We all know how important it is to exercise no matter whether you want to get in shape or stay in shape. It’s essential that everyone stays active, but if you’re someone with a chronic illness, exercise is even more important, but can also be even more difficult.
Fibromyalgia causes chronic pain or tenderness throughout the muscles and deep tissue. These tender points are most often the neck, back, elbows, or knees. You may have shooting pains coming from these areas which can affect your ability to sleep, move and exercise.
MORE: How a herb can help with fibromyalgia symptoms.
While exercise can relieve pain, it can also be hard because of pain. WebMD suggests focusing on big muscle groups like shoulders, lower back, hips, or areas where you personally have the most pain.
Here are some simple exercises that can help manage pain and keep your body healthy.
Walking: The good news is a something as simple as a 10-minute-walk can help you manage your symptoms. According to WebMD, it’s imperative to warm up—start with your feet and work your way up, moving your joints in slow small circular motions both clockwise and counter clockwise with all your joints. Needless to say, if it hurts, stop.
Light chores: If a 10-minute walk seems to be too much for you right now, don’t worry. The good news is that your daily chores count, too! Spending as little as 30 minutes a day tidying up your home can still help. (You can track this kind of thing on your Smart Watch or Fitbit.)
MORE: Six remarkable things to know about people living with a chronic illness.
Yoga: Researchers from the Oregon Health and Science University put together an eight-week yoga course that focused on breathing, meditation, and poses – all 53 women who took part in the program found relief from their symptoms.
Swimming: You’re probably already very aware, but warm water can help loosen up joints and ease pain. Go for a swim in some warm water—it’s a very effective way to exercise that’s easy on the body.
Stretching: If you’re someone who is currently in a physical therapy program simple, light stretching can also make a big difference.
There are many ways for you to manage your symptoms and for you to take a more active role in your treatment plans. Keep searching to find what’s right for you.
MORE: Three symptoms of severe fibromyalgia nobody talks about.
Fibromyalgia News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
Pets can be of great comfort for people suffering from chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia.There’s a reason why dogs are considered “man’s best friend”: their tremendous loyalty. But your pet doesn’t have to be a dog, your new best friend could easily be a cat, a guinea pig or even a parrot.
There are many reasons why pets are good for both physical and mental well-being, and we’ve listed five of them with help from healthline.com and Fighterzine.
Companionship
The number one reason for having a pet is for companionship. OK, so unless you have a particularly talkative parrot or budgerigar the conversation may only be one way, but having a pet in your life will help fend off loneliness and boredom. Cats and dogs often seem to have a sixth sense when their owners are unwell and will sit quietly by their side keeping them company.
Reduces Stress
Petting cats and dogs has been documented to help reduce stress and boost mood. If it’s not practical to keep a dog or cat in your home, take the time to visit friends or relatives who have pets. You can also volunteer at a local shelter for a few hours so you can give some love to homeless cats and dogs. Staring at pretty aquarium fish or even watching pet birds can have an equally calming effect, helping you unwind.
MORE: Read our columnist Robin Dix’s take on having a pet when you have fibromyalgia.
Provides a Distraction
We know looking after a pet is a big undertaking, but it also acts as a great distraction. No matter what your day’s been like or how you feel, you’ll still need to feed your pet, look after its home and get it outside. Not only will this serve as a distraction to your fibromyalgia but will also give you a sense of purpose and something to focus on.
Forces You to Exercise
If you choose a dog, then you’ll need to take the dog for a walk, which means going outside at least twice a day. The exercise and fresh air will be great for your physical health and mental well-being. If the weather’s nice, there will be the added bonus of soaking up some vitamin D.
Gets You in a Routine
Having a pet to look after means that you need to get into a routine. The type of pet you get will depend on your living arrangements and how severe your fibromyalgia is, but there really is a pet for everyone. Whether you opt for a lizard or a kitten, a goldfish or a rabbit, it will demand your attention and will be totally reliant on you.
MORE: One vlogger discusses three symptoms of fibromyalgia nobody talks about.
Fibromyalgia News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
It’s estimated that between five and 12 million Americans are affected by fibromyalgia, and most of them will be trying to ease the pain using a mixture of over-the-counter medications and prescriptions drugs. However, many fibromyalgia patients are turning to cannabis(medical marijuana) to help ease some of the symptoms associated with the condition.
The Arthritis Society of Canada funds research of medical marijuana for fibromyalgia pain.
Medical marijuana is legal in some states for registered patients, and its health benefits and pain-easing properties have been used for centuries in traditional medicine.
According to a report on suntimes.com, cannabinoids present in medical marijuana help to ease pain, as well as increase appetite and relieve the feeling of nausea.
There have been many studies on the benefits of cannabis for fibromyalgia patients including a 2011 clinical trial in Barcelona, Spain, which found that medical marijuana was useful in the treatment of many fibromyalgia symptoms including pain and stiff joints.
Growing support for medical marijuana in U.S. spurs development of new chronic pain therapies.
Fibromyalgia News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
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