Pain and fatigue may be your constant companion or come and go, flaring during times of stress or when you are exposed to draft. 

That is the cruel irony of fibromyalgia: It makes you so tired and achy that you can barely move, but inactivity leads to poor sleep; which in turn makes your muscle ache more. You become so trapped in a pain-fatigue-pain loop that you may stop moving altogether. 

REST A soak before bedtime in a tub laced with ½ cup of Epsom salts is the most heavenly way to prime your body for deep, restful sleep.

KNOCK OUT THE KNOTS

The conventional treatment for FM all aim to reduce pain and increase sleep, but they can leave you with bothersome side effects. At best, the standard treatments work for only half of those with FM. That isn’t to say, though, that here’s nothing you can do. A broad range of non-drug remedies can help release the knots, free your pain and stiffness, and promote a good night’s sleep- without grogginess or other, more trouble-some side effects that you have to deal with the next day. Here’s where to begin:

·         MOVE –BUT SLOWLY

When even a wave of your hand can be excruciating, exercise may be the last thing on your mind, yet it should be the first thing you do after you get your diagnosis. Studies show that non-impact exercise can minimize pain and tenderness in just three months. Start by gently stretching your arms and legs to the point of resistance. Work up to holding each stretch for a minute. Then begin a walking or water exercise program.

·         TRY TOUCH THERAPY

Common massages can dampen pain, stiffness and help you snooze more deeply.

·         GO LIGHTLY

If even a gentle massage is to much for your tender muscle try craniosacral therapy. To enhance mobility and release tension, a craniosacral therapist uses barely noticeable, rhythmic movements of the bones at the back of the head and bottom of the spine and of the connective tissue system.

·         MAXIMIZE MAGNESIUM

Talk to your doctor before trying it. A magnesium deficiency can literally leave you weak. So, eat leafy greens, dried beans and lentils.

·         LOAD UP ON CoQ10

Antioxidant that also provides the spark that fires up ATP in your cells-which means less pain, more energy and better sleep. It’s abundant in spinach, sardines, albacore tuna and peanuts, but ensure to get enough, look for capsules or tablets in oil base.

·         TURN ON THE HEAT

Applying an over the counter cream containing capsaicin- the ingredient that gives chile peppers their bite to your most painful areas reduces soreness because capsaicin helps tamp down chemicals that transit pain. Look for it in drugstore or health food store.

·         GET NEEDLE

In one study, people with FM who tried acupuncture reported less pain and depression after just one month of treatment. It boosts endorphins, the body’s morphine-like painkillers. Ask your doctor for a referral to a reputable acupuncturist.

·         BE SURE TO GET B

You can battle weakness and fatigue by eating foods rich in B vitamins such as cereals, eggs, poultry, shellfish and milk. You can also take B-complex supplement.

AN APPLE (OR MORE!) A DAY…       Just may keep FM pain away. Researches have found that taking up to 6 tablets a day of Super Malic (200mg of malic acid found in apples) and 50mg of magnesium helped squelch pain in people with FM. It takes about 2 months to work.