How To Reduce Fibromyalgia Pain

Among the most challenging non-life threatening medical problems individuals deal with is fibromyalgia syndrome. In addition to being difficult to manage and impossible to cure it remains highly controversial among medical professionals because there are currently no tests or studies that can confirm the diagnosis. No panaceas exist for fibromyalgia pain; however, there have been hundreds of proposed treatments to help reduce fibromyalgia pain and the accompanying symptoms. Like everything else associated with fibromyalgia how an individual with fibromyalgia pain responds to each treatment therapy may be highly variable. What are the best methods to reduce fibromyalgia pain?

Exercise every day. Exercise is the one treatment that has been shown to consistently reduce fibromyalgia pain. Even walking around your neighborhood for 30 minutes on a daily basis can reduce fibromyalgia pain and improve strength, stamina and functionality. The key is to engage in physical exercise on a daily basis and gradually increase the duration and intensity of your activity. Resistance or weight training exercises using light weights, stretch bands or fixed machines is even better at helping to reduce fibromyalgia pain since well-conditioned muscles are less likely to ache.

Bring the heat! When applied to tender muscles heat has been shown to  reduce fibromyalgia pain temporarily. The use of hot jetted water from a whirlpool, jacuzzi or even a shower head particularly after resistance training exercises has been particularly effective.

Try physical therapy, osteopathic manipulation, shiatsu or massage to reduce fibromyalgia pain. Unfortunately, in addition to experiencing diffuse muscle pain most fibromyalgia patients also have exaggerated pain responses to even gentle touch or physical stimulus making any type of manual manipulation intolerable.

Investigate acupuncture as an adjunct to reduce fibromyalgia pain. Several small studies actually demonstrated some effectiveness at reducing fibromyalgia pain as well as associated fatigue and anxiety. Unfortunately, several other similar studies failed to produce any documented benefit.

Consider the use of prescription sleep medications such as Lunesta and Ambien to improve sleep patterns and reduce fibromyalgia pain. All fibromyalgia patients experience chronically impaired sleep cycles. The insomnia worsens daytime fatigue as well as the constant muscle pain.  The addition of OTC melatonin is usually harmless and may have an additive benefit in improving sleep hygiene.

Investigate cognitive behavioral therapy and psychological counseling to help reduce fibromyalgia pain. Many fibromyalgia patients suffer from coexisting psychiatric pathology which if not addressed makes it impossible to improve the physical symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Begin some inexpensive relaxation techniques such as mediation and yoga. When performed properly and on a regular basis they can dramatically lessen symptoms and reduce fibromyalgia pain. The severity of the physical, psychological and cognitive symptoms associated with fibromyalgia are directly correlated with stress, tension and anxiety.

Consider taking homeopathic dietary supplements to reduce fibromyalgia pain including 5-HTP, St. John’s wort, L-Carnitine and SAM-e. Though there may be anecdotal evidence that these products help to reduce fibromyalgia pain there is no published scientific evidence to substantiate that any of these products actually work in fibromyalgia syndrome.

Ask your doctor about prescription medications to reduce fibromyalgia pain. Frequently pain and sleep medications are used for symptom relief while anti-seizure medications are useful for modulating nerve and muscle pain. Antidepressant medications are the most commonly utilized group of medications because they address a wide spectrum of physical and psychological symptoms associated with fibromyalgia syndrome.

*  There are no universally accepted cures or treatments for fibromyalgia.
*  Successful treatment programs adopt a multi-disciplinary approach by incorporating different therapies and lifestyle modifications with the primary objective of reducing symptoms and improving quality of life.
*  Response to different treatment modalities is highly variable.
*  Though many doctors believe fibromyalgia is a non-disease it is important to find and work with an understanding doctor who has experience with fibromyalgia management.
*  Those individuals who remain most active despite their fibromyalgia pain tend to have the best long term outcomes.