Managing fibromyalgia through lifestyle habits

Written by: Dr Salmin Aseri
Published: | Updated: 28/07/2023
Edited by: Robert Smith

Lifestyle habits can impact the severity of fibromyalgia in patients. By making changes to day-to-day living, symptoms can be minimised.
 

fibromyalgia


We spoke to leading consultant pain medicine specialist, Dr Salmin Aseri, to learn more about fibromyalgia and the ways the condition can be managed.
 

Is it ok to exercise if I have fibromyalgia?

If you're in a considerable amount of pain, then it may be recommended to avoid exercise. However, keeping active is a really important part of treatment for fibromyalgia. Not only can health be improved by a combination of aerobic exercise and movements that improve your strength and flexibility, but it can improve fatigue and the ability to control pain.

At first, you may find that your tiredness and pain may become worse. It's recommended to start the same amount of exercise each day, so you build up your stamina and muscle strength.

Aerobic exercise is anything that makes you feel as though your heart is beating faster and that you're a little out of breath. Swimming is recommended for people with fibromyalgia or taking a brisk walk and cycling.

Strengthening exercises can help develop and build the muscles that move and protect your joints. The aim is to do this at least one session a day, either at home or in a gym. Ask a physiotherapist or GP for examples of strengthening exercises you could do at home.

Stretching, or range of movement exercises, can help increase your flexibility and they can be done anywhere. Some people with fibromyalgia have found that yoga and tai chi help.
 

Is there a diet I can try to help improve my fibromyalgia?

There's no particular diet that has been proven to help fibromyalgia. However, it's recommended to maintain a healthy diet. One that is low in sugar, saturated fats, and salt and that incorporates fruit and vegetables. It's also good to drink plenty of water.

Some patients with fibromyalgia find that certain complementary treatments such as acupuncture and massage therapy help their symptoms. Before trying complementary treatment, you should speak to your doctor first in case it affects any other treatment you're on.

Getting enough good-quality sleep is important, and if you don't get enough, it can cause fibromyalgia. Sleep can help with fatigue and tiredness, and can improve pain.

Sleeping tablets aren't normally recommended, as the body can become tolerant to them. This can lead to the effects wearing off and even addiction. Regular activity such as aerobic exercise and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) have proven to be effective for people with disrupted sleep patterns.

You might want to change your habits before bed to help you get a better night's sleep, for example, reading a book or having a warm bath might help.


What else can I do to treat my fibromyalgia?

To further manage fibromyalgia, you may like to try the following:

  • Find a support group in your area or an online forum for people with the condition.
  • Learn about fibromyalgia – understanding it can help reduce your anxiety and fears. It also means you're fully aware of self-management and treatment approaches that may help you.
  • Encourage friends and family to learn more about your condition and to discuss it with them, so they know how the condition affects you.
  • Ensure you talk about any mental health issues with someone you trust or with a medical professional.
  • Working shorter hours and ensuring you have ergonomic equipment to work with.
     

If you would like further guidance on treating fibromyalgia and would like to treat it, we recommend contacting Dr Salmin Aseri who is a highly experienced consultant pain medicine specialist. Visit his Top Doctors profile today for information on appointment availability.

By Dr Salmin Aseri
Pain medicine

Dr Salmin Aseri is a leading consultant in pain medicine and anaesthesia based in North West England. With more than 6 years of experience, he is an expert in all aspects of chronic pain management, whether this is chronic musculoskeletal pain, chronic widespread pain, or chronic complex joint pain (before and/or after joint replacement surgery). Performing over 300 procedures annually, patients with chronic pain from anywhere in the body can benefit from Dr Aseri’s highly-skilled level of care. This includes chronic pain in the shoulders, the elbows, the wrists, the lower back, the neck, the abdomen, or the pelvic area.

Dr Aseri originally qualified from Dr. B A M University, obtaining both his MBBS and his MD in Anaesthesia. Following his initial appointments in the UK, Dr Aseri became a fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists in 2012 and received a CCT in Anaesthetics and Pain Medicine from Health Education North West in 2015. Dr Aseri later went on to complete his Advanced Pain Training at the renowned tertiary pain centre, The Walton Centre for Neurology, Neurosurgery and Pain Medicine, where he acquired expertise in the biopsychosocial management for complex chronic pain. Dr Aseri accomplished a fellowship of the Faculty of Pain Medicine at the Royal College of Anaesthetists in 2016 before going on to take his consultant appointment at St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, where he is also clinical co-lead for interventional pain medicine.

Not only does Dr Aseri greatly contribute to his field with the utmost attention to patient care, he is also involved in medical education, and service innovation and development. He has presented his results on a national and international scale, and is a reviewer for British Medical Journal and Emergency Medical Journal case reports. At present, he is also the course director for the ‘Joint Management of Joint Pain’ study day, which is a Royal College of Anaesthetists approved study day, and regularly collaborates in service development and clinical performance meetings.

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