Nutrition
A general definition for nutrition is “the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth. Food; nourishment.”
It is necessary to have good nutrition, especially when experiencing health issues such as fibromyalgia, CRPS/RSD, chronic pain and other infirmities. Having the proper nutrition can help reduce pain and inflammation, weight loss, and help with blood circulation.
SPICES – GINGER, TUMERIC
There are many spices and vegetables that you can use to help with easing discomfort of disorders of chronic pain. In your food, beverages, teas, and smoothies use the following spices:
- Ginger root – Ginger roots benefits are reducing nausea, pain, and inflammation. It also aids with relieving gastrointestinal irritation.
- Tumeric – Tumeric contains bioactive compounds with potent medicinal properties. It also contain curcumin that is a natural anti-inflammatory compound. Tumeric is an antioxidant.
- Magnesium citrate supplementation may reduce symptoms of fibromyalgia. It can be found in dried beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, avocado, yogurt, bananas, fatty fish, dark chocolate, and dark leafy greens.
- Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce levels of oxidative stress, and inflammation. It can also boost your immunity.
DARK LEAFY GREEN VEGETABLES
Avoid artificial sugars and limit sweetness.
EXERCISE
Exercising is very important, especially for fibromyalgia, CRPS, and chronic pain sufferers. The benefits for exercising is that it may reduce the frequency of flareups. Yes, it is painful to move around, however start slow and gradual with some stretching prior to and do not over do it. Increase your stamina consistently to relieve muscle tension stiffness and reverting back to the point where you first started. This may also assist with weight loss. Exercising is also good for boosting energy, strengthens muscles, improves the immune system and helps with sleeping. Just try it!
WATER THERAPY
Water therapy helps with overall physical health, however really aids those of us suffering from chronic pain disorders. It helps to better your sleep and reduces pain. Water therapy offers the ability for pain sufferers to work on balance exercises. For example, I walk with crutches to ambulate due to balance issues as a result of fibromyalgia and CRPS. Water therapy is the best form of therapy for me.
Water is a good method for therapy as is provides resistance and a challenge to move muscles. It promotes increased strength, balance, and motion. The temperature is usually warm and between 83-88 degrees. Water aids in improving your mobility.
MENTAL STATE
A general definition for “mental state” is a state of mind that an agent is in.
DEPRESSION
Depression, anxiety, and emotional distress are the main mental disorders that affect fibromyalgia, CRPS, and chronic pain sufferers. Chronic pain is so intense that it makes it difficult for sufferers to cope with their symptoms, daily living routines, accepting support from others, problems relaxing, low confidence, and more. Therefore, it is imperative that we push ourselves towards motivation, higher confidence, and acceptance. We cannot change our disposition, but we can change the outlook of our future by looking for the positive and ignoring the negative.
RELAXATION
A general definition for “relaxation” is relief from hard work or ordinary cares. It is important for chronic pain sufferers to relax by surrounding themselves with doing or around relaxing things, such as aroma therapy, meditation, yoga, and or calm and beautiful places. It can be a quiet spot in the confines of your own home. You can decorate your space with plants, flowers, candles, and add scented oils like lavender or jasmine. This will help you in relaxing and knowing that you are doing something to calm your mental state by changing your particular way of thinking towards positivity.
AROMATHERAPY