Weight loss also takes some of the pain out of fibromyalgia. Losing about three body mass index points (BMI) reduced fibromyalgia symptoms in a research study published in Clinical Rheumatology.
While weight may increase your risk of fibromyalgia and may make your symptoms worse, that doesn't mean that it's your fault you're sick. Weight is a risk factor, not a cause; it's an exacerbating factor but not the underlying reason for your symptoms.
Weight loss may help with fibromyalgia symptoms, so a low calorie diet may be a good approach. Vegetarian diets. These diets are rich in anti-inflammatory fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes. The strongest evidence is for raw vegetarian diets.
There's no cure for fibromyalgia, and there's limited research on the impact that diet has on the disease. However, making changes to your diet may help relieve some of your symptoms. Aim for a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and be mindful of which foods seem to aggravate your symptoms.
Fibromyalgia patients have lower metabolism than people of a normal weight, a study from the Fibromyalgia Research Foundation found, so it can take more effort to torch calories and make weight loss stick.
Experts typically recommend any low-impact aerobic activity, such as walking, swimming, or cycling. Your doctor may advise you to work with a physical therapist on exercises specifically aimed at reducing pain and stiffness and improving function.
Magnesium
Women with fibromyalgia may be deficient in magnesium, studies suggest. And magnesium may help relieve fibro pain and other symptoms.
Physical and emotional stress are the most common triggers of fibromyalgia flares. Other triggers include lack of sleep, weather changes, and hormone imbalances.
In some cases, the doctor may recommend a multivitamin that includes antioxidant vitamins A, C, D, E, and the B vitamins, as well as calcium, magnesium, selenium, and zinc to ease symptoms. Coenzyme Q10. This antioxidant, used to convert food into energy, has shown some promise in treating fibromyalgia symptoms.
Although exercise can improve the symptoms of fibromyalgia, the effects are not always immediate. “Exercise is really the best long-term treatment for the pain and fatigue of fibromyalgia,” Jones says. “But it can take up to six months before you notice a change in your symptoms.”
Exercise may not cure fibromyalgia, but it can offer significant symptom relief. Some people with fibromyalgia avoid movement because of their pain. However, avoiding movement can lead to muscle damage, tension, weight gain, and other health problems.
Fibromyalgia can cause pain, disability, and a lower quality of life. US adults with fibromyalgia may have complications such as: More hospitalizations. If you have fibromyalgia you are twice as likely to be hospitalized as someone without fibromyalgia.
The primary symptoms of fibromyalgia include: Widespread pain. The pain associated with fibromyalgia often is described as a constant dull ache that has lasted for at least three months. To be considered widespread, the pain must occur on both sides of your body and above and below your waist.
Fibromyalgia and Weight Gain
Fibromyalgia is a generalized pain condition. However, due to the pain associated with this condition along with fatigue, patients may find exercise and daily physical activity more difficult. Lack of exercise can naturally result in weight gain.
The FDA has approved three drugs specifically for treating fibromyalgia, including pregabalin (Lyrica), duloxetine (Cymbalta), and milnacipran (Savella). However, other medications, such as amitriptyline (Elavil), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) or gabapentin (Neurontin) are usually considered first-line treatments.
In general, a temperate climate is most beneficial for anyone with fibromyalgia. This would include areas with low humidity and infrequent rain. While no city is going to be perfect 365 days out of the year, it is possible to find areas that experience very few days of extreme weather conditions.
This study showed that a short course of sublingual vitamin B12, 1000 mcg daily, can significantly improve the severity of FM as well as the anxiety score of FM patients. However, we did not find any improvement in the depression score and health status scales after vitamin B12 treatment.
Certain infections including hepatitis C virus, HIV and Lyme disease have been temporally associated with the development of FMS. There is some evidence for the possible role of vaccinations in triggering the development of FMS and related syndromes, however this association remains to be established.
Drinking in Moderation Eases Fibromyalgia Winding down with a glass of wine could ease fibromyalgia symptoms. In a new study, patients with fibromyalgia who drank alcohol in moderation had fewer symptoms and a better quality of life than nondrinkers.
Your rheumatologist may recommend gentle exercises, such as yoga or light walking, to increase muscle strength, flexibility, and endurance. Exercise is also known to increase the levels of endorphins and other neurotransmitters in the body, which may lessen the experience of pain.
The condition can make it difficult to fall and stay asleep, cause numbness in the hands, feet, arms, and legs, bring on headaches, stiffness, memory problems, and even depression and anxiety. While not everyone living with fibromyalgia experiences all these signs and symptoms, many are common.
Fibromyalgia can be associated with ocular symptoms (foreign body sensation, irritation) and visual disturbances (blurred vision), coexisting with dry eye syndrome and reduced corneal sensitivity. Cases of scleritis, including the necrotizing form, accompanying fibromyalgia have been reported.
Regular gentle exercise is one of the most effective ways that fibromyalgia flare ups can be avoided or diminished and pain managed. Exercise in moderation may increase pain at first but may help prevent or improve pain over time and build up endurance, muscle strength, avoidance of depression, and boost moods.