Social Support
Living with Fibro
A very strong and welcoming online community, LivingWithFibro pledges to help its members (and fibro sufferers in general) stay positive and in control of their life. Filled with uplifting resources and quick links to helpful conversations, the site is as easy to use as it is thorough.
Plus, you can begin your own page on the site once you become a member, which will help you to truly feel a part of the community.
Men with Fibro
Between 80% and 90% of fibromyalgia patients are women, which means a lot of information is targeted to a woman’s lifestyle and specific set of issues. Unfortunately, that leaves thousands of men feeling left out of the discussion.
Men living with fibromyalgia – and those who know a male fibro sufferer – can visit a site designed to inform, empower and give voice to men with fibromyalgia. The Men with Fibro site is a little bit haphazard in design, but there is some helpful info to check out.
Nutrition and Exercise for Fibro Management
How you choose to nourish your body is a big part of your chronic pain management, and that includes healthy activity and helpful compensation as well as nutritious food.
Your doctor is a great starting point, but it’s up to you to keep up your commitments to a healthy lifestyle each and every day. These resources will help you stay on track:
To Your Health
If you take nutritional supplements to complement your fibro treatment, this mail-order site can make it easier to buy them.
Learn about the different products with research-backed reference articles on the To Your Health website, and you can also sign up for their quarterly newsletter. It will cost you $25 a year, but the newsletter keeps you up-to-date on latest supplement research and advancements, which can help improve your self-care (and keep you safe).
OHSU Fibromyalgia Exercise DVDs
Developed by the Oregon Health and Science University research group to improve exercise techniques and programs for fibro patients, these DVDs are the gold standard for fibromyalgia exercise.
Directed by Dr. Robert Bennett and Dr. Kim Dupree-Jones, there are four videos that lead you through different exercise routines: yoga and pilates, stretching and relaxation, strength and balance, and aerobic exercise. Getting active and staying motivated can be challenging, but a good guide can make it a lot easier.
Building Your Fibro Library
The web has certainly taken over the information trade in recent years, and that means it’s really easy to get a load of information whenever you happen to need it.
On the other hand, there’s a lot of information out there that is unfounded, or personal opinions masquerading as facts. In order to take better control of your condition, you need to separate fact from fiction.
One tried and true way to gather accurate information is through books. Printed material tends to go through a pretty rigorous editing process before it’s published, and that’s good news for a patient.
However, the mysteries of fibromyalgia are constantly being investigated, and studies continue to clear up misunderstandings, which means old books may not be as helpful anymore.
In the end, good, solid reference material is never a bad investment, so look to new editions of trusted chronic pain books to keep on your shelf of fibromyalgia resources – you can ask your doctor or therapist for recommendations before you hit the bookstore.
