Top tips for working with fibromyalgia and working through fibro in a work environment. Tips such as a making lists, comfortable clothing, and work place accommodations.
Have you ever heard of the term 'fibromyalgia'? If you are already suffering from this disorder, you might be well aware of the pain it brings along.
How many of these gifts are on your wish list? What would you add?
The holiday season is upon us. Discover the best gifts for women; your mom, wife, daughter, or friend will appreciate a thoughtful gift to ease their fibromyalgia pain.
WELCOME! Fibro Friday week 400 is open now at Fibro Blogger Directory (FBD). It starts each Friday and runs for six days. So please drop back in anytime. We'd love you to join in this week by sharing your link. You don't need to be a member of FBD to join in, just have an article about fibromyalgia that you have written. If you don't have something to share you can still have fun clicking on the links below and finding out what those living with fibro have to say this week. It's a great way to find new fibro friends. You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter
It's been over a decade since I developed full-blown, symptomatic fibromyalgia. I had no idea what I was dealing with, least of all any potential fibromyalgia cures.
Stage 1 At the very start of fibromyalgia, you are going to feel mild pain and fatigue. You are going to feel tired all the time. Because of this tiredness, you might not be able to do your daily job perfectly. You are holding to your job but you are pretty sure that something is […]
One of the most important parts of treating fibromyalgia is a healthy fibro diet. To help with fibro recipes, here is January's monthly fibromyalgia meals.
"I thought it was completely normal to feel the way I did."
Do you have chronic pain from Fibromyalgia? If so, you probably already know what I'm going to say. If not, find out why I love and hate taking a shower.
It is best for anyone who has fibromyalgia to choose an exercise they enjoy and one that doesn’t cause a worsening of symptoms.
I love sharing #FunnyFibro humor on twitter each and every day and often on facebook. For those of you who are not on those platforms I am sharing some of the Funny Fibro's I shared on them last month here and hope you enjoy them. Seeing the humorous side of things can help us overcome many of the stressful situations we may face when we live with chronic illness. When you see or read a joke that relates to what you are experiencing, or have experienced, it makes you feel connected to a wider community as you see that others understand and are going through the same things. Humor is a great tool for dealing with life's ups and downs. Being able to see the lighter side of things is a great skill for helping us overcome problems and research has shown that it can actually support both emotional and physical health. I also have a Fibromyalgia humor board on PINTEREST and I share other Funny Fibro jokes about fatigue here.
The Disabled Diva shares her top 3 favorite alternative fibromyalgia treatments. And the favorites of her fellow bloggers too!
Can you do anything about fibromyalgia weight gain? Yes you can! Find out how I lost weight and then ran a half marathon!
The Sole purpose of this article is to give an idea to our friends and family that “We are not faking it”. Fibromyalgia is a mysterious and hidden disease. On the outside, Person affected with fibromyalgia seems healthy which causes the other people to see us in good shape, While on the inside only fibromyalgia […]
"Fibro doesn’t care if you have things to do that day; if it is a bad pain day, it is a bad pain day.”
Losing weight with fibromyalgia can be a struggle, but it does't have to be. This guide will help you navigate a healthy and effective weight loss plan.
Fibromyalgia is one F word after another! It is felonious, ferocious, freaky, frightening, and so much more!
If you're living with fibromyalgia, you know that every day is a new challenge. On the outside, you may look healthy and as if you're living well. But in reality, you might be suffering from severe pain, chronic fatigue, and emotional anguish. There's so much to think about – from managing your symptoms to finding ways to cope to simply getting through the day. I've put together this list of 12 essential tips for living with fibromyalgia. I hope these tips will help make your life a little bit e
Chronic Pain or Chronic Pain Syndrome is complex and difficult to treat. Part 1 of this guide will help you to understand what is chronic pain, the different types of chronic pain (somatic, inflammatory, nociceptive, neuropathic, visceral) & the differences between acute pain and chronic pain. Knowledge is power.
A list of common fibromyalgia symptoms and uncommon fibromyalgia symptoms. Includes a free symptom tracking checklist and resource explaining cause of fibro symptoms.
"Anyone who hasn’t experienced non-stop widespread pain really has no idea what this experience has been like."
The symptoms of fibromyalgia are found in so many other illnesses. That's why diagnosis is problematic. Here are 14 reasons why it may NOT be Fibromyalgia... Fibromyalgia has many, varied and fluctuating symptoms. It should be considered when a patient describes a history of widespread pain, with no evident cause, that lasts three months or more. As well as this chronic musculoskeletal pain, whichaffects the bones, ligaments, muscles, nerves and tendons they have fatigue and sleep problems and stiffness. These symptoms are usually accompanied by a number of other conditions such as sensitivity to chemicals, irritable bowel or restless legs and depression or anxiety. The symptoms can often start, or worsen, during a period of severe psychosocial or physical stress. Fibromyalgia presents a unique medical problem: Its symptoms are so common, that it is both underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed. Because there are no blood tests or scans to easily diagnose it, many physicians have trouble detecting the disorder. It can NOT be easily confirmed or ruled out with a simple blood test. It can't be seen on an X-ray or MRI. Instead, fibromyalgia appears to be linked to changes in how the brain and spinal cord process pain signals. Because there is no test for fibromyalgia, your doctor must rely solely on your group of symptoms to make a diagnosis and rule out other conditions. The key symptoms of fibromyalgia are also commonly found in many other illnesses, and a thorough examination and investigation needs to be undertaken in order to ensure there is not another pathological cause for the symptoms – particularly if there are any ‘red flags’ in the patient’s history suggestive of another serious pathology (Table 1). Table 1. Red flags Older age at new symptom onset Weight loss Night pain Focal pain Fever or sweats Neurological features History of malignancy Doctors need to rule out: arthritis lupus multiple sclerosis chronic fatigue syndrome polymyalgia rheumatica hypothyroidism depression polymyositis hyperparathyroidism adrenal insufficiency myasthenia gravis cushing’s syndrome sjogren's syndrome Infection: chronic viral infection, HIV, hepatitis, Lyme disease So if a doctor asks you about your mood, or skin rashes, or sends you for a blood test of your antibodies or an MRI they are just doing their job. They are ruling out these 14 conditions which have similar symptoms to Fibromyalgia. It is important to do so because these 14 conditions have specific treatments. Symptoms NOT usually found in Fibromyalgia include: arthritis: swelling and redness, loss of motion in joints lupus: butterfly-shaped rash across cheeks and nose, anemia, abnormal blood clotting multiple sclerosis: brain lesions on an MRI chronic fatigue syndrome: profound fatigue that is more intense than pain, sore thoat polymyalgia rheumatica: average age of onset is 70, elevated levels of inflammatory proteins in blood. hypothyroidism: thyroid autoantibodies are common depression: polymyositis: muscle weakness in proximal muscles: upper arms, thighs. hyperparathyroidism: presence of hypercalcemia adrenal insufficiency: severe exhaustion, not typically associated with chronic widespread pain. myasthenia gravis: neurologic signs characteristic of specific disease. cushing’s syndrome: characteristic facial and skin signs of Cushing’s syndrome sjogren's syndrome: dry eyes and dry mouth, presence of anti bodies specific to Sjogren's Infection: chronic viral infection, HIV, hepatitis, Lyme disease Getting a Diagnosis I suggest that you keep a diary of your symptoms. This should make it easier to talk to your doctor or specialist. Especially if you have memory problems, writing things down will provide the doctor with the information that they need to make a correct diagnosis. When you go to a consultation go with: a list of questions a list of current medications a brief medical history including your parents main conditions a list of your symptoms When writing the list of your symptoms try and remember what were your first symptoms and what year they started and then the next symptoms and the year etc. as many doctors ask these questions. More clues for fibromyalgia diagnosis (from MayoClinic) People who have fibromyalgia also often wake up tired, even after they've slept continuously for more than eight hours. Brief periods of physical or mental exertion may leave them exhausted. They may also have problems with short-term memory and the ability to concentrate. If you have these problems, your doctor may ask you to rank how severely they affect your day-to-day activities. Fibromyalgia often coexists with other health problems, so your doctor may also ask if you experience: Irritable bowel syndrome Headaches Jaw pain Anxiety or depression Frequent or painful urination Remember that all ongoing pain should be evaluated. I am saying this because after a while of not getting a diagnosis you may start to question whether the pain is all in your head. Lee Good has 20+ years of experience helping people with chronic illness to understand research information and is recognized as a leader in patient advocacy. She is the WEGO winner, 2018/19 for building the best patient community around Fibromyalgia and editor at Fibro Blogger Directory, which is a community of fibromyalgia bloggers. RESOURCES: Fibromyalgia: Understand the diagnosis process MayoClinic Diagnostic challenges: Australian Family Physician Musculoskeletal Pain: Cleveland Clinic
Are you experiencing brain fog, strange tingling and body aches? These may be signs of fibromyalgia. Read to learn more about this condition.
What is Fibromyalgia? Living with fibromyalgia is tough. It invades all parts of your body and affects your quality of life. The major symptom is pain,
Learn about the GAPS diet and gut healing for fibromyalgia symptoms. One mom reversed her condition with a natural fibromyalgia treatment.
Pain is not the sole symptom of fibromyalgia. Beyond pain many experience fatigue, sleep disturbance, cognitive impairment, and a long list of symptoms.
Research tells us that 50 percent of people with fibromyalgia report pain in their feet. Here I will discuss some of the reasons, what can be done about them and share my own personal story with fibro and feet problems. Fibromyalgia is a long term pain disorder. This means that you live with pain each and everyday and it can be in any part of our body. Today I am talking about the feet. The foot has three areas; the ankle, the middle and the toes. They have many muscles, nerves and joints... actually there are 26 bones and 33 joints in each foot. The feet bear the weight of our body, so it’s not surprising that we get pain in this area. As well as pain in the feet pain can be referred to our ankles, knees, hips and back from problems in the feet. If your foot pain is persistent, your doctor can help determine the best treatment. The feet are complex as can be seen in this illustration of the muscles. There are many conditions that cause foot pain. These conditions may not be caused by fibromyalgia but fibro is what amplifies the pain. Osteoarthritis may cause episodes of pain and swelling in one or multiple joints. It can also cause bone enlargement and changes in the shape of feet, which may also cause pain. Between 10-15% of people with osteoarthritis also have fibromyalgia. Treatment includes: Anti-inflammatory drugs. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers. Wearing pads or arch supports. A steroid injection into the foot. Using canes or braces to support the joints. Using an orthotic in the shoes. Physical therapy. Wearing custom shoes. Plantar fasciitis causes pain in the heel. It is an inflammation of the band of connective tissue on the surface of the foot connecting your heel bone to your toes. Usually, it hurts the worst in the morning when first getting out of bed. You feel it in your heel or the arch of your foot. Treatment includes: Resting your foot. Specific heel and foot muscle stretches. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers. Wearing shoes with both an arch support and a cushioned heel. Heel spurs are a growth of bone on the bottom of your heel. You can be caused by wearing ill-fitting shoes or from postural problems or from running. They hurt when you walk, run or stand. They are more common in people with flat feet or high arches. Treatment includes: Resting your foot. Wearing a horseshoe shaped pad. Using an orthotic in the shoe. Wearing shoes with shock-absorbing soles. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers. Trying physical therapy. Morton's neuroma causes a thickening around the nerves between the base of the toes (usually between the third and fourth toes). You may` feel pain, or numbness on the ball of your foot. It can be a result of wearing high heels or tight shoes. Treatment includes: Wearing shoe inserts to reduce pressure on the nerve. A steroid injection into the foot. Taking pain relievers. Don’t wear high-heeled shoes or ones with a narrow toe box. Avoid activities that put pressure on the neuroma. Ask your doctor about surgery. Sesamoiditis is the inflammation of tendons near the big toe. It’s a form of tendinitis, common with runners and ballet dancers. Treatment includes: Resting your feet. Icing where it hurts. Wearing a pad under the toe. Taping the toe to immobilize the joint. Wearing low-heeled shoes. Asking your doctor about steroid injections. Flat feet, happen when the arches of the feet flatten. It can cause foot pain. Treatment includes: wearing shoe inserts shoe adjustments resting Neuropathy is nerve damage in the feet. The pain can be burning, stinging, or feel like electricity. It can happen anywhere in the feet. Treatment includes: Pain relievers. Anti-seizure medications. Topical treatments. Specific Antidepressants that may block the nerve pain. Tendinitis is inflammation and irritation of the tendons, the bands attaching the muscles to the bones. Treatment includes: Resting your foot. Taking pain relievers. Steroid injections. My own personal story with fibro and feet problems. I have a history of fibromyalgia and peripheral neuropathy. I was a ballet dancer for many years so I am no stranger to foot pain. Also I have always had a large bone on the heel of both feet which I recently found out is called Haglund's deformity. It has never really caused me a problem until recently except for finding shoes that were soft at the back. Switch to lower heels About seven years ago I decided I would never wear heeled shoes again. I wore them very rarely but the last two times I did they caused so much pain and I went over on my right heel both times. I had difficulty just walking in normal shoes but having so much pain, from fibro, in the legs and hips and feet it is hard to work out where the problem is originating from. My foot pain did not improve. I started to focus on my feet more. I have found thick rubber soled shoes very helpful. I prefer lace up walking shoes for the best comfort. I was never a person who even wore shoes around the house so this is a big, and beneficial, change for me. I also researched and bought support socks which really do give a feeling of extra support. Also wearing supportive socks is very soothing and does seem to reduce the tingling. The ones I really like are Thorlos Unisex Walking Thick Padded Crew Sock or any sock that is padded in the foot. I find they really give more support and less pressure on the foot. My peripheral neuropathy became unbearable, as besides being in the feet and legs, hands and arms it was in my face. The doctor at the pain clinic suggested a small anti-depressant dose which worked brilliantly to block the sensations. Once these tingling pain sensations were blocked I could feel other pains in my feet when I walked or stood too much. The pain on walking increased and I did develop plantar fasciitis in one foot. I did the prescribed exercises and stretches and after a while the pain subsided. I then developed pain in the achilles area and the heel. I also realised that the bone that protudes at the back of my heel, (haglund's deformity) was causing a pulling sensation and also aching a lot of the time. See the doctor. If you are like me it is difficult to work out what is wrong with your own feet and you really need an expert to navigate through all the pain and limping. I am still awaiting my appointment with the specialist and will update this when I find out the official diagnosis. How I keep moving. What I have learnt is it is important to keep my joints moving. However I needed to try different types of exercise because of the painful feet. I am exercising in water. The buoyancy of the water takes the pressure off my ankles and feet and I can move more freely than I can on land. I can also get my heart rate up, for a short while, so this may help with weight loss. Support shoes I went to the Athletes Foot shoe store where they assess your walk and they said my right foot was pronating which means it needs an arch support. I purchased the shoes they suggested and I can feel that they support my feet much better but I still have foot pain. I also purchased the shoe inserts they suggested which I can put in my other shoes. These orthotics have a slight arch and extra heel support. So my suggestions for reducing foot pain include: Switch to lower heels. Lose weight if you need to. Exercise in water. Wear support socks. Wear support shoes designed for your foot. Wear orthotics. See a foot doctor: a podiatrist or an orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeon. So you can see that feet problems can be ongoing and complex. I have learnt a lot but am still awaiting professional help. Do you have a foot problem that I have not mentioned here? I would love to hear about it. RESOURCES: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) U.S. National Library of Medicine. WebMD Arthritis Australia
I have decided to share my journal with my readers. A way for this fibro mom to be raw and real with my readers to reveal that we all struggle, celebrate, and embrace our ups and downs.
"They think I'm just being rude..."
What is Fibromyalgia? Living with fibromyalgia is tough. It invades all parts of your body and affects your quality of life. The major symptom is pain,
How to calm fibromyalgia flare-ups? Improving quality of life with fibromyalgia means taking medication, exercise, and lifestyle changes.
Do fibromyalgia brains actually function differently than healthy brains? This study says that yes they do.
The Disabled Diva shares her top 3 favorite alternative fibromyalgia treatments. And the favorites of her fellow bloggers too!
There are many other medications used to treat fibromyalgia symptoms. One of these medications is gabapentin for fibromyalgia.
Can you relate?
Pain is not the sole symptom of fibromyalgia. Beyond pain many experience fatigue, sleep disturbance, cognitive impairment, and a long list of symptoms.
Is Diet Really That Important? If you are suffering daily with some of the most typical fibromyalgia symptoms like ongoing pain, fatigue, brain fog, and
Hello Family, Friends, and Anyone Wishing to Know Me! How do I explain this to you my family and friends? This is very difficult to do as my illness is “unseen.” So allow me to begin by thanking you for taking the time out of your day to spend some time with me and get […]
We’ve all heard the old adage "you are what you eat", but have you ever stopped to think how true that is? Eating a healthy diet gives your body energy
Fibro Friday is showcasing articles by fibromyalgia bloggers from all around the world. They all live with this chronic pain condition. They would all love you to visit their blogs and find out more about living with fibro. By clicking on the links below, that interest you, you'll find out more.
"Deep down, I just knew it was something else."
If you are one of the millions of people who suffer from fibromyalgia, you know how difficult it can be to manage your symptoms. Diet is a huge part of managing fibromyalgia, and there is no "one size fits all" solution. In this blog post, we will discuss the best diet for fibromyalgia and provide tips on how to improve your symptoms!
Do you live with fibromyalgia, or any chronic illness? Are you still doing these 16 things people with fibromyalgia need to stop doing in order to feel better.
