The Whirlwind that is Fibromyalgia

Your happy children running to hug you, your pet who wants to rub against your leg, bumping the wall as you walk down the hallway, the jolt of braking too quickly - most people feel it and move on, without it affecting their day. For people with Fibromyalgia, any one of these occurrences can ruin not only their whole day, but sometimes several.

A simple brush that others wouldn't even notice can send a Fibro patient into a pain-tension cycle that can seem endless. One woman describes her body as feeling "like a bruise that covers her entire body".

There are management options for Fibromyalgia. Several medications are available to manage the pain and inflammation, the tingling and aches. Some people look only to alternative methods, ranging from acupuncture to nutrition therapy, hypnotism, bodywork and non-pharmacological methods. Most people find the best results with a combination of conventional and alternative treatments.

1. Diet: Suggesting what foods to eat is extremely difficult. Fibromyalgia is a unique condition, affecting people differently. What is good for one person, isn't good for another. But studies have agreed on a few foods to avoid:

• Artificial Sweeteners: Aspartame in particular can increase Fibro pain, sometimes dramatically. Try cutting Aspartame out of your diet and see how much better you'll feel. Instead, try Stevia, Splenda or saccharin.
• Sugar and simple carbohydrates: Cutting out (or atleast down) the sugar and simple carbs in your diet will decrease the amount of yeast in your body, which leads to more inflammation and higher blood sugar. In addition, cutting out these foods will help to lose weight, which in turn takes pressure off of the joints.
• Dairy: While calcium is incredibly important and should certainly be supplemented, sometimes dairy can cause more harm to your digestive system, which is already under attack from the Fibro.
• Caffeine: If you're looking for an energy boost, stay away from caffeine. You will be much better off by sticking to energy foods with high nutritional value.

2. Exercise: First off, remember the KISS rule: Keep it Simple, Silly! Over-doing it is really easy, much easier than for people who don't suffer with Fibromyalgia. Start slowly, and gradually build your time. You'll find stronger muscles and joints, and considerably less pain. Your energy will be much better as will your confidence. Exercise also improves circulation, which brings good bloodflow to muscles and joings, as well as oxygen needed for healing.

3. Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation: The importance of a good multi vitamin can not be emphasized enough. We also suggest that you get extra Magnesium, vitamin D and B12.

Fibromyalgia has been a mystery for many years. Many people, desperate for help and relief, were made to feel like the pain was all in their head. Fortunately, many doctors are much more aware of the condition and how to help their patients. While some people aren't sure of the legitmacy of Fibromyalgia, one thing is certain: the pain and fatigue that the patient is experiencing is very real. And their quality of life is very much affected.

Does bodywork help? Absolutely. Some people find relief with Deep Tissue Massage, while others can only tolerate the lightest of touch. Some people have such achey feet and splitting headaches that they request sessions focusing only on those two spots. And other clients swear that their regular Reflexology sessions keep them in check.

How do you know which session is right for you? That's where communication and relationships come into play. I invite you to email me for an appointment for a consultation. We can talk about how Fibromyalgia affects YOU, and what treatment plan(s) you might be interested in. I am committed to helping you find relief, and reclaiming your life!

In health,
Amanda
Amanda@MywellnessPartner.org