Fix Your Fibromyalgia: Five Things You Can Do Today!

Fibromyalgia is a complex chronic pain syndrome of unknown origin that affects 3-5 percent of the general population. While there is no definitive cure, there are many things a fibromyalgia sufferer can do to relieve their symptoms. Your doctor may recommend some pretty intimidating lifestyle changes. But there are many simple and easy things you can do - starting NOW - to feel better.

1. Drink plenty of water. Whether you have fibromyalgia or are perfectly healthy, your immune system requires a certain amount of water for optimal functioning. Water is critical to digestion and the natural detoxification process that keeps our internal organs free of disease. Humans can live for an extended period without food, but not without water.

If you get in the habit of drinking six to eight glasses of water each day, you'll notice that you have fewer headaches, more energy, easier digestion, improved mental clarity, and less pain.

2. Move your body. I know from experience that the word "exercise" can be very intimidating for someone with fibromyalgia. Instead of thinking about "exercise" or "workouts", stay focused on "gentle activities" like stretching, doing the dishes, sweeping the floor, swimming, or walking to the mailbox. Do what your body allows you to do, and then push yourself just a little bit.

Having trouble getting started? Put on some dance music and just let yourself go. This is my favorite form of exercise - oops, I mean gentle activity. I always feel better - mentally and physically - after my private boogie sessions.

Get your body moving, even just a little, and you'll increase blood flow and the level of oxygen that reaches your organs and muscles. Your tissues need the blood and oxygen in order to heal and remove waste products - like the lactic acid that is known to build up in the muscles and cause soreness.

If you're able to be active enough to raise your heart rate, you may benefit from the "natural high" of endorphins. People who exercise vigorously and regularly frequently enjoy this "natural high" and report feeling less pain. Some studies indicate that fibromyalgia patients have lower endorphin levels than people without fibromyalgia.

3. ReeeeeLax, Max! Would you describe yourself as a perfectionist? If so, you're not alone. A large percentage of fibromyalgia patients describe themselves as being perfectionists or Type A personalities. Some seem to wear their Type A badge with honor and pride. Stop it, already!! Perfectionism and Type A behavior are bad for your health. The self-imposed stress and anxiety of this behavior increases your risks for heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and irritable bowel syndrome and certainly exacerbates (if not a direct cause) the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

If you've been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, it's time to chill. Try yoga or meditation. Listen to relaxation recordings on your iPod. Take a nice warm bubble bath.

If you're really tense and have difficulty relaxing, put on some of your favorite music and start by just snapping your fingers or tapping your toes to the beat of the music. As you relax, let your body sway to the music.

One of the things I learned when I went through grief therapy several years ago, is that any rhythmic activity is relaxing and soothing to the soul. It can be walking, sitting in a swing or rocking chair, dancing, knitting, crocheting or any other mindless, repetitive, rhythmic motion.

Consider for just a minute that maybe fibromyalgia is the body's way of telling you that you need to slow down and take better care of yourself.

4. Get some sun. Fear of skin cancer and wrinkles has us slathering on the sunscreen and hiding from the sun's rays. But nothing feels quite as good as sun on your face. Recent studies seem to indicate that we do need a certain amount of sun exposure for optimal health.

Research conducted by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory indicates that the health benefits from some sun exposure may outweigh skin cancer risks. The study results, confirmed by scientists at Norway's Institute for Cancer Research in Oslo, found that people from southern latitudes who had more sun exposure were much less likely to die from internal cancers (lung, colon, breast, pancreas, prostate, etc.) than people living in northern latitudes with less sun exposure.

While people in the southern latitudes may have a higher incidence of skin cancer, most skin cancers are easier to treat and have lower mortality rates than internal cancers, which seem to be prevented by the Vitamin D production that is stimulated by sunlight.

But Vitamin D production and cancer prevention aren't the only benefits of sunlight. Sunlight also stimulates the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates sleep, digestion, mood, appetite and sex drive. Studies indicate that fibromyalgia patients have low serotonin levels.

So how much sun exposure is safe? Good question. Depends on your skin type, health history and where you live. But experts seem to agree that 5 to 10 minutes of sun exposure (without sunscreen) up to three times a week is safe for most people. If you have questions or concerns, you should consult your dermatologist.

5. Laugh out loud! We've heard it many times, laughter is the best medicine. And when you suffer chronic pain, it's important to find something that can make you laugh. Researchers at Loma Linda University have been studying the health benefits of laughter: lowered blood pressure, improved immune function, increased muscle flexion, reduction in pain, and reduction in stress hormones associated with cardiovascular disease.

Rent a funny video, go to a comedy club, visit JibJab, or call that special person who always has you in stitches. Learn a new joke and practice telling it to your family and friends.

Laughter is free and best of all, it feels so good.

These five fibro fixes may not cure all that ails you, but if you practice them regularly, you're almost certain to get some relief. There will be days when nothing seems to help and that's when it's important to reach out to others. Call your support group, visit a fibro chat room, lean on a friend. We all need a little support now and then. Don't be afraid to ask for it.