Alternative Treatments for Fibromyalgia
Marlene Gundlach - June 28, 2008
If you are hesitant to take medications to help manage your fibromyalgia symptoms, then there are alternative treatments that you may try. They will not cure you of FMS, but they may help alleviate your pain and other symptoms.
Exercise
When you hurt all over, probably the last thing you want to do is exercise. If it hurts to get out of bed, how can you be expected to exercise? Exercise can help you to manage your pain and will also help you sleep. You do not have to run a marathon, just get moving.
Regular exercise can help fibro patients by reducing muscle stiffness, decreasing tension and anxiety, enhancing sleep, and controlling weight. Exercising can strengthen your muscles and joints and stave off depression. The more you move, the better you will begin to feel. It can also help you sleep, which in turn allows you to awake more refreshed and ready to keep moving the next day. This keeps the cycle of movement and sleep going. The more you move, the better you will sleep. The more you sleep, the more you will feel like exercising.
Before beginning an exercise plan, you should discuss it with your doctor. Then, if you can afford it, a personal trainer who has worked with fibromyalgia patients would be a good place to start. Even if you can work with a trainer for a few weeks to get a routine established, you can then follow the plan you have set up on your own. Start out slow, the “no pain, no gain” mentality does not work here. Begin at a level that is a little less than what you feel you can handle, then slowly add a few minutes to your routine each time you exercise.
The type of exercise you choose is up to you and your interest level. Whatever you choose, be sure to stretch before and after exercising. Walking is always a good place to start. It does not take any special equipment, just a good pair of shoes. There are no tricky routines or exercises to learn, and the entire family can come along. Yoga and Pilates are good options for fibromyalgia sufferers as well because they involve a lot of stretching and do not put a great deal of pressure on the joints. These are also more meditative in nature, which is another benefit.
Pay attention to your body as you exercise, pain is a sign that something is not right and you might have overdone it. Also, if you exercise to the point of feeling pain, you can not accurately measure if you are gaining relief from your fibro pain. When this happens, people think the exercise is aggravating their fibromyalgia pain, when it is only from working too hard. This becomes their excuse to discontinue their exercise routine. If you do feel muscle fatigue after exercise, a hot bath may be just the cure.
Massage
For most, a massage is a luxury, but, for fibromyalgia patients it can be much more. Massage does not only relieve stress and muscle tension, but can relieve muscle pain and stiffness. Massage therapy can also increase circulation and releases endorphins, which act as natural painkillers. The increased blood flow can help deliver more oxygen to your body tissues and may help flush toxins that are contributing to your pain. Massages are a luxury for some, but can be therapeutic for fibro patients.
Asking for a massage therapist that has experience with FMS patients may be helpful. There are several massage techniques to choose from. A Swedish massage addresses the soft tissue near the skin’s surface and does not require heavy pressure. This type is helpful for improved circulation and relaxation. A Deep Tissue Massage is more vigorous and requires greater pressure. It reaches deeper layers of muscle tissue than the Swedish massage. A Deep Tissue Massage helps loosen tense muscles. The Trigger Point Massage focuses on trigger points. The therapist will apply pressure to the trigger points for a short period of time to gently stretch the muscle.
Only you can determine which massage therapy is right for you. Talk with your massage therapist before beginning and share with where you experience your pain and what it is you want out of the massage. Your therapist may be able to recommend a path to follow that will best serve your condition.
Magnet Therapy
Magnet therapy is a non-invasive pain relief method where magnetic fields are applied to the body. It helps trigger the body’s natural healing process. The magnets can be applied through various paths. They can be purchased in wraps, braces, and even mattress pads. The magnets help to increase blood flow to painful parts of the body by relaxing capillary walls. As with any treatment you seek, consult your doctor about trying magnet therapy as an option in your course of treatment.
Other Alternative Therapies
There are other, non-medicinal options available for chronic pain relief.
Chiropractic care is a popular option for pain relief. Chiropractors aren’t so much focused on treating your symptoms, but they instead focus on your spine and its realignment. They believe that a misaligned spinal column can cause a miscommunication between the brain and the rest of your body. Through adjustments and spinal manipulation, chiropractors strive to relieve pain and improve your overall health by realigning your spine.
Hypnosis is another way to control pain and stress. Some feel that this does not directly improve pain, but does lead to relaxation and release of stress. Both of these can help a patient focus on their condition in a more positive manner. And, the decreased levels of stress are always helpful is battling FMS.
Meditation and aromatherapy work in the same way as hypnosis. They will help you relax and relieve stress. Since stress is such a trigger for the pain and sleeplessness associated with fibromyalgia, they are positive additions to other forms of therapy.
