5 effective tips to combat fibromyalgia flare-ups!
effective tips to combat fibromyalgia flare-ups!
Not only do I have trouble falling asleep at night, but I also wake up frequently… Even if I sleep well, I wake up in the morning feeling exhausted, as if I haven’t slept at all… I’m so weak I can’t even move my arm… The pain in my muscles and bones never stops… If you are also experiencing these problems, the cause may be fibromyalgia, a condition often thought to primarily affect young and middle-aged women, but which is actually common in all age groups and men as well!
Fibromyalgia, a significant health problem today, is a common rheumatic disease in Turkey, affecting approximately 9% of the population. It is estimated that around 100 people are diagnosed with fibromyalgia each year, and this number is expected to increase annually. Widespread body pain, accompanied by fatigue, sleep disturbances, headaches, mood swings, and bowel problems, can significantly reduce quality of life. Furthermore, the relative nature of symptoms, the ability to mimic many other diseases, and the lack of definitive diagnostic tests mean that diagnosis can take many years.
Prof. Dr. Şule Arslan, a Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Specialist at Acıbadem Bakırköy Hospital , states that while there is no definitive cure for fibromyalgia, symptoms can be controlled with various treatment methods. She says, “The symptoms seen in fibromyalgia can vary from person to person. Therefore, treatment is tailored to the patient’s needs. In addition to personalized treatments, adjustments to lifestyle habits play a key role in treatment.”
5 key strategies for fibromyalgia treatment!
Prof. Dr. Şule Arslan explains the 5 important rules that fibromyalgia patients should pay attention to in their lifestyle habits as follows:
- Try to avoid physical and mental stress, as it can worsen symptoms.
- Inactivity can lead to weight gain and increased symptoms of fibromyalgia. Therefore, avoid a sedentary life.
- Make sure to stay at your ideal weight. Because weight control can be effective in reducing the severity of pain. In addition, an anti-inflammatory diet can reduce some symptoms.
- Make it a habit to exercise regularly. However, most fibromyalgia patients state that they feel too tired to exercise or that their pain increases when they exercise. This problem can be seen in anyone who has long-term pain complaints and starts an intense exercise program. Therefore, you need to avoid intense exercises. Do not forget that staying active and regular exercise are one of the important steps of treatment.
- Paying attention to sleep hygiene reduces the risk of symptom flare-ups.
Although the reason is still unknown…
Although the cause of fibromyalgia is still unknown, it is generally accepted to stem from a disruption in the brain’s pain processing mechanisms (central hypersensitivity). While the factors leading to the disease are not fully understood, studies suggest that genetic predisposition, sleep disorders, neurohormonal imbalances, infections, perfectionist personality traits, and severe physical or emotional trauma may play a role in the development of central hypersensitivity.
Localized pain spreads over time.
Pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive impairments, and mood changes are the most common complaints in fibromyalgia. Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Specialist Prof. Dr. Şule Arslan points out that the severity of symptoms can change significantly during the course of the disease, stating, “Also, the pain, which is usually localized at the beginning, becomes more widespread over time. The pain is often affected by factors such as cold and humid weather, lack of sleep, and physical and mental stress. Even without any objective clinical findings during a physical examination, patients complain of swelling and sensory changes in the joints.”
From sleep disorders to headaches…
One of the common symptoms of fibromyalgia is sleep disorders. Unrestful sleep, frequent awakenings during the night, difficulty falling asleep, and waking up tired in the morning are common symptoms. Professor Dr. Şule Arslan also notes that tension headaches or migraine-type headaches are frequently observed, adding, “Allergic symptoms, dry eyes, palpitations, shortness of breath, painful menstrual periods, premenstrual syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, sexual dysfunction, weight fluctuations, night sweats, difficulty swallowing, restless leg syndrome, temporomandibular joint pain, and chronic fatigue syndrome are also among the most frequently reported problems.”
Treatment is tailored to the individual.
While there is no definitive cure for fibromyalgia today, symptoms can be controlled. Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Specialist Prof. Dr. Şule Arslan states, “The goal of treatment is to improve the quality of life of patients by alleviating their symptoms through pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods,” and continues: “As part of the treatment program for fibromyalgia patients, awareness techniques, physical therapy modalities, acupuncture, and hydrotherapy/balneotherapy programs are recommended, tailored to the patient’s clinical condition and circumstances. Furthermore, stress management techniques, sleep hygiene, and proper nutrition are also of great importance in treatment.”
Prof. Dr. Şule Arslan points out that regular exercise is also an important part of the treatment, saying, “Studies have shown that aerobic exercises, strengthening exercises, and flexibility exercises have beneficial effects on fibromyalgia patients. Walking, cycling, swimming, aquatic exercises, Tai-chi, and yoga are other effective exercises we recommend.”
