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Question:
Is there a diet to help control fibromyalgia symptoms?
Answer:
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread tenderness and pain in muscles, sometimes accompanied by burning pains, numbness and stiffness. Despite the many diets that claim to help or cure fibromyalgia, none has yet been proven effective in helping the symptoms or changing the course of fibromyalgia.
That does not mean there aren't many ways to help the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Medications can help reduce pain, improve sleep and help mood disturbances. Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) and other painkillers (analgesics) can help the pain and stiffness. Antidepressants and antiseizure medicines are often used to reduce pain and improve sleep in people with fibromyalgia, and newer medicines, including gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica), have shown promise as well. Your doctor may also suggest local injections or topical therapies such as lidocaine patches to reduce the pain.
Although no specific dietary modifications have been proven to help fibromyalgia, it is possible that some changes might help some symptoms. Most people, including people with fibromyalgia, should eat a balanced diet with at least five servings a day of fruits and vegetables. This can supply the vitamins, minerals and trace elements needed by the body for good health. Eating foods with plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, such as cold-water fish, might reduce pain in muscles and joints. Recommendations generally also include regular exercise and stress reduction techniques. Some patients feel acupuncture and chiropractic treatment are also helpful, although this has not yet been adequately studied.
So I would suggest if you have fibromyalgia that you eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, try to get enough sleep, be as physically active as possible, and discuss with your doctor other ways to limit the impact of fibromyalgia on your life.
