Fibromyalgia comes with an array of symptoms, from depression to lethargy to stiffness. The central symptom in this cascade, however, tends to be pain. Waking up to pain every day can make your depression worse. Pain keeps you from being active, which makes you stiffer, and it keeps you from getting good sleep, which leaves you feeling tired. Many times, if you can get your fibro pain under control, the other symptoms will ease up over time, too. And in most cases, the best way to get your fibro pain under control is to take a multi-faceted approach. Include the following elements in your pain management plan.

NSAIDs

While you might be opposed to using medications to control your pain, NSAIDs can work really well for fibromyalgia pain, and serious side effects are pretty rare as long as you follow the dosing instructions given by your doctor. Naproxen is a good choice because it lasts for 8-12 hours per day; you only need to take it twice per day. While NSAIDs likely won't get rid of your pain entirely, they will take the edge off, making it easier for you to get out of bed and actually complete the other actions on this list.

Yoga

Attending yoga classes can be really helpful since the moves help stretch out and lengthen your muscles. You will feel looser and also more relaxed after a session, and that relief may last up to a week. Look for a gentle, beginner-friendly yoga class to attend. You're not looking to really challenge yourself or beat a world record — just to do some simple poses and put in the time on the mat.

Chiropractic Care

A lot of your pain could be due to spinal misalignment. Stiffness in your muscles can, over time, pull your spine out of alignment, which can make the muscle pain even worse and even lead to pinched nerves, which cause pain elsewhere in the body. A chiropractor can adjust your spine, putting an end to this situation. Plan on having an adjustment once a month or so.

Epsom Salt Baths

This is something you can do on your own, maybe once a week or so. You can toss a handful of Epsom salts into a warm bath and just soak for a while. The magnesium in the Epsom salts will help your muscles relax, which will help ease your pain. Do this before bed for best results.