5 Common Mistakes Fibromyalgia Patients Make

Dealing with the constant, daily pain and fatigue of fibromyalgia(FM) can be a tough task. But the task can be even tougher if you fall into some common traps. We all make mistakes, but there are some missteps that can make it even harder to cope with FM.  Here are some suggestions on how to avoid them and make managing your Fibro lifestyle that much easier.

Not tracking your pain
[1]"The problem with fibromyalgia is that patients are always in pain so it's hard to judge when things get better and when they don't get better," says Bruce Baethge, MD, a rheumatologist with Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine.
As I have mentioned before, my daily pain diary was and is my salvation when it comes to tracking my health. Keeping a pain diary can help you keep track of the ebbs and flows of your FM, this way when things are better, you can also figure out what made them better and what to do next time.

Expecting too much from medication
There are three drugs the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved for fibromyalgia: Lyrica, Cymablta and Sevella. These drugs may or may not work for you, or only be partially effective. They can also be expensive and have side effects, including some psychiatric problems.
The tip here is to be flexible about your options and be willing to switch if necessary. "Treatment for fibromyalgia is not just one medicine. It's a lifestyle," says Dr. Baethge.

Refusing to consider off-label drugs
Personally I think this is one of the biggest mistakes people make, when many off-label drugs are those that are approved for use with one condition but frequently given to people with another condition. For example, FM patients are often treated with antidepressants, even though not all are specifically approved for this condition; however, many people get dramatic relief with both older and newer generations of antidepressants. Take the stigma out of these forms of treatment, otherwise you are cutting yourself short in more ways than you could imagine.

Sticking with the wrong doctor
Whether you are still on your path or have already been diagnosed, you learn quickly that there are physicians out there who still think that fibromyalgia patients are making up the symptoms. Ultimately this kind of doctor isn't going to explore all the options for your care. Don't be afraid to switch if you think you may be seeing one of these non-believers. Seek out a specialist, such as a rheumatologist who focuses on FM or try the Co-Cure Project which has a list of patient-recommended doctors by state.

Not moving because it hurts too much
I am the first to admit that I fall into this trap, on more than one occasion I am afraid to admit. But the number one thing that has shown the best results for managing FM pain in exercise. Whether it's swimming, walking or Yoga it is crucial to find a way to get out there and move. I have not only been there myself but can understand the feeling of not wanting to exercise because when you first try it, we hurt even more.
I am constantly working on finding a balance for my own treatment plan, but through my journey of meeting other patients, there are those who have had such success they have been able to forgo medication altogether and get by on exercise alone to help with pain.

As we keep saying, fibromyalgia is a lifestyle and just like life itself there are going to be ups, downs and windy roads so we have to learn to be flexible with ourselves and our diagnosis. Just remember to not take life too seriously all the time, seek out support and give yourself a break. After all, we are only human.


[1] MSN Health