Fibromyalgia – Ways to Balance the Body and Bring Relief
Fibromyalgia – Ways to Balance the Body and Bring Relief
By Coralie Dasey-Malloy
Of one thing I am certain… The body is not the measure of healing… peace is the measure.
~ Gearge Melton
“Does this hurt? How about here, and here?”
“Ouch! It hurts all over.”
“That fits with the syndrome all right. Get dressed and I’ll be right back.”
After the examination, the rheumatologist told me I had a chronic muscle disorder, fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), which is as common as rheumatoid arthritis and can be even more painful.
The term fibromyalgia comes from fibro, for fibrous tissues such as tendons and ligaments: my, indicating muscle: and algia, meaning pain. Symptoms include chronic fatigue, varying degrees of anxiety, depression, irritable bowel, vision problems, tension and migraine headaches. Fibromyalgia may also involve difficulty concentrating, light and environmental sensitivities, irritability, mood swings and insomnia. It has been referred to as the “hurt-all-over” syndrome because of the widespread body pain and stiffness.
My doctor went on to explain that there is no cure but she offered me a course of treatment including muscle relaxants, low-dose antidepressants, anti-inflammatory drugs, pain pills, sleeping pills and physiotherapy. I said I needed time to consider my options. I left with a firm commitment to finding a more natural way than taking all these drugs.
Taking Charge of my Recovery
In my work as a life coach, I encouraged others to look for causes rather than just make symptoms with drugs. Looking at my health challenge from this perspective made it difficult for me to believe that fibromyalgia could not be cured. It became my next research project.
At first, I joined a fibromyalgia support group and gathered some useful information, but left after a short time. Most of the participants were more interested in managing rather than curing their disorder.
Members of the group seemed to define themselves by their fibromyalgia. They bought into their diagnosis and were resigned to a life of chronic pain and debilitating fatigue that would only get worse with age! I had no intention of allowing myself to be influenced by that belief system. I severed my association with them and carried on with an even stronger resolve.
Individuals with fibromyalgia frequently have a type-A personality. They are perfectionists, neat, compulsive, organized, time-oriented, tense and precise. I frequently overdid things and found myself feeling discouraged when flare-ups occurred. I world experience painfully tight muscles, lack of mobility, chronic insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, mood swings and extreme fatigue. However, I knew that one’s attitude toward pain makes a difference. So rather than mask symptoms or lapse into feeling sorry for myself, I decided to allow this condition to become my teacher.
