If you have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia you know how debilitating it can be.
Fibromyalgia Syndrome known as FMS is very real and very painful.
You are constantly in pain sometimes described as feeling like you ache all over.
It is a deep muscle pain that is shooting, throbbing, gnawing and stabbing that can be felt clear to your bones.
It can vary from mild to very severe and can vary from day to day.
Other symptoms can include chronic fatigue, sleeping problems, memory and concentration problems, depression, numbness and tingling among others.
There is nothing physically someone can see so it is very hard for others to understand.
Although the doctor runs tests there is no definite thing they find that says you have FMS.
It is more like the elimination of other diseases that helps them come to this conclusion.
There are no known reasons for FMS but they do have ideas as to what triggers this syndrome.
It is believed by researchers that FMS may be caused due to an injury or trauma that has affected the central nervous system.
Also a virus such as Shingles has been linked to FMS.
This is where I found myself 10 years ago.
I was perfectly healthy until I got the shingles.
Within 2 weeks I was in so much pain all over and with no answers as to why.
Hopefully I can help shed some light to help you get started in the right direction.
One of the most important steps after being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia is to get a good doctor who specializes in FMS.
Believe me I wish I had done so sooner than I did.
They are much more knowledgeable about FMS and how to treat it.
My Doctor attends regular seminars and is willing to try out new avenues of treatments as they arise, if their FMS patient could benefit from it.
Some common medications doctors will use to help with your FMS include:

• Over-the-counter pain killers to help ease pain in your muscles
• Muscle relaxants may be prescribed in sever cases
• Anti-depressant medications are given to help with depression and sleeping problems
• Sleep aides if necessary (sleep is very vital to help battle your fatigue)
• Anxiety medications may be prescribed if necessary

Your first goal is to try to manage your pain with help from your doctor.
Remember you are the only one who understands how you feel from day to day.
This means you will have to do some self help along with what the doctor recommends.
Being in so much pain you may have a hard time focusing on how to help yourself.
So simply start by trying to adjust your daily schedule, it really can make a big difference.
Here are a few suggestions to help you get started.

• Slow down your daily routine by cutting out any unnecessary activities
• Take an afternoon nap to help you with your fatigue and to help relax your muscles
• Try putting on some relaxing music
• Do some relaxation sessions whenever you can during the day
• Do breathing exercises
• Take time to do some meditation
• Delegate help from your family in doing daily chores
• When working take a relaxing break or lunch hour, don't try to rush out to do errands (delegate help here too)

Stress is a major key to Fibromyalgia.
Whether you are at home or at work stress is hard on you central nervous system, and what does that mean...
more pain, increased depression and anxiety.
The biggest change I made to manage my stress was learning to say no.
This was a hard one to learn but the best one for my FMS.
Just say no to extra curricular activities that are not necessary at this time and each day think before you take on any more new tasks.
Take this time to do some self healing.
I hope this helps you with getting started managing your fibromyalgia.
There is help through doctors with medication but you need to be sure and tell him all your physical and mental issues so he can properly prescribe your medications.
Remember self help is very important to the management of FMS.
The more you know about fibromyalgia the more you can help yourself with FMS problems as they arise.