Fibromyalgia - Lifestyle Changes

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• Reduced heart rate, blood pressure, adrenaline levels, and skin temperature while meditating.
• Improved well-being.
• Better sleep -- some research has reported an increase in melatonin levels in experienced meditators. Melatonin is important in regulating the sleep-wake cycle.
• Less pain, possibly from reductions in levels of cortisol, a stress hormone.

An important goal for both religious and therapeutic meditation practices is to quiet the mind -- essentially to relax thought. This redirection of brain activity from thoughts and worries to the senses disrupts the stress response and prompts relaxation and renewed energy.

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People who try meditation for the first time should understand that it can be difficult to quiet the mind, and they should not be discouraged by a lack of immediate results. Some experts recommend meditating for no longer than 20 minutes in the morning after awakening and then again in the early evening before dinner. Even once a day is helpful. Do not meditate before going to bed, because it causes some people to wake up in the middle of the night, alert and unable to return to sleep.

Hypnosis. In one small, short-term controlled study, hypnosis was more effective than physical therapy at improving function and reducing pain.

Massage Therapy. Massage therapy is thought to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which slows the heart and relaxes the body. In one study, patients who were given 30-minute massage sessions twice a week had lower stress and anxiety and less pain after 5 weeks compared to a group receiving an alternative therapy called transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS).

Alternative Treatments

Because of the difficulties in treating fibromyalgia, many patients seek alternative therapies. Although some studies have reported a benefit from these treatments, there is not enough evidence to recommend them.

Acupuncture. Studies continue to report conflicting results on acupuncture's ability to relieve pain. Several small studies suggest that it offers some benefit, especially to people who cannot take medicines because of side effects. Acupuncture also seems to help relieve pain when added to treatment with tricyclic antidepressants and exercise, and the improvements last for a few months after treatment ends. Other studies have not found enough evidence to support the use of acupuncture for fibromyalgia.