Fibromyalgia is often linked to depression and anxiety, but should it be? If you are one of many with fibro who feel anxious and a bit wired, there’s a reason for those symptoms. 

This is an interesting question for several reasons.

ONE. Fibromyalgia (FM) is different for each person with the diagnosis. Symptoms range from fatigue and light achiness to all over, intense pain.  Other symptoms include poor sleep with next day brain fog, irritable bowel and/or bladder and intolerance to drafts, multiple chemicals and damp weather.

TWO.  Symptoms change. For some, FM symptoms wax and wane and are unpredictable on a daily basis. For others, symptoms may get worse over time and with aging.

THREE. Yet a third reason is whether or not there is a co-existing condition. If you already have arthritis or another auto-immune disorder, it is difficult to know whether it is the FM or the “other” condition that is causing symptoms.

Yet, even with the complexity of FM, research has shown that treatment with 5-HTP is beneficial in reducing many of FM symptoms.  

Fibromyalgia (FM), as most our readers know, is a condition that involves widespread tenderness, elevated perception of pain, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties on a persistent basis. As there is no cure for FM, those with FM look for options to manage their ongoing symptoms.

One very common suggestion (besides medication) is exercise. I can hear the groans. When you are dealing with ongoing pain, you're not going to be particularly eager to add exercise even if studies show both aerobic and resistance training help with FM symptom management.

Vacation time should be relaxing and free from pain. Having fibromyalgia (FMS) can make vacations extremely stressful since it does not distinguish food stress from bad. In FM, they can both hurt. There are many reasons why vacations cause paradoxical flare-ups: happy stress, a hectic schedule, increased physical activities (walking, hauling luggage, etc.), and changes from our proper posture. In our eagerness to take our vacation, we often forget our necessary daily routine for controlling fibromyalgia. Since we are bringing our FM with us, we have to make sure our fibromyalgia has a good time too!

Aerobic exercise is often prescribed for fibromyalgia (FM) as a non-drug therapy option. Of all the FM people I have asked about this form of exercise, few participate, probably for two very good reasons. One, the energy crunch due to low magnesium and two, the eventual increase in pain levels.

So why exercise?  A few very important reasons. Flexibility. Improved blood flow to supply oxygen and nutrients to cells, muscles, organs and brain (for less fibro fog!). Better mood. Decreased stress. More restful sleep.

But does the exercise have to be aerobic?  A Tufts University study decided to find out.