If you’ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you don’t need us to tell you that have to deal with pain, fatigue, and brain fog on a daily basis. While this can be extremely challenging, there are ways to help you cope with your symptoms to give you more control over day-to-day living activities and improve your quality of life.
Ensure you’re getting the correct medical care
Getting help with fibromyalgia from medical professionals with relevant experience is so important for managing your condition. These can include doctors and physical and occupational therapists but may also include psychologists if you’re struggling mentally with the effects of coping with chronic pain. It’s also important to ensure you’re taking the appropriate pain relief to help manage your symptoms too.
Alongside conventional medical treatments, you may also want to consider trying some complementary therapies such as massage or acupuncture. Many fibromyalgia sufferers find such therapies extremely beneficial in helping manage their condition.
Keep moving
As tempting as it can be to take things easy when you’re feeling pain or fatigue, regular exercise is one of the most effective ways to help your symptoms. It doesn’t necessarily mean spending hours in the gym – just taking a short walk every day can really pay dividends.
Swimming is also a great way to ease your symptoms as the water will support your weight, while gentle stretching or yoga will also provide relief.
Adding resistance training into your day will boost your overall fitness and strength. You can either do this at home with a set of resistance bands or weights or find a trainer at a gym to show you the right techniques to avoid injury.
Get enough sleep
Constant pain can sometimes make sleep elusive but getting into a good sleep routine can be extremely beneficial. Try to go to bed and get up at the same time every day. It may help to create a nightly routine to encourage your body to wind down for sleep. Things such as turning off screens a couple of hours before bedtime, having a bath, reading, or listening to music and sipping a milky drink or herbal tea will all send signals to your brain that it’s time to sleep. Participating in regular exercise will also help you to sleep better.
Be mindful of your diet
Your diet is key to your energy levels. Certain foods are known to deplete your energy stores while others can give make you feel ‘edgy’. The best way to keep your energy levels consistent is to focus on eating a nutrient-rich diet. It may be helpful to keep a diary to see which foods affect your energy levels.
Many fibromyalgia sufferers are lacking vitamin D which may exacerbate symptoms. Your doctor can carry out a blood test to check your vitamin D level and, if necessary, prescribe an appropriate supplement.
Find ways to reduce stress
Feeling stressed or anxious also depletes our natural energy. Maybe it’s time to let go of perfectionism and adopt a more go-with-the-flow attitude. Remember it’s ok to prioritise yourself and say no to other people. Mindful practices such as meditation, breathing exercises, yoga and tai chi can also help you to slow down and live in the moment while also relaxing your mind and body.
Finding ways to cope with your symptoms is extremely important to help you manage your condition and give you back a life you enjoy. Try some of our suggestions above and incorporate them into your daily routine.
