If you suffer from fibromyalgia, reading this article may be the most important thing you do for your family, your career, and your life. After reading this article, you may feel like you finally have a solution to simplify his life as you gain information that will help you deal with a huge debilitating monster that paralyzes his enthusiasm and crushes his own will to live. You know that monster I’m talking about: fibromyalgia, an overt form of arthritis that can rob you of your youth, suck the fun out of your life, and make you age before your time.

Many people live the nightmare of fibromyalgia. They suffer medical failures and are transferred from doctor to doctor. Always the same results: physical exam is NEGATIVE… X-rays are NEGATIVE… blood tests are NEGATIVE… They say: “We’ve done everything we can do, it’s ALL IN YOUR HEAD… take these antidepressants!” And after all is said and done, you may be worse off after all the treatments. It does NOT have to be this way… It does NOT have to be a struggle anymore. Imagine how great you would feel without your constant nagging aches and pains. Imagine how easy your life would be if you could do all the things you want without feeling exhausted and miserable. Imagine waking up in the morning, jumping out of bed, feeling refreshed, instead of feeling like you were hit by a bus in your sleep! Imagine not having to take handfuls of expensive pain relievers that barely help and have side effects. Well, stop imagining – the solution is here, now!

Fibromyalgia (fye-bro-my-AL-gee-ah) is recognized as an arthritis-related condition characterized by fatigue and widespread muscle pain. The term “fibromyalgia” means pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. This condition is known as a “syndrome” because it is a set of signs and symptoms that occur together. Fibromyalgia is an especially confusing and often misunderstood condition, because its symptoms are fairly common and lab test results often show “normal” readings. Therefore, people with fibromyalgia are often told that their condition is possibly “psychosomatic” or a figment of their minds. However, medical studies have shown that fibromyalgia does exist, and it is estimated to affect approximately 2 percent of the US population today. In 1990, the American College of Rheumatology, the official body for physicians treating arthritis and related conditions, finally legitimized fibromyalgia in the medical community by presenting criteria for diagnosing the disease. The diagnosis can be confirmed when it shows the following symptoms:

History of widespread pain (pain on both sides of the body and above and below the waist) that is present for at least three months

Pain in at least 11 of the 18 specific tender points on the human body.

One of the most successful strategies for treating fibromyalgia is organizing self-care alongside comprehensive outpatient clinic treatment programs. In the Seattle, WA area, there are doctors (see links below) who specialize in such treatment who have dramatically reduced the effects of fibromyalgia, and whose treatments further support your ongoing self-care options.

The main self-care strategy to reduce fibromyalgia symptoms should focus on reducing physical and emotional stress. Trained doctors help develop a plan to avoid or limit overexertion and emotional stress. It is essential that you take time each day to relax. That may mean learning to say “no” to others who want to impact your time, and doing so without guilt. But don’t change your routine completely. People who stop working or give up all activity tend to have worse results than those who remain active. Stress management techniques, such as deep breathing exercises or meditation, can be powerful tools for recovery.

Second, get enough sleep. Since tissue breakdown is one of the main characteristics of fibromyalgia, getting adequate sleep is essential to repair damaged tissues. Allot plenty of time for sleep, practice good sleep habits, such as going to bed and getting up at the same time every day. Follow your body’s natural “circadian rhythms” and retire early (ideally around 9pm). Remember, 1 hour of sleep before midnight equals 2 hours after midnight.)

And exercise regularly. At first, exercise may increase your pain. But doing it regularly will lessen the symptoms. However, it should be done according to your tolerance. Start very slowly, say 2-3 minutes for a week and then increase the time by a few minutes per week. Exercise is also a stress on your system that will affect the healing process if it is too vigorous for the stage of recovery you are in. Appropriate exercises often include walking, swimming, bicycling, and water aerobics. A chiropractor can help you develop a home exercise program. Stretching, good posture, and relaxation exercises are also helpful. Go at your pace. Keep your activity at an even level. If you do too much on your good days, you may have more bad days. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eat healthy food. Limit your caffeine intake. Do something that you find enjoyable and satisfying every day.

Follow the simple guidelines offered in this article. For more detailed information, please contact the doctors below. You will learn how to lessen the effects of this disease in your own life. Also, learn other key things related to fibromyalgia treatment, such as:

Many people will see this article. Many will respond and request more information, and not even read it. I can’t help that. But THERE ARE people just like YOU who have read the information and are breaking free of fibromyalgia symptoms. Everything depends on you. You may continue taking medication, following “traditional” fibromyalgia treatments, perhaps still suffering, and perhaps getting worse. Or you can do what hundreds of other fibromyalgia patients have done: get relief through information.