The crippling pain and fatigue you feel with fibromyalgia can leave you inactive and overweight – up to 30 pounds for some sufferers. Other symptoms and even your medication can be contributing factors too. And that only makes ailments worse.
Losing weight with fibromyalgia is especially difficult due to several aspects of the condition. At the same time, research shows that a large percentage of people with fibromyalgia are overweight, as well as studies showing that weight loss can help improve symptoms.
Available evidence suggests that obesity is common in FMS. Studies report that 32%–50% of FMS patients are obese and additional 21–28% are overweight [39; 40; 61].
Whether it's daily walks, stretching, swimming, yoga, tai chi, or Pilates, low-impact exercise programs can keep you fit in spite of your fibromyalgia -- and may help reduce your pain, as well.
Addressing your fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for fibromyalgia, but there are plenty of effective treatments, therapies, and lifestyle modifications to ease your pain, boost your energy, and reduce your worst symptoms.
Sleep and fibromyalgia share a bidirectional relationship. Just as painful symptoms can prevent patients from getting enough rest, sleep deprivation can exacerbate the widespread feelings of pain and tenderness brought on by fibromyalgia. Sleep loss can also lower a person's pain threshold.
Or your thyroid, which regulates metabolism, could be dysfunctional. That can slow the body's ability to burn calories. Plus, the condition itself causes a metabolic slowdown. “Fibromyalgia patients have a 25% lower metabolism, on average, than someone without fibromyalgia of the same age and body weight,” Dr.
There is not significant research at this time to support that Fibromyalgia as a condition is the sole cause of 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.
Fibromyalgia can occur at any age, though the average age at diagnosis is between 35 to 45 years. Most people experience symptoms of fibromyalgia earlier in life, however. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain and tenderness throughout the body, sleep problems, fatigue, and depression.
A group of foods classified as omega-3 fatty acids have a strong anti-inflammatory effect. Cold-water fish such as salmon, sardines, tuna, bass, and swordfish are good sources of omega-3s. Dark green vegetables such as spinach, kale, and broccoli are also good options.
Pain is a given for nearly everyone with fibromyalgia. So are fatigue and brain fog. While those symptoms can be challenging, you don't have to put your life on hold because of them. Living with fibromyalgia means making adjustments, from work to parenting responsibilities to household chores to having fun.
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.
Diet. Some experts say what you eat may play a role in fibromyalgia -- just not the same role for everyone. Certain foods and ingredients -- such as aspartame, MSG, caffeine, and tomatoes -- seem to worsen symptoms for some people.
Nearly 5 percent of Americans have fibromyalgia. Although causal relationship is not clear between obesity and fibromyalgia, a higher rate of obesity in those who have fibromyalgia may be caused by a cycle of pain and physical inactivity.
People with fibromyalgia should generally avoid activities that involve fast, sudden movements and high impact activities, such as running and jumping, although some people may progress to this level of activity.
Fibromyalgia isn't a progressive disease, so it doesn't get worse over time and may even improve. It's never fatal, and it won't harm the joints, muscles, or internal organs. Medications may help relieve some—but not all—symptoms of fibromyalgia.
The central nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) transmits information all over your body through a network of specialised cells. Changes in the way this system works may explain why fibromyalgia results in constant feelings of, and extreme sensitivity to, pain.
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.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease that is often a lifelong condition. But fibromyalgia is not a progressive disease, meaning it will not get worse over time. It also does not cause damage to your joints, muscles, or organs. Taking steps to treat fibromyalgia can help relieve your symptoms.
If you have fibromyalgia, one of the main symptoms is likely to be widespread pain. This may be felt throughout your body, but could be worse in particular areas, such as your back or neck. The pain is likely to be continuous, although it may be better or more severe at different times.
While it's too soon to say for sure whether vitamin D is a safe and effective treatment for fibromyalgia, some of the evidence is compelling. If you are taking more than 1000 IU of vitamin D a day, you should have your healthcare provider check your vitamin D levels with a simple blood test.
At this time, there is no known cure for fibromyalgia. However, there are various treatment options available that can help to manage and improve the symptoms associated with the condition. These include medications, behavioral therapies, physical therapies, alternative therapies, and stem cell therapy, among others.