Magnesium for Fibromyalgia
Some of the earliest recommendations that I received for Fibromyalgia was magnesium. A friend suggested epson salt baths and my chiropractor suggested taking magnesium supplements.
Since those early days, I’ve read many studies that confirm that most of us with Fibromyalgia are low in magnesium and can benefit from some sort of supplementation.
There are a ton of different magnesium supplements available in different formulations. Some are easier on the stomach than others, some are easier to absorb. I personally prefer magnesium malate as it seems to have far less of GI issues than some others.
Starting with Magnesium
When you begin taking magnesium you’ll want to start with a low dose and slowly increase. If you begin having loose stools or diarrhea you are likely taking too much.
While daily supplementation can certainly help reduce muscle spasms and reduce pain overall, you may find that topical magnesium can help with almost instant relief. I find that a warm bath with epson salts (which is basically magnesium salt) can help me relax and help reduce pain.
However, some people don’t do well with baths for a variety of reasons. In those cases, or when a bath just isn’t an option, a magnesium oil or lotion can be just the trick you need.
A few weeks ago I received this email from Antonietta:
Through the fibromyalgia support group, I learned how well topical magnesium oil or gel actually works to sooth Fibro pain, and much more so than any pain med or Fibro specific med ever did.
For me, all of those prescriptions were an exercise in futility and roller coaster ride of hope and despair when each one failed.
Hence, when I was first diagnosed with fibromyalgia a dozen years ago, I wish someone had told me about how soaking in Epsom Salts baths (with baking soda for it to be more gentle on your skin) and/or using topical magnesium gel or oil works to provide temporary relief of Fibro pain.When I realized that Epsom Salts are magnesium sulfate, it clicked in my head how my grandmother and mother used Epsom Salts while I was growing up and how they swore by it. I have found using topical magnesium oil or gel to be like having an Epsom Salt bath but without the bath part as there are times when my body just doesn’t want to cooperate with getting in and out of one.The only thing is to never use magnesium oil or gel on freshly bathed skin or else it will sting. It has to be used on closed pores only, and never ever applied on the same day you shave your legs.
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- 10 Ways to distract yourself from chronic pain
- The fibromyalgia treatments that have helped me most
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