Since fibromyalgia is a pain disorder, most information you will find online deals with how to cope with choric pain. However, the fatigue that comes along with fibromyalgia can be just as debilitating for some patients. We’re going to discuss 5 ways that you can improve your productivity despite the fatigue. Then we will look at a natural therapy that is bringing hope to patients with chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia.

#1 Take Breaks, Even on Your Goods Days

A common mistake that just about everyone who is suffering from a chronic ailment makes is doing too much on the good days. If that sounds like you, here’s the remedy. Take periodic breaks, even when you feel really good. Taking regular breaks throughout the day limits the strain on your body and may prevent you from having a flare-up that puts you back in bed the rest of the week. Try setting a timer and resting for 15 minutes after every hour of work or chores.

#2 Don’t Push Yourself Too Hard During Fibromyalgia Flare-ups

Sure, there are going to be times when something just has to get done. But you have to discern the difference between something that is important versus something vital that can’t be left for tomorrow. It’s very rare that you can’t put off housework or something of that nature until the next day if you are feeling bad. Pushing through the fatigue may result in you being even more exhausted for the next few days. That could leave you without enough energy to do something that absolutely can’t wait. Then you’re stuck in a stressful situation that can lead to an even worse flare-up.

#3 Get Some Exercise Every Day

You don’t have to do a half hour cardio routine to get benefits from your exercise. Take a walk, go for a swim, or do some stretching like Pilates. This type of exercise can help to relieve both fatigue and pain. So don’t skip exercise on your bad days. Listen to your body and do a little less on the days you are struggling. Do a little more on the good days, but not so much that you fall victim to overexertion.

#4 Prioritize Your To-Do List

A to-do list can be the bane of a person’s existence when dealing with a chronic illness. All you can see are the items that are not crossed off yet. Especially the ones that have been lingering on the list for days (or maybe even weeks). The key to taming the to-do list is to prioritize it. There are several ways you can do this and gain a sense of accomplishment.

• Order of Importance – Categorize tasks by whether they are vital, important, or low priority. Be honest about what actually needs to be done each day versus what you think you should be able to accomplish. If you even just clear the vital items and have to leave the important ones for another day, count it as a win. When you get to low priority items, you know you’ve had a really good day.
• How Much Energy Tasks Require – Order your tasks by how much of your limited energy they will consume – that includes both physical and emotional energy. If you want to clear as many tasks as possible, start with the ones that will take the least energy. You’ll get a sense of accomplishment just from seeing how many items are crossed off the list. If you want to get rid of tasks that you are dreading, try to clear one or two that use a lot of energy. Even if that is all you do today, you may get some stress relief from knowing the worst tasks for the week are finished.

#5 Do Something That Rejuvenates You

Take a little time to do something that heals your soul. Read a good book while sipping tea and listening to quiet music. Sit outside on a nice day and enjoy a meal in the sun. Take a bubble bath. Whatever helps you personally to unwind will work. Things that are good for our mental state often translate into physical well-being too.

A Natural Way to Get Help for Fibromyalgia

One of the things that can really help a person deal with chronic illness is hope, especially when that hope is based on proof rather than on wishful thinking. To that end, we’d like to introduce you to upper cervical chiropractic care. This a specific form of chiropractic that has led to complete resolution of fibromyalgia for some in case studies. For many others, it has helped reduce pain levels and fatigue.

Upper cervical chiropractic care involves gentle and precise adjustments to the atlas (C1 vertebra). This bone plays a vital role in facilitating blood flow to the brain, and it is designed to protect the area where the brainstem meets the spinal cord. For these reasons, even the slightest misalignment can have far-reaching effects. Correcting this underlying issue may be able to help relieve many of the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. And low-force corrections help to ensure that inflammation doesn’t add to your pain.

If you are suffering from fibromyalgia, especially if you have a history of head or neck trauma, contact a practitioner in your area. You may find that a no-obligation consultation is your first step to finding pain relief and getting back some of the energy you used to have.

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