Every individual experience fibromyalgia symptoms differently and hence there isn’t one winning method to send your fibromyalgia into remission. However, here are some ways which have been reported to have helped fibro patients manage their condition:
- Changes to your diet e.g. adopting Gluten-free diet, Paleo diet, eliminating processed food, herbal remedies,
- Treating sleep disorders
- Addressing nutrient deficiencies e.g. magnesium, vitamin D
- Addressing emotional issues such as depression, anxiety, stress and trauma
- Exercise therapy with low impact, light exercises such as warm water aerobics, walking, yoga, stretching
Keeping a pain journal to track the changes you make to your lifestyle and recording its results, whether positive or negative, can help you derive a way to manage your chronic pain syndrome.
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Share your story on how you managed to keep fibromyalgia in control to encourage other fibro warriors. Leave a comment below.
I have been a Care giver to my Wife over 20 yrs now. One thing for sure Most Drs. And The Medical Professionals, Dont Understand This Disease. And They Dont Really Want too. (And This Leads to The Wrong way to Treating a Fribro Patient). I could tell ya a few Hundred Storys and our Experiences.
I have been on a two-year journey back to health after 20+ of struggling with fibromyalgia. I have totally changed my eating habits to non-processed, fresh foods, started exercising and am now up to four days a week lifting weights and one to two 5ks a week, and lost 60 pounds. I’m off pain meds and most interestingly enough have just returned to work after having to retire early a number of years ago. Loving how I feel now!
I am inspired with your story. Your outcome is my goal. I eat only whole food, no sugar, grains. I try light exercise. I am off one pain medicine and working on stopping other. My pain level is very high. I also pray for improvement. Can you suggest anything?
Yes, keep exercising and go and do Aquafit in warm water and then work up to doing some swimming, it really helps and then you might be able to lift weights not too heavy. Also have some massage. With that type of exercise I improved my condition. Rainy days and storms still brother me though but not as much as before. Now I walk, but would love to get back to the water again, I found the water really helpful. Also get your sleep and eat properly lots of vegetables and fruit and low fat and not too much sugar. Before I go walking I stretch a bit, I always found stretching very helpful. I improved with all my exercise and then could cut back on it some. I believe massage helped me too. I don’t even need massage now.
I soak for at least 30 minutes to an hour every night with about 2 cups of Epsom salts and essential oils ( and bubble bath). definitely do water areobics, best way to minimize pressure ( you are 80% lighter in water 🙂 )
good luck!
Google Kratom 101. It was a life saver for me. Helped me get off 9 meds. Just make sure you purchase from an authorized vendor
I would probably have glazed over this article, if I had seen it 3 years ago. Either in a brain fog haze, or in resentful disbelief that I would EVER feel normal again- EVER. And the word, remission??? I never gave that word a second thought.
The term “Fibro Warrior” is completely accurate, because we are warriors, fighting our own battles. Because it is an invisible illness, it is difficult to get any sympathy or compassion from anybody, including those who may love us dearly. They just don’t get it- and its not their fault. No, its not just you. It may feel like it, but you are not alone. Please allow yourself this one comfort in knowing this.
Pharmaceuticals & medicinal marijuana did not work for me. Acupuncture and reiki did not work for me. The horrendous side effects from the medications were not acceptable to me, and I was not willing to suffer for 6-8 weeks at a time, to find out if the drug was going to start working or not. That was just me. But even a naturopath failed me during the weaning process, after telling her that I was having flu-like symptoms and was at the point of not wanting to leave my house. It did not dawn on her that I was nose-diving into a deep suicidal depression. Possibly feeling negligent or embarrassed, or perhaps trying to remain professionally detached, she never acknowledged or expressed any concern or remorse, when I returned to her office after being released from the hospital for my drug overdose. That was hurtful. I almost lost my life, and I still was not being taken seriously.
That year, I turned 50, and my husband treated our family of 9 to a trip to Hawai’i. I didn’t even want to go. You know something is really wrong when you have no desire to go to Hawai’i. I did go, but stayed in bed, and watched senior retirees jog along the beach, through the sliding glass window of our lanai. What was wrong with this picture?
However, the “Warrior in Me” did not give up. To get back on track, I returned to anti-depressants and went on another trial of whatever Fibromyalgia medications my insurance company would cover. With Fibromyalgia, you live and learn… constantly. That is all you can do. However, by then, I knew what I was willing to tolerate. The same skin crawling, zombie-inducing effects began to happen again. So I carefully weaned myself off of the Fibro meds only. I learned the hard way, that bad things happen when I do not take Wellbutrin.
It took an entire year to slowly taper off of one medication at a time (including Ambien, which they allowed me to take for four years! This medication is meant for short-term use only!) And then, it took another year AFTER weaning, for the chemicals to completely run its course out of my system. (Patience, young grasshopper…) The “final purge” took place for about three days. I was as sick as a dog, vertigo, nausea- the works. Some refer to this as a “healing crisis”, but it was more like a Linda Blair scene from “The Exorcist”. But then “poof”…”it” was gone.
The Red Sea parted and I was finally free from “feeling like poop” all the time. Not to say that I was pain-free; that part is manageable. I cannot emphasize enough, how the mental and emotional stresses are our worst enemy. That really is more than half of the battle. You have to be in the right state of mind to realistically deal with Fibromyalgia. Its like putting on your own oxygen mask before assisting others, except its putting on your own oxygen mask in order to help yourself. But you can’t be drugged up and expect to be a force to reckon with.
I finally stopped desperately looking for a cure, in a “dizzying frenzy” (which I would think is completely normal when your life is out of control, your life is turned upside down, you are unable to function or even recognize the person in the mirror). Once I accepted the fact that chronic means long-term (in other words, “Gotta learn to live with it, Baby”), I finally adopted the “Bring it on” attitude. That’s The Warrior.
It really does take a village to manage Fibromyalgia, and it may take a while to find your tribe. But you eventually will. Do your research, be open to recommendations to certain specialists. I now have an excellent talk therapist, chiropractor, physical therapist, yoga therapist , rheumatologist, and chiropractic kinesiologist.
My health improved enough to have the motivation and drive to become a certified yoga teacher, myself. (Now I don’t have to pay for yoga classes!) A daily, gentle yoga and meditation practice, combined with clean eating (I didn’t say perfectly clean… but clean enough) has brought me a long way. I have been able to reduce my Wellbutrin dosage by two-thirds!
I experiment with different natural supplements and herbs (under the supervision of my doctors) and I am slowly figuring out which ones are noticeably improving in my digestion, sleep, energy, inflammation and pain levels. This is “side-effect-free” trial and error! It is also up to you to find the right combination of herbs and supplements that you can afford, long-term. I had started a regimen of about 50 pills a day. Expensive? Yes. Realistic to maintain? No. Again, live and learn.
I own a brace for every joint of my body. I have tried every ergonomic pillow on the market; and I have ointments that can clear the sinuses of every member of our household. If you haven’t noticed, you MUST have a good sense of humor.
Having an attitude of gratitude, to me, is the golden rule. We may feel miserable at times (or a lot of the time), but let’s face it: We are not going to die of Fibromyalgia. This is a reality check and a major change of perspective. Every ounce of effort that you make, all of the knowledge that you gain from your experience, research, or trials and tribulations, will be a valuable gift to someone whom you will help (or are meant to help) one day, in the future.
Maybe we can think of Fibromyalgia as the weather. There’s a 50/50 chance of anything and, “What you see is what you get.” Dress in layers… be ready for anything.
Fibro sheild maiden, thankyou so much for this fantastic article! I wish I could’ve read this many years ago at the start of my battle with fibro?
You write with such empathy, humour & charisma & I’m sure this article has helped many sufferers & their loved ones understand fibro a lot more especially the emotional & mentally issues?
I’m so happy that you’re managing so well & wish you all the best for the future, take special care of yourself, gentle hugs cathy, liverpool UK x
Cathy, thank you. Thank you for your intelligent, humorous, informative and empathetic article. I’ve never before read anything that resonated with me the way this did. I’ve finally started to realize that I don’t have to live like this for the rest of my life. I don’t have to be the “old woman” that someone gets stuck with when there is somewhere to go, or something to be done. I’m not old. I’m 62, and that is nowhere near old, these days! I want to travel, to enjoy life, to get out and have fun, but up until very recently, I honestly believed, deep down, that it was time to just give up and let go. I didn’t want to fight anymore. You have helped to change that for me. So, again, thank you. .S. I hope you don’t mind that I have printed your story out, and am keeping it with me, in my private notebook.
I am with you Sherry. I am only 60 and feel like I am done with life. My husband is 1 month older than me and still full of energy. I have no friends because I never want to get out. I recently started the Keto diet and hope that starts helping me as it is suppose to.
Thank you for sharing this. This helped a LOT. I want to read more from you! 🙂
Please forgive me; I accidentally addressed my note to the wrong person. It should have said Fibro Shield Maiden, not Cathy. (This is one o the demons I struggle with daily – using the wrong name or word for something.)
Kudos to you
Fibromyalgia may not kill us but I have many days when I want to kill myself because the pain is so bad. I have days where I have to have my husband help me to even get around and go to the bathroom. On those days I serious want to die.
What a thoughtful, wise and well written description of the pilgrim’s progress through acceptance of this life changing syndrome. Kudos to you for sharing your journey and the wonderfully inspiring quality of your self acceptance and hard earned knowledge. Fibromyalgia doesn’t go away. But we can choose to stay, care for ourselves, and live and love anyway.. as fully as we are able. Everybody has something. And no, it is not fatal.
Thank you. This is such a wonderful testimony. I recently started on the Keto diet 2 weeks ago. It is suppose to help by cleaning out refined sugar and toxins from your body.
I found a book called Fibromyalgia for dummies at the library. It told you step by step home to apply for disability. It worked and I’m now on disability. I also have Interstitial Cystitis which ties into having fibromyalgia. I’m greatful for the book and I know won it.
Thank you so much for your comforting story. Like you say, Fibro doesn’t show and it is so nice to recognize ourselves in other Fibromyalgia patients. My worst flares are in the autumn so I’ve been in bed for 6 weeks but starting a new exercise regimen today. I agree with you that laughter is the best remedy & am willing to fight to get through another northern winter! Thank you & the best to you 😉
hmm, not many drs really understand this condition in most places of the world. Its an alien condition to them, yet they are happy to dish out the drugs, if a cure was found it would be less money for the pharmacutical companys wouldnt it, hense why i think they dont want to have a cure for this condition.
Scientists advice to eat this , try that and you know what its to fatiguing to even think about it all. Why do we have to change what we eat or how we do things, our bodies managed before?
I know over time our bodies change and cant do what we used to be able to do, but it doesnt mean that we hav to go on to a salad diet. It mentions toxins in our bodies in the article, hmm its not just what we eat, i.e junk food, its our way of life and living and the air that we breath. Never mind telling the human population to change our governments also need to.
The air on earth is polluted full of toxins, so theres one lot of toxins for you , secondly the food we eat is genetically modified, additives , preservatives you name it its in there, so that wont help either, our water we drink isnt pure either, i dont know about yours but they add floride in to the uk water, rubbish is no longer burnt its burried into the earth and left to rott, toxins rise into the air as the rubbish rots.
On top of all of this we work long difficult shifts, employers work us hard and fast to get products out and i dont now about the rest of the world but here in the uk a majority of us have to work until we are 75 before we can even retire. By which time we are either to frail to work, become a geriatric or just about to head into our coffins.
And the advice is to change our lifestyles , change what we eat and how much we eat, to exercise, wth, how can we when society has so much stress and pressure that results to our bodies to become like it is? seriously i think governments and society need educating and learn to see the bubbles we live in.
over the ten years i have had this condition i have never had any remitence with this condition, all i have had got is worse and more conditions added on to my poor health file.
Earth is between heaven and hell, there is good things that happen but you also slide between the two dimensions.
Unfortunatley my body does not take to medications any more, when i was first diagnosed with the condition i could just about walk, now i am finding hard to move around my home.
I had tried vitamins and minerals, dont work, tried many drugs, they dont work either, maybe i am just a different case, i have tramadol, morphine , paracetamol which i dont like to take to often. the morphine takes a day to kick in which makes me slow down and i dont enjoy that day at all.
cant function when i do take that stuff, exercises, pfft i use a wheel chair when i go out, i can hardley move to exercise and swimming , no ta to many germs in a pool. i wont go into a pool, plus they are normally cold, and i dont take to the cold to well.
Fibro shield Maiden… kudo’s for a great article…. it just brought a glimmer of hope to my aching cannot get a damn thing done day!! I am about to start the Wellbutrin Just to try and alleviate the constant pain. This is ridiculous!!
I was diagnosed in 1999, I had read a paragraph in one of my nursing magazines about fibromyalgia, and the symptoms etc, sounded way to familiar. My father died shortly after that, and i bought a webtv, after the funeral. I was recovering from back surgery at the time. I set up the webtv, connected to a fibro chat room right away. Next time I saw my primary care, I asked him about the possibility of me having FMS. He did the tendar point test, and I had all 18 flared up. I began see a rehab Dr after that, for treatment. He gave me trigger point injections as needed. After I went back to work on my private duty peds case, mother had set up twice weekly massages for the little girl with therapist who had opened a new office a block from the house. When I took the girl to her first session, was talking to the therapist as I saw she treated FMS. come to find out, her mother and daughter both had it, so she had done studies in the treatment. She started treating me twice a week. Early in the week it was deep tissue with Myofacia release. Yes it did hurt, but she started easy and as time went on went deeper and deeper. I got so I preferred it over relaxation. End of my work week it was relaxation or cranial sacral massage. Took 2 months but she got me into remission, that was back in 1999. She taught me how to do the Myofacia release on myself, and with doing that and gentle exercise, I have maintained remission. I am not pain free as I have osteoarthritis in almost every major joint, have had spinal fusion, SI joint fusion, rotator cuff repair, for full thickness tear, and both knees with total knee replacement. Made sure took my pain meds as ordered, and have been able to maintain remission. I do NOT blame every little ache and pain on FMS, as not all pain is FMS. I treat the cause of the pain. Before I had the first TKR last May, I was going to the gym two or three times a week. Personal trainer had me doing the bike and gentle exercise on the machines without weights. I felt so energized up on leaving the gym. I remain positive, and that helps.
I’VE HAD FIBRO FOR 43 YRS. AM 83 NOW, BUT HAVE LEARNED EVEN THO I PAY FOR IT IN THE END EXERCISE IS MY SALVATION. STILL PLAY GOLF, MOW MY OWN LAWN, TRIM BUSHES AND THEN I REST.
BEEN ON ALL OF THE DRUGS, ETC. NOTHING HELPS, BUT DO TAKE OTC DRUGS WHEN THE PAIN GETS TOO BAD. DOES IT HELP, I DON’T REALLY KNOW.
ALSO, HAVE ARTHRITIS BUT DO THE BEST I CAN W/BAD KNEES, HIP, BACK. THE SECRET I THINK IS JUST DON’T THINK ABOUT, JUST GET ON W/LIFE.
Fibro is so odd as one will have bad shoulders, another it’s the legs or back or neck and we frequently are not believed as we “look alright”. I have lost 3 stones and would recommend anyone to do it if they need to. You may avoid diabetes! I had no painkillers for a long time, doctor never suggested it so bought my own. I took some to reward myself when pain was bad. My codeine and paracetomol take the edge off pain now I am prescribed them. Get interested in something if you are retired. U3A have loads of groups in the UK and they are friendly. TV on all day is not good news We all need friends, not everyone is a parent. Sitting or lying all day every day is a “killer”. We must keep minds active. I would not go to aqua fiit- I was afraid as I do not swim- now I do it every week and husband helps me undress and dress – he does the exercises too at over 80.
I have had fibromyalgia for so many years I do what I can but don’t over do it sometimes I need pain meds others I don’t but I do still get bad flares I don’t give up I do exercises every day that the it gave me they have helped me slot the ot gave me I am on other tablets for nerve pain they help slot don’t think you get rid of fibromyalgia but it can be managed I own a mobility scooter cos one thing is I can’t walk far and this helps me live a normal life but just do things when you can I have a wonderful carer my husband don’t let it beat you but don’t take too much on love to other fibro suffers
Does any fibromyalgia suffers from severe tooth ache, but in most of your teeth and gums. This i am experiencing and its agony and i want to know if its just my teeth or down to fibromyalgia, and the nerves in my teeth.