6 Techniques to Relieve Fibromyalgia Naturally

Nobody understands fibromyalgia better than the people who suffer from it. To most, it’s an abstract medical term. To those who live with it, fibromyalgia is a life altering disease that makes it hard to get out of bed some days, much less function on a daily basis. Every nerve in your body aches; you are tired to your very core.

While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, relief is possible. Lifestyle changes, therapy, massage and medication can have life changing benefits for those who suffer from what can often be a debilitating disease. Here are 6 natural remedies to relieve fibromyalgia.

Improve Sleep

Exhaustion is a symptom of fibromyalgia. The better sleep you are able to get, the better you’ll feel. While sleep can sometimes be difficult when fibromyalgia is intense, there are techniques you can practice to encourage better rest.

Avoid daytime naps. Instead, plan on going to bed and rising at the same time every day. If you are having trouble sleeping, try to rest as best you can. Avoid technology just before bed. Reading a book can help, especially if the material is complex. Limit light and noise when you sleep.

Avoid drinking coffee and alcohol before sleep. Do not eat heavy foods 2 to 3 hours before bed.

Minimize Stress

Studies have found a link between fibromyalgia and stress. For many people, symptoms get worse under stress. Do whatever you can to manage stress. Practice yoga. Do the things that make you happy — reading, listening to music, talking to friends. Meditate or pray. Join a support group for fibromyalgia or a hobby club to encourage socializing. Being around people can help.

Exercise

It’s often a catch-22. Exercise can help relieve the symptoms of fibromyalgia, but the pain makes exercise challenging.

But by increasing your exercise efforts gradually, you can find relief. As muscle strength builds overtime, pain will decrease.

Swimming can be especially beneficial at exercising the body without putting undue stress on the limbs. Cycling or walking can also be beneficial.

Talk to your doctor or physical therapist to develop an exercise plan. And be patient. Follow a steady strategy of “easy does it.” Break it all down one step at a time.

SAMe Supplements

Your body produces S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) naturally. It’s also available as a dietary supplement. SAMe can be effective at relieving the pain of fibromyalgia, researchers reported in Rheumatology. SAMe can potentially relieve pain, morning stiffness, and chronic fatigue. Side effects may include stomach aches and dizziness.

The Benefits of Massage for Fibromyalgia

We recommend sleep and exercise for fibromyalgia patients, but those remedies are admittedly not easy because of the very symptoms we seek to alleviate. Exercise can be painful. It can be difficult to relax and get the adequate sleep we need to keep symptoms at bay. It’s a Catch-22.

That’s where massage comes in. Therapeutic massage promotes health and wellness by giving those who suffer from fibromyalgia the relaxation and muscle pain therapy to get the relief they need and address their other symptoms. Massage can not only make it easier to get to sleep, but it can improve the quality of your sleep. It helps to aid lethargic muscles and help restore strength and vitality. And finally, massage can also relieve chronic headaches. This is why massage therapy is so often recommended by fibromyalgia therapists.

Practice Tai Chi

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese practice of body movement. It is a martial art practice that engages slow and gentle exercises to enhance balance and mental calm.

A study by from Tufts University and Brown University found it could be better at relieving fibromyalgia than other aerobic exercises. Longer treatments tended to produce better benefits.

Again, talk to your fibromyalgia doctor. Tai chi is not ideal for all sufferers of fibromyalgia.