Introduction
Hello, I am a 45-year-old computer engineer. For the last 8 years, I have been battling fibromyalgia. This condition has negatively affected my life in many ways. I consulted many doctors and tried various methods to find a solution. In the end, I learned that while this chronic condition has no definite cure, its effects can be reduced by up to 80% using different methods—and I achieved this. I have compiled all my experiences into a book, which you can access through the link on this page.
But don’t rush. Before buying the book, be sure to read the details below. Only purchase it if you believe it will be helpful for you.
Before anything else, I am not a doctor. My book does not go into lengthy explanations about what fibromyalgia is or why it occurs. The book is short (only 25 pages) and focuses directly on the steps and methods I used to manage the pain I suffered from for years. The precautions and practices I describe worked for me, but you should try them at your own risk. I want to make it clear that I take no responsibility for any outcomes you may experience.
I can almost hear some of you asking, “Why not share your experiences publicly instead of selling them as a book?” Think of it this way: this condition has taken years of my life. It caused significant loss of productivity and, in turn, financial losses—not to mention the money spent on hospital visits. In the early stages of my illness, I would have given anything to access such a resource. For this reason, I believe these invaluable experiences deserve a small, affordable amount as a form of consolation, one that is within everyone’s reach.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain in muscles and soft tissues. The pain is often described as a constant ache and can affect multiple areas of the body. People with this disorder may experience tender spots where even light pressure hurts. The condition can make daily activities difficult due to the persistent discomfort. Although the exact cause is unclear, managing stress, physical therapy, and certain medications can help reduce the pain. Reports show that around 5% of the world’s population suffers from fibromyalgia.
Why Is Treating Fibromyalgia So Difficult?
Ok, there is no definitive cure for fibromyalgia, but why is it so hard to reduce its symptoms? The answer lies in the complexity of this condition. Proper treatment requires the combined efforts of specialists in orthopedics, physical therapy, psychiatry, neurology, and dietetics. However, it’s nearly impossible to gather these experts in a hospital setting and have them focus on your condition collectively.
When you consult only one specialist, the treatment they provide often has little or no effect. This is why the experiences of someone who has dealt with fibromyalgia and learned how to manage it can be incredibly valuable. While such a person may not have brought all these specialists together, they have likely gathered insights from various experts over time and combined them with their own experiences to create a practical formula that helps them find relief.
My Story
Due to my profession, I spend most of my day sitting at a desk, often in the same position, staring at a computer. My problems became serious when I was 37 years old, although I had occasional unbearable pain before that, which would pass in a day or two. At 37, however, the pain became a permanent part of my life.
My main pain was in my shoulders and neck, radiating to the back of my head, temples, jaw, and eyes. The pain in my eyes was a throbbing and intense sensation. As a result, I could no longer look at a computer screen, which made it impossible to do my job. My productivity and quality of life dropped to 20%. I was constantly battling unrelenting pain.
For a long time (around two years), I searched for a treatment. I believed there was a definitive cure and that I just hadn’t found the right specialist or doctor. Like most people, I thought every condition must have a solution. I visited different hospitals and saw specialists in neurology, orthopedics, physical therapy, and dentistry. I tried various medications and underwent physical therapy sessions.
While some treatments provided temporary relief, none offered a permanent solution. However, I gained valuable insights and experiences from most of these consultations and sessions. For instance, I discovered that heat therapy during physical treatments helped alleviate fibromyalgia pain. A physical therapist once recommended stretching by hanging onto a doorway frame with both hands and leaning forward, which I found effective for my pain.
With all the knowledge I gained, I now know what to do in specific situations. This has significantly helped me avoid chronic muscle pains. While my quality of life hasn’t fully returned to 100%, my work productivity has reached 90-95%, and my overall quality of life is now at 80-85%. After all the struggles, these levels make me incredibly happy.
So, how did I regain my quality of life?
What is the magic formula? Unfortunately, there isn’t one. You need to accept that fibromyalgia will be a part of your life and focus on learning how to live with it. Learning this isn’t easy. You can either spend years figuring it out on your own or draw from the experiences of someone who has already been through it.
Living with Fibromyalgia
Yes, I regained my quality of life by learning to live with fibromyalgia. It wasn’t easy, and it took years. I’ve divided my experience into two main categories: Acceptance and Coping.
Acceptance
First, I accepted the fact that there is no definitive cure for fibromyalgia. It took me several years to come to this realization. At first, I didn’t even know what was wrong with me, so I visited doctor after doctor, hoping for a diagnosis. Once I learned what my condition was, like most sufferers, I thought there had to be a solution. After all, we tend to assume every illness has a cure unless it’s life-threatening.
When I couldn’t find a cure, I fell into despair for a while. But life kept going. Over time, the unbearable pain became a part of my daily life. My online research also confirmed that there is no definitive cure for this condition. As I continued living with the pain, I gradually stopped focusing on finding a cure and started thinking about how to reduce the impact of the pain.
For example, how could I minimize the effect of the pain on my work productivity? While searching for an answer to this question, I started observing situations where the pain was more intense (for example, the way I sat and looked at the computer while working).. I started trying the things I had heard from doctors, read on the internet, or observed myself, and I slowly learned what affected my pain. I categorized these factors and created a list.
As of writing these lines, I know when the pain might start, how intense it could be, and what I need to do to prevent it. In conclusion, I haven’t found a definitive solution for fibromyalgia, but I now understand my condition much better. I’ve learned how to live with it without letting it control me, and when needed, I apply the steps I’ve learned.
Coping
I use different methods and practices to cope with fibromyalgia, which I’ve divided into three categories:
Long-Term Actions
The measures in this category also don’t provide quick results, and their effects take much longer to show – sometimes months. However, these actions are essential to avoid constantly resorting to immediate measures. They are key to achieving lasting relief and improving your overall well-being.
Immediate Action
The methods in this category are for situations where the pain is about to start or has already begun. These are like putting out a fire – quick actions to manage the pain. From personal experience, I know that when you’re dealing with severe pain, you don’t want to hear long-term advice like “consult a psychiatrist” or “follow a diet.” That’s why the actions in this category are like an emergency kit. However, I must emphasize that while these provide faster relief, they are not more important than the medium- and long-term measures. If I had relied solely on immediate actions and ignored the other categories, my quality of life would have been much worse.
Medium-Term Actions
After addressing the pain with immediate measures, this category focuses on preventing the pain from recurring. These actions don’t show their effects immediately but take a few days to work. As mentioned earlier, these measures should not be neglected. While they won’t provide instant relief, without them, I would have to rely on immediate actions every day – an exhausting and unsustainable approach.
Final Note
As of now, there is no known definitive cure for fibromyalgia. If you want relief, you must first accept this reality and then learn how to live with this chronic condition. Don’t expect a magical solution. Instead, focus on understanding what changes you need to make in your life and what actions to take in emergencies. The most helpful resources for this journey will be the experiences of patients who have found ways to cope with this condition.