“Have you found anything at all to provide relief from fibromyalgia?”

Someone recently emailed this question to Dr Wow at HowToLiveOnPurpose.com. She shares her response here in the hope it may assist others:

Thank you for your inquiry. That is a very big question!

It’s not clear what specific relief you want, so I will assume it is related to pain, as that is usually the most poignant and disturbing symptom – although all the fibromyalgia symptoms can be frightening and discouraging.

First of all, let me tell you that I am not a medical doctor, but an integrative psychotherapist who has specialized in working with people with chronic illness and pain.

So the BeHereWow.com blog will offer the natural and complementary (non-pharmaceutical) methods of alleviating pain. It will also focus on symptoms like difficulty exercising, constipation, sleep disturbance, and ‘fibro fog,’ – as well as attitudes (such as resentment, depression, upliftment and hope) and mindset related to pain and illness.

The blog will guide you to finding your life’s purpose or your true passion in spite of the debilitating mindset that so often accompanies chronic conditions. This can give anyone suffering from fibromyalgia symptoms new energy and enthusiasm.

BACKGROUND ON FIBROMYALGIA:

Because of the broad range of possible symptoms (the primary one being chronic widespread pain) and lack of understanding of its causes, Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose. As a result, for a long time it was considered a psychological syndrome. There is now considerable medical research demonstrating that is not true.

In 1987, the American Medical Association finally recognized fibromyalgia as an illness – and a serious cause of disability. The World Health Organization and the National Institute of Mental Health have followed suit.

Yet many doctors still do not have the training to effectively diagnose and treat fibromyalgia.
If your doctor is one of those, you may want to find a new doctor, or if you have no choice, you will need to educate your doctor. (Yes, it can be done.)

Fibromyalgia is not yet curable, but it is treatable. There are many ways to upgrade your health, feel much better and have greater quality of life.

There are numerous different methods available to relieve symptoms and pain, so getting relief is not a simple silver bullet fix.
It is not the same for everyone.

It would be better to think of it more like a journey of exploration through the therapies most likely to assist your particular symptoms and imbalances. You may need to take different medications and try different therapies before finding what helps you.

Do NOT give up because your doctor does. He or she may stop too soon – and you need some pain relief for your body and mind to be able to focus on the self-care that can ultimately bring healing.

PRIMARY SYMPTOMS:

Pain amplification, exercise intolerance, sleep disturbances, fatigue, ‘fibro fog’, depression, and flu-like symptoms.

Although the name fibromyalgia indicates it might be a musculoskeletal condition, the pain amplification is now thought to be the result of chronic abnormally high levels of neurotransmitters (brain chemicals that transmit signals), in this case, pain signals. This process is frequently initiated by stress or trauma. Once elevated, the neurotransmitter levels do not decrease or revert back to normal, but stay chronically elevated in fibromyalgia.

Certain specific traumatic experiences – or triggers (such as pollution, infection, stress and even diet) – can bring on fibromyalgia syndrome. So these are particular issues you would seek to address in the healing process. Once there is some relief from the intense pain, it is possible to relieve the stress and heal the effects of trauma. Many patients have reported that the elevated pain levels then lowered to or towards normal.

In their excellent reference book, Fibromyalgia & Chronic Myofascial Pain: A SURVIVAL MANUAL (by Devin Starlanyl and Mary Ellen Copeland), the authors – who both have dealt with severe cases of fibromyalgia – offer detailed help and hope. They offer medical information, including on medications, and ways to communicate with and get better help from doctors.

They also discuss – side by side with getting pain relief – the critical importance of doing the “mindwork,” the bodywork and the emotional healing work. They present information on most methods for doing so in this and other books. They go on to say that in order to come to real recovery from the setbacks of this illness, you need “to have a better relationship with your own self… You need to become your own best friend.”

Their work and new integrative healing and self-care approaches for relieving muscle tension and  mental fatigue are used for stress reduction with patients in serious chronic pain and illness. They are offered here, and in the Mini Course available at no charge.

This Mini Course includes simple, easy ways to have creative guided meditation processes for pain reduction, relaxation and emotional release.
May they bring you into greater joy and fulfillment.

If you are willing and open to new awareness of yourself,
You can do phenomenal things to affect your health and happiness.
Yes, you. You can release stress and grow into your more productive, energized, amazing self.

For techniques and resources from integrative medicine and counseling,
to help with the physical and emotional challenges of any serious health issues, get your…

Free Mini Course: Living with Purpose and Passion
in Spite of Pain, Illness or Disability

If you’re ready to alleviate painful symptoms, release feelings of resentment or despair, and
find ways to lift yourself into a new life where you feel better, you can!

Just Click on: Get My Free Mini Course

Or go to: http://beherewow.com/freeminicourse
You can also subscribe to the rss feed in your reader. Just click  here or on the orange chicklet on the upper right corner of any page on BeHereWow.com.

A disability or chronic illness can be painful and discouraging,
but it doesn’t have to limit your potential for joy and fulfillment.

No matter what your next step is, take good care of yourself and
give yourself appreciation!

You absolutely deserve that!
Best wishes for your relief and success in overcoming the distress of fibromyalgia!

With Deep Appreciation for You,
Julianne Blake PhD
Dr Wow!
Founder of BeHereWow.com
Ambassador for Overcoming Chronic Pain on HowToLiveOnPurpose.com
and The 21-Day “I AM a Gift to the World!” Challenge

Again, if you want a series of simple, easy ways to care for you, feel new and become your own best friend, you can get your Mini Course above.
Please leave a comment below and share your interests and concerns.
(If you’re not reading this on the BeHereWow.com blog, just click the link to leave your comment.) Your input and feedback are so appreciated.