Fibromyalgia: Breaking the Pain Cycle

• Treating depression is one symptom that can break the cycle of fibromyalgia pain. Another pain contributor is sleep. People with fibromyalgia have reduced sleep efficiency including an increased number of awakenings during the night. Reduced wave sleep and restorative sleep that is always interrupted is a problem to getting proper sleep. Researchers have found that there is a clear link between disrupted sleep and increase in pain.
• Treatment for sleep issues could be as simple as good sleep hygiene and perhaps low-dose amitriptyline. Clinicians need to identify and treat sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and restless leg syndrome. Medications like pregabalin, tricyclic antidepressants, and melatonin may improve sleep. Cognitive behavior therapy or tricks and ways to not think about your pain will improve your sleep.
• Exercise is excellent therapy for fibromyalgia pain. In a study published in Arthritis Care & Research, the impact of physical fitness on pain was studied. The result? Higher fitness levels led to lower levels of pain, lower pain catastrophizing, and higher chronic pain self-efficacy.