Top 10 Things NOT to Say to a Fibromyalgia Patient

1. We all get more aches and pains as we get older.
The pain of fibromyalgia is much more severe than the normal aches and pains associated with aging. Little things that shouldn't hurt at all can be excruciatingly painful. Plus, most people develop fibromyalgia long before they should be experiencing age-related aches and pains.

2. I think I have that, too – I'm always tired.
The fatigue of fibromyalgia is so much more than just being tired. It is an all-encompassing exhaustion. You are drained of energy – like someone pulled your plug, cutting of your source of power. It's kind of like taking the batteries out of the Energizer bunny.

3. Maybe you just need a job (hobby, etc.) to take your mind off the pain.
While getting involved in a project can help to distract your mind from the pain for short periods of time, if you have a more severe case, it doesn't work well enough to allow you to consistently work a 40-hour week. And it doesn't help dispel the extreme fatigue that usually accompanies fibromyalgia.

4. My doctor says fibromyalgia isn't a real disease.
First of all, this doctor obviously hasn't kept up with the latest research, which clearly demonstrates that fibromyalgia is a very real, physical disease. Also, to date the FDA has approved three medications to treat fibromyalgia and they generally don't approve medications for imaginary illnesses.

5. If you got more sleep, you'd feel better.
One of the major problems with fibromyalgia is that something prevents the body from going into the deepest stage of sleep, when the body naturally restores and replenishes itself. Even if you manage to stay asleep for several hours, you're most likely not going to awaken feeling refreshed.

6. I read about this new product that cures fibromyalgia.
This can be one of the toughest comments to deal with because it is usually said by well-meaning friends or relatives who genuinely want you to feel better. Read Let the Buyer Beware for tips on how to evaluate product claims.

7. At least it's not fatal.
Of course I'm glad it's not fatal. But that doesn't help reduce the level of my pain or the depth of my fatigue. Nor does it help to raise research funding or bring attention to the needs of fibromyalgia patients. Understandably, people tend to be more interested in preventing death than in improving the quality of life.

8. You just need to exercise more.
If more exercise were the answer, I'd be all over it. Yes, exercise is an important component of any fibromyalgia treatment plan, but it's only one part and it has to be approached slowly and carefully to avoid triggering a flare.

9. But you don't look sick.
If we let ourselves go and show how we actually feel, people are uncomfortable and don't want to be around us. On the other hand, if we manage to fix ourselves up and put on a brave face, no one realizes we're sick.

10. It's all in your head.
I used to launch into an explanation of how fibromyalgia is a very real physical illness, complete with symptoms, etc. Now I simply say, “You're right, it is in my head. Researchers have found that there is a problem with how my brain processes pain signals.” Enough said.

11. 5 Supplements for Fibroymalgia Pain
Magnesium and Malic Acid
The magnesium/malic acid combo is the first supplement I remember hearing about for FM more than 20 years ago. Both magnesium and malic acid are needed to generate cellular energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which has been called the “energy currency of life.” Since many people with FM are low in magnesium, it seems like a logical choice.

Vitamin D
A number of studies have found that vitamin D plays a role in various chronic pain conditions including fibromyalgia. In fact, one review of vitamin D research found that 70% of patients with chronic pain were deficient in vitamin D

SAM-e (S-adenosyl methionine)
In one double-blind study of 44 patients with primary fibromyalgia who took SAM-e, improvements were seen in the areas of clinical disease activity, pain, fatigue, morning stiffness and mood. For FM patients who are also dealing with depression, clinical trials have shown SAM-e to be comparable to prescription antidepressants.

5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan)
5-HTP is thought to work by boosting the levels of serotonin in the brain. The neurotransmitter serotonin is known to be low in many FM patients. In one double-blind, placebo controlled study, 50 people with fibromyalgia took either 5-HTP or a placebo. After four weeks, the people taking 5-HTP showed a significant improvement in pain, number of tender points, stiffness, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep.

Ginger
Eastern medicine has used ginger for centuries to treat a wide variety of conditions, including pain conditions like Migraines, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Several Western medicine studies have shown ginger to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties similar to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but without the dangerous side effects. Now a new study has shown that it can also effectively relieve muscle aches and pains.

Easing Nighttime Fibromyalgia Pain

Nighttime pain carries an extra burden...
You've been dealing with your fibromyalgia pain all day and are looking forward to a good night's sleep. But the pain you've felt all day is still with you as lie down for some much-needed rest.

How do you get the pain under control so you can rest and be ready for the next day? In this slideshow, we'll look at some simple things you can do to ease your fibromyalgia pain and help you get a more restful night's sleep.

Avoid stimulants
Coffee, tea, chocolate, colas, and alcohol are all stimulants that can interfere with sleep. So you're going to be even more vulnerable to their effects on sleep if you're already dealing with pain. Eating spicy foods at night can also irritate your stomach and help keep you awake.

For these reasons, it's best to avoid all of these foods and beverages at night.

Sleep in a dark, quiet room
Make sure your bedroom is dark and and at a comfortable temperature before you try to sleep. Avoid sleeping with a television on, and keep computers, cell phones, and other devices out of your room or on "silent" mode.

You might also try a white noise machine or other ambient noise device to block out background noise. And if it's impossible to make your room very dark, try wearing an eye mask to block out light.

Take a bath
Taking a warm bath has been found to ease tension in the body and aid relaxation. Adding Epsom salts or fragrant bath salts or oils may also help reduce stress and pain.

Some fibromyalgia experts also recommend using a loofah or long-handled bath brush for a gentle massage while you're in the bath.

Try massage
If you live with a spouse or partner, ask him or her to give you a gentle massage before bed to help relax your painful muscles.

If you live alone, you can try self-massage on tender points. To do this, place a tennis ball on the floor and carefully lie it. Then gently roll your body so that the ball moves over these sore areas

Stretch
Gentle stretching has been found to help reduce fibromyalgia pain. Stretching elongates muscles and increases flexibility, which makes daily activities easier and reduces tension and pain. It can also give you some "me" time before bed, allowing you to better relax.

Fibromyalgia experts have also found that patients who practice a stretching routine tend to fall asleep faster and wake up less frequently at night.

Try music or meditation
Meditation can help you calm your mind, order your thoughts, and go to bed without the intrusive thoughts that often interfere with sleep.

Music can also be a powerful sleep aid. A 2005 study found that listening to just 45 minutes of relaxing music before bedtime can help you have a restful night's sleep. And using music as part of your sleep regimen is easy to learn and works without the side effects of some other sleep treatments.