Tips to Help You Manage Your Fibromyalgia
Anyone with fibromyalgia knows how debilitating the condition can be.
Fibromyalgia causes chronic body pain that can interfere with one’s daily life. While this is the most prominent symptom, the condition also causes many other problems. Patients suffer from memory lapses, mood problems, digestive issues, poor sleep, fatigue, etc.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for fibromyalgia. But, you can take steps to manage the condition.
Here are some of the best tips for managing fibromyalgia.
Reduce Stress
As you probably know, certain factors can trigger fibromyalgia flare-ups. Patients commonly report stress as one of these triggers.
Stress is unavoidable in our lives. But, you can take measures to respond calmly to stress. Practice mindful breathing, meditation, yoga, and other stress-busting activities. This can help improve your quality of life by minimizing flare-ups.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Another trigger for flare-ups is lack of sleep. If you don’t get enough sleep, it will become even more challenging to cope with fatigue symptoms.
So, it’s essential to get a good night’s rest. You can do this by:
- Watching what you eat before bedtime (not eating anything too heavy, avoiding alcohol and caffeine, etc.)
- Not using your phone right before falling asleep
- Establishing a regular sleeping schedule
You should also be wary of taking too many daytime naps. Your fatigue can make it tempting to snooze during the day. But, this will only hurt your quality of sleep at night.
Watch Your Diet
A well-balanced diet can help you avoid flare-ups. You should eat plenty of fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean fat, etc. Limit sugar, salt, saturated fats, and other unhealthy foods.
Know that certain foods can trigger flare-ups in different people. If you think a specific food is triggering your flare-ups, cut it out for a week or so. See if your symptoms improve. If they do, you might want to eliminate this food from your diet altogether.
Cut the Caffeine
Your fatigue might have you reaching for some coffee. But, you should know that there is a link between daily caffeine consumption and fibromyalgia pain.
You may want to cut down on how much coffee you drink. You should also limit your intake of other foods with caffeine (chocolate, sodas, teas, etc.).
Exercise
At first, you might find exercising difficult as it can increase your pain. But, once it becomes routine, you will find that it can reduce your symptoms. Talk to a physical therapist about which exercises are suitable for you (walking, biking, swimming, etc.).
Ask Your Doctor About Medication
Your doctor can prescribe medication to help you cope with symptoms. Some popular medicines for patients include:
- Pregabalin. This anti-seizure drug can help reduce pain.
- Modafinil. Modafinil is one of many effective fatigue medications.
- Milnacipran. Milnacipran is an antidepressant that can alleviate pain and fatigue.
Know that these aren’t for everyone. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms so that they can determine what is best for you.
Try Other Remedies
If medications aren’t helping, try other remedies. Those with fibromyalgia have found relief through:
- CBD. CBD can reduce inflammation and improve the quality of sleep.
- Kratom. Kratom products (like those from breezykratom.com) can act as muscle relaxants and pain relievers.
- 5-HTP. 5-HTPsupplements can alleviate pain, anxiety, and insomnia.
Ensure that you consult a professional before trying anything new.
Join a Support Group
Living with fibromyalgia can be difficult. A support group can help you meet others with similar struggles and know that you are not alone.
Patients may become discouraged when they learn there is no cure for fibromyalgia. With tips such as these, you can manage your condition and improve your quality of life.
