Living With Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a condition that makes life an everyday struggle. It can cause pain, brain fog, and fatigue, and it often leads to emotional distress. 

The condition is also hard to diagnose because there isn’t one marker that shows whether you have it. 

In most patients, fibromyalgia appears when the pain signals in the brain experience disruptions, leading to abnormal perceptions of pain. Your risk for fibromyalgia may increase due to excessive stress, family history, obesity, and repetitive injuries or direct trauma. 

Our team at Interventional Pain Management Services, with two offices in St. Louis and another in Granite City, Illinois, understands the burden of living with fibromyalgia. We put together this article to share with you some of the ways you can make your life with fibromyalgia a bit easier. 

Plan the entire day and make room for the unexpected

Brain fog and fatigue can make it harder for you to stick to a strict schedule. While this shouldn’t dissuade you from making plans, you may want to leave room for periods of time when you can’t function optimally. 

Fibromyalgia is also associated with depression and anxiety, so it’s important to be realistic with your workload and not add even more stressors to your plate. 

Make exercise a priority 

Low-impact exercise can help alleviate pain and fatigue. And since being overweight or obese is a risk factor for fibromyalgia, burning more calories via exercise can help prevent weight gain.

Avoid caffeine and naps throughout the day

Fibromyalgia is often associated with insomnia and poor sleep quality. Caffeine and naps throughout the day may make it harder for you to have a restful night of sleep and have adequate energy in the morning. Heavy meals before bed can also lower your sleep quality. 

Look for deficiencies 

Studies show an association between vitamin D deficiency and fibromyalgia. Low vitamin D levels also come with symptoms that imitate fibromyalgia, such as depressive moods, muscular pain, and fatigue.

Vitamin D supplements have been shown to improve the life quality of patients suffering from fibromyalgia, but supplements alone aren’t your only option. Getting more sun and including more fatty fish, eggs and dairy products in your diet help as well.

Get a fibromyalgia evaluation

Are symptoms like pain, brain fog, and fatigue taking over your life?

Fibromyalgia can’t be cured, but with the right combination of lifestyle changes and medications, you can reduce your symptoms. 

At Interventional Pain Management Services, we offer a treatment approach that touches not only your physical health but also your emotional well-being. 

We can help you with talk therapy, physical therapy, and pain relievers. Contact us to schedule an appointment and receive expert advice regarding your condition.