Get in the habit of drinking water first thing in the morning, to help the system flush lactic acid build-up and generally release toxins that your body has processed through the night.

Adding Lemon Juice Can Add Many Benefits

The juice of a lemon can also provide several health benefits when it’s mixed with water. Hot lemon water can help reduce mental stress and depression, and it can also help to control high blood pressure, dizziness and nausea.

Fresh lemon juice is recommended over bottled lemon juice.  If you plan to have a glass each morning, consider buying lemons in bulk, as it is generally cheaper!

Go on try it for a month and see what happens.  Make sure you let me know by adding your comments below x

• Quit Smoking – Now be all know that smoking isn’t good for us and that it seems to worsen just about every known health condition but did you know it can also aggrevate lower back pain. This is probably due to the fact that smoking hinders blood circulation and without a fresh blood supply, cells quickly lose their oxygen and stiffen up.  Some experts claim  that smokers are 30%  more likely to suffer from back pain than non-smokers!
• Get Up and Move – Sitting for long periods of time, starves the spinal discs of fluid which in turn makes them vulnerable to damage.  Whether your sitting behind a wheel, in front of a computer or just watching TV, sitting for extended periods of time is one of the worst positions for your lower back. The spinal discs are spongy and cushion the vertebrae, but they naturally have poor blood supply. Upon getting up and moving, fluid circulates around the discs.
• Stretch and Strengthen Core Muscles – Most doctors agree that regular stretching and strengthening of the core muscles constitute the most important lifestyle practices for preventing back pain. Ask your doctor for safe stretches focusing on your back, abdominal, oblique and leg muscles.
• Lift Properly – We all heard our parents say “bend those knees when you’re lifting heavy objects” but did you know that they were saying it for a good reason.  When you pick up heavy objects you should always engage your abdominal muscles during a lift, bend the knees, keep back straight, don’t bend at the waist, keep object close to your body, do not hold an item higher than your armpits or lower than your knees, don’t move something over 20 percent of your body weight, don’t pivot, twist or turn while lifting, point feet at the item being lifted, and only change direction with your feet (not your waist). These instructions will help prevent back muscles from being strained.
• Wear Back-Friendly Shoes – Now particularly important for the ladies here (but some men too!) whilst those 3″ sling-back sandals may be all the rage, they are probably not doing your back any good at all!.  As they increase the arch in your lower back it means it increases your chance of lower back injury.  Wearing a supportive, low-heeled or flat pair of shoes is crucial for preventing back injury.

A lot of people suffering from Fibromyalgia know that massage can be their best friend, providing their massage therapist knows how to handle this painful condition and that their therapist can change their massage techniques depending on the kind of day you’re having when you turn up for your massage!

Some of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia can include stiffness & pain moving throughout the body.  Deep aching, burning sensations, stabbing or throbbing pain, stiffness in the joints and muscles, and muscle weekness, all of which can be addressed and relieved using massage techniques.

When you receive a massage, your therapist’s movements on your skin, helps to increase blood to the areas they are working, helps the lymph in your system move faster and also brings fresh blood and therefore oxygen to the area and so can reduce stiffness and pain.  As well as bringing a feeling of warmth to the area through the friction and heat from your therapists hands.

Massage is the most natural thing in the world, from the moment you were born, massage (to a certain degree) was probably part of your life.  Just think, when most parents pick up their upset child, the natural instinct is to gently massage them as you cuddle them in to reassure them you are there.  As you grow older, if you fall down, the first natural instinct is to rub the spot that got hurt.  As you get to adulthood, if you have a pain in your body, you naturally go to rub this area with your hand to soothe the pain away.

Finding a therapist that you feel comfortable with, is a major plus, as you should feel completely comfortable telling them how you want to be massaged.  If you feel intimidated or uncomfortable in any way, find yourself a new one!

As a Fibromyalgia sufferer, you are probably completely aware of having flare-ups and days when it feels like there isn’t a bone in your body that doesn’t hurt!  On days like this, please don’t cancel your massage appointment as this is the ideal time to receive one.  The symptoms of a flare-up indicate oxygen insufficiency in the muscles and brain and since massage increases tissue oxygenation, it really can do wonders for you.

The right type of massage or energy technique can produce the relaxation and therapeutic results needed during a flare-up. Make sure you tell your therapist how you want to be handled and where the pain is located and how it feels.  Even light massage touch can be therapeutic and very beneficial.  If your therapist combines this with some energy techniques such as reiki, EFT or Emmett Technique (which uses very minimal pressure) it can help to dissolve blockages, induce relaxation and harmonise the body.

The many physical and emotional problems associated with FMS are not
psychological in origin. This is not an “all in your head” disorder.

Fibromyalgia is a common condition characterized by long-term pain and
tender points in joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues.
Fibromyalgia has also been linked to fatigue, morning stiffness, sleep problems,
headaches, numbness in hands and feet, depression the list goes on and on.

I think trauma triggered mine.

My pain- is not caused by inflammation.
I can not work with my pain, it`s not because i dont want to
It`s because i dont know where my pain will be i.e;Today it is in
my shoulder, but tomorrow it may be in my legs or even in my arms/hands.
Sometimes i feel as if it`s my whole body.
My pain is believed to be caused by improper signals sent to the brain,
possibly due to sleep disorders. It is not well understood, but it is real.

My fatigue – I am not merely tired. I am often in a severe state of
exhaustion. I may want to participate in physical activities, but I can’t.
Please do not take this personally,
it isn’t because I don’t want to. I am, most likely, paying the price for stressing
my muscles beyond their capability.

My forgetfulness – Those of us who suffer from it call it fibrofog. I may
not remember your name, but I do remember you. I may not remember what I
promised to do for you, even though you told me just seconds ago. My problem
has nothing to do with my age but may be related to sleep deprivation. I do
not have a selective memory. On some days, I just don’t have any short-term
memory at all.

My sensitivities – I just can’t stand it! “It” could be any number of
things: bright sunlight, loud or high-pitched noises, odors. FMS has been
called the “aggravating everything disorder.” So don’t make me open the
curtains or listen to your child scream. I really can’t stand it.
this gets very frustrating, noises that have never bothered me before
do now.

My intolerance – I can’t stand heat, either. Or humidity. If I am a man,
I sweat…profusely. If I am a lady, I perspire. Both are equally
embarrassing, so please don’t feel compelled to point this shortcoming out
to me. I know. And don’t be surprised if I shake uncontrollably when it’s
cold. I don’t tolerate cold, either. My internal thermostat is broken, and
nobody knows how to fix it.

My depression – Yes, there are days when I would rather stay in bed
or in the house or even want to die.pain can cause depression.
Your sincere concern and understanding can pull me back from the brink,
yet snide remarks can tip me over the edge.
I will improve, i dont know when, it might be something little that
will bring me out of it. Its not your fault and its not mine.

My sleepless nights – Don’t be put of by the looks of me in the morning, i might look
like a zombie, this is because i have not had much sleep, my brain wont
switch off, i have 100 and 1 things going around and around in my head,
none of it makes since, i used to sleep 8 hours a night, now i am lucky if
i sleep for 2 hours at a time.

Sleepy days- Some days i feel so tired, my body weights a ton, my whole
body aches, i have no energy, even though i have been in bed all night i
am going to have to go back to bed again, please understand how i feel,
i don’t want to live my life in bed, it is not my choice, the choice has been
taken away from me.

My stress – My body does not handle stress well. If I have to give up my
job, work part time, or handle my responsibilities from home, I’m not lazy.
Everyday stresses make my symptoms worse and can incapacitate me completely.
My hands go numb and i drop things, i don’t seem to know how to control my
own body, this is not a good feeling.

My weight – I may be fat or I may be skinny. Either way, it is not by
choice. My body is not your body. My appetite is broken, and nobody can tell
me how to fix it, if only there could be that magic pill. I dont like my body
like this and i cant help the fact that i crave food all the time, i try my best
but my best is not always good enough.

My good days – If you see me smiling and functioning normally, don’t
assume I am well. I suffer from a chronic pain and fatigue illness with no
cure. I can have my good days or weeks. In fact, the good
days are what keep me going.I try to do what i can as i never know when
the next flare will return.

My medication- I have had to try many different medications, i seem to be
very sensitive, not sure why. Please bare with me if i seem ratty the meds
cause all types of symptoms, ie: sickness, headaches, drowsy, legs/arm pains.
Some meds can take up to 4 weeks to kick in but it only takes a few days
for the side effects to kick in.

Cravings- Please dont think i am being greedy, its not my fault its the side
effects of my meds. I try to resist but sometimes it gives me pleasure to
eat that chocolate bar in the fridge, i try to have more control over the
cravings and to eat healthy snacks but you always see me with the chocolate
bar.

Clumsy- I know there are days when you think i am clumsy, i really dont
mean to be, i know i drop things but it does not give me pleasure doing it,
My hands dont want to grip things, all the strength has gone, wish i knew where.
My legs feel like they have been set in concrete and i have to drag my legs.

Lunch- Peeling veg is getting impossible as i cant grip the knife, this might seem
a small thing to you but its a big thing to me. I want to prepare the
dinner for you all, i am not getting out of it, its the pain stopping me.
I might blame the onion for the tears running down my face but i dont
like to keep showing you my weaknesses, i feel useless.

This heat- is killing me, i cant cope with it, i know i used to be a sun
worshiper but now my thermostat is broke i cant control my temperature.
Dont keep telling me to wipe the sweat from my face, i know its there
do you think i like people looking at me.
the fatigue is so bad all i want to do is sleep but it`s so hot so i need the fan
on me all night, sorry if this bugs you, i dont do it to annoy you.

This cold weather- is really getting to me, i cant seem to get warm
my bones really hurt today, that might sound strange to you, but its
real to me. My fingers and toes hurt with pins and needles, oh why
is all this happening to me.

IBS-bloats me and makes me feel sick,no 2 days are the same one day
i might be constipated and in bad pain but the next i might be on the
loo 5 times. I cant help that i have had to change my eating habits,i
have to learn what is best for my stomach to handle.

Even those who suffer from FMS are not alike.
I may have migraines or hip pain or shoulder pain or knee pain,
but I do not have exactly the same pain as anyone else, we all
have different pain levels. A lot of the same symptoms yes
but also some different.

Thank you to Shaz @ UkFibromyalgia.com for this fab poem! Well worth printing off and showing it to the non-believers of Fibromyalgia on one of your bad days! xx