Posted by the author on March 30th, 2010
Fibromyalgia is a chronic debilitating condition of widespread muscular pain and fatigue, which often leaves sufferers feeling very isolated and alone. It has also tends to leave them very misunderstood! One of the reasons for this is because there have been many people, including in the medical profession, who have not understood the condition or, perhaps more tellingly, found it difficult to give appropriate help and guidance for a disease for which at present, there is no cure. With symptoms including chronic fatigue, pain and discomfort on virtually any part of the body both external and internal, lack of proper sleep and memory loss, it is little wonder it has been so hard to diagnose. It covers such a wide spectrum of pain and discomfort and so varied a combination of symptoms that it makes diagnosis and treatment both extremely difficult and very opaque. Often of course, it’s simply misdiagnosed.
However, there has been increased recognition of fibromyalgia since the early 1990′s in the NHS but the truth is that it’s a ‘good news bad news’ scenario – ‘good’ that more information is available but ‘bad’ that there is very little that the medical profession appears able to do about it. More women than men are afflicted, but it does affect people of all ages and the cause is still unknown.
The reality of fibromyalgia is that sufferers have to take personal control over the management of their condition.
In recent years the internet has helped fibromyalgia sufferers a great deal in finding out more about this chronic illness, if only to find reassurance from other sufferers. There are now more and more national and local web sites springing up so this is definitely something sufferers should investigate if they haven’t already done so. Your GP surgery may have information on local support groups in your area, for many sufferers this can be a great help knowing their are others who understand what you are going through.
Living with a fibromyalgia sufferer, I know that there are some things that can help alleviate the pain and discomfort and some things that will make it worse. The weather is definitely one of them; much like arthritis sufferers, when the weather gets really cold, the level of pain increases.Conversely of course, being in a warmer climate often brings some respite. So although living in a warm climate doesn’t cure fibromyalgia, there is definitely ‘something’ in the use of heat which reduces the level of pain. Hot water bottles and various types of heat packs are a regular companion for many sufferers!
The use of pure relaxation and guided imagery can also be very useful because these can help sufferers to manage pain and discomfort by relaxing and allowing their inner self to focus and create a strong sense of well being and calm which can subsequently help provide a positive physical and emotional benefit.
Another useful tip is to consider gentle, low-impact aerobic exercise, which okay, might sound daft if you’re in pain, and obviously how much exercise one does is down to the individual sufferers own condition and circumstance, but many sufferers do find that a good exercise class run by a properly trained person, not only helps boost physical fitness, but helps promote a feeling of well being and confidence. Sufferers must be careful not to overdo physical activity though! Of course there are the social positives of being out with other people, having fun and having a natter. That alone can bring a sense of independence because of the limitations that fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue brings to sufferers.
An appropriate diet including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and limiting refined foods and sugars should be followed. Try to ensure good sources of dietary magnesium as well, including almonds, rice, soybean product etc. If you’re not sure, check out fibromyalgia related diets and lifestyle options online, including the information suggesting that hypoallergenic diets can help many patients. In one particular study 70% of those taking part reported ‘significant improvement in feelings of well being’.
Fibromyalgia is one of the top three most common diagnosis made by British rheumatologists and clearly it has become a much more understood condition than it was say 20 years ago, even if it still misunderstood and there still isn’t a cure.