When you’re among the 5% of women and men around the world who suffer from fibromyalgia, you may despair of ever feeling comfortable again. Fibromyalgia causes musculoskeletal tenderness and pain, and it’s often accompanied by fatigue and brain fog.

Up to 96% of people diagnosed with fibromyalgia are women. However, researchers suspect that men suffer at similar rates but don’t receive a diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).

Although fibromyalgia is considered a lifetime disorder, you don’t necessarily experience nonstop pain; it may come and go. The aim of treatment is to increase the time between flare-ups and reduce their severity.

At Advanced Medical Care in Queens and Brooklyn, New York, our health and wellness team helps you find relief from fibromyalgia. From lifestyle recommendations to treatments such as massage and intravenous (IV) treatments with glutathione, you can learn to manage your disease.

How can you reduce your fibromyalgia flare-ups? Although we recommend a customized treatment plan, following are some effective steps to manage the condition.

Say no to more stress

Life is stressful. Some stress is even beneficial, because it forces you and your body to grow and get stronger. Exercise and periods of fasting, for instance, are types of beneficial stress.

But chronic stress can lead to chronic disease. Try to minimize stressors in your life so your body gets a break and the rest it needs to properly recover each day and night. Say “no” to activities or chores that you don’t need to do. Delegate so that you have more time for self-care steps, such as:

• Meditation
• Warm baths
• Listening to music
• Hanging out with friends
• Reading a good book
• Engaging in a hobby
• Joining a club, church, or gym

Doing activities that you enjoy helps minimize stress hormones in your body. 

Pamper your body

Even if you try to consciously relax, your body may be tense from pain and stress. Many treatments that benefit people with fibromyalgia do so because they help the body relax.

Massage can remove stress from your body by addressing trigger points of pain, where your muscles have formed tight knots. You may also benefit from acupuncture, which can help your body relax, sleep, and repair.

Prioritize sleep

When you feel overwhelmed with all of the things you need to do in a day, it may seem that sleep is a luxury. But in reality, it’s a necessity. Sleep is a very busy time for your body to repair and rebuild.

You may have a sleep breathing disorder, such as sleep apnea, that prevents you from a fully restful sleep. This, in turn, can make it harder for your body to handle stress, which worsens fibromyalgia. 

In addition, chronic pain makes it difficult to rest and sleep. Our sleep medicine specialists can help with all forms of insomnia so you get the deep and restorative sleep you need.

Stay active

Chronic pain may make you avoid moving, but that’s counterproductive when it comes to musculoskeletal conditions such as fibromyalgia and arthritis. Your joints and muscles must move and undergo healthy stress in order to stay flexible and strong.

If you’re not used to exercising, let us know. We can help you design an exercise program that gives your body what it needs while keeping you engaged. We may also recommend physical therapy to help you gain strength and mobility.

Get the nutrition your body needs

Inflammatory foods such as sugars, simple carbohydrates, and trans fats may worsen your fibromyalgia. Adopt a whole-foods diet that emphasizes fresh foods, such as:

• Dark, leafy greens
• Cruciferous vegetables
• Low-glycemic fruits
• Whole grains
• Nuts, seeds, and legumes
• Grass-fed and pastured meats, poultry, and eggs
• Wild-caught fish and seafood
• Healthy fats such as avocado and olive oil

We may also recommend IV drip therapy that contains a powerful antioxidant called glutathione. Your body produces glutathione in your liver to keep your immune system strong and repair damaged cells. However, you may not make enough on your own.

Glutathione can help your brain repair and restore to reduce brain fog. It also removes toxins from the body, including heavy metals, which may contribute to fibromyalgia, fatigue, and brain fog.

Turn to medications

When your fibromyalgia flares up, we also have medical options to help keep you comfortable. Depending on the type and severity of your symptoms, we may prescribe painkillers, antidepressants, or anti-seizure drugs.

Help send your fibromyalgia symptoms to the background with our innovative, customized treatment plans. To get the help you need from a caring, experienced team, contact Advanced Medical Care at the location near you today.