5 Ways to Manage Fibromyalgia Pain

If you’re one of the roughly 4 million adults in the United States who lives with fibromyalgia, pain relief is likely a top priority. The condition, which causes chronic pain throughout your body, can lead to a range of complications and make going about your daily life pretty difficult. 

Thankfully, numerous pain management options are available.

Our expert team at Houston Pain Specialists, led by board-certified pain management specialist Hui Kang, MD, diagnoses and treats fibromyalgia with customized plans that suit your individual needs. 

Read on to learn five effective ways to manage your pain, so you can lead a fuller life.

Pain-relieving exercise

While routine exercise is important for everyone, that’s especially the case when you have fibromyalgia. Staying active through appropriate exercise can reduce fatigue and increase your energy levels, both of which tend to suffer once fibro pain sets in. 

Exercise can also help keep your joints flexible, guarding against injury, and improve your sleep quality and moods.

To make the most of your exercise, ease in and consider massaging or applying heat to your muscles beforehand. Follow the plan that we provide and focus on low-impact aerobic activities at first, such as five minutes of walking per day until you can tolerate more with ease.

Pain-relieving medications

In some cases, Dr. Kang prescribes a pain-relieving medication for managing fibromyalgia pain. Such pain relief can also help you sleep restfully, which can set the stage for feeling your best each day. 

Pain medications that may help include over-the-counter options, like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, and anti-seizure drugs, such as gabapentin and pregabalin. 

Counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy

Pain isn’t just a physical problem. When you’re dealing with chronic pain, therapy can go a long way toward helping you deal with related emotional challenges. 

This is important when you have fibromyalgia, given that up to 90% of people with the condition have depressive symptoms. When depression takes hold, you may feel less able to take care of yourself by exercising and eating well, which can exacerbate pain. Mental health support can help turn that around.

Antidepressant medication

Counseling and therapy aren’t always sufficient for managing depressive symptoms, which is where antidepressants come in. Not only can certain antidepressants improve your mood, but they’re known to help ease fibromyalgia-related pain and fatigue. 

Examples of antidepressants for fibro relief include duloxetine and milnacipran.

Physical or occupational therapy

Physical therapy and occupational therapy can reduce the impact fibromyalgia has on your daily life, your pain level included. 

During physical therapy, you learn exercises for improved flexibility, strength, and stamina. You also learn exercises you can do on your own at home. 

Through occupational therapy, you learn to adjust your life and work areas in ways that put less strain on your body. This process can make a previously difficult or pain-causing task far easier while boosting your confidence at the same time.

Interventional pain management 

There are areas of pain for which we can provide interventional treatments. Interventional pain management utilizes a multidisciplinary approach. Providing a full range of treatments and services help with the overall pain level improving functionality leading to having control over your life again.

To learn more about managing fibromyalgia pain or to get the care and support you need, contact our Houston, Texas, office today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kang.