Joanne's Fibro Philosphy: "Each journey with this chronic illness is different, as of late doing my job is extremely tough. I just hope that it will become easier again sometime soon. My philosophy about it is ‘ be kind to yourself, only you know how much you can do, be patient with people who don’t understand, how could they possibly ?’"

Fibromyalgia-associated fatigue can make physical activity difficult. However, a tailored exercise programme could help to reduce the severity and frequency of your symptoms. Exercise has many benefits, including: You can also buy specially designed equipment, such as ankle weights. Begin with lighter weights, then move on to heavier ones, if you feel able to. Chronic pain is difficult to live with and the fatigue caused by Fibromyalgia may affect daily life and mood. If you are finding it difficult to manage your symptoms and are experiencing feelings of hopelessness, sadness, anger, anxiety or stress, you may wish to seek support such as counselling or psychotherapy. As an Army Veteran, she advocates on behalf of Military Veterans diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain Conditions, PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as well. EULAR recommends this strongly. A physiotherapist, particularly one with an interest in fibromyalgia, will be able to offer advice and guidance on suitable programmes for specific individuals.Tramadol is a stronger painkiller that has been shown to be of limited benefit in fibromyalgia but only when used with paracetamol. However the studies have not shown strong evidence and, due to the fact that tramadol is addictive and can cause dependency issues, it is not generally recommended. Fibromyalgia has so many other symptoms, you may not suffer with them all, nor will another sufferer. In other words none of us will be suffering in exactly the same way. Your doctor will not know how you are being affected unless you present him/her with a full picture.

Anticonvulsants - usually used for epilepsy, this type of medication has been known to treat fibromyalgia. The pain has been described as burning, aching, stabbing, tingling, throbbing, soreness or numbness (loss of feeling). It may change based on the time of day, activity level, weather (especially cold or damp conditions), sleep patterns and stress. Although the pain can come and go, some people report that some pain is always present. As a partner, you will help the Arthritis Foundation provide life-changing resources, science, advocacy and community connections for people with arthritis, the nations leading cause of disability. Join us today and help lead the way as a Champion of Yes. Trailblazer Below we suggest some daily living aids that may help with a variety of daily activities, which may have become difficult due to fibromyalgia symptoms. These aids are designed to make tasks such as chores, personal care, and mobility easier.There is a lot of evidence in favour of CBT although the trials themselves were not felt to be of high scientific quality, so EULAR cautiously recommended this treatment. It is unlikely to cause harm, but its benefit has not been clearly proved. Other therapies Making small changes to the way you react to a situation or problem can often improve both your emotional and physical health. Mirtazapine seems to be of limited value in fibromyalgia; although some people did report reduction in pain and improvement in sleep, studies did not show significant benefit. Sleeping tablets Fibromyalgia can’t be diagnosed with laboratory tests. An accurate fibromyalgia diagnosis is based on a medical history, a physical examination and details about symptoms, including: Homeopathy – involves a practitioner prescribing diluted natural remedies to cure conditions, but has been found scientifically disproven.

Antidepressant medicines are sometimes helpful for fibromyalgia because they also function as painkillers. Antidepressants modify levels of neurotransmitters. Because pain and depression involve the same neurotransmitters working in different but closely related parts of the brain, it is thought that antidepressants affect the pain sensors in the brain..For ‘fibro fog’, some people find mental exercises like crosswords or jigsaw puzzles help. Do as much as you can to stimulate your brain. A raw vegan or vegetarian diet can be restrictive so it may not suit you and should be adopted under the guidance of a health professional. The anti-inflammatory/ Mediterranean diet Unlike conditions, such as arthritis, the pain you feel with fibromyalgia isn’t caused by visible inflammation or damage to your body.

Through Social Media, she helps connect individuals living with Fibromyalgia/Chronic Pain throughout the world, and helps them build up their online network of friends and support system. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ No single treatment will work for all symptoms of fibromyalgia, and treatments that work for some people will not necessarily work for others. One study examine the effects of a medicine called cyclobenzaprine, which is a muscle relaxant. It seemed to help sleep slightly, but not pain - and this was at the expense of significant side-effects in most patients. Other medicines About 1 in 5 people with fibromyalgia also have restless legs syndrome. See the separate leaflet called Restless Legs Syndrome for more detail. Some people with fibromyalgia also have chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME).Pregabalin and gabapentin have both been shown to be of benefit in reducing pain in people with fibromyalgia. Pregabalin appears to be more beneficial than gabapentin and the most effective dose appears to be 450 mg a day. Both these medications can cause significant side-effects and the dose needs to be increased gradually to manage these. There are concerns about the potential for dependency on these medications so they are used with caution. Capsaicin gel Sleeping tablets are not normally recommended, as the body can become tolerant to them, which can lead to the effects wearing off and even addiction. But regular activity, particularly aerobic exercise, and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) have proven effective for people with disrupted sleep patterns. I get as much sleep as I can. In the morning I’m still tired and my legs feel like lead, but I must get on and walk the dogs. Heat pads on my waist really help me walk. I always feel much better out in the fresh air. Antidepressants are now recommended by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as the first choice of drug treatment for unexplained long-term, widespread pain, such as fibromyalgia.