Pain and Pregnancy, Part Two

Fibromyalgia was not recognized as a clinical disorder until sometime in the 1990s, but it has probably existed for a lot longer than that. People of almost any age can be affected by fibromyalgia, but many people are first diagnosed in their twenties. According to the National Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Association, 75-90% of persons affected by fibromyalgia are women. For these reasons, it's important to share a few thoughts about the management of fibromyalgia in women during the childbearing years.

There are medications for fibromyalgia, but at the present time, these drugs are not recommended for use during pregnancy. Therefore, alternative methods of fibromyalgia management are very important. These methods include exercise, yoga, meditation, massage and rest. Exercise is key, because it keeps you fit and improves mood due to an increase in serotonin levels. Serotonin seems to be a key player in helping one to manage stress, in calming anxiety, and improving mood. And those are all good things for a mom and her baby to be, whether she has fibromyalgia or not!

If you have fibromyalgia and are currently pregnant, have a conversation with your health care team about which forms of exercise are best suited to your situation. There are many options available and hopefully one of them will be just right for you!

Sources: FMCPAware.org; WebMD; wikimedia

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