6 Simple Ways to Improve Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

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I've successfully coped with fibro for over 15 years. I still have pain and occasional flares and have to spend a lot of time in self-care. The flares are usually a result of not saying 'no' and taking on too much.
Alternate activity and rest. When the pain levels go up after several hours of activity (yard or house work, shopping, etc.), try a short nap (not 2-3 hours!). Horizontal relaxation can be as effective as a pain reliever. Try listening to a relaxation or visualization recording. After an hour of being relatively still (computer, TV, desk work, crafts, etc.), get up and do something (light housework, light weights and stretching, etc.).
We tend to tense up in response to pain, which causes still more pain in a downward spiral. Warmth (heating pad, hot shower, sauna, etc.), relaxation, stretching, and massage can counter this secondary pain.
Try an epsom salts hot bath (1-2 cups, depending on tub size). Magnesium sulfate and heat seems to draw the pain out of muscles. Shower afterwards to remove excess magnesium sulfate from your skin. Lots of fibro folks are deficient in magnesium, which can be absorbed through the skin. Magnesium sulfate cream can also be helpful on the sorest areas. Caution: too much magnesium can give you diarrhea, so back off on the amount of magnesium if that happens.
Massage can help loosen up tense muscles and fascia, trigger natural endorphins, and get blood into areas that have been so tense they aren't getting enough. Try some self-massage. Initially, massage can be painful, especially if you don't communicate quickly and clearly with the therapist about what strokes are too deep or too repetitive. Start with light strokes distributed all over. Later the therapist can work deeper or more on particular spots.
Research shows that significant sleep deprivation can actually trigger fibro symptoms in healthy people. So, practice good 'sleep hygiene'. Sleep in a cool, dark room with no sudden loud sounds (run a sound machine). Go to bed and get up around the same time every day. Lower light levels an hour or so before sleep so that melatonin levels can rise and make you sleepy (TV and computer screens keep you activated). Don't do heavy exercise or eat a heavy meal right before bed. A little light weight lifting/stretching can actually help lower the pain enough to drop off to sleep. Drink sparingly in the evening to avoid middle-of-the-night bathroom trips. Cut the caffeine off early in the day and avoid alcohol in the evening (it disrupts sleep).
Be sure your medical team is treating anything else that could be responsible for pain or fatigue: thyroid, anemia, blood sugar, depression, sleep disorders (apnea, restless leg syndrome), or hormones (particularly progesterone levels for women; also estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol). Avoid pharmaceutical designer substitutes for estrogen and progesterone; they cause more problems than they solve (bio-identicals have a lower side-effect profile).

Laurelin of AR 10:41AM November 14, 2010

I have been diagnosised since 1997 with Fibromyalgia and I've found
out that drinking cokes causes my pain to be aweful. Sugar is your
enemy, so is white potatoes. Anything that turns to sugar will hurt
you bad, if you don't believe me, try eating a lot of sweets before
bedtime and you can't hardly get out of bed in the mornings. I try
to stay busy, I got into art and when I started taking painting lessons I found that doing something you love will help so much.
I still eat the wrong things sometimes, it's so hard to remember the things that hurt you when you are with friends or out and about. So many of my family members have the same disease.

Annie of AL 8:41AM June 28, 2010

I've had fibromyalgia since 2002, I have other issues too, don't we all. But I found that by doing, the steps in this story, that I've been able to stop myself from sitting in self pitty and pain, and begin to learn to live with this nasty condition, and I am one of the few males with this, I'm glad women aren't being told it's just in thier heads anymore.

James Krutz of AZ 8:23PM April 20, 2010

I began having aching legs whilst taking statins for high cholesterol and came off the drug. It appeared to get better but for a year now my legs have ached and even feel very painful especially when in bed. How do you know if you have FM. could I have had this whilst taking the statins and it was wrongly diagnosed? I would be grateful for advice

Mrs Jean Winslet of LA 12:49PM April 20, 2010

I was diagnosed 3 yrs ago, i am still having tests as i have shooting pains in my head , i am having a mri scan on 23rd april to see what is causing the pain in my brain, i take pain killers of a night time and during the day, i have 2 children

julie kefford 4:22AM April 20, 2010

I am wondering if I am just crazy or what? I have copd with 50 percent lung fungtion when i get sick they shoot me full of so many steriods that i have gained alot of weight , I know i do have Fibormayalgi, i am on meds for it, what i cant understand is the awful pain that just stays and i have not heard of people who have it in there feet, i cant even walk they hurt so bad and on the tops they swel and hurt so badit is like something has taken over my whole body I just dont understand it, and doctors these days you can hardly talk to are they think you just want pills, i dont even ask for them but this is in my feet hands arms it just hurts so bad, have you known anyone who has had this in there fee? Thank you so much Karan York

Karan of TX 1:00AM April 06, 2010

I was diagnoised with FM about 5 yrs ago. I sort of gave in to the fatigue and pain. I've been walking for an hour every morning (right after arising from bed)for about 6 months. I have found this to be of tremendous help. I try to stay active throught the day. By so doing, I don't pay as much attention to the pain as I did before.

English essay of MI 3:40PM April 04, 2010

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia one year ago, this after so many test and no real cause of the pain, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis four years ago and I ahve "learned" to live with the constant pain, I prefer cold weather than hot, i actually can move--I get up every morning about 5:30 to get ready for my children to go to school, it takes me one and a half hours to just get out of bed, i hurt so bad at times i cry myself to sleep- i take the self-injector Embrel-once a week and a few other meds that don't work--living with the pain has become the normal day of living

Monica Pellegrin of LA 12:34AM April 04, 2010

I was diagnoised with FM about 5 yrs ago. I sort of gave in to the fatigue and pain. I've been walking for an hour every morning (right after arising from bed)for about 6 months. I have found this to be of tremendous help. I try to stay active throught the day. By so doing, I don't pay as much attention to the pain as I did before.

marie of AZ 10:45PM April 03, 2010

Bill G. she does commercials for osteoporosis. But the public announcements they do have about the very painful condition is a major push in the direction of understanding, knowledge and potential help for FM.

Jennifer L of CA 5:01PM April 01, 2010