There are unfortunately few treatments which work to specifically treat flares. Medications for fibromyalgia usually take several weeks to work and therefore are usually ineffective in controlling a flare. Pain medications are also of limited value. One of the more challenging problems with a flare, beyond coping with symptoms, is managing your household. You may feel that your entire household is thrown into disarray when a flare strikes. Being unable to cope with the mess adds stress, which in turn can worsen your symptoms.
Few people experience fibromyalgia in isolation, and friction sometimes occurs when other family members are called upon to do tasks you ordinarily do yourself. In addition to reducing your triggers see prevention below it's helpful to plan ahead for these periods of time. For example, many people know they will have a flare after major activities such as a vacation or holidays.
Learn more about preparing for a fibromyalgia flare from what items to keep on hand to what you can do to pass the time until you feel better. In addition to pain, fatigue, work problems, and a messy household, cognitive dysfunction can be severe during a flare. Some people find that they're too disoriented to drive safely and have trouble even putting a sentence together.
Short-term memory? Forget it. No pun intended! Review the common triggers and think about what you can do to modify these. For example, if you suffer from insomnia , talk to your healthcare provider about treatments this does not necessarily mean medications and cognitive behavioral therapy has shown promise.
Some people have sleep apnea which requires treatment. Pacing yourself is a key component in prevention. Overdoing it is a common flare trigger, and many people overdo it when they finally feel okay for a while. Stress is a common trigger, and there are many things you can do to improve your stress management.
Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain. Volume 21, , Issue 4. Page A low fermentable oligo-di-mono saccharides and polyols FODMAP diet reduced pain and improved daily life in fibromyalgia patients. Scandinavian Journal of Pain. Volume 13, October , Pages — Association between alcohol consumption and symptom severity and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia.
Arthritis Res Ther. Editor's Top Picks. While some alone-time is a good way to relax, isolating yourself for days can end up making you feel lonely. Tell an understanding friend or family member that you're feeling frustrated or overwhelmed — but don't dwell on your signs and symptoms. In-person or online support groups can link you to people who also are dealing with fibromyalgia. In addition to the comfort of talking with people who are facing the same types of challenges, members often share coping techniques that might work for you too.
Try to avoid support groups that focus solely on challenges and limitations. It's much more helpful to find a group of people who focus on what they're able to do and share encouraging stories about techniques they've used to help them manage their pain flares. Sometimes it helps to think of the amount of energy you have as pennies in a piggy bank. You need to prioritize tasks so that you won't run out of pennies before the day is done.
Pace yourself and take frequent breaks to rest. This mindset is crucial on days when your symptoms flare. Look at what's coming up on your calendar. Identify what's necessary and what's not. Focus your energy in the next few days on what's necessary. Prioritizing your tasks can help reduce your stress levels. People who are overly stressed often have tense muscles, which tend to amplify fibromyalgia pain.
Make a list of people who can help you on bad days. For instance, a family member may be willing to fix meals or run errands for a day. You may be reluctant to be a burden, but your friends and family love you and want to help. Another option is to split chores up into smaller tasks that can be divided among everyone in the house. If everybody helps a little with cooking and cleanup of a meal, for example, no one person gets worn out. Look for other community resources to help you complete necessary tasks when you're having a really difficult day.
Short-term changes to try on a tough day might include online grocery shopping for pickup or delivery. Consider public transportation or ride-hailing for an easier, less stressful way of getting where you need to go. Or, recruit neighborhood kids to help with yardwork. Set aside time for relaxation on your daily schedule. Add more relaxation time on days when your fibromyalgia symptoms flare. Relaxation techniques include:. However, on bad days, individuals should still try to be as active as they can.
Keeping activity levels as even as possible provides the best outcome. Although there is no specific diet recommended for people with fibromyalgia, there are certain foods that appear to make fibromyalgia symptoms worse. Try an elimination diet, in which you exclude certain food groups each week to see if symptoms improve.
If symptoms get better after ruling out a certain type of food, they may well be connected to fibromyalgia symptoms. Maintaining proper nutrition will help boost energy levels and help avoid other health problems. Many people with fibromyalgia find themselves unable to work or resume a normal standard of living. For such people, Social Security rulings in the United States dictate that so long as a medical or osteopathic doctor can determine that the disease causes medically determinable impairment MDI , the condition will qualify as a disability for Social Security payments.
The Social Security Administration SSA requires medical documentation dating back 12 months related to the disease, and may conducts interviews with relatives, friends, neighbors, and past employers to confirm the diagnosis. In some cases, the SSA may fund a consultation to confirm the debilitating nature of the disease.
Treating fibromyalgia flares can be tricky. Preventing a flare developing in the first place is less complicated than treating a flare.
Fibromyalgia has several symptoms, which means that no one treatment will fix them all. Also, a treatment that works for one person may not work for another. Various treatments in different combinations may have to be tried before someone finds a plan that works for them. The treatment plan will often be a blend of medication and lifestyle changes.
Talking therapies such as CBT aim to alter the way a person thinks about things and may help tackle fibromyalgia in a more positive way. Psychotherapy can also help someone with fibromyalgia help understand and deal with their thoughts and feelings. There is little evidence to show that alternative treatments such as acupuncture , massage, and aromatherapy help with fibromyalgia.
However, these methods might help with relaxation and stress. There is no cure for fibromyalgia. However, medication and lifestyle changes can help treat fibromyalgia and reduce the likelihood of flares. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be managed and people with the disorder can live a full life.
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