Fibromyalgia - Lifestyle Changes

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Vegetarian Diet. A vegan diet has no meat, dairy, or eggs and includes uncooked fruits, vegetables, nuts, and germinated seeds. In two small studies, a vegan diet was associated with improved symptoms including reduced pain, stiffness, and increased quality of sleep. In addition, the diet was associated with lower weight and cholesterol levels. However, a 2000 study found no significant decline in symptoms, except for some improvement in pain. This improvement was not as great as the one seen with a tricyclic antidepressant.

Stress Reduction Techniques

Relaxation and stress-reduction techniques are proving to be helpful in managing chronic pain. There is certainly evidence that people with fibromyalgia have a more stressful response to daily conflicts and encounters than those without the disorder. A number of relaxation and stress-reduction techniques have proven to be helpful in managing chronic pain:

• Deep breathing exercises
• Muscle relaxation techniques
• Meditation
• Hypnosis
• Biofeedback
• Massage therapy

Biofeedback. Evidence suggests that biofeedback techniques may be helpful for fibromyalgia patients. During a biofeedback session, electric leads are taped to a subject's head. The person is encouraged to relax using any method that works. Brain waves are measured and an audio signal sounds when alpha waves are detected. Alpha waves are brain waves that occur with a state of deep relaxation. By repeating the process, people using biofeedback connect the sound with the relaxed state, and learn to achieve relaxation on their own.