Fibromyalgia is a complex condition. It may have taken years for you to get a diagnosis, and you may still be looking for the right combination of treatments to manage your pain.
Pain robs you of your ability to function well. You may find the simplest tasks impossibly difficult, and the activities that bring you joy become more difficult.
Only about 30-50% of patients find that medication is a helpful treatment; and even if medication is effective, there are side-effects you may find unacceptable. For most people, there’s no single best approach to treating the pain that comes with fibromyalgia. Instead, you may find a multi-pronged, interdisciplinary approach works best.
One of the most-often recommended approaches to easing the pain associated with fibromyalgia is exercise. But, if you’re in pain, how are you supposed to exercise?
The answer to that question depends on many factors. One way for you to begin exercising may be to work with a physical therapist who can help you identify movements that you can do to become stronger at a pace that works for you.
Learning what you can do safely is often the first step in building an exercise routine that works for you. Physical therapy may be a good way to identify your individual starting point.
Understanding your body’s limitations and pushing them just a little at a time is another method you may find helpful in building an exercise routine that works for your life. The staff at Apex Medical Center is happy to evaluate your situation and help you begin developing an exercise habit.
Every fibromyalgia patient is unique. You may respond well to massage while someone else doesn’t. Some of the potential benefits of massage therapy include:
Finding a massage therapist who has experience may be helpful, and communication is key to a good outcome. Letting your therapist know ahead of time that you have particularly sensitive areas and communicating about the amount of pressure you can tolerate helps he or she know what techniques to use.
Lowering stress can help relieve your pain, improve your sleep, and may help you manage your other symptoms as well. When you have less stress, you’re less anxious and also less prone to depression.
There are numerous ways to practice mindfulness. You may find movement therapies such as yoga, tai chi, or qi gong helpful, or using an app for a daily practice could work better for you.
Proper nutrition is important for everyone, regardless of health status. As a fibromyalgia patient, you’ve probably been told to try any number of diets. However, working with your healthcare provider at Apex Medical Center is the best way to identify the most appropriate diet for you.
Learning if you have any deficiencies is an important step to determine where you may need to make dietary changes or if you need a supplement.
Working with your healthcare provider to identify an appropriate dietary approach is also the best way to make sure you’re not taking any supplements that may interact with your medications.
If you’d like to learn more about the ways fibromyalgia pain can be treated without drugs, book an appointment at Apex Medical Center. Our staff understands the impact of chronic pain, and are dedicated to helping you live your life as fully and functionally as possible.
We have three locations for your convenience. You can book an appointment online at the one that works best for you, or give us a call and we’ll be happy to get you scheduled.
