The Internet can provide a number of helpful online resources to manage chronic pain. Because little is known about fibromyalgia, online websites can provide useful at-home pain management techniques, support group recommendations and online forums and even online newsletters and doctor recommendations.
Medical Information and Education
Several online resources for fibromyalgia look to advance information and education about the disease itself. The following is a list of the top websites for medical information on fibromyalgia and chronic pain.
- Mayo Clinic: The Mayo Clinic website found at mayoclinic.com has a fibromyalgia guide (just search for fibromyalgia from their main homepage) that gives visitors a list of symptoms related to this disease as well as causes, risk factors and common treatments. This online resource also includes a section on prescription medications for fibromyalgia as well as alternative medications.
- WebMD: WebMD has an online resources called the Fibromyalgia Health Center. This website is an interactive guide that offers a diagnostic checklist and chapters with detailed information on the symptoms of fibromyalgia and how to manage chronic pain symptoms. This website also includes a nutritional resource guide and information on improving sleep.
- The Fibromyalgia Network: This website found at thefibromyalgianetwork.com is an extensive website containing research, newsletters, medical information and studies.
Coping Skills
Chronic pain affects every aspect of life. To get through the bad days, such as with pain flares, online resources can provide much needing support. The following websites offer ways to cope with your fibromyalgia pain and track your symptoms--all online!
- Know Fibro: knowfibro.com is a online guide to coping and living with fibromyalgia. This interactive guide offers videos from medical experts in the field, printable sheets patients can print out, notes and advice for friends and family and plenty of information on non-drug alternatives to coping with fibromyalgia. Topics are as diverse as pacing, exercise and nutrition.
- The National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA): This website found at fmaware.org offers an online newsletter as well as a semi-annual glossy print publication called FMAware Magazine. A great online resource for patients looking for MD's who specialize in treating fibromyalgia. Additionally, this website provides information for new drug trials for fibromyalgia.
- Medhelp: Medhelp is a comprehensive health website with interactive tools. They recently introduced a new Pain Tracker. This tracker allows patients with chronic pain to select where they are experiencing chronic pain and exactly how much and what type of chronic pain. They can bring this tracker to their doctor or just keep it to help determine what works for them and what does not. They also offer other tracking tools, such as weight loss tracking.
Emotional Support
Managing chronic pain isn't all about education and coping. Sometimes, it is about a sympathetic ear. Chronic pain message boards, chatrooms and forums are one way to vent your frustrations, connect with others experiencing the same pain and to find resources for healing. Below are online resources to find friends online and offline:
- Meetup: Meetup.com is a website where that allows you to find people in your local city with interests related to your own. This may be a great online resource to meet people offline for emotional support dealing with chronic pain and fibromyalgia. No support group in your area? No problem! For a small fee, you can start your own!
- Dailystrength: Dailystrength.org is an online messaging forum that has a special group devoted to fibromyalgia as well as a group devoted to chronic pain. Forum members can get support from others, learn about treatments that work and experience the ups and downs of living with fibromyalgia and chronic pain.
Use Online Websites Wisely
There are a variety of online resources and websites with medical information and education, coping skills and emotional support to manage your fibromyalgia and chronic pain. However, make sure you use caution when exploring these resources and tools. As with any website, online information is easily modified and not always monitored. Make sure you run any medical information by your trusted physician before putting it into practice. If you ever feel something is not accurate--report it to the sites webmaster or e-mail the content provider. With caution--surfing the web is a great way to find much needed resources and support for fibromyalgia.
