Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that can significantly affect your daily life, physical health and emotional wellbeing. There’s no single treatment that works for everyone. Rather, fibromyalgia treatment involves working with your doctor and physiotherapist to find the right mix of lifestyle changes, medication and exercise to ease your symptoms.
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic (ongoing) condition. Symptoms vary from one person to another but may include:
- Pain and stiffness in many different parts of your body for at least 3 months
- Increased sensitivity to pain, temperature, light, smell and noise
- Deep fatigue
- Sleep difficulties
- Problems with concentration or memory – nicknamed ‘fibro fog’.
Fibromyalgia causes
Fibromyalgia is a complex condition and we don’t yet fully understand it. The pain seems to come from overly sensitive nerve cells transmitting pain signals through your body, even though there’s no damage or injury to your muscles, bones or joints.
About 2-5% of Australians experience fibromyalgia. Anyone can develop it but it is most common in middle-aged women. You’re at greater risk of developing fibromyalgia if you have an existing mood disorder or pain-related condition, including:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Lupus
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Osteoarthritis
- Depression or anxiety
- Chronic back pain
- Irritable bowel syndrome.
Fibromyalgia treatments
There’s no cure for fibromyalgia so treatment focuses on easing your symptoms. It can take time to find the particular mix of therapies that help you conserve energy, manage stress and do the things you enjoy.
Fibromyalgia treatments may include:
Lifestyle changes:
- Good nutrition
- Refreshing sleep
- Regular low-impact exercise like swimming or walking
- Rest
Medications to:
- Relieve pain
- Manage anxiety or depression
- Improve sleep
Psychological treatment to help you:
- Manage stress
- Live well with a chronic health condition
Physiotherapy.
Fibromyalgia self-care during a flare-up of symptoms can involve:
- Accepting the need to rest
- Enjoying a warm, soothing bath
- Watching a movie, reading or listening to an audiobook
- Accepting help from friends and family.
Exercise in fibromyalgia
Though it might be the last thing you feel like doing, regular exercise is one of the best ways to improve fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia patients who exercise regularly tend to have:
- Less pain
- Fewer tender areas
- Better overall fitness
- Less stress
- Improved mood
- More ability to manage everyday life
- Better sleep.
Good forms of exercise for fibromyalgia include:
- Gentle aerobic exercise like walking, swimming, cycling or dancing
- Strength training using hand weights or your body weight
- Yoga, pilates or tai chi – great ways to improve strength and ease stress.
Physiotherapy for fibromyalgia
Like many other fibromyalgia patients, you may be anxious about exercising, fearing that any exertion will worsen your pain and fatigue.
A skilled physiotherapist can devise an exercise program that helps you:
- Gain confidence in your ability to exercise
- Find the appropriate mix of aerobic exercise and strength training
- Gradually increase the duration and intensity of exercise
In addition, a physiotherapist can provide hands-on treatment like massage, which may help to ease pain, improve sleep and relieve anxiety and depression.
How can we help?
Our mobile physiotherapy service is ideal for patients with fibromyalgia because you don’t have to waste precious energy getting to a clinic. We come to you, providing physiotherapy services in your home, garden or local park. It means you can explore convenient, local exercise options under the guidance of a physiotherapist.
If you’d like to find out how we can play a part in managing your fibromyalgia, please contact us today.
Disclaimer
All information is general and not intended as a substitute for professional advice.
References:
- Healthdirect, Fibromyalgia, https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/fibromyalgia, [Accessed 17 June 2024]
- Very Well Health, Daily fibromyalgia care around flare ups, https://www.verywellhealth.com/fibromyalgia-self-care-7563296, [Accessed 17 June 2024]\
- Arthritis Australia, Exercise and fibromyalgia, https://arthritisaustralia.com.au/managing-arthritis/living-with-arthritis/physical-activity-and-exercise/exercise-and-fibromyalgia/, [Accessed 17 June 2024]
- Australian Physiotherapy Association, Fibromyalgia, https://choose.physio/your-condition/fibromyalgia, [Accessed 17 June 2024]
- Healthline, What you need to know about massage therapy for fibromyalgia, https://www.healthline.com/health/fibromyalgia/massage-for-fibromyalgia#effectiveness, [Accessed 17 June 2024]
