Pain is the common denominator for fibromyalgia patients. If you have fibromyalgia, you probably have experience with prescription pain medications. There are as many reasons to choose not to take opioids and related pharmaceuticals as there are people with fibromyalgia.
Although there haven’t been many formal studies into alternative approaches to fibromyalgia pain, there are all-natural solutions that may be effective in managing your pain. You may find that the best approach for you is a balanced combination.
We’d like to share four all-natural solutions for fibromyalgia pain that we may recommend for our patients here at Pinnacle Health Chiropractic.
A few supplements are widely reported to help with fibromyalgia pain. Before taking any supplements, you should talk with Dr. Ablett about possible interactions with any other medications you’re taking.
A study that explored the association between vitamin D deficiency and fibromyalgia found that patients who took vitamin D supplements had less pain and fatigue than those who took a placebo.
Several other international studies linked fibromyalgia with magnesium deficiency. Supplements may help reduce the tender points so often associated with fibromyalgia. Magnesium can be dangerous for people with kidney conditions though, so check with Dr. Ablett first.
Additional supplements that may show promise for fibromyalgia include:
Before starting any supplements, be sure to talk with Dr. Ablett about your symptoms and your medical history to see what he recommends.
A catch-22 of fibromyalgia is that low-impact exercise may help relieve your pain, but you may be in too much pain or feeling too fatigued to exercise. Finding an activity that you can do on a regular basis can help relieve stress, improve your overall health, and lessen pain due to fibromyalgia.
The most important part of developing an exercise routine is to begin slowly. Even if you only walk for 3-5 minutes at first, it will help and you’ll be able to build up from there. Other activities that may be beneficial include:
Several types of massage are appropriate and effective for pain relief in patients with fibromyalgia. If you have localized pain in your shoulders or neck, massage may be particularly helpful.
Along with pain, fibromyalgia can cause stiffness, and massage is effective in relieving that stiffness and restoring mobility. The relaxation component of massage therapy is also a powerful tool in reducing fibromyalgia pain.
When your body is properly aligned, it functions better mechanically. Chiropractic adjustments allow your bones, connective tissues, and muscles to work together harmoniously, which results in less pain overall.
Because spinal adjustments directly affect the central nervous system, it’s logical that chiropractic care may ease pain. A study published in 2014 found that fibromyalgia patients who received one chiropractic adjustment per week had less pain, better sleep, and fewer symptoms of depression.
If you have fibromyalgia and would like to explore all-natural solutions for your pain, book an appointment online or call us at Pinnacle Health Chiropractic. Dr. Ablett is happy to answer questions and discuss your options.
