Lifestyle Changes to Manage Fibromyalgia

If you have been given a diagnosis of fibromyalgia you may need to make a few lifestyle changes to help you cope.  Finding and joining a fibromyalgia support group in your community or online can be one of your first steps in managing fibromyalgia.  The emotional support is just as important as the information available from others with your disease.  Make sure that family members and co-workers are given enough information about fibromyalgia to gain their understanding and cooperation.  Many websites and books offer clear explanations you can use.

The most common fibromyalgia symptoms are muscle pain and tenderness, fatigue, insomnia and anxiety.  Limit your exercise but do not eliminate it.  Stick to mild exercise like walking, swimming and yoga to maintain strength and health.

Muscle pain and tenderness can be treated with massage, heat and rest.  Learn the art of massage from websites, books and tapes and trade massages with your partner or a friend.  You can even give yourself a massage that will relieve fibromyalgia pain.

Warm baths with herbs can soothe pain.   Run the bathwater over a handful of fresh rosemary.  It not only provides a refreshing odor but the volatile oils in rosemary can relieve muscle pains.  Other herbs that serve the same purpose are peppermint and eucalyptus.

Fatigue often plagues fibromyalgia sufferers.  Taking ginseng in capsules or teas has been an oriental tonic for fatigue and loss of energy for centuries.  There are many flavors and mixtures of tea that can be used without ill effects to pep up your system.

If fibromyalgia causes you to develop anxiety you can learn several techniques to calm yourself.  Meditation has worked for many people and there are many types to choose from.  The simplest may be to concentrate on your breath for a few minutes at a time and work up to longer sessions.  Breathe in through the nose and concentrate on the sensation of the air entering your body.  Breathe in to a count of four and breathe out to a count of eight.  Repeat this several times when you begin to feel anxious and let the repetition calm you.  Many books and tapes on this and other meditations are available.