Fibromyalgia Pain and Alternative Treatments

Are you dealing with fibromyalgia pain?

While there is no known cure for this often misunderstood and mysterious syndrome, there are many ways to address the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Let’s look at some of the more common alternative treatments for fibromyalgia.

It’s important to work with your doctor or health care professional to come up with a plan that is tailored just for you and your symptoms. He or she may prescribe medications to help you deal with the pain, the sleeplessness or headaches. But do you really want to be taking pills for the rest of your life?

There is a host of fibromyalgia alternative therapies that you might consider trying to deal with the major and minor problems that you are experiencing. Many of these are tried and true methods based on eastern medicine or ancient techniques. The important thing is to have an open mind and remember that taking a pill does not necessarily solve all of your problems.

Acupuncture:
This ancient eastern healing therapy has roots that go back thousands of years. Originating in China, acupuncture is based on the concept of qi, or the energy that flows through the body. Very small needles are inserted into the body, usually along meridian lines or trigger points. A well trained acupuncturist may have whole host of ideas for ways to work with your fibromyalgia symptoms, especially to lessen the pain. Acupuncture may be used in conjunction with Chinese herbal medicine.

Acupressure:
Also an ancient healing art, acupressure is similar to acupuncture except that no needles are used. A trained therapist will use their hands to apply pressure to different points of your body to help bring relief from the pain, aid with sleeplessness and to assist with healthy digestion.

Relaxation techniques:
Meditation and visualization are two relaxation methods can have many benefits. They can help you ease pain, calm your mind, sleep better and help combat depression. They can also help with your overall sense of well being. There are many resources for meditation and visualization instruction. Try downloading some tracks off of iTunes, or check your local library for CD’s.

Aromatherapy and essential oils:
Aromatherapy is gaining recognition as an alternative healing method that uses essential oils to promote a sense of well-being, help with pain relief and to increase cognitive functions. There are many ways to use essential oils including on compresses, in the bath or in a burner to release the scent into a room. Many health food stores carry a wide selection essential oils, each of which has its own healing properties. Speak with an herbal specialist to find the oil that will be most beneficial to you.

Breathing exercises:
If you are having extreme amounts of pain, breathing exercises might be able to help get them under control. This is similar to natural childbirth methods that use a series of deep breaths and short, shallow, almost panting breaths. When you are experiencing pain, try this exercise: inhale, counting to 10 as you do, and exhale also counting to 10. Repeat. As you do this, try to visualize breathing in white, healing light and focus it on the places that are causing you the most pain. When you breath out, let go of any negative feelings or emotions and push the pain out of your body.

With some practice, these techniques can help you instantly get a good handle on pain. They also can help when you feel a headache coming on or if you are having problems sleeping.

Supplements:
It’s important to make sure that your body is getting all of the vitamins and minerals that it needs. You might ask your doctor to do a blood test to check your levels for certain nutrients. You can than work  out a plan to determine what supplements will be best for you. Your local health food store typically carries a wide variety of supplements.

Fibromyalgia pain management massages and body wraps:
Not only will a trip to the spa relax you, it can also help alleviate your pain. Many spas offer therapeutic treatments such as massages and body wraps that can be used to help with your specific fibromyalgia symptoms. Do a search on the internet to locate a spa in your area that offers these services. Don’t forget to see if your insurance will cover some or all of the cost of these treatments.

Physical therapy:
A good physical therapist can help guide you through a series of gentle stretches and exercises that are tailored just for you. They may also use gentle pressure point or sports massage therapy to help ease some of the pain. Sessions may even be covered by your health insurance, be sure to check if yours are.

Hot compresses:
Some people have had pain relief by applying hot compresses to flaring trigger points. Use a hot water bottle, heating pad or a towel that has been soaked in hot water applied directly to the painful area. Be careful that it is not so hot as to burn your skin.

As you can see, there are many alternative treatments that will help with fibromyalgia pain relief and bring your symptoms under control. It may take some experimenting and trial and error to find the combination that works best for you, but with some persistence, you can implement a treatment plan and lifestyle changes that let you get back to living your life.