Fibromyalgia Natural Remedies

If you have ever felt biting pain in your joints or muscles, or if you have ever felt tired for no reason at all, then you may have disabling and still largely misunderstood, fibromyalgia. Composed of a large collection of signs and symptoms, fibromyalgia affects mainly women between the ages of 20 and 55, with an average age of 45. The joint and muscle pains that come with fibromyalgia can make day to day life very difficult, so more and more people are looking for ways to cure fibromyalgia.

Currently the cause of fibromyalgia is unclear, although there are a number of theories, which go some way to explaining the condition. As researchers continue to study fibromyalgia, other theories are being investigated.

Aside from pains in the joints, those suffering from fibromyalgia have extremely sensitive skin. They can feel tingling beneath the surface of the skin, muscle spasms and sometimes pain in their nerves.

In addition to this, fibromyalgia can result in sleep disturbances and slowed thinking processes, where those affected have a hard time remembering things, doing tasks and understanding simple ideas. Other characteristics of fibromyalgia may include frequent headaches, dermatological disorders and irritable bowel syndrome.

Fibromyalgia is made up of these and many other symptoms. If you think that you are suffering from fibromyalgia, then you need to consult with your doctor first. However, when the diagnosis is finally made, you do not need to overload on medication. Keep reading for ways to naturally overcome fibromyalgia symptoms. You can use these tips to aid your recovery and relieve the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.

1. Change your diet
   While there is no one diet that has been proven to cure fibromyalgia, research has shown that there are some foods that patients do better on than other. Aim to have a diet that is low in fat, low in salt, avoids sugar or processed foods and is full of fresh vegetables, fiber and low fat protein like chicken, turkey or fish. Also avoid caffeinated drinks like coffee, tea or sodas and alcohol. Drink lots of water throughout the day.
2. Improve sleep
   Although fibromyalgia can often cause sleep disturbances there are some steps you can take to improve your nights rest. Spend half an hour exercising in the late afternoon followed by a light dinner. Establish going to bed and getting up times and try and stick to these to create a routine for your body. Eliminate as much light and sound as possible from your bedroom so that nothing can disturb you.
3. Exercise
   Exercise can not only help improve sleep, but it can have beneficial effects on reducing pain and stiffness. Start slowly with non-impact exercises like walking, swimming and yoga for a few minutes and build up over time to 30 minutes a day. It’s important to establish an exercise routine, as regular exercise with help to strengthen muscles by increasing the blood flow to them. Seek medical advice if you are unsure of where or how to start.

These are only a few suggestions on ways to naturally cure fibromyalgia. For more tips on how to relieve your fibromyalgia symptoms, do as much research as you can on fibromyalgia, and ask your doctor about alternatives to medication.

Treating the pain associated with Fibromyalgia can be a difficult task since each person seems to display slightly different symptoms so what helps one person might not help you.

However, here is a list of popular and common pain remedies that can help to ease common Fibromyalgia complaints.

1. Exercise
   Entering into a consistent and relaxing exercise routine is one of the easiest and most beneficial ways of dealing with Fibromyalgia. Not only does exercise help keep you fit and trim, it also helps with blood flow throughout the body. It can also aid in normalizing sleep patters and reduces the amount of time it takes for your body to recover from injury. Note: Please remember to never start an exercise routine without consulting a doctor first.
2. Diet Modifications
   A low carb mainly vegetarian diet is another popular way to help relieve Fibromyalgia pain. Not only will eating right help your body overall, by eliminating high amounts of saturated fat, refined white sugar, caffeine and alcohol, you can eliminate many common Fibromyalgia symptom triggers. Combine that with a beneficial exercise routine, and you will be well on your way to a healthier body and less Fibromyalgia pain.
3. Heat Treatments
   Heat Pads help with circulation and also to loosen up muscles and joints that ache during severe bouts with Fibromyalgia. There are many different pads you can use, cordless and the old-fashioned plug-in kinds. There are also chemical heating pads that you can wear under your clothes during the day. Some of these pads release heat for to 8 hours.
4. Topical Pain Relief
   The use of topical pain medications is another popular way to deal with Fibromyalgia. A quick trip to your local drug store reveals an overwhelming choice in pain relief rubs. If none of the name brand medications seem to do the trick, there are also a number of homeopathic remedies and all-natural creams that many Fibromyalgia sufferers swear by.
5. Stress Relief and Relaxation
   Meditation might not be a cure-all for pain, but it can help relieve a lot of stress that can be a major trigger for Fibromyalgia symptoms. Meditation is a very personal, and for most a private practice. Most people require a quiet place, maybe some soothing music and the ability to completely relax. Meditation can also give a big boost to self-confidence by putting practitioners in the mindset that they can control their Fibromyalgia, and thus their pain, as well.
6. Massage
   A final suggestion for Fibromyalgia pain is deep tissue massage. By helping to stimulate blood flow in the joints and muscles that are aching, Fibromyalgia symptoms and pain can be reduced. This works much the same way as a heating pad, and many Fibromyalgia sufferers find massage to be an effective pain reliever. However, you may need to experiment with this option as it isn’t for everyone. Try and find a massuse who has dealt with fibromyalgia or chronic pain sufferers before as initially the pain of deep tissue massage can stop you continuing with the treatment.

Fibromyalgia can be a painful and debilitating ailment. However, there are many non-drug methods of dealing with the chronic pain. You may need to try several methods before you find one or more that is right for you.

Studies have shown that one of the most effective treatment for fibromyalgia is regular exercise.  Which may seem odd as most people with fibromyalgia hurt worse and are more fatigued after exercise, and they may feel that way for days.

The key is the right amount of the right kinds of exercise.

If you are new to exercising, it may be helpful to enlist the help of a trainer, physical therapist or exercise physiologist to design a program specifically for you.  Every person with fibromyalgia has a different exercise capacity, so you need an individualized program.

Another important concept related to exercise is your “baseline.”

Each person has a different baseline.  It is the level of exercise that you can maintain over time.  It does not mean that you are pain-free, but that the pain doesn’t interfere with your lifestyle.  You also need to remember that you’ll always have good days and bad days.  You don’t stop or reduce your exercise because of a bad day.  (Although you may reduce it for a while if you have a bad flare-up that lasts days or weeks.)

Exercise training for someone with fibromyalgia begins with stretching.  Stretching reduces the stiffness and keeps ligaments and tendons from shortening over time.  Stretching should be gentle and it should feel good.  It is usually a good idea to warm your muscles with mild aerobic activity, such as walking, for a few minutes before stretching.

Daily low-impact, gentle aerobic exercise is the next step.  Aerobic exercise has tons of health benefits.  It specifically helps reduce fibromyalgia symptoms because it improves flexibility, causes your body to release endorphins and other happy chemicals and reduces stress.

Walking and bicycling are excellent low-impact exercises.  It is important to start at a level suitable to where you are and increase your level of exercise slowly.  If you get fatigued after five minutes of walking, start there and increase your time by a minute or two every week or two.

Some activities are especially good for fibromyalgia.  Water aerobics and swimming are wonderful.  The buoyancy of the water supports your sore muscles and allows you to exercise with less pain.  Swimming has a double benefit of gentle stretching along with aerobic exercise.

Tai Chi and Qi Gong and Yoga emphasize slow, gentle movements that are ideal for people with fibromyalgia.  All three exercises include breathing and focusing, which decrease stress.  You also learn to be aware of your body and learn to recognize signs of stress.

Pilates is another exercise system where you work with your body, stretching and toning it.  Pilates is a non-weight bearing exercise, like chair aerobics. It is a gentle way to tone your body, and gentle is the word for exercising with fibromyalgia.

People with fibromyalgia can add some strength training slowly as they build up exercise tolerance.  Resistance bands provide plenty of strength training for a while.  Strength training must be undertaken carefully and gently, and it might be wise to get help from an exercise professional before adding it.  There are many benefits to strength training, and it could be a very beneficial addition to your exercise, especially when you are feeling well.

Whether we are talking about exercise or sleep, pacing and routine are important if you have fibromyalgia.  Going to bed and getting up at the same time every day helps with sleep.  Exercising at the same time every day helps with exercise.  Your body begins to respond to routine.

Exercise must be paced, too.  That means starting at a low level, increasing gradually, and incorporating rest into your routine.  You exercise, then rest, then exercise some more. Over time, you can shorten the rest periods and/or lengthen the exercise periods.  Rhythm and pacing make a big difference in how much exercise you can tolerate.

It is recommended that you consult your doctor before starting any new exercise regime.

Though there are really no proven Fibromyalgia diet, there are some steps you can take to help you feel better, and to help balance areas that might be out of whack in the body. These dietary changes certainly won’t cure Fibromyalgia, but a person who takes the time to modify their diet and watches what they are eating (and what they are not eating) may find some relief. You should talk to your doctor about your diet and any plans you might have for modification.

Here are ten handy tips to help you get started.

1. Watch your sugar intake.
   Sufferers who cut down or eliminate sugars altogether often feel better. Don’t forget about the less obvious sources of sugar like high fructose corn syrup, which is found in many sodas and some juices. If you drink juice, make sure it is 100% natural as fruit contains a lot of sugar naturally.
2. Limit caffeine.
   Though you may be feeling tired and think a jolt of caffeine will help you it may actually be counter productive. Most fibromyalgia sufferers have disturbed sleeping patterns and stimulants like caffeine can aggravate this. If you really feel you can’t go without a cup of coffee or tea, drink it in the morning only, and limit yourself to 1 – 2 cups. Caffeine tends to exaggerate sleeping difficulties, so watch for caffeine in any form as its found in items like chocolate and medications, especially when taken later in the day.
3. Got food allergies?
   If you are allergic to any type of food, you should eliminate it completely from your diet. One common problem is lactose intolerance. If this is a problem for you then its important to stop having dairy products. Ask your doctor how to supplement vitamin D and calcium if you decide to cut out dairy products as you need both of these nutrients for a healthy body.
4. Balance your meals.
   Though carbohydrates will give you a burst of energy, try to avoid letting them make up the majority of your overall diet. It is recommended that you have small equal amounts of proteins and carbs each meal with larger portions of fresh vegetables.
5. Eat smaller and more frequent meals.
   You may find that eating smaller meals more regularly will help you feel better, and adding healthy snacks in between can help hold off hunger. Try having five or six small meals a day rather than three large ones. This can help balance body sugars and eliminate fatigue in some people.
6. Avoid preservatives.
   This is a tough one, but it can be done. You should avoid foods that contain preservatives as they can act like toxins to the body. Instead, opt for fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean meats for the main staples of your diet. Don’t forget about dairy if it is okay for you to have it.
7. Stop drinking alcohol.
   Alcohol can interfere with sleep patterns and may also harm the liver. People often think they sleep more heavily after drinking alcohol, but in reality, while it can help with initially drifting off to sleep it is not the deep, restful sleep that someone with Fibromyalgia needs.
8. Ask about vitamin supplements.
   A lot of Fibromyalgia sufferers aren’t getting the vitamins they need. Appropriate vitamin supplementation can be helpful to almost anyone, and they are a great way to make sure your body is running at it’s optimum. However, there may be reasons why your doctor does not want you to take them, so be sure to talk with them about this first.
9. Be wary of artificial sweeteners.
   These can have the same toxic affect on the body as preservatives. Eliminate them if you can.
10. Avoid glutamates.
    These are a compound that are found in the red tomato, some potatoes, and certain peppers. They may not be a problem for you, but they can cause problems with muscle pains in some. If you eliminate these from your Fibromyalgia diet, you may find muscle pain diminishes.

Try keeping a food diary for a month and note down what you eat and how you feel. If you notice any patterns regarding certain foods and worsening symptoms work to eliminate that food from your Fibromyalgia diet.

Joining a fibromyalgia support group can be excellent psychological and emotional therapy.  However, talking and sharing your experiences with others is not likely to take away any of the painful physical symptoms or fatigue you feel.  Therefore, many fibromyalgia sufferers need to turn to alternative and medical remedies to find relief from their symptoms.

There are different over-the-counter (OTC) and prescribed medications that a fibromyalgia sufferer may find beneficial to their condition.  That being said, not every person with fibromyalgia will have the same response to medical treatment, and may require different treatment to address their specific symptoms.

Although there are a number of medications that can be prescribed for specific symptoms, or those currently being used in clinical trials, the following are the most common medical treatments prescribed:

Analgesics
Analgesics are drugs designed to relieve bodily aches and pains and are also known as painkillers.  OTC analgesics include acetaminophen and the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Although NSAIDs are primarily used to reduce inflammation and inflammation is not a symptom of fibromyalgia, they offer effective pain relief.   The problem with using NSAIDs for pain relief is that prolonged use of this medication can irritate the stomach lining, lead to digestive upset and cause stomach ulcers.

Aside from OTC analgesics, doctors may prescribe opioid analgesics such as tramadol.  Tramadol is a narcotic used to treat moderate to severe pain, and is typically used to treat surgical, arthritis and fibromyalgia pain.  However, other stronger narcotics may be prescribed for sufferers with severe muscle pain.

The problem doctors have with prescribing narcotics is that although effective, there is a high risk that those who take them will become addicted and dependent on these drugs.  Furthermore, narcotics can have many side effects including altering moods, behaviors and fatigue.

Antidepressants
Antidepressants are one of the most common medications prescribed for fibromyalgia sufferers.  This is because antidepressants elevate the levels of specific brain chemicals such as norepinephrine and serotonin.  Low levels of these and other brain chemicals can result in depression, pain and fatigue.  By increasing chemical levels these symptoms can be improved.

Doctors provide different types of antidepressants to fibromyalgia sufferers based on how they feel.  For instance, tricyclic antidepressants are provided to fibromyalgia patients who suffer from insomnia, as these meds help restore sleep.  In addition, tricyclic antidepressants can help painful muscles relax and stimulate endorphins (body’s natural painkillers).  Different tricyclic antidepressants that may be prescribed include: amitriptyline, doxepin, cyclobenzaprine and nortriptyline.

Additional antidepressant that may be used to treat depression and other fibromyalgia syptoms are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).  These include – fluoxetine, sertraline and paroxetine.

Antidepressants can be habit forming and may cause side effects such as dry mouth, weight gain, anxiety, gastrointestinal upset, loss of libido, insomnia, and fatigue.  Note that for each antidepressant, there will have different side effects.

Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are psychotropic drugs that have been known to help fibromyalgia sufferers relax tense and painful muscles, and with restless legs syndrome, and insomnia.  Benzodiazepines have hypnotic and sedative effects, and like antidepressants, dependence and addiction can occur in some patients.  Other side effects may include depression, memory impairment, slow motor skills, etc.

Benzodiazepines are usually prescribed to fibromyalgia sufferers who have not responded well to other treatments.  Some Benzodiazepines meds prescribed include: diazepam, temazepman, clonazepam, and triazolam.

Despite what medication you may be interested in or your doctor may recommend, you need to make sure you ask your doctor important questions before taking any medication so you can receive the most effective treatment that is right for you.

6 important questions to ask your doctor

1. What are the medications you recommend for my specific symptoms?
2. What side effects can I expect and will this medication have negative interactions with other medications, foods or activities?
3. Should I continue taking medications even if I feel better?
4. What are the long-term effects this medication will have on my health?
5. Can I take any alternative therapies with this medication, or are there any alternative therapies I can try which might provide me with relief for my symptoms?
6. Are there any clinical trials I may be eligible for?

If taking medication does not appeal to you or you’re looking for complimentary help to work alongside your meds there are plenty of natural remedies and lifstyle changes that can work very effectively.

One of the hardest things in diagnosing fibromyalgia is that symptoms are so diverse and the fact that doctors still have no idea what causes the condition. So, what are the signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia and how do you go about getting a diagnosis?

What causes fibromyalgia?

Some believe that fibromyalgia is caused by problems in the way the brain sends out pain signals to the various receptors in the body, resulting in the brain becoming more sensitive to pain.

Other experts in the field say that fibromyalgia is caused by sleep disorders. So rather than being a symptom of the condition, sleep dysfunction could actually be the cause. This theory comes from the fact that people with fibromyalgia often have disturbed sleep with several moments of brain activity that are similar to the those when the brain is awake.

There are also some doctors who believe that injury and trauma may be the root of the problem. This trauma can be found in the upper spinal region of the body, which may in turn affect the central nervous system. Others point out to the possibility of the problem being caused by a viral or bacterial infection. This may affect the nervous system, which controls involuntary movements in the body.

Another area that is being looked into is the effect brought on by the changes in the metabolism of the muscles. Decrease in the blood flow in muscles may result to the sapping out of strength as well as fatigue and muscle pains.

Diagnosing fibromyalgia

In diagnosing fibromyalgia, several tests are often conducted to ensure a correct diagnosis and to rule out other potential illness possibilities. This is because no single test can give you an accurate diagnosis of fibromyalgia. In fact people who are suspected to suffer from this problem usually have to go through several blood tests and x-rays. And oftentimes, these tests will come out normal.

Still, these tests are needed to rule out other problems with similar symptoms, such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, hyperthyroidism, muscle diseases, cancer or rheumatoid arthritis among others. Because of this, the American College of Rheumatology has come up with several guidelines for the classification and diagnosis of fibromyalgia.

According to the guidelines, fibromyalgia may be diagnosed if the pain that is experienced by the patient is felt in various parts of the body for a period of at least three months.

There should also be a minimum of 11 of the 18 stipulated fibromyalgia ‘tender points’ on the body that are sensitive and tender when applied mild pressure (4kg). These tender points can be found in the following places:

Knees
Backs of the upper leg
Above the buttocks
Elbows
Front and back of the neck
Upper Chest
Shoulders

4kg of pressure is similar to the pressure needed to make the skin change color when you press on it with your finger.

If you are displaying any of the above signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia then make an appointment to see your doctor. Be prepared for your doctors to look into your medical history as to check on the tenderness and sensitivity to pain felt across several points on the body including the extremities and of course the upper body and neck.

Fibromyalgia can be very hard to diagnose as the early symptoms of Fibromyalgia can often be mistaken as other conditions and there are no definitive tests that can diagnose fibromyalgia. It is a condition diagnosed by elimination. This can make the whole diagnosis process extremely frustrating.

If you suspect you might have Fibromyalgia you should document everything you feel and everything that happens to your body. This information will be helpful to your doctor and could lead to a quicker diagnosis. However, because many of the early symptoms of Fibromyalgia can be mistaken for something else, it can be hard to figure out what is going on.

Pain
Pain is the most common symptom and is most noticeably felt in the neck and shoulders first, but a person with this pain might simply think they have strained or pulled something. The pain tends to be more pronounced in the joints, but radiates into the muscles. These areas will feel very tender when pressed. In some cases, the pain will shoot down the back and the arms.

Stiffness
Can appear in any of the joints of the body. It feels a little like arthritis, but when you first experience it, you might think you are far too young to be having problems such as these. You may notice the stiffness in the morning when you wake up or when the weather changes. This might also be accompanied by a burning sensation near the joints.

Headaches
People with Fibromyalgia often notice they get more and more headaches that vary in degree and intensity. These headaches might be the tension variety that radiate into the neck and shoulders, or the more debilitating migraine variety.

Fatigue
This is also an early symptom that a person might easily brush off as something else. We all feel tired now and again, but someone with Fibromyalgia will notice they feel tired every single day no matter how much sleep they are getting. This fatigue may also be accompanied by ‘brain fog’ (mental confusion), or feelings of depression that happen more frequently.

Disturbed Sleep Patterns
Sufferers of fibromyalgia will generally notice early on that they are having problems with regular sleep patterns. Some sufferers experience insomnia, and others wake frequently throughout the night. A combination of the two is not uncommon. Sufferers can also have other sleep disorders like sleep apnea or Restless Leg Syndrome.

There are also a variety of other symptoms that may or may not be apparent in the early stages of this condition. Some of the other early symptoms of Fibromyalgia are not common for everyone, but many will have at least some of them. These can include:

- frequent urination
- painful menstrual cycles
- problems with bowel movements (irritable bowel syndrome)
- rashes and other skin problems
- allergies

If you have any of the more common early symptoms of Fibromyalgia, along with some of the secondary ones, you should seek medical advice to determine the cause of your symptoms.

Fibromyalgia is treated as a syndrome or a cluster of problems.  People with fibromyalgia suffer pain either all over or in particular parts of the body. They also tend to have problems sleeping, often feel overwhelmingly tired and may also have many other symptoms.

About ten per cent of the population suffer from fibromyalgia.  The majority are women, although men and children do experience the symptoms too.

Here is the medical description of fibromyalgia. Medically, it’s described as generalized musculoskeletal aches, pain and stiffness. For the pain to be diagnosed as fibromyalgia, it has to be present in all four body quadrants (arms and legs) for at least 3 months, and there has to be pain when pressure is applied to at least 11 of 18 identified fibromyalgia trigger points.

Chronic pain is the most distinguishing characteristic of fibromyalgia. The pain often comes and goes, varying in intensity.  People have good days and bad days.  The pain of fibromyalgia often gets worse on cold or humid days, when you haven’t slept well, when you are too inactive or too active, when you are stressed or when your hormones fluctuate.

Here is how people with fibromyalgia describe it.

• “I can hardly move because of the pain I’m in.  I’m fighting to stay mobile.”
  
• “There is no way to describe the pain.  You live with it on a daily basis.”
  
• “What people don’t realize is that I am in pain all the time, every day.”
  
• “Sometimes you think, no big deal, it’s just pain.  It’s not life threatening.  Sometimes you wish it was.  At least there’d be an end in sight.”

The second most disabling characteristic of fibromyalgia is chronic fatigue.

Recent findings suggest that the fatigue may be due to a stage four sleep disorder called alpha EEG anomaly.  With this sleep disorder, during stage four or deep sleep, the brain has bursts of awake-like activity, meaning there is not enough undisturbed deep sleep for the body to get sufficient rest.

In addition to alpha EEG anomaly, many Fibromyalgia sufferers also may have sleep apnea, upper airway resistance syndrome, bruxism (teeth grinding during sleep), limb movement and jerking and restless leg syndrome.  All of these sleep related disorders contribute to the fatigue of fibromyalgia.

Again, this is how fibromyalgia sufferers describe their fatigue.

• “The fatigue is worse than the pain.”
• “Some days going to the bathroom feels like a ten-mile hike.”
• “On bad days, all I can do is turn on the TV for the kiddies and veg with them.”

Pain and fatigue are the most disabling features of fibromyalgia, but there are other distressing symptoms too.  40-70 per cent of fibromyalgia sufferers experience irritable bowel syndrome or other gastrointestinal problems.  Constipation and diarrhea, abdominal pain, excessive gassiness, nausea and gastroesophageal reflux are common.

Many fibromyalgia sufferers are distressed by associated mental and emotional problems that manifest themselves alongside the physical ailments.  Anxiety and depression are common.  It’s not known whether they are independent factors, or if they are related to living in constant pain and fatigue and the social stigma of fibromyalgia.  People also complain of confusion, experiencing difficulty thinking clearly and a reduction in ability to perform mental tasks. This overall mental fogginess has been termed “fibro fog”.

Other symptoms of fibromyalgia include headaches, skin sensitivity and rashes, dry eyes and mouth, Reynaud’s syndrome, and various neurological problems.

Fibromyalgia is an invisible disease. Sufferers look fine on the surface.  However, under their outward appearance they are often exhausted and in excruciating pain.  Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness that is, at its worst, incredibly disabling. The symptoms have to be managed as there is at present, no cure.  It can be a difficult condition to live with, but medical care and lifestyle management can make a big difference in how you feel if you are suffering from fibromyalgia.