CAM for fibromyalgia

Do you have fibromyalgia? If so, you’re very likely having problems with pain, sleep, fatigue, irritable bowel, and even memory. Fibro is an overwhelming disease, attacking you on all fronts.

If you’ve been wondering about complementary or alternative medicines (CAM), many people with fibro have tried different types with varying amounts of relief. There are many types of CAM so you may want to try just one at a time – otherwise you won’t know which one is providing relief.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), part of the National Institutes of Health, up to 90% of people with fibro have tried or are using some type of CAM. These include:

* Acupuncture
* Biofeedback
* Chiropractic care
* Hypnosis
* Magnesium supplements
* Magnet therapy
* Massage therapy
* SAMe (S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine)
* Tai chi.

If you’re thinking of trying CAM, be sure to make sure your doctor knows about it, particularly if you taking any supplements of minerals, vitamins, or herbs. There can be some dangerous reactions between medications and supplements.

If you take more than a couple of medications and supplements, you may want to consider carrying a wallet card, like this one available from NCCAM. This way, you’ll remember while talking to your doctor and, in case of emergency, you have a readily available resource so you don’t forget anything that could be potentially very important.

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Images: iStock

Tags: pain blog, fibromyalgia, fibro, CAM, alternative medicine, complemenary medicine, acupuncture, magnetic therapy