How to Deal With The Pain Of Fibromyalgia; 5 Tried and True Tips That Doctors Fail to Mention
Posted: Saturday, January 02, 2010
by Fran Larson
http://www.franniesquotes.com/
I have experienced fibromyalgia pain, so I can tell you first-hand how you must feel if you are suffering from this syndrome. One particular day,this is how I felt, so I wrote it down: I was lying on the bed, motionless, afraid to move because of spasms. My body didn't want to touch anything, as it felt as if someone had beat me up, over and over again. The spike of pain started with my stomach and went totally through my body and out my upper back. Did I miss something? Maybe I was beat up? A wave of panic flew through be like a flash flood. It was instant and damaging, as I felt drained of any hope. Would this be the rest of my life? How did I go from a healthy body to an existence of watching life from the sidelines? I have good news for you. I went from a very painful existence to a pretty normal life. Fibromyalgia can't be cured, but you can get to the point where it is nothing more than a nuisance and maybe not even that. Here is my 5- Step approach to dealing with the pain of fibromyalgia.
Here are some books that helped me tremendously: THE FIBROMYALGIA RELIEF BOOK …by Miryam Ehrlich Williamson FIBROMYALGIA: A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH…. BY Miryam Ehrlich Williamson ARTHRITIS FOUNDATIONS'S GUIDE TO ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES By Judith Horstman (An official publication of the Arthritis Foundation)
2. Change physicians if your doctor is ignoring your pain.
I could write a complete book about this. However, I will just say that there are doctors out there that do not believe there is such a thing as fibromyalgia. They may not come right out and tell you, but they will sometimes allude to the idea that you may be depressed, going through menopause or a little crazy. (Hopefully things have changed in the last few years and doctors, as a whole are understanding of this syndrome).
3. No matter how badly you hurt, you must move and exercise
The very best and ideal exercise for you would be an arthritis aquatic class. The class is taught in warm water and the instructor will know what exercises will help you the most. I taught arthritis aquatic classes for over 3 years and I have seen people go from just existing and not able to hardly function to a normal life. For more information about these classes, call your local Arthritis Foundation. If it is not possible for you to take an arthritis aquatic class, I would suggest you get beginner yoga tape and religiously do yoga stretches every day. Add to this walking, then as you progress, low impact aerobics. Begin working out with 5-pound weights and don't go any heavier than 10-pound. Weights will add muscle strength, which in turn will make you stronger and therefore have less pain.
4. If your family or friends do not support or understand you, you must find a person or group that will help and understand what you are going through.
I have a very wonderful and loving husband, but he did not understand or believe what kind of pain I was experiencing. I joined an arthritis aquatic group. That was the best thing I ever did. Also, I was so desperate; I contacted an author (not expecting her to answer back, but she did). She wrote the books that I mentioned in step 1. This is her name and how to e-mail her. God Bless her! Miryam Ehrlich Williamson can also be reached via e-mail: frontpage@mwilliamson.com. She really does answer e-mail, even though she is a busy author.
5. Learn to deal with stress; stress will make you hurt more.
I used to get in a terrible pain cycle during holidays or when I was expecting guests. I had to learn to cut corners and do things way ahead of time to alleviate stress. For example, I learned to wrap presents standing up at the kitchen counter. I can't sit too long or stand too long. So when I went back to work, I got a job that I would be moving around quite a bit and not just sitting at a computer.
In summary, I would like to say this; Please do not give up. I am not a physician, but I have seen people (in my classes) that find peace of mind and most of all, a relatively pain-free life. You can do it. I would like to encourage you. (I don't have a business and I am not selling anything.) However, if you just need a word of encouragement, please e-mail me at franlarson@gmail.com. God bless you and hope you feel better soon.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Many years ago I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, after our family doctor referred me to a rheumatologist, suspecting it might be rheumatoid arthritis. It wasn't, and a few days after seeing the specialist, he sent me an article from a medical journal about fibromyalgia, telling me he had suspected that when he examined me. The article described me to a T. Bottom line, this was primarily a "disease" of women who were high achievers, and determined to 'have it all.' The limited amount of pharmaceutical options for treating it didn't help. What did was doing some serious re arranging of my priorities, along with fully recognizing that pain was a way for my body to talk to me. When I was being unrealistic about what I wanted to accomplish, or when I was "stuffing" something I needed to deal with, the pain increased. I learned to use the pain as a wake up call to stop and look within, to see what it was I was refusing to acknowledge or deal with.Your suggestions are good ones, and helpful, but I don't believe they address the underlying cause of fibromyalgia.
Hi Fran,
Your article was articulate and to the point. I have experienced everything that you mentioned in your article.
I also and still do search the web with any new information related to fibromyalgia and natural remedies to help ease the pain. Have tried the traditional forms of medication prescribed by my Rheumatologist but unfortunately my body has rejected every approach he has taken which has forced me to be more pro-active into anything that is natural.
I had a woman Rheumatologist who had the nerve to tell me I was depressed and was having a difficult time adjusting to forced menopause. When she told me I was depressed, I snapped at her and told her I am not depressed just frustrated that I can't do what I usually do and I am tired of being in constant pain 24\7!
Even when I feel sore, I push myself to go to the fitness center for an hour every other day. I use the elliptical for 45 minutes to warm up my muscles and then a half hour with the weight equipment.
My family had to learn to adjust to my limitations but once we got into the pattern, they understand that I have to do things slowly and on my own time schedule.
Stress is definitely a major trigger for fibro so you have to learn to roll with the punches and don't stress the little stuff!
Thanks for writing the article.
Iris S. Taub
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