If you seek an OH based fibromyalgia doctor near Blue Ash or just a remedy for your fibromyalgia in general, you have come to the right place. In this post, I will share four natural ways to deal with this chronic pain condition. Keep your hopes up as the last item in the list has been providing long-term relief to many patients.
1. Stress Management
Stress is a key trigger for fibromyalgia flare-ups. Exposure to very stressful situations can lead to more severe pain, making it harder to achieve a good night’s sleep and worse attacks of accompanying conditions such as depression, anxiety, and migraines. Most stressors are impossible to ignore; thus, a fibromyalgia patient must be able to cope with stress positively. Here are some tips and recommendations:
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Talk to a friend.
Seeing a psychiatrist is not mandatory, although it would benefit you a lot. Talking to a trusted confidant can help you unload stress if you deal with any chronic illness. Do not be afraid to share your situation or problems to a close friend or family member who is willing to listen. Joining a support group or talking to someone who also deals with a chronic condition is likewise a great idea as they can sympathize with your challenges.
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Get some rest.
Be sure to get some rest when needed. Pushing yourself to the limit to finish a task today may cause flare-up of your symptoms for the rest of the week. Take care of your health and just divide the tasks and accomplish them one by one for over 2-3 days. Get ample rest so you have the energy to work on the next task once one is done.
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Practice meditation.
Meditation will not only clear your mind but also control your thoughts and direct them toward positive ideas. This may be tough in the beginning, so attempt a few minutes at a time. Keep your patience, and you will eventually train your mind to concentrate on what you need to focus on.
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Engage in a relaxing hobby.
Explore new hobbies or relaxation activities that are suited to your illness. Whether that is painting, reading a book, playing a musical instrument, or taking a hot bath, choose an activity that you can do even when you are not feeling your best.
#2 Exercise
It is a common misconception that fibromyalgia patients should not work out as it can increase pain throughout the body. The truth is lack of physical activity can make the pain worse. There are two major reasons to exercise every day if you have fibromyalgia.
- Being sedentary can cause joint stiffness. This will contribute more to the pain.
- One result of a sedentary lifestyle is weight gain. The extra weight puts more stress on ligaments and joints and intensifies pain.
For these reasons, it is best to maintain a regular exercise routine. If you fear you may exhaust yourself, do graded exercise therapy. This is an exercise program that starts very slowly and gradually increases over time. Perhaps start with some stretching, and gradually perform a stronger exercise. It will also help you boost your individual tolerance of physical activities. This will benefit both your energy levels and pain levels.
#3 Energy Management
Fibromyalgia may limit your energy. As a result, you may not able to accomplish all your tasks. However, if you sort your tasks by priority, importance, and difficulty, you can carry out tasks that are within your energy level for the day and check off items in your to-do list. This will also help you avoid stress.
Another thing to keep in mind is to not be afraid to ask for help. If you have other people living in your house, use your good days to teach them how to work on some chores around the house. This will allow your family to help you when you need it..
#4 Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care
This is where an OH based fibromyalgia doctor near Blue Ash will be able to help. Upper cervical chiropractic is a specific field in the chiropractic profession that solely focuses on the uppermost bones in the neck – the atlas (C1) and axis (C2). Upper cervical chiropractors adjust the C1 and C2 when necessary to address the root cause of fibromyalgia.
What makes it different from traditional chiropractic is the lack of forceful popping and twisting of bones; thus, adjustments are gentle and safe. This form of care only involves low force corrections using the hand or through an adjusting instrument. Adjustments hold longer, leading to fewer appointments for patients. This makes upper cervical chiropractic care a cost-effective remedy for patients with fibromyalgia and other chronic conditions.
Can it really help fibromyalgia patients?
Let this story help you decide. I’d like to share a great case study involving a 32-year-old woman who had fibromyalgia and an upper cervical misalignment. Over 6 months, an upper cervical doctor evaluated and gave her adjustments. By the end of the upper cervical chiropractic care, the patient was happy to report elimination of all her symptoms.
Do you want the same results? Set an appointment with me or call Cincinnati Upper Cervical and Family Chiropractic in Blue Ash, Ohio at 513-891-7746. I can help determine if a misalignment in your upper cervical spine is causing your fibromyalgia. After that, we will learn if this unique form of care is the right natural option for you.
