What to Eat, What to Avoid to Ease Fibro Pain

While good nutrition is an important part of managing many types of chronic conditions, people with fibromyalgia can often get significant relief from their symptoms by changing their diet. While little research on the link between diet and fibromyalgia exists, nutrition is a promising tool for treating patients, according to a study published in the journal Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology.

There is no one “fibromyalgia diet” that works for everyone with fibromyalgia, but there are certain foods and nutrients that often help — or aggravate — many people with the condition. Fibromyalgia is a disorder where patients have widespread musculoskeletal pain as well as other symptoms such as fatigue, sleep, memory, and mood issues.

Avoiding foods that can trigger fibromyalgia pain may help you feel better; eating more whole, anti-inflammatory foods may  help improve your fibromyalgia symptoms.

Here, Sonya Angelone, MS, RD, CLT, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, who regularly works with people with fibromyalgia, shares her best advice for finding a fibromyalgia diet plan that works for you.

1. Eat a more plant-based diet

“Fruits and vegetables are loaded with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory components that may ease fibromyalgia pain,” Angelone says. While fibromyalgia isn’t considered an inflammation-based illness, studies suggest that neuroinflammation may play a role in the condition.

And if you’re overweight, swapping out high-fat meats and refined grains for produce could help you slim down and feel better, she adds: “Weight loss decreases inflammation and eases the burden on your muscles and joints.”

2. Boost your omega-3 intake

Angelone advises her clients with fibromyalgia to eat more foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, including fatty fish, walnuts, and flaxseed. “It can help decrease inflammation and relieve pain in some people,” she explains. Hate fish? Fish oil supplements can help.

3. Spice up your menu

Many herbs and spices are potent sources of phytochemicals, which are chemical compounds produced by plants that are associated with anti-inflammatory effects. Angelone’s top picks include turmeric, red pepper, cloves, ginger, cumin, anise, fennel, basil, rosemary, and garlic.

4. Limit sugar

A diet high in sugar and refined carbs (as well as saturated and trans fats) can fuel inflammation. But you can’t just avoid dessert and white bread and assume your diet is low in sugar. “Sugar can lurk in unexpected foods, such as salad dressings and marinara sauce, so it’s important to always read the label when you shop,” Angelone says.

5. Consider cutting out gluten

Could gluten trigger fibromyalgia pain? Because people with fibromyalgia often experience similar symptoms to those associated with gluten-related disorders, it’s suspected that some people with fibromyalgia could have an underlying gluten sensitivity. However, going gluten free isn’t something you should try on your own, according to Angelone: “You need to be on a carefully designed plan so you don’t end up with nutrient deficiencies.”

6. Keep a food diary to ID food sensitivities

People with fibromyalgia sometimes find that their fibro symptoms worsen when they eat certain foods or ingredients, such as dairy, MSG, caffeine, or artificial sweeteners. To identify your triggers, keep a food diary for a couple of weeks and note how you feel after each meal and snack. Keep in mind, however, that fibro symptoms from eating a certain food can take up to a day to appear.

7. Ask your doctor about supplements

Many Americans are low in vitamin D and magnesium, both of which are important for those with fibromyalgia.

“If you aren’t getting enough magnesium, that can make your fatigue worse because magnesium plays an important role in energy production,” Angelone explains.

As for vitamin D, a study published in the journal Pain found that people with fibromyalgia who took vitamin D reported less pain and morning fatigue than those who took a placebo.

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Fibromyalgia and Diet: What Changes May Help

When you have fibromyalgia, chances are you want to look into everything that could possibly help, including changes in your lifestyle. Could tweaking or even overhauling your diet mean less pain and more energy?

Although there’s no diet that’s proven to help everyone, some people find that eating or avoiding certain foods has a major impact on their symptoms.

Here are some dietary changes that might be worth a try. When in doubt, check with your doctor or a dietitian.

Head for the Mediterranean (Diet)

Some experts say that an anti-inflammatory diet can make a big difference to anyone with a chronic pain disorder. If you’re not eating that way now, the traditional Mediterranean diet is a pretty safe bet.

it might ease your fibromyalgia symptoms. And even if it doesn’t, it’s a healthy way of eating that’s long been linked to a lower risk of other conditions like heart disease and some cancers. It may also help you lose weight.

The basics: lots of vegetables and some fruit and whole grains, limited dairy, and lean protein –especially fish — with little to no red meat.

Should You Go Vegetarian? Vegan?

Vegetarians eat no meat, poultry, or fish. Vegans also eliminate dairy, eggs, and some even avoid honey — anything that comes from an animal.

Does it help with conditions like fibromyalgia? Most studies on the topic are mixed or limited because of their small size, but one study of more than 600 people found that those who tried a vegan diet (meaning they had no animal products at all) had lower levels of an inflammation marker (C-reactive protein) after only 3 weeks.

As with the Mediterranean diet, there are no guarantees that going vegan or vegetarian will make you feel better. After all, you could eat a vegetarian or vegan diet that’s full of processed foods that aren’t that good for you. But if you do eat more plants and less meat, that can still be a smart health move.

Just make sure you cover all your nutritional needs. For the most part, you can do that through a well-rounded, plant-based diet rich in greens and other vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and fruit. And you’ll need a vitamin B12 supplement if you go vegan.

Get Enough Vitamin D

Some research has found that people with chronic health issues such as fibromyalgia are more likely to be low on vitamin D. Would taking a supplement help? At least one small study suggests that it might. Others studies have found that people who take vitamin D supplements have had improvements in mood, sleep, and overall well-being.

Although experts need to learn more about this topic, there’s usually little harm in taking extra vitamin D as long as you stay within the safe dose levels. Ask your doctor if you need a supplement and if so, how much you should take.

What About Gluten?

If you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance as well as fibromyalgia, it’s important to avoid gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley) because it will cause inflammation in your body.

Your doctor can test you for celiac disease, but figuring out if you’re gluten intolerant (and if it makes your fibromyalgia symptoms worse) isn’t so clear-cut. A few studies have found that people with fibromyalgia who thought they were sensitive to gluten felt better after cutting it out, but these were very small studies and the results aren’t iron-clad.

If you want to try going gluten-free, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian first.

Notice How Food Additives Make You Feel

Some researchers say that a group of food additives called excitotoxins make fibromyalgia symptoms worse. But that’s not for sure. Excitotoxins are found in monosodium glutamate (MSG) and the artificial sweetener aspartame. A few studies have found that people with fibromyalgia who cut these additives out of their diets say they felt better, but other research has found that it made no difference at all.

Food sensitivities are often personal, so what bothers you may not bother someone else with fibromyalgia and vice versa. When in doubt, talk to your doctor or a dietitian about whether you should try an elimination diet. It involves temporarily cutting out all suspected triggers (perhaps gluten, dairy, corn, soy, MSG, and aspartame) and then slowly reintroducing them one by one to see how you feel.

Benefits and How It Works

Technically, there is no such thing as a medically-approved diet for treating fibromyalgia, a disease characterized by widespread muscle pain (myalgia), muscle tenderness, and fatigue.

Though the research is limited when it comes to the connection between diet modification and fibromyalgia pain, there is evidence to suggest that having certain nutritional deficiencies could worsen fibromyalgia symptoms like muscle pain.

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You fibromyalgia diet may look different from someone else’s, but the overall goal is to avoid foods that appear to increase the excitability of neurons that trigger fibromyalgia symptoms. An elimination diet may be able to pinpoint your personal food sensitivities.

Conversely, there are foods that may help temper neuron excitability and reduce the frequency of symptoms. Identifying which foods to eat or avoid can take time but, with persistence, you will find an eating plan best able to prevent or minimize fibromyalgia flares.

Food and Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is characterized by a phenomenon called central sensitization in which pain receptors in the central nervous system (called nociceptors) become hyperreactive. This greatly amplifies sensitivity to pain and can be triggered by things like illness, infection, injury, stress, and, for some people, food.

Fibromyalgia’s relationship to food intolerance is unclear, but some scientists believe allergy plays a role. In one study in Clinical and Translational Science, no less than 49% of people with fibromyalgia had at least one food allergy, while 50% tested strongly positive for a milk allergy. Intolerance to wheat, another common food allergen, also occurred.

It is possible that a hypersensitive food reaction can trigger fibromyalgia symptoms as the body releases pro-inflammatory compounds, called cytokines, into the bloodstream. Cytokines not only help instigate food allergies but are linked to the onset of fibromyalgia symptoms, most especially hyperalgesia (increased pain sensitivity).

Other experts contend that any food intolerance can provoke fibromyalgia by triggering inflammation in the gut that can “spill over” to the nociceptors in the brain. These include common causes like gluten (associated with celiac disease and gluten intolerance) and FODMAPs (fermentable sugars linked to irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS).

Goals

An individualized fibromyalgia diet aims to:

• Identify food intolerances and sensitivities so foods that cause gastrointentinal symptoms and trigger fibromyalgia flares can be avoided
• Avoid foods and additives known to stimulate nociceptors in the brain. These include those high in an amino acid known as glutamate. Glutamate functions as a neurotransmitter and is found in abnormally high concentrations in the brains of people with fibromyalgia.
• Compensate for nutritional deficiencies common in people with fibromyalgia. These include deficiencies of magnesium, selenium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12.

How It Works

Although some specialists will recommend specific diets for people with fibromyalgia, there is no set group of foods that affects all people in the same way.

For that reason, developing a fibromyalgia diet starts with the process of identifying the foods you are sensitive to and the ones you can eat safely. It may also involve eating more foods that are high in magnesium, selenium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 to maintain control over hyperalgesia.

Identifying Food Triggers

An effective way to figure out which foods are troublesome is with the type of elimination diet used to diagnose things like IBS, food allergies, and gluten sensitivity. To do an elimination diet, it’s best to work with a doctor or dietitian to prevent malnutrition or nutritional deficiencies that could lead to new problems as you follow these steps:

1. Make a list of the foods (for example, eggs or nuts) or food groups (dairy, grains, etc.) you suspect may be causing problems.
2. Avoid everything on the list for two weeks. Do not eat these foods whole or as an ingredient in a prepared dish.
3. If your symptoms don’t improve after two weeks, your doctor or nutritionist may advise you to stop the diet and consider other possible food and non-food triggers.
4. If fibromyalgia symptoms resolve after two weeks, introduce one food group back into the diet every three days.
5. On the day a food is reintroduced, eat a small amount in the morning. If you don’t have symptoms, eat two larger portions in the afternoon and evening. You should then stop eating the food for two days to see if you develop any symptoms. If you don’t, the food is unlikely to be a trigger.
6. If a food is reintroduced and triggers symptoms, make note of it in a diary and tell your doctor. Wait another two days before re-challenging yourself with another food group on the list.

A fibromyalgia diet is intended to be safely followed for an entire lifetime. Therefore, it should be meet the daily recommendations for protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals as outlined in the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

What to Eat

Although the fibromyalgia diet can vary from person to person, there are a number of triggers that people with the condition commonly react to. Even if you don’t undergo a formal elimination diet, you may be advised to avoid these foods to see how doing so effects you.

These include foods that are high in glutamate, FODMAPs, or gluten, as well as common food allergens.

Some specialists also recommend following specific diets that focus heart-healthy foods, as these often are unlikely to spur systemic inflammation. Examples include the DASH diet for managing high blood pressure and the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in magnesium and fatty acids.

Compliant Foods

• Vegetables

• Fruits (especially low-fructose fruit like melons, apples, and bananas)

• Lean unprocessed meats and poultry

• Oily fish like tuna, mackerel, or salmon

• Eggs*

• Rice

• Soy and tofu*

• Milk substitutes

• Flaxseed and chia seeds

Non-Complaint Foods

• Processed or cured meats

• Fried or deep-fried foods

• White bread and baked goods

• Wheat, barley, rye, and oats

• Dairy products

• Shellfish

• Sweetened drinks, including fruit concentrates

• Desserts and sugary foods

• Artificial sweeteners like asparatame

• Peanuts

• Monosodium glutamate (MSG) and packaged food seasonings

*Unless you suspect you suspect you have a food allergy

The compliant foods are those that are less likely to spur food intolerance yet able to deliver the quality nutrition you need. The non-compliant foods are those more likely to induce intolerance by exposing you to excess gluten, FODMAPs, or glutamate.

• Fruits and vegetables: Note that low-fructose fruits are lower in FODMAPs and less likely to trigger IBS symptoms.
• Meats and poultry: Beef, pork, chicken, and turkey are great sources of protein, but always buy the leanest cuts. Fatty meats, fried meats, and processed meat can increase the inflammatory burden in the cardiovascular system and beyond.
• Dairy: Dairy products are something of a conundrum in a fibromyalgia diet. On the one hand, they are a rich source of vitamin D and may reduce hyperalgesia and depression in people with fibromyalgia. On the other, dairy may be problematic in people with undiagnosed lactose intolerance or milk allergy. To maintain nutrition, consider a vitamin-D fortified milk substitute like almond, cashew, or soy.
• Wheat: Wheat, high-gluten grains like rye, barley, and oats, and foods made with these ingredients can trigger gastrointestinal symptoms in people with gluten sensitivity. With increasing evidence that fibromyalgia is linked to celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, it’s advisable to steer clear of gluten and opt for corn, millet, rice, and sorghum.
• Oily fish: Fish like herring, mackerel, and tuna are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, a group of polyunsaturated fats that are good for the heart and can aid in the modulation of inflammation in the body.
• Food additives: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is one of the most concentrated forms of glutamate in food. The relationship between MSG and fibromyalgia remains unclear, but some studies have shown reducing glutamate can decrease nociceptor hyperreactivity and alleviate pain. MSG can also be found in certain packaged food seasonings.

There are other foods that can trigger fibromyalgia symptoms. Beyond the common food triggers, consider any food you eat on a regular basis a likely suspect.

Recommended Timing

Whatever diet plan you embark on, keep to a regular schedule of at least three meals per day unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Skipping meals can lead to overeating, which not only causes stomach upset and fatigue but induces inflammation.

If you feel hungry between meals, keep to healthy snacks like fruits, vegetables, and hummus (100% natural).

Cooking Tips

A fibromyalgia diet focuses largely on whole foods prepared simply. Frying or deep-frying should be avoided and replaced with grilling, broiling, or steaming. If you decide to pan-fry, use a spray bottle to add as little oil as possible to the pan (ideally extra virgin olive oil).

Some studies suggest that the less you cook your food, the better. This includes research suggesting that a raw vegetarian diet may reduce hyperalgesia in some people with fibromyalgia.

Considerations

A fibromyalgia diet should be approached strategically and rationally: Making sudden or extreme changes—even healthy ones—can trigger a fibromyalgia flare.

Some food sensitivities are easier to deal with than others. If you find you’re sensitive to gluten, for instance, you may benefit from speaking with a dietitian or nutritionist to learn about the many foods you’ll need to avoid and how to replace lost nutrients with “safe” foods.

A Word From Verywell

As with any diet, support from family and friends is vital. This is especially true if you are embarking an elimination diet or have to make significant changes in the foods you eat. By letting your loved ones understand more about fibromyalgia and how certain foods affect you, they can better support your choices and avoid undermining your efforts.

What to Eat for Better Management

Fibromyalgia can be difficult to manage, but there is evidence that certain dietary changes can benefit people living with this chronic pain disorder. What exactly might help can differ from person to person, but some have reported improvement with increased intake of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids and decreased consumption of food allergens and gluten.

Although research supporting the use of diet in fibromyalgia is of low quality overall, a 2019 review published in the Annals of Medicine reported that diet rendered positive results in five of the seven studies reviewed. This included improved sleep, a reduction in depression and anxiety, and a better overall quality of life.

On the other hand, the impact of diet on fibromyalgia symptoms (such as pain, fatigue, constipation, and “mental fog”) remains unclear. Some diets appear able to alleviate pain to varying degrees, while others help reduce inflammation that complicates (rather than drives) the disease.

In the end, there is not one “fibromyalgia diet.” Instead, dietitians will typically combine key elements of different diets to tailor an effective approach for you as an individual. The process often begins with an elimination diet, which provides you a clean slate to identify which foods trigger specific fibromyalgia symptoms.

Fibromyalgia Doctor Discussion Guide

Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.

Benefits

Diet is believed to improve fibromyalgia symptoms by removing some of the triggers that directly incite pain and ensuring adequate nutrition. Other benefits are indirect, including the alleviation of psychiatric symptoms that have physical and psychological components.

Elimination of Triggers

The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but it is likely due to more than one factor. Among them, dietary factors such as obesity or high-fat diets are known to ratchet up symptoms.

Some scientists believe that excess weight and certain fats place oxidative stress on nerve cells either directly or indirectly, causing them to fire spontaneously. By eating foods rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and resveratrol, the misfiring of motor neurons may be relieved.

There is some evidence to support the theory. A 2016 study published in the International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research suggested that people with fibromyalgia who ate antioxidant-rich diets (specifically foods high in polyphenols like coffee, red fruits, pears, and dark chocolate) had fewer tender points and a better quality of life.  

Another study published in Biological Research for Nursing in 2017 looked at the effects of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) in people with fibromyalgia. According to the investigators, EVOO performed better than other types of olive oil in alleviating oxidative stress. It also improved physical and mental function scores on a self-evaluation questionnaire.

By contrast, certain foods appear to have a “pro-algesic” effect, meaning that they induce pain by sensitizing pain receptors known as nociceptors.

A 2016 study in Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics found that four pro-algesic substances were more likely to trigger fibromyalgia symptoms:

• Caffeine
• Aspartame
• Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
• Arachidonic acid (found in meat, egg yolks, and shrimp)

However, not everyone experienced improvement when these substances were removed from their diets.

Addressing Nutritional Deficiencies

In some cases, fibromyalgia may be caused by the lack of nutrients rather than the intake of certain substances. In fact, studies have long suggested that people with fibromyalgia are more likely to have vitamin and mineral deficiencies, especially vitamin D and B12.

How these deficiencies contribute to fibromyalgia is unknown, but it has been postulated that an increased intake of these and other nutrients may reduce the incidence and/or severity of fibromyalgia symptoms.

Improving Psychiatric Symptoms 

Depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders are common in people with fibromyalgia. It is unclear if these are directly spurred by the disease or simply occur as a reaction to it. Studies investigating the association suggest that foods do, in fact, play a key role.

A 2017 study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that certain foods were able to influence mood in 486 women with fibromyalgia. According to the yearlong investigation, the regular consumption of fruits, vegetables, and fish were tied to better mental health status, with two to five weekly servings of fish yielding the best overall results.

Conversely, an early study published in Clinical Rheumatology concluded that processed meats and sweetened beverages were linked to high rates of depression in people with fibromyalgia. Vitamin D deficiency, common in people who consume high quantities of processed food and sugar, is believed to contribute significantly.

Despite the findings, the increased intake of fruits, vegetables, fish, and vitamin D—as well as the reduction of saturated fats and simple carbohydrates—are believed to positively influence moods in people with or without fibromyalgia.

Whether these dietary changes offer special benefits to people with fibromyalgia has yet to be established.

How It Works

Over time, many living with the disease start to realize that the consumption of certain foods coincides with a flare of fibromyalgia symptoms. Some make changes to their diet even before a doctor suggests it.

While tinkering with your diet is usually not harmful, embarking on an elimination diet should be done under the supervision of a registered dietitian or physician.  Elimination diets target specific foods suspected of triggering fibromyalgia flare-ups. The process of elimination may involve one food at a time or many all at once.

During the elimination phase, the suspected trigger foods are completely removed from your diet. This phase can last anywhere from 21 days to six weeks.

During the reintroduction phase, each food on the restricted list is added back to the diet, one at a time. A food journal can help you keep track of which foods triggered fibromyalgia symptoms.

This exercise can also help you uncover other issues that may mimic fibromyalgia, but are simply co-occurring. For example, if you notice that gastrointestinal symptoms like constipation only occur with consumption of dairy, lactose intolerance may be the cause rather than fibromyalgia. Managing that independent cause of at least one or some of your symptoms may bring you added relief.

In addition to dietary triggers, your doctor will assess whether you are meeting your recommended dietary intake (RDI) of essential nutrients and adjust your diet accordingly.

Duration

Everyone with fibromyalgia will respond differently to changes in their diet. Some people may notice a difference right away; for others, improvements may occur slowly or not at all.

Once you figure out which foods make your symptoms better or worse, you can construct a diet plan to help keep your symptoms in check. You should do this with input from your doctor or dietitian to ensure that the diet is healthy and balanced.

The duration of the diet should also be considered. In some cases, you may only need the diet when symptoms develop or you are at an increased risk of flares (such as when you are ill or under stress). For other people, the changes may be permanent and require strict adherence to the dietary plan.

What to Eat

The food you can eat will vary based on the results of the elimination diet, though there are some that tend to be favored and ones that are suspected to trigger fibromyalgia symptoms.

If you plan to add anything new to your diet, start with the smallest possible amount to see how you respond. In addition, always read product labels to check for hidden ingredients that may cause you symptoms.

Compliant Foods

• Fresh fruits and vegetables (organic)

• Fatty fish (salmon, tuna)

• Lean poultry (skinless) 

• Nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans)

• Flax, chia, sunflower seeds 

• Extra virgin olive oil

• Beans, legumes, lentils

• Whole grains (bread, cereal, crackers, pasta)

• Nut butter (almond, cashew)

• Eggs or egg alternatives (as tolerated)

• Low-sugar, low-fat Greek yogurt, or dairy-free yogurt

• Dairy-free milk alternatives (rice, almond, oat)

• Brown rice and quinoa 

• Veggie burgers/meat substitutes

• Fresh herbs and spices 

• Dark chocolate (in moderation) 

Non-Compliant Foods

• Refined white flour (bread, pasta, crackers) 

• Sugary boxed cereals and granola

• Red meat

• Fried food and fast food

• Dairy products (milk, cheese)

• Processed meat (sausage, bacon, hot dogs, lunch meat) 

• Cookies, cakes, pies, and baked goods

• Ice cream, pudding, and custard

• Frozen meals and snacks

• Packaged snack foods 

• Instant noodles and pasta mixes

• Oatmeal packets with added sugar 

• Dried fruit 

• Vegetable oils 

• Potato chips, pretzels, and microwave popcorn 

• Butter, margarine, shortening, and lard 

• Commercial salad dressing, marinades, and seasonings

• Doughnuts, muffins, bagels, and croissants

• Sodas and energy drinks

• Fruit juice with sugar

• Candy

• Caffeinated beverages (coffee, tea) 

• Artificial sweeteners (e. g., aspartame)

• Food additives (including MSG) 

Fruits and vegetables: Some people with fibromyalgia prefer organic produce to avoid exposure to chemicals, including pesticides and fertilizers. Even non-organic fruits and vegetables are a nutritious, fiber-rich addition to any diet. If you have certain gastrointestinal symptoms, like constipation, increased fiber intake can usually help.

Dairy: Some people with fibromyalgia need to restrict or eliminate cow’s milk and other dairy products. There are plenty of non-dairy options to choose from, including rice, soy, almond, and oat milk. You can even find yogurt and creamy desserts made with non-dairy alternatives or non-dairy “cheeses” made from cashews or tofu. 

Grains: As a general rule, choose whole-grain bread, cereal, crackers, and pasta over those made with refined white flour. Instead of wheat pasta, try gluten-free pasta made with corn or veggie “noodles” made with a spiralizer. Avoid cakes, cookies, muffins, and other baked goods that are high in carbs and sugar. Baked goods made with whole grains, dairy substitutes, and nutritious seeds (like chia seeds or flax seeds) are far healthier options.

Protein: If you choose to include animal-based proteins in your diet, opt for skinless poultry or fatty fish (such as salmon or tuna). In addition to limiting red meat, avoid processed meats like hot dogs, sausage, salami, and lunchmeat. Not only are these foods high in salt and trans fat, but they are also among the most commonly cited fibromyalgia triggers. Nuts, nut butters, tofu, beans, legumes, egg whites, and vegetarian meat alternatives are excellent, non-meat sources of protein.

Desserts: Sugary foods are a common trigger for fibromyalgia flares. Even if they don’t directly cause symptoms, enjoy the treats in moderation or opt for fresh fruits instead. Even low-fat, sugar-free desserts can cause problems if they contain refined flour, butter, and sugar substitutes like aspartame.

Beverages: Caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea, and soda can be problematic for people with fibromyalgia. Herbal teas may be a better, safer option. Seltzer water, coconut water, and unsweetened fruit juices are great alternatives to soft drinks. If you consume alcohol, try reducing your intake, particularly sweet cocktails and high-carbohydrate beers.

Try Mini-Meals

Consider altering your meal times and sizes to see if your symptoms improve. Overeating places stress on the body that may trigger a flare. Instead of eating three large meals a day, try consuming four to six smaller meals spread throughout the day.

Cooking Tips

Fresh food is a staple of any healthy diet. Opt for salads and fresh fruit desserts whenever possible, and avoid deep-fat frying anything. Instead of cream sauces and mayonnaise, try seasoning your food with fresh herbs, spices, salsas, and low-fat vinaigrette. Grill meats with a minimum amount of oil (using a spray bottle to lightly coat food), and try poaching or steaming poultry or fish rather than pan-frying.  

Similarly, instead of frying eggs, try microwaving, poaching, or even baking them. Egg whites and egg alternatives can be used on their own as a base for a healthy omelet. 

Many fresh herbs and spices are full of antioxidants, while turmeric, garlic, cumin, and ginger are known to have anti-inflammatory properties. With that said, if you have gastrointestinal symptoms, adding spice to your meals may be irritating. Use them sparingly.

Modifications

As dietary needs change, so, too, can your sensitivity to certain foods. If you are trying to get pregnant or lose weight, additional dietary interventions may be needed. The same applies when you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Not only are your nutritional needs greater, but your body will invariably be under greater stress, increasing your risk of flares.

In the same way that illness can trigger symptoms, the failure to control high blood pressure and diabetes can directly influence your risk of fibromyalgia flares. Until you are better able to get these conditions under control, you may need to be extra careful about what you eat.

If faced with any significant change in your health or health practices (including a new exercise or weight-loss program), let your doctor know. Even positive changes can exert stresses that trigger fibromyalgia symptoms.

If needed, adjustments to your treatment plan can be made.

Considerations

The choices you make about your diet are impacted by—and can have an effect on—all different aspects of your life. Food is an integral part of your family, work, and social life and directly influences your physical and emotional well-being.

Change can be hard but, rather than focusing on what you can’t eat, think about how the changes will benefit all of the different facets of your life.

General Nutrition 

A diet that focuses on whole foods and avoids processed food will generally be healthy. But that doesn’t mean that the diet will necessarily be balanced.

A balanced diet is one that gives your body all of the nutrients it needs to function correctly. Each meal should combine protein, fat, carbohydrates, fruits and/or vegetables, and dairy in specific proportions.

In most Western diets, too much protein and carbohydrates are consumed while fruits and vegetables are treated more like an afterthought. In a balanced diet, the opposite is true.

According to the USDA, a healthy, balanced meal should consist of the following proportions:

• Protein: one-quarter of your plate
• Carbohydrates: one-quarter of your plate
• Vegetables and/or fruits: half of your plate

Keep most of your fats unsaturated, using them sparingly when needed.

Safety

Your doctor may prescribe medications to help control your fibromyalgia symptoms. These may include analgesics and gabapentin, sedatives, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). 

Foods can affect how many of these drugs work. For example:

• Certain types of gabapentin (Gralise and Horizant) should be taken with food, while others (like Neurontin) can be taken with or without food.
• SSRIs should also be taken with food but can cause jitteriness if combined with caffeine.
• Sedatives like Halcion (triazolam) can interact with grapefruit, increasing the risk of side effects.
• Tylenol (acetaminophen) combined with alcohol may cause liver damage.

Herbal remedies can also interact with fibromyalgia medications. Examples include kava kava and sedatives like Xanax (alprazolam) and St. John’s wort and SSRIs like Prozac (fluoxetine) and Zoloft (sertraline).

Knowing how foods affect fibromyalgia medications can help prevent interactions while ensuring the optimal response to treatment.

Flexibility

Certain ways of eating are less healthy whether you have fibromyalgia or not. Chief among them are fast food and family chain restaurants that are more likely than not to trip up your diet.

Wherever you dine out, check the restaurant menu online and pre-select the foods you can eat, if possible. You can also opt to visit restaurants that cook to order and will leave off any ingredients you find problematic.

To avoid frustration, call the restaurant in advance and let them know about your dietary concerns. In many cases, they will offer suggestions or even prepare a special order if you call early enough.

Support and Community

Living with fibromyalgia is as much an emotional journey as a physical one. Even though your doctor and nutritionist can answer many of your questions and concerns, you may feel the need to talk to others who know first-hand what you are going through.

You can often find fibromyalgia support groups through your doctor or non-profit organizations like the National Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Association (NFMCPA). There are also online community support groups on Facebook and live informal groups organized on Meetup and other social platforms.

Support from family and friends is equally important. The more that they understand about fibromyalgia and why your dietary restrictions are essential, the easier daily meals and outings become.

Side Effects

When making significant changes to your diet, it is not uncommon to experience bowel problems. Most of these are short-lived and tend to resolve once your body adjusts to the new routine. While constipation is common, an increased intake of dietary fiber can also cause runny stools, bloating, and gas.

Don’t give on the diet if you happen to feel uncomfortable for a few days or weeks. Instead, find ways to manage your symptoms. This may involve a fiber supplement and drinking extra fluids if you have constipation or eating a BRAT diet to help bind runny stool.

If gastrointestinal symptoms fail to resolve, speak with your doctor. Unless there is some other explanation for your symptoms, they are more likely caused by an imbalance in your adjusted diet.

Cost

From a practical standpoint, eating well with fibromyalgia can sometimes be costly, particularly where fresh fish and lean meats are concerned. To help constrain costs, add canned tuna or sardines to your weekly menu, and buy beef or chicken in bulk to store in the freezer. Frozen peas, corn, peaches, and mixed berries are also great cost-savers.

Fibromyalgia Diet vs. Other Diets

Since there is no set fibromyalgia diet, many people will combine elements from several different plans to manage their symptoms. The most popular plans for people with fibromyalgia are low-FODMAP, gluten-free, and plant-based diets.

Low-FODMAP Diet

A 2017 study in the Portuguese journal Nutricion Hospitalaria investigated the benefits of a low-FODMAP diet for people with fibromyalgia. FODMAP is an acronym for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols, which are the types of sugar or sugar alcohols that are broken down by bacteria in the colon. FODMAPs are naturally found in certain foods and commonly used as food additives. 

According to the researchers, 38 adults with fibromyalgia experienced significant reductions in pain after eating a low-FODMAP diet for four weeks. In addition, there were decreases in weight and body mass index (BMI) in some of the study participants.

If considering a low-FODMAP diet, let your doctor or dietitian know. As beneficial as the approach may be, it is often harder to achieve a balanced diet given the high nutritional value of high-FODMAP foods.

Low-FODMAP Foods

• Bananas

• Blueberries

• Grapes

• Brown sugar

• Table sugar

• Butter

• Almond milk

• Broccoli

• Carrots

• Potatoes

• Brown rice

• Oats

• Sunflower seeds

Gluten-Free Diet

According to a 2015 study in Rheumatology International, there are similarities between the gastrointestinal symptoms of fibromyalgia and those of celiac disease. Both involve abnormal physiological responses to trigger foods. With celiac disease, the culprit is gluten found in wheat and other cereal grains. 

There is evidence, albeit scant, that some people with fibromyalgia have an underlying gluten sensitivity. It is unclear at this stage if fibromyalgia is an extension of celiac disease in these individuals or if the two diseases are independent and simply share a common trigger.

Given the similarities between fibromyalgia and gluten intolerance, it may be reasonable to add gluten to the list of possible triggers in an elimination diet.

Plant-Based Diets

An early study published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine suggested that a vegan or vegetarian diet may help reduce fibromyalgia pain by as much as 46%.

The two-month study involved the balanced intake of protein, carbohydrates, fats, and nutrients using raw fruits, salads, carrot juice, tubers, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and dehydrated barley grass juice. Of the 20 participants who made it to the trial’s end, 19 achieved a positive result.

There are several vegan, vegetarian, and semi-vegetarian diets to consider, including: 

• Mediterranean Diet
• Flexitarian Diet
• Macrobiotic Diet
• Engine-2 Diet
• Ornish Diet

A Word From Verywell

Treating fibromyalgia is challenging and it typically involves many strategies that work together to help you feel your best. If you haven’t tried changes to your diet, consider working with a doctor or dietician to undergo a three- to six-week elimination diet. It requires commitment and focus on your part, with no “cheating” or sudden introductions of new foods into your plan, but it could help. Though your symptoms may or may not improve on a fibromyalgia diet, your efforts to follow its eat-well strategies can only benefit your overall health.

Diet for Fibromyalgia | Pain Remedies and Therapeutic Solutions

Having fibromyalgia comes with a lot of muscle pain, stiffness and sometimes even sleeping trouble. Even though the cause is still unknown, significant research has been done to find different treatment options that may ease the pain of fibromyalgia patients. Studies have found that people suffering from fibromyalgia can benefit from eating a certain diet that, when used along with treatment given at The Pain Center, can help to reduce symptoms and bring relief. 

What to eat:

• Drink plenty of water: 6-8 glasses are recommended.
• Omega-3: Foods like nuts and fish have anti-inflammatory effects on the body.
• Magnesium: Most people, especially people who suffer from fibromyalgia, are deficient in magnesium. Magnesium deficiencies have very similar symptoms to that of fibromyalgia. Dark leafy greens, nuts like cashews and almonds, and soybeans are all good sources of magnesium.
• Lean protein: Lean proteins have less saturated fat than red meats, so eating foods like fish or chicken helps fibromyalgia patients maintain a healthy weight.
• Fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are full of antioxidants and vitamins promoting nervous system health. Your diet should include plenty of leafy greens like kale or spinach and fruits of all colors.

What to avoid:

• Sugar and caffeine: Even though fibromyalgia may cause fatigue, it is important to stay away from sugar and caffeine. Caffeine only gives a small boost and is usually followed by a longer period of fatigue. In addition, it interferes with getting a restful sleep at night, something patients may already struggle with.
• Food allergens: Get tested for allergies to find out what other foods you may be sensitive to.
• Monosodium glutamate (MSG). According to an article by Everyday Health, MSG, which is an additive found in prepackaged foods, is full of salts which can cause the some patients to have increased pain and swelling.

Other healthy habits to adopt:

• Exercise: Exercising while in pain may seem like a bad idea, but studies have shown that non-intensive exercise, such as swimming, walking, or stretching helps to loosen muscles and reduce stiffness. As an added bonus, regular exercise helps patients sleep better at night.
• Weight Watching: A sedentary lifestyle due to pain and even medication can contribute to obesity among fibromyalgia patients. With regular exercise and a good diet, those suffering from fibromyalgia can have a healthy, happy lifestyle.

Be sure to consult with your doctor before adding to your diet, because some foods may interfere with how your body absorbs certain types of medications. 

If you suffer from chronic pain due to any condition or injury, find hope at The Pain Center of Arizona! Our dedicated team of board certified pain management physicians will work with you to treat your pain, increase your functionality and quality of life, and get you back into life! We have locations locations across Arizona, including Arcadia, Deer Valley, Gilbert, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Tempe, Surprise, West Phoenix, Tucson and Prescott! We take multiple insurance plans; click here to see if we take yours! To make an appointment and take the first step toward getting back into life, call us today at 1-888-PAINCENTER. We hope to see you soon!

The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.

Fibromyalgia and Nutrition – Living With Arthritis

Fibromyalgia is chronic arthritis-related condition with symptoms that may include widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, depression, headaches, mental fogginess, and bowel and bladder problems. A type of central sensitization or central pain syndrome, fibromyalgia is believed to result from a problem in the way the brain processes pain signals.

Although the cause of fibromyalgia is not well understood, scientists are finding that certain nutrients or food additives may worsen symptoms for some people. Similarly, consuming or eliminating particular nutrients may lessen symptom severity.

Here are three nutrients that may play a role in fibromyalgia and what researchers are learning about them.

Food Additives & Fibromyalgia Symptoms

For years, researchers have suspected that food additives called excitotoxins may worsen fibromyalgia symptoms for some people. Excitotoxins include three amino acids – glutamate, aspartate and L-cysteine – that are commonly found in many grocery store staples as flavor enhancers and sugar substitutes.

Some of the earliest evidence of a fibromyalgia-excitotoxin connection was seen in 2001 in a small case study published in Annals of Pharmacotherapy. Four people with fibromyalgia who had not responded well to other treatments became totally or mostly symptom-free within months of removing monosodium glutamate (MSG) or aspartame from their diets. All had symptoms return when MSG was reintroduced.

More recent and slightly larger studies have had conflicting results. In a study published in 2012 in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, 57 patients with fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms were put on a diet that excluded MSG and aspartame. After four weeks on the elimination diet, 84% of those completing the diet reported their symptoms improved by more than 30%. Adding MSG back into the diet resulted in a significant return of symptoms.

A 2014 study published in Rheumatology International, however, showed no relationship. In this study of 72 women with fibromyalgia, half of them stopped eating monosodium glutamate (MSG) and aspartame, while the other half continued their regular diets. There were no significant differences between the groups on pain ratings before or after the elimination diet. The researchers concluded that discontinuing the additives did not improve fibromyalgia symptoms.

Researchers say larger studies are needed to better understand the potential role of excitotoxins on fibromyalgia symptoms and whether some patients may benefit from eliminating them.

Vitamin D

You need vitamin D to absorb calcium. Your body makes it when your skin is directly exposed to the sun. Vitamin D is also found in fatty fish, beef liver, egg yolks, mushrooms, and fortified milk and cereal products.

Research has shown a connection between low blood levels of vitamin D and several chronic health problems including osteoporosis, high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases and chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain.

It’s not known whether supplementing vitamin D in people who are deficient will help pain or other symptoms of fibromyalgia. A small Austrian study published in 2014 in the journal Pain suggests it might. In the study, 30 women with fibromyalgia and low blood levels of vitamin D received either a vitamin D supplement or placebo. The treatment group experienced improvement in physical functioning, morning fatigue and pain, while the placebo group was unchanged.

While the data presented in the study are promising, study author Florian Wepner, MD, an orthopaedist at Vienna’s Orthopaedic Hospital Speising, notes that the study was small and larger studies are needed to better determine the potential role of vitamin D in fibromyalgia treatment. He believes, however, that vitamin D is a safe supplement that can be used along with medication and other non-medication treatments for fibromyalgia.

Gluten & Inflammation

Shop the aisles of almost any supermarket and you’ll find a wide array of gluten-free products. Gluten – a protein found in wheat, rye and barley – triggers damaging inflammation in the small intestines of people with celiac disease. More recently gluten intolerance has been suspected to play a part in a host of other ailments including digestive problems, fatigue, headache, skin rash and possibly fibromyalgia.

Spanish researchers wondering whether gluten contributed to fibromyalgia sought the answer in a study published in 2014 in Rheumatology International.

The study examined 20 patients who had fibromyalgia and a suspected gluten sensitivity while not fully meeting the criteria for celiac disease. After transitioning to a gluten-free diet for 16 months, all patients reported improvement in the level of widespread chronic pain. Fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms, migraine and depression also improved.

“This report shows that remarkable clinical improvement can be achieved with a gluten-free diet in patients with [fibromyalgia], even if celiac disease has been ruled out,” the authors wrote.

Another 2014 study published in Arthritis Research and Therapy evaluated the one-year effect of a gluten-free diet in 97 women with both fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome. None of the women met criteria for a celiac diagnosis. However, 58 tested positive for lymphocytic enteritis (LE), an inflammation of the small intestine found in people with food allergy, autoimmune disorders, bacterial infection and those taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

The gluten-free diet produced slight improvement in symptoms of both IBS and fibromyalgia in the LE group, but not the group without LE. This suggests that LE might be useful for identifying patients who are most likely to benefit from eliminating gluten, the authors said. One important limitation of this study is the lack of a control group.

The Takeaway

Despite the research on nutrition and fibromyalgia, there is no conclusive evidence that the addition – or elimination – of any nutrient or set of nutrients will help everyone with the condition. Any dietary changes you might like to try should be tailored to you in consultation with your doctor.

Fibromyalgia expert Daniel Clauw, MD, professor of anesthesiology, rheumatology and psychiatry at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, says the data supporting vitamin D as a reliever of fibromyalgia pain is inconsistent, but its other benefits are a good enough reason to try it. “It helps strengthen bones and has a host of other benefits.”

While more research is needed to determine how different elements of our diets affect fibromyalgia, experts agree that eating a diet of healthy whole foods is certainly a step in the right direction.

Authors: Kerry Ludlam and Mary Anne Dunkin for the Arthritis Foundation

Related Resources:

Diet Tips For Fibromyalgia | Prevention

Fibromyalgia, a chronic disease that causes pain and swelling in more than a dozen points all over the body, affects as many as 5 million people. Because doctors are still unsure of the cause of fibromyalgia, treatment can be frustrating (and often a process of trial and error). “Fibromyalgia symptoms are only about 30% amenable to current pharmaceutical strategies on the market,” says Kathleen Holton, PhD, MPH, lead author of Potential Dietary Links in Central Sensitization in Fibromyalgia.

That’s why many patients are taking matters into their own hands and experimenting with alternative treatments, including dietary changes. Forty-two percent of fibro patients reported that symptoms worsened after eating certain foods, and though much of the research is in its preliminary phases, there’s some evidence that simple diet tweaks may ease fibro pain.

Read on to get 5 food rules for fibromyalgia patients (just be sure to consult your doctor before drastically changing your diet).

1. Load up on vitamin D
Many adults are deficient in vitamin D to begin with, but this sunshine vitamin can be vital to fibro patients. “Vitamin D deficiency can mimic some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia. All patients should be screened for deficiency,” says Holton. Studies show that vitamin D deficiencies can cause bone and muscle pain, and upping levels of this hard-to-get vitamin may help. A 2008 study found that pain patients with low levels of vitamin D required almost double the dose of painkillers as those with adequate levels. Holton recommends taking a supplement, especially during the wintertime.

2. Avoid additives
Common food additives, like monosodium glutamate (MSG) and aspartame, can act as excitotoxin molecules, a chemical group that has the ability to activate neurons that increase sensitivity to pain. Anecdotally, easing off these additives can help, and one very small study of four patients found that eliminating MSG and aspartame resulted in a reduction of fibromyalgia symptoms. The research is far from definitive, but it may be worth trying if you notice your symptoms worsen after Chinese takeout or too many diet drinks.

3. Say yes to fish
Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish, like salmon, walnuts, and flaxseed, are known to reduce inflammation and help prevent cardiovascular diseases. However, their soreness-reducing traits may also help pain patients. A 2007 study found that after just 3 months of supplementing omega-3 fatty acids, symptoms such as morning stiffness and painful, tender joints decreased. Though this study did not include fibromyalgia patients (it included rheumatoid arthritis (RA), irritable bowel syndrome (IBD), and dysmenorrheal patients), the results show promise. Fibro patients often have co-morbidities such as IBD and RA, so omega-3s may benefit them as well. Try adding salmon or walnuts to your diet, or, if you don’t like those foods, try adding flaxseeds to your cereal or oatmeal. 

4. Nix the caffeine
Because sleeplessness is commonly associated with fibro, it may be tempting to fuel up on coffee to get through the day. This, however, may be a mistake. “Some patients use caffeine to compensate for not sleeping well, which can lead to a circular problem where the ‘solution’ of taking caffeine to stay awake is actually causing the problem of not sleeping at night,” says Holton. Caffeine can set you up for a crash and, if sipped later in the day, may disrupt sleep schedules. Holton recommends antioxidant-packed decaffeinated green tea as a healthier alternative.

5. Veg out
Some researchers speculate that oxidative stress may be a cause of fibro symptoms. Oxidative stress occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough antioxidants to battle cell-damaging free radicals in the body. Most fruits and veggies are packed with important antioxidants, like vitamins A, C, and E, which fight free radicals to keep your body normalized. Certain studies also show a raw, vegan diet can improve symptoms, but that’s difficult for most people to follow. If you do choose to eat meat, though, opt for a small portion of grass-fed beef. “It is an excellent source of iron and vitamin B12, both nutrients which are extremely important in keeping your pain-processing nervous system healthy,” says Holton. (Get started with these 5 delicious vegetarian recipes.)

MORE: 10 Facts About Fibromyalgia

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90,000 Fibromyalgia Diet | Medical portal EUROLAB

Fibromyalgia and diet

This article provides expert advice on diet, as well as information on what foods should be avoided in order to alleviate the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia affects mainly women. Doctors still have not invented a drug that would help all patients with fibromyalgia.People in search of a cure are turning to various treatments, including diet, which has been shown to help relieve some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

There is no scientific evidence that a particular diet can help manage the symptoms of fibromyalgia. However, if you do a good search for relevant information on the Internet, you can see that the diet has helped many people with fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, the number of diets that supposedly help are so many that sometimes people get confused …

Eat more unprocessed grains.Don’t eat processed grains … All fruits are good for you. Some fruits should not be consumed … Tomatoes are healthy vegetables. Tomatoes will only harm you! Sugar is bad. Stop eating meat …

Confused? Do not worry. Fibromyalgia differs from other diseases in many manifestations of symptoms, as well as individual approaches to treatment.

“Fibromyalgia is more of a complex of symptoms than a specific disease,” says Michael McNett, head of the Fibromyalgia Center, America.According to him, in different patients, symptoms appear for different reasons, and therefore the treatment should be individual.

Individuality also applies to diet.

“Today we know that diet has some effect on fibromyalgia, however, the diet is different for everyone,” says Kent Holtorf, MD.

Fibromyalgia and Diet

Rheumatologist Alex Shikhman, M.D., believes that diet is unlikely to help fight symptoms of fibromyalgia, but it will help to cope with symptoms of concurrent diseases.”Fibromyalgia is often associated with other conditions that diet actually helps fight,” Shikhman says. “When a person cope with the symptoms of the second disease, of course, he feels much better, his overall physical condition improves.”

There are a number of diseases that often accompany fibromyalgia. Many of them have symptoms similar to those of fibromyalgia: gluten intolerance, gout, restless legs syndrome. Some doctors believe that food intolerances can cause many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia – pain and weakness.

Holtorf draws attention to the fact that every disease that accompanies fibromyalgia reacts differently to different types of diet, which is why there are so many diets that, according to patients, help with fibromyalgia.

Shikhman believes that often doctors misdiagnose fibromyalgia, which is the reason for the ambiguous response to various diets.

According to Shchikhman, if you carefully monitor the patient’s reaction to a particular food product, you can find out what exactly caused the patient’s health deterioration.And not all cases are caused by fibromyalgia.

Seven foods to avoid

There is no single diet that works for all fibromyalgia patients. However, certain food groups do have the same effect on people with fibromyalgia. It should be remembered that avoiding these foods does not guarantee that the symptoms will go away. Avoiding one food group may help, avoiding another may have no effect. Experts say it’s worth trying to avoid at least some of the foods listed below.

1. Aspartame (used in Nutrasuit sugar substitute). Experts have found that aspartame aggravates symptoms in most people with fibromyalgia. Aspartame stimulates the pain receptor response of the nervous system. In one study, researchers found that pain receptors are particularly active in people with fibromyalgia.Holtorf believes that aspartame has a direct effect on these receptors, and eliminating it from the diet can significantly reduce pain in patients. Other sugar substitutes (saccharin, etc.) do not have the same effect as aspartame.

2. Food supplements with sodium glutamine and nitrates . Monosodium glutamine is found in many frozen foods and Asian dishes. Monosodium glutamine can exacerbate pain. Like aspartame, sodium glutamine affects pain receptors.The same goes for nitrates, which are found in ham, some sausages and bacon.

3. Sugar, fructose, simple carbohydrates. There is no evidence that eliminating simple carbohydrates from the diet – sugar, dough, white bread – will have a beneficial effect on the symptoms of fibromyalgia. However, it will certainly lessen the symptoms of the yeast that grows on sugar and possibly exacerbate the pain that accompanies fibromyalgia. This theory has not yet been proven by experts.A sharp rise in blood sugar levels, followed by a sharp drop in levels, causes extreme fatigue, Shikhman said. Fatigue, in turn, causes the need for sugar, which is followed by fatigue. The vicious circle can be broken by avoiding the use of sugar, especially soda water. By controlling your blood sugar levels, you can reduce fatigue and pain.

4. Caffeine – coffee, tea, cola, chocolate. Many fibromyalgia patients mistakenly think of caffeine as a source of energy.McNett warns that the burst of energy ends quickly, leading to longer and more intense fatigue. Eliminating caffeine from the diet gives a positive result quite quickly, in less than a week.

5. Yeast & Gluten . These substances are often found in baked goods – bread, pies, etc. By excluding one, you are excluding the second, since both are often added to the foods mentioned. As far as yeast is concerned, it promotes the development of yeast in the human body, which causes or exacerbates the joint and muscle pain experienced by patients with fibromyalgia.Research, however, has not yet confirmed this assumption. Gluten can cause gluten intolerance, which often causes symptoms such as gastrointestinal problems and fatigue.

6. Dairy products. Some scientists believe that, regardless of the fat content, dairy products – especially milk – exacerbate the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Avoiding dairy products can have a positive effect on the health of a patient with fibromyalgia.However, if a person feels that milk is good for his body, he can drink a glass of milk every day. Milk contains calcium and protein, which are important for the formation of bones and muscles.

7. Solanaceae family: tomatoes, paprika, potatoes, eggplants. More than 2000 plant species can be classified as nightshade. Those that are edible can exacerbate various arthritic diseases and fibromyalgia.

Nutrients and healthy eating

Avoiding certain foods can help the patient cope with the illness they are suffering from.However, a healthy diet will certainly benefit everyone.

If a person eats according to a diet aimed at strengthening the heart – low in saturated fat, lean meat, poultry, and high in fresh vegetables and fruits – this will have a positive effect on the general condition of the body.

When the human body is healthy, it is much easier for him to cope with any disease, as well as respond to any changes.

Holtorf is an advocate of a heart-strengthening diet.“Patients with fibromyalgia have been found to have dysfunction in the mitochondria, the area of ​​the cell where energy is produced. The body needs a lot of nutrients for the mitochondria to function properly, ”says Holtorf.

In some cases, vitamins and supplements containing omega 3 fatty acids help. Omega 3 fatty acids – “healthy fats” – are found in fish oil, flax grains, walnuts, nutritious cereals, eggs.

According to Holtorff, these substances help many patients with fibromyalgia.

90,000 Fibromyalgia suspected of having autoimmune roots – Science

TASS, July 2. Biologists have found that fibromyalgia – chronic muscle pain – occurs when the immune system malfunctions, causing its cells to attack muscles throughout the body. The results of the study were published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

“There is no cure for fibromyalgia yet, because we did not fully understand the nature of this disease before. They tried to treat her with light exercises, psychotherapy and pain relievers, which in most cases did not help. Now this situation must change, “says David Anderson, one of the authors of the study, a fellow at King’s College London.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome of an unclear nature, from which approximately 2.5-4% of the world’s inhabitants suffer. It is mainly diagnosed in women between the ages of 25 and 35, but it often develops in children and men of different ages.Research by Anderson and colleagues suggests that fibromyalgia may be an autoimmune disease.

This is the name of a serious illness caused by a malfunction of the immune system. Because of this, immune cells attack various organs and tissues of the human body. The most famous of these are multiple sclerosis, lupus, type 1 diabetes, and arthritis. Scientists do not yet know why all these diseases occur. There are roughly equal reasons to believe that these diseases may be a rare consequence of common infections, as well as the product of genetic disorders.

People with fibromyalgia complain of bouts of pain throughout the body, and occasionally suffer from sleep problems, chronic fatigue syndrome, as well as frequent cramps, digestive and respiratory problems. Previously, scientists believed that fibromyalgia is of a mental or inflammatory nature. However, observations of recent years have made them doubt this.

The authors of the article noted that many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia are similar in nature to the changes that occur in the work of pain receptors in people suffering from various disorders of the immune system.Guided by this idea, the scientists tracked how injections of antibodies extracted from the serum of several carriers of the disease would affect the behavior of mice and the functioning of their nervous systems.

It turned out that after the rodents were injected with antibodies, their threshold for pain sensitivity changed. Their nerve cells reacted much more actively to a variety of stimuli, despite the absence of foci of inflammation and other visible changes in the work of the mice. In addition to this, the rodents became depressed and began to experience other characteristic symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Scientists have achieved similar results using blood serum with antibodies from residents of Great Britain and Germany, as well as carriers of fibromyalgia of different sex and age. According to Anderson and his colleagues, this suggests that this disease almost always arises as a result of the appearance of antibodies that can bind to pain receptors and increase their sensitivity.

How exactly they affect neurons, biologists cannot yet say. They hope that they will be able to find out in further experiments.This information, in turn, will help create drugs that suppress the symptoms of the disease or prevent its development, the authors of the study concluded.

90,000 Fibromyalgia Diet | Competently about health on iLive

Diet for fibromyalgia is also studied by domestic scientists, doctors

Russian rheumatologists have found that increased doses of magnesium and B vitamins have a positive effect on the therapeutic process. In addition, thanks to the research of European colleagues, it was proved that the state of 75-80% of all patients with fibromyalgia is characterized by a low level of magnesium (magnesium deficiency in the composition of erythrocytes), therefore, the inclusion of foods containing this valuable trace element in the diet contributes to the early recovery and normalization of many processes. …Magnesium plays an important role in muscle function, the functioning of the nervous system and activates the fermentation of food elements, which in turn helps the formation of ATP. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is one of the sources of energy resources of the human body. Magnesium activates an enzyme that controls cell sodium-potassium balance so that sodium stays in cells and potassium protects cells from the outside. This is the only way a cell can reproduce energy resources constantly.The diet for fibromyalgia should include not only the required amount of magnesium, but also a specially selected increased dose. Magnesium should be combined with calcium, since this synthesis is considered harmonious for the functioning of the human body (magnesium controls the excess of calcium).

List of foods containing magnesium:

• Broccoli.
• Spinach.
• All kinds of beans.
• Pumpkin seeds.
• Buckwheat groats (not fried).
• Pumpkin.
• Artichoke.
• Milk.
• Hazelnuts.
• Sprouted wheat.
• Bran.
• Sesame Seeds.
• Millet.
• Dates.
• Prunes.
• Raisins.

Most recently, dietary “trials” including a special oxidative diet have been successfully passed in Israeli clinics. Patients were instructed to eat foods containing natural antioxidants for three months.The results were impressive not only for patients who felt a significant improvement and reduction in pain symptoms, but also for doctors. The patients’ menu included fruits and berries – cranberries, plums, currants, prunes, sour apples. The diet also included vegetables, beans, spices and herbs – beans, radishes, asparagus, cauliflower and broccoli, parsley and celery, cinnamon, turmeric, oregano and cloves. Bread was consumed only with rye or with the addition of bran and nuts. Green tea with honey and lemon, dosed portions of tap wine, fresh fruit compotes, rosehip fruit drinks and still mineral water were offered as drinks.

Diet for fibromyalgia involves adherence to the rules and a diet determined by a nutritionist for a long time. In fact, in order to reduce the manifestations of fibromyalgia, a person needs to radically change their lifestyle, including diet.

[4], [5], [6]

Recommendations of the American rheumatologists of the Chicago clinic

1. The menu should include whole grain meals – wholemeal bread, brown rice, buckwheat, bran meals, and so on.This diet helps to establish digestive processes and contributes to the regular removal of decay products and toxins from the body.
2. Tomatoes and products containing tomato paste (ketchup, sauces) should be avoided. Tomatoes can cause allergies or provoke an allergic-like reaction in the body.
3. It is necessary to give up sweet foods, minimize sugar consumption. Sugar is eliminated almost completely, for at least one month. In the future, you should adhere to strict restrictions regarding sweet foods.
4. It is necessary to limit the consumption of meat products. Meat should not be ruled out at all, however, you will have to comply with the norms – no more than 2 times a week, a maximum of 250 grams per day. Protein restriction promotes the release of the necessary energy, which is so lacking in patients with fibromyalgia.
5. By limiting sugar, it will be necessary to abandon sugar substitutes, which are considered quite toxic to the nervous system. The sugar substitute has been found to negatively affect NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) bonds and receptors, which significantly increases pain sensitivity.
6. You should also abandon products containing flavoring additives, synthetic dyes. This primarily concerns the infamous monosodium glutamate, which is ubiquitous in food production. Monosodium glutamate increases the sensitivity of pain receptors, in addition, it gradually disrupts transmitter connections and lowers the already lowered level of serotonin. In addition, this component is capable of causing so-called oxidative stress and hepatotoxic effects.
7. Any products containing nitrates are excluded. Vegetables, fruits should be chosen taking into account this rule, or they should be subjected to special processing – at least soaked in water for about half an hour.
8. The menu excludes any drinks containing gas, be it mineral water or champagne. The diet for fibromyalgia, in principle, does not accept carbonated water, especially made from a powder concentrate.
9. The invigorating effect of coffee for people suffering from fibromyalgia is an instant increase in activity and an equally rapid fatigue, a decrease in energy.Therefore, you should minimize coffee and coffee-containing drinks and give preference to green tea without sugar, which is an excellent mild adaptogen and stimulant of vigor. A clinical study by American and European doctors has shown that a weekly cessation of coffee gives amazing results in terms of restoring vitality.
10. Diet for fibromyalgia involves limiting the use of baked goods, especially those made with yeast. In addition to the negative effects on the sick body from yeast, bread contains gluten (gluten), which can become an allergic-provoking factor.
11. People with fibromyalgia should have a schedule of milk and dairy products. It is believed that avoiding milk entirely in fibromyalgia is unacceptable, since dairy products are a source of calcium, but milk can be a trigger for allergies. In addition, milk, more precisely the myristic acid contained in it, affects the level of low-density lipoproteins, which provoke atherosclerosis. The maximum amount that a fibromyalgia diet allows is no more than 300 ml of milk or dairy products per day.
12. People with fibromyalgia should reconsider their diet and limit the consumption of vegetables from the nightshade families. In addition to tomatoes, this group includes potatoes, sweet and hot peppers, and eggplants.
13. All citrus fruits should be eaten with caution in order to minimize the risk of allergic reactions.
14. Patients with fibromyalgia are strictly prohibited from soy and soy products, since it is soy that is the leader in the content of genetically modified components.It has been proven that 98-99% of all soy produced in the world is GMO soy.
15. It is extremely useful and important to include in the diet all foods containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega acids). These are practically all varieties of sea fish, flax oil, walnuts, vegetable oils and eggs.

Fibromyalgia – treatment, symptoms, causes, diagnosis

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain, stiffness, and soreness in muscles, tendons, and joints.Fibromyalgia is also characterized by sleep disturbance, chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety, and bowel dysfunction. Fibromyalgia is sometimes called fibromyalgic syndrome or fibrositis.

Although fibromyalgia is one of the most common muscle diseases, the cause is still unknown. The tissues that are the source of pain are not accompanied by inflammation of this tissue. And therefore, pains that cause a lot of inconvenience to the patient do not lead to irreversible changes and destruction of tissues.In addition, there is no damage to internal organs. In this respect, fibromyalgia differs from rheumatological diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, or polymyositis. In these diseases, tissue inflammation occurs – this is the main cause of stiffness pain, soreness in joints, tendons and muscles, and, in addition, damage to both tissues and internal organs occurs.

Reasons

The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown. Patients with fibromyalgia experience painful sensations to stimuli that are not usually perceived as painful.Studies have shown that patients with fibromyalgia have elevated levels of the neurotransmitter (called substance P) and nerve growth factor in the cerebrospinal fluid. In addition, patients with fibromyalgia have decreased levels of serotonin in the brain. Research on pain in fibromyalgia has suggested central nervous system hypersensitivity. Scientists have also noted impaired pain perception in patients with fibromyalgia.

In addition, patients with fibromyalgia showed a decrease in slow eye movements during sleep (which partly explains the feeling of fatigue after sleep or frequent awakenings).The debut of fibromyalgia is often associated with a psychological factor, trauma or infection.

Who is affected by fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia affects mainly women (up to 80% of women are sick) aged 35 to 55 years. Much less commonly, fibromyalgia occurs in men, children, and the elderly. The disease can manifest on its own or be associated with other diseases such as SLE or rheumatoid arthritis. The prevalence of this disease varies from country to country. For example, in Sweden and Great Britain 1% and in the USA – 4%.

Symptoms

The universal symptom of fibromyalgia is of course pain. As mentioned above, fibromyalgia pain is not caused by tissue inflammation. Instead, patients appear to have increased sensitivity to various sensory stimulants and an unusually low threshold for pain sensitivity. Minor sensory stimulation, which usually does not cause great distress to other people, can be significant and disruptive in patients with fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia pain can be in different parts of the body, and on both sides.Most often, pain occurs in the neck, buttocks, shoulders, chest, and upper body. Sensitive areas are confined areas where sensitivity is increased.

Fatigue occurs in 90% of patients. Fatigue can be associated with abnormal sleep phases, which is common in these patients. Normally, there are several levels of sleep depth. A person needs to be in a deep sleep stage longer in order to restore the strength of the body. In patients with fibromyalgia, a lack of deep, restorative sleep (called slow eye movement stage).As a result, patients wake up in the morning with a feeling of fatigue and heaviness in the muscles and a feeling of lack of sleep (although the number of hours of sleep was sufficient).

Mental or emotional disorders occur in more than half of patients with fibromyalgia. These disorders include poor concentration, impaired fixation memory, irritability, and depressed mood. And due to the fact that the diagnosis of fibromyalgia is difficult to verify, such patients are often diagnosed with depression.

Other symptoms of fibromyalgia may include migraine-type or tension-type headaches, various numbness or tingling sensations in different parts of the body. In addition, there may be abdominal discomfort (spastic bowel), an irritated bladder (frequent and sometimes painful urination). But the examination does not show signs of inflammation in the intestines or bladder. Each patient with fibromyalgia is unique in its own way, and symptoms can occur in different combinations.

Diagnostics

There are no tests or x-rays to support the diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Analyzes and examinations are prescribed to exclude other diseases. Fibromyalgia is diagnosed based on medical history and physical examination findings. In patients with chronic pain, the diagnosis of fibromyalgia can be made on the basis of the detection of painful points (up to 80% of cases), the presence of tissue inflammation and the exclusion of other diseases.Many diseases have symptoms similar to fibromyalgia. For example, these are diseases such as:

• Low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism),
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Increased function of the parathyroid glands (causes an increase in blood calcium levels),
• Muscle diseases accompanied by muscle pain (polymyositis),
• Bone disease, with bone pain (Paget’s disease),
• Elevated blood calcium levels (hypercalcemia),
• Infectious diseases (hepatitis, Epstein-Bara virus, AIDS),
• Cancer diseases.

And, although blood tests do not verify fibromyalgia, they are essential for differential diagnosis. Therefore, it is necessary to do blood tests for thyroid hormones, the level of calcium in the blood (to exclude hypercalcemia, hyperparathyroidism, hypothyroidism). Alkaline phosphatase levels are often elevated in people with Paget’s disease. Creatine phosphokinase is often elevated in patients with polymyositis. A detailed blood test and blood biochemistry allows you to diagnose hepatitis.

Fibromyalgia may present on its own or in association with systemic rheumatologic diseases.In systemic rheumatological diseases (SLE, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis), inflammation and damage to various tissues and organs occurs. For the diagnosis of these diseases, such analyzes as ROE level of plasma proteins, antinuclear factor, C reactive protein, sialic acid are important. With fibromyalgia, these tests are within normal limits.

Treatment

Because the symptoms of fibromyalgia vary widely from patient to patient, treatment programs must be personalized for each patient.Fibromyalgia treatment programs are most effective when medication and non-medication are combined.

Stress Reduction

It is almost impossible to measure stress levels in different patients. For some people, milk spilled on the table is almost a tragedy. And for others, even if a tank enters the room, there will be no concern. A good effect for reducing stress is given by biofeedback and relaxation techniques. Sometimes, changes in environmental factors (such as noise, temperature, changes in the weather) are sufficient to aggravate the symptoms of fibromyalgia.And influencing these factors can have a positive impact. The optimal amount of sleep is very helpful.

LFC

Low-intensity physical activity, such as swimming, cycling, walking Especially useful in the morning. The mechanism of the effect of stress on fibromyalgia is not known. Improved sleep (lengthening REM sleep) may be one factor.

Diet

There is no specific diet for the treatment of fibromyalgia. It is recommended to avoid drinking alcohol and coffee in the evening in order to improve sleep.In the presence of irritable bowel syndrome, foods that provoke disturbances in the work of the gastrointestinal tract should be avoided.

Drug treatment

Traditionally, tricyclic antidepressants, commonly used to treat depression, have been considered the most effective. In the treatment of fibromyalgia, tricyclic antidepressants are used in dosages several times lower than in the treatment of depression. Tricyclic antidepressants relieve fatigue to some extent, reduce muscle pain, and improve sleep.Science believes this is due to altered levels of a neurotransmitter called serotonin. A tricyclic antidepressant is, for example, amitriptyline or doxepin. Practice has shown that the combination of drugs such as fluoxetine (Prozac) with a reduced dose of amitriptyline increases symptom reduction, improves sleep and well-being. But these drugs, unfortunately, have side effects. In 2007, a drug called Lyrica (pregabalin) was synthesized and it was the first drug developed specifically for fibromyalgia.Lyrics significantly reduce pain in patients with fibromyalgia. Moreover, the drug has a wide therapeutic range (it allows you to choose the dosage depending on the symptoms). Another drug called Neurontin (gabapentin) has a similar effect. And more recently, drugs have been synthesized that instantly increase the level of two neurotransmitters in the brain (serotonin and norepinephrine). These drugs are duloxetine (Simbalta) and milnacipran (Savella).

In addition to antidepressants, NSAIDs are often prescribed for fibromyalgia.But their effectiveness is not as obvious as in rheumatological conditions.

Massage and acupuncture often have some effect in the treatment of fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia | Artromedicenter

Few people know what fibromyalgia is. Symptoms of this chronic condition are often similar to those of other diseases, so it can be difficult to diagnose and treat fibromyalgia. A careful approach, differential diagnosis and correctly prescribed treatment of the syndrome are important here.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease. Its main manifestations are soreness in muscles, tendons and joints. Other symptoms also occur, which include insomnia, a feeling of constant fatigue, depression, anxiety, and intestinal upset. This disease affecting the muscular system is one of the most common. Currently, it was not possible to establish a reliable cause of the pathology.

The tissues, the source of the pain, are not inflamed.As a result, irreversible changes do not occur in muscles and tissues (as in other diseases of muscles and joints), their structure is not destroyed. Also, there is no damage to internal organs. This distinguishes fibromyalgia from rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis, arthritis, or arthrosis.

Since these pathologies are necessarily accompanied by the development of the inflammatory process, changes in the structure of the joints, a negative effect on the internal organs (heart, kidneys) is also observed.

Reasons

Today, no reliable reasons for the development of such a pathology have been found by specialists. Those people who suffer from fibromyalgia feel severe pain as a response to stimuli that should not normally be painful.

In the course of research, it was found that patients with fibromyalgia have a high level of neurotransmitter and growth factor of nerve fibers in the spinal secretions.

Also in such patients, there is a decrease in the concentration of serotonin in the brain.As a result of numerous studies, it was possible to establish that the appearance of painful sensations is due to the hypersensitivity of the central nervous system.

Also, scientists were able to establish that these patients have impaired perception of pain. There is a decrease in slow eye movements when a person sleeps (this explains chronic fatigue and lack of sleep, various sleep disorders, frequent awakening in the middle of the night and difficulty falling asleep). There is a hypothesis that strong psychological or emotional experiences, trauma or infection can trigger the development of this disease.

Who is at risk

Fibromyalgia is most commonly diagnosed in women between the ages of 35 and 55. Much less often it is diagnosed in men, children and the elderly. This disease can occur independently or be associated with other diseases of the musculoskeletal system or articular apparatus:

• Rheumatoid arthritis;
• arthrosis;
• sclerotic changes.

Fibromyalgia symptoms

The very first symptom of fibromyalgia is severe pain.But at the same time, it is not supplemented by an inflammatory process in the tissues. These patients develop hypersensitivity to various sensory stimulants and an extremely low pain threshold. Other people do not feel any discomfort when exposed to such sensory stimulants, but patients with fibromyalgia experience severe pain and impaired performance.

Painful sensations during the development of this disease can be localized in different areas:

• neck;
• buttocks;
• shoulder girdle;
• chest;
• upper torso.

Restricted areas are the most sensitive. Increased fatigue occurs in more than 85% of patients. This symptom may be due to pathological sleep disorders. Such people usually do not stay in the deep sleep phase for long, the body cannot fully recover its strength. The result is waking up in the morning with a feeling of lack of sleep, with severe fatigue, with heaviness in the muscles.

More than 50% of patients have emotional or psychological disorders.Among these disorders are:

• deterioration in concentration;
• deterioration of the function of storing and reproducing information;
• the presence of increased irritability;

90,045 mood swings;

• apathy.

Because fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose, these people are diagnosed with chronic depression. Other symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

• persistent headaches similar to migraines;
• Feeling of numbness or tingling in different parts of the body;

90,045 intestinal distension;

• Irritation of the bladder, which is manifested by frequent urge to urinate and soreness during emptying of the bladder.

But during the diagnosis, no disorders, inflammatory processes in the intestinal tract or in the bladder are detected. Various combinations of symptoms can occur, and the clinical manifestations of each patient are highly individual.

Diagnostics

There are currently no specific tests or x-rays that can confirm the diagnosis of fibromyalgia. The doctor prescribes laboratory and instrumental studies in order to exclude other pathologies.

This diagnosis is made on the basis of patient complaints, the presence of clinical manifestations, as well as an external examination. If a person experiences pain of a chronic nature, the diagnosis can be made on the basis of the detection of painful areas, the absence of inflammatory processes in the tissues.

It is also very important to rule out other diseases as many of the symptoms resemble:

• hypothyroidism, in which there is a decrease in the concentration of certain thyroid hormones;
• acute lack of vitamin D;
• increase in the level of calcium in the blood fluid;
• muscle diseases that are accompanied by pain in the muscular apparatus, for example, polymyositis;
• Paget’s disease, which is accompanied by pain in the bone apparatus;
• hypercalcemia;
• infectious diseases;
• diseases of an oncological nature.

It is almost impossible to determine fibromyalgia by blood tests, they are prescribed by specialists in order to exclude other diseases. Therefore, doctors prescribe blood tests for thyroid hormones, tests for the level of calcium in the blood. These tests are needed to rule out hypothyroidism or hypercalcemia. You will also need to do a detailed biochemical blood test.

This disease can develop independently or be supplemented by systemic rheumatic diseases.If there are systemic rheumatological diseases, they are accompanied by an inflammatory process in the tissues, damage to various organs.

To confirm or exclude disease data, appoint:

• determination of rheumatic factor;
• erythrocyte sedimentation rate;
• plasma protein level;
• sialic acid level.

Treatment of fibromyalgia

Since symptoms can be blurred in different patients, all treatment regimens are different, they are selected individually.Therapy should be comprehensive, it consists in the use of medication and non-medication methods.

Reducing stress levels is important in treatment. Since negative factors can cause an exacerbation of the disease. Also, a very important nuance is sleep optimization, you need to go to bed on time, take sedatives to improve sleep.

LFC

Low-intensity physical activity has a beneficial effect on the patient’s condition, especially when exercising in the morning.Swimming, cycling and hiking are recommended.

Diet and healthy lifestyle

No specific diet is available for the treatment of fibromyalgia. But doctors advise to minimize the amount of alcoholic beverages, coffee, especially in the evening, so you can improve the quality of sleep. If irritable bowel syndrome is present, it is recommended to exclude from the diet foods that can provoke disorders in the intestinal tract.

Drug therapy

Traditionally, tricyclic antidepressants, commonly used to treat depression, have been considered the most effective.In the treatment of fibromyalgia, tricyclic antidepressants are used in dosages several times lower than in the treatment of depression.

Thanks to such drugs, fatigue decreases, soreness in the muscular apparatus decreases, and the quality of sleep improves. According to scientists, this is due to a change in the level of the neurotransmitter – serotonin.

Tricyclic antidepressants include drugs such as amitriptyline or doxepin. It is also recommended to add drugs such as Fluoxetine, Prozac, Paroxin to the treatment.Under the influence of such a combination of drugs, a significant improvement in sleep occurs, the symptoms decrease their severity. Also, doctors prescribe synthesized drugs that are used specifically for the treatment of fibromyalgia.

The most effective is a remedy called Lyrica or Pregabalin. It is the only drug specifically designed to treat fibromyalgia.

Under the influence of Lyrica or Pregabalin, symptoms and painful sensations can be significantly reduced.Dosage and duration of use are prescribed by specialists depending on the severity of symptoms. The analogue of these drugs is Neurontin.

Also, specialists have succeeded in synthesizing drugs that are capable of increasing the level of serotonin and norepinephrine in a very short time. These drugs include Simbalta, Duloxetine, Milnacipran, Savelle.

In addition to prescribing antidepressants, specialists also prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but in this case their effectiveness is not as pronounced as in the treatment of rheumatological diseases.Additionally, the patient is shown massage, acupuncture.

Fibromyalgia and Diet: What’s the Connection? – Fibromyalgia

Will dietary changes help cope with fibromyalgia?

Jen Usher

If you have fibromyalgia, you are probably wondering if there are ways to change your diet to improve symptoms such as fatigue and muscle aches.

Research has not shown that there are certain foods that all fibromyalgia patients should avoid or add to their diet.But it might still be worth taking a closer look at how food affects your well-being.

“There are not many good studies looking at how diet can affect the symptoms of fibromyalgia. But I think we can learn a lot from anecdotal evidence – from what patients tell us, ”says Ginevra Liptan, MD, medical director of Frida. Fibromyalgia Center in Portland, Oregon, and author Elucidating Fibromyalgia: Current Science and Most Effective Treatments .

Here are some of the ways doctors say food may play a role in fibromyalgia, and tips on how you can change your diet to support your overall health.

Pay attention to how food makes you feel

“Many people with fibromyalgia are sensitive to certain foods, but this varies from person to person,” Liptan says. “They can be sensitive to monosodium glutamate, certain preservatives, eggs, gluten, dairy products, or other common allergens.”

continued

In fact, in a survey published in the journal Clinical Rheumatology , 42% of fibromyalgia patients said their symptoms worsened after eating certain foods.

Liptan and other experts believe that a good way to start identifying foods that may aggravate your symptoms is to keep a daily food journal.

“I have several patients who have been keeping a food journal for two weeks,” says James McCoy, MD, head of the pain reliever division, director of complementary medicine and staff rheumatologist at Kaiser Permanente in Honolulu.“They write down the foods they ate each day and whether they had symptoms such as headache, indigestion or fatigue. This can be very helpful because sometimes we see, for example, that they are more tired when they eat certain foods. ”

Try to exclude some products

If a patient with fibromyalgia has many symptoms of irritable bowel, Liptan often recommends that they try a diet to correct the problem.They stop eating certain foods they suspect are sensitive to for six to eight weeks. Then they add it back to their diet and see how they feel. Liptan patients most often try to eliminate dairy products or products containing gluten.

continued

“When you find that you are sensitive to food and then eliminate it from your diet, it can make a huge difference,” Liptan says.”Some people benefit greatly in terms of pain relief, but more often we see a reduction in fatigue and improvement in irritable bowel symptoms such as bloating and constipation.”

If you think you may have food sensitivities or allergies, talk to your doctor.

In some cases, they may refer you to an allergist for food allergy testing. You can also check with your dietitian to make sure you are not missing out on essential nutrients when cutting out certain foods from your diet.

Facilitate healthy eating

For people with fibromyalgia – like everyone else – it makes sense to eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. A well-balanced diet can give you more energy to maintain physical activity and can potentially improve your overall health.

continued

However, if you are struggling with pain and exhaustion, it can be difficult to prepare nutritious meals.Liptan says she encourages her patients to make their lives easier by looking for healthy foods that don’t require much preparation.

“Buy vegetables that are pre-washed and pre-cut,” she suggests. “If you have a health food store nearby, go to the deli section and buy small portions of pre-cooked foods like beetroot or quinoa salad to diversify your diet.”

Use food to help fight fatigue

Choosing the right foods can help you maintain a constant energy level and prevent fatigue.

“We know that certain dietary options, such as frequent small meals throughout the day, can help boost energy levels,” says Ann Vincent, MD, associate professor of medicine and medical director of the Fibromyalgia Clinic at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, State. Minnesota “. It can help you snack on a small amount of protein, for example, when you feel tired at three in the afternoon, ”she says.

Be sure to eat breakfast, which should include some protein and whole grains, says Christina Herbstadt, M.D., M.D., spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a registered dietitian and practitioner in Sarasota, Florida.

continued

“You can try to eat a boiled egg and some oatmeal,” says Herbstadt. “This will prevent a spike in blood sugar levels and give you the right energy to help you get through the morning, even if your body is in pain and you feel tired.”

Of course, diet is not the only factor in how much energy you have. It can also help you sleep and be active during the day.

Check your add-ons

Always tell your healthcare provider about any supplements you are taking to treat fibromyalgia.Vincent says some supplements, like SAMe, can have significant side effects and can interact with medications.

In addition to checking for any potential interactions, your doctor should also be able to help you evaluate any statements you may read about what supplements may or may not do for your health.

Focus on your overall well-being

When making changes to your diet, keep in mind that people with fibromyalgia tend to benefit the most from a variety of approaches to managing their symptoms.

continued

Along with maintaining a healthy lifestyle (including a nutritious diet) and taking any medication your doctor may prescribe for pain or other symptoms, there are many other treatments worth exploring.

“Learn things like yoga, massage, and deep breathing exercises,” says Herbstadt. “Every person with fibromyalgia has different symptoms and will need different solutions to achieve the best quality of life.”

90,000 Cannabis (hemp) derivatives for people with fibromyalgia

Relevance

Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic (more than 3 months) widespread pain, often associated with sleep and thinking disorders, as well as fatigue (fatigue). Patients often complain of severe restrictions on daily activities and poor health-related quality of life. Treatment is aimed at reducing the manifestation of major symptoms and disabilities, as well as improving the quality of life related to health.Cannabis (hemp) has been used for 3,000 years to relieve pain and other symptoms such as loss of appetite and anxiety.

Key results and quality of evidence

In April 2016, we searched for clinical trial reports that used cannabis (hemp) products to treat symptoms in adults with fibromyalgia. We found two small studies of moderate quality, 4 and 6 weeks in duration, with 72 participants.Both studies examined nabilone, a synthetic (human-made) cannabis product, compared with a placebo (dummy drug) or amitriptyline (an antidepressant often used to treat fibromyalgia).

Nabilone did not significantly improve symptoms of fibromyalgia (pain, sleep disturbances, fatigue) compared with placebo or amitriptyline (very low quality evidence). Compared to placebo and amitriptyline, nabilone caused side effects in more people and there were more dropouts due to side effects (very low quality evidence).No serious side effects were reported.