When fibromyalgia has you regularly in pain, it can feel impossible to get anything done. This condition can affect your career, your relationships, and your free time, and leave you feeling as if there’s nothing you can do about it. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. There are many different treatment options that can help you cope with fibromyalgia in the long run, and there are also some habits and lifestyle choices that are a good idea to incorporate into your day-to-day life that will be helpful. On their own, these coping tips would not be enough to completely relieve chronic pain, but when you’re being treated for fibromyalgia, having these skills and practices in place will help to set you up for success.
Stay Hydrated
Being dehydrated is one of the worst things you can do for your chronic pain. It can cause increased muscle stiffness, headaches, and make you more susceptible to fatigue. Your body relies on water to support nearly all of its functions, and you need to make sure you’re replenishing your supply throughout the day. There are plenty of options to help you stay hydrated, such as mobile apps, water bottles with tracking lines, and water flavorings. Whether you need any of these things to keep you drinking your seven to eight glasses or not, make sure you’re conscious of keeping up your water intake.
Prioritize Sleep
It’s a little counterintuitive that you need sleep so much when fibromyalgia makes it very difficult to sleep, but getting quality rest is something that will be incredibly helpful, especially in the face of chronic fatigue. Having good sleep hygiene will help you in this regard– going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day, avoiding electronics before bed, limiting caffeine intake later in the day and making sure your bedroom is dark, cool, and free of as many distractions as possible. Having these routines in place and sticking to them will make getting to sleep easier and more effective, and having a good night’s sleep under your belt will help with the pain.
Take a Bath
Hydrotherapy is a great option in the treatment of chronic pain. A warm bath can help to relieve pressure on your joints, increase your circulation, and relax your muscles. It’s also very mentally soothing to take a bath, which is important too! Mental and emotional stress can be just as difficult to cope with as physical stress. Spending some time in the tub is something you can do every day if you need to, and is a great way to relieve pain and help your body function properly.
Work in Some Movement
Within reason, making sure you get some form of exercise is a good idea for managing fibromyalgia. If you have access to a pool, swimming can be fantastic for low impact exercise as well as hydrotherapy. Yoga or gentle stretching can also be good choices, as can taking a walk. Pretty much anything that will increase your heart rate and get your body moving will have lots of benefits. Ideally, you’d be able to get at least thirty minutes of exercise a day at least 3 or 4 times a week, but if that’s not feasible for you, it’s okay to set a lower goal and try to increase how much you’re able to do over time. Don’t be afraid to break up your exercise throughout the day, either! Five minutes here and there adding up to about fifteen minutes a day is better than nothing at all.
Going about your life with fibromyalgia can seem impossible, but there are many ways for you to increase your comfort and continue to do the things you love. These habits and coping skills can help to support the treatment plan that you create with your doctor. If you have fibromyalgia, you may be interested in joining our clinical trial. Click here to learn more.