Living with Fibromyalgia

People with a sharp pain generally decrease their physical activity. The body’s automatic response to pain is to stop moving around in an attempt to reduce it. When the pain is more manageable thanks to rest, the person can perform their everyday routines once again, but in the case of people with almost constant pain (chronic pain), resting can prove detrimental to their problem. Therefore, constant inactivity means the body becomes unprepared for exertion. The body loses strength, muscle elasticity, resistance and develops joint stiffness because it needs to move.

Nevertheless, patients still have to respect the pain. After all, pain is a warning signal from the body and it must be heeded. But when the pain leads to a significant lack of physical activity, then it begins to propagate a vicious circle where the inactivity also causes more pain and more fatigue.

Recommendations for physical exercise must be indicated and monitored by a physiotherapist in order to establish the most appropriate intensity, duration and progression for each exercise. This will allow patients to introduce some lifestyle habits that include moderate and regular physical exercise which improves the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Well-planned exercise that does not involve any overexertion can prove a very important ally rather than an enemy.

On the understanding that each patient must establish some personalised guidelines, and as a general recommendation, aerobic exercise is currently the foundation of any physical treatment: walking on level ground or in a heated swimming pool are two excellent activities to begin with. Patients are advised to:

• Warm up their joints every day by completing some simple joint movements upon waking up or after a period of inactivity.
• Complete muscle stretching and strengthening programmes, but these exercises will initially be monitored by a professional.
• Take part in tolerable, moderate and progressive exercises. Therapeutic education is very important, so the patient can learn to manage their efforts and use physical exercise as a significant part of their treatment.
• Initially, avoid exercising for more than 30 minutes at a time and divide the effort into 10‑minute periods until they reach their target. Rest for 5 minutes between each period. This schedule should be repeated 3–5 times a week.

• Plan the trip in detail and well in advance taking into account the clinical situation and, if necessary, discuss it with the specialists and/or treatment monitoring team.
• Calculate how many routine and rescue medications are required and bear in mind the legal regulations in the country of destination.
• Use technical aids and travel assistance services.
• The travel itinerary should include scheduled breaks and locations to rest. Include flexible activities to facilitate changing them, if necessary.

• Speak to the person with fibromyalgia about the best way to help them.
• Learn about the syndrome and its treatment and, where necessary, accompany the patient to their therapy sessions.
• Understand, share, support, and congratulate their efforts and achievements.
• Accompany them and assume an active role throughout the disease process.
• Adapt to any changes that may arise during the course of the illness.
• Try to avoid being overprotective and allow the patient enough space to find their family, social and occupational roles once again.