Living with Fibromyalgia: Treatment Options You May Not Have Tried

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that can feel unpredictable. Some days are manageable. Others bring aching, burning, or sensitivity to touch. It’s hard to explain to anyone who hasn’t lived it. 

If you’ve tried the usual options, you’re not out of paths to explore. Scroll through to discover more. 

In Summary

• Fibromyalgia causes widespread pain, fatigue, sleep issues, and "fibro fog," largely driven by an overactive nervous system. 

• Standard treatment combines graded exercise, cognitive behavioural therapy, and sometimes medication, with most guidelines starting with non-drug approaches first

• Alternative and emerging options are gaining interest for those living with fibromyalgia. 

• Day-to-day management relies heavily on pacing, sleep, and stress reduction rather than a single fix, but speak to an AHPRA-registered practitioner to find out your options. 

  
  

Understanding fibromyalgia — What is it? 

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition involving widespread pain and cognitive difficulties known as "fibro fog." It's considered the third most common musculoskeletal disorder globally, more common in women than men. 

There's no single diagnostic test, but it's a well-recognised clinical condition. Common symptoms include: 

• Widespread aching, burning, or sensitivity across multiple areas of the body

• Persistent fatigue that doesn't improve with rest or sleep

• Disrupted or unrefreshing sleep

• Difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, or mental cloudiness ("fibro fog")

  
  

What causes fibromyalgia?

The cause isn’t fully understood, but there are a few factors that can contribute to it. 

1. The central nervous system heightens pain 

The leading explanation is central sensitisation. This is when the central nervous system amplifies pain signals, causing pain from things that wouldn't normally hurt, or more severe pain than expected. 

In simple terms, the body's pain "volume" is turned up.  

2. Genetic and hormonal influences 

These influences might increase a person’s susceptibility to developing fibromyalgia in the first place.

3. Poor sleep and chronic stress  

While bad sleep and stress don't cause fibromyalgia on their own, they can intensify symptoms and make flare-ups more likely over time.

Traditional fibromyalgia treatments 

Most guidelines start with education and non-drug approaches before anything else. This typically looks like: 

What this typically looks like

• Gentle, graded exercise (walking, swimming, strength work)

• CBT or similar talk-based therapy

• Medication where appropriate, guided by your doctor

• Ongoing education and self-management support

  
  

Alternative and emerging treatment options

When standard care doesn't fully help, it's worth knowing there's more out there. The evidence varies by treatment, and what works well for one person might not for another. 

Worth exploring with a practitioner 

• Alternative medicine — might offer short-term pain relief for some patients 

• Biofeedback therapy — supports stress reduction and pain management

• Mind-body practices — yoga, tai chi, mindfulness-based stress reduction

• Acupuncture — useful as part of a broader, multimodal plan

• Structured pain management programs — combine education with coping strategies

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Managing fibromyalgia day to day 

A lot of fibromyalgia management isn't about one big fix. Instead, it's about small, consistent choices. 

Pacing is the big one. This involves balancing activity and rest, so a good day doesn't turn into a bad few days. 

Here are some practical strategies: 

• Break tasks into smaller steps rather than pushing through everything at once

• Schedule rest before pain builds, rather than waiting until you're already struggling

• Use heat packs, warm baths, or gentle movement to ease muscle tension

• Keep a consistent sleep routine, since irregular sleep often worsens symptoms

• Try mindfulness or breathwork to help manage the stress that can heighten pain sensitivity 

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When to Speak with a Healthcare Professional

If fibromyalgia is significantly affecting your daily life, sleep, or mental health, or standard treatments haven't helped enough, it's worth discussing your options with a professional. 

Signs it's time for a change

• Symptoms are interfering with work, sleep, or relationships

• Current treatments aren't providing meaningful relief

• You're experiencing low mood alongside physical symptoms

• You want to explore options beyond what you've already tried

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Book a Telehealth Consultation with Altuva

You don't need to have it figured out before reaching out. At Altuva, our AHPRA-registered practitioners offer private telehealth consultations across Australia, starting with an honest conversation about your history and what you've already tried. 

Here's how it works

1. Online intake

A quick screening form, taking less than five minutes, covering your medical history, symptoms, and what you've already tried. 

2. Free screening

Our clinical team reviews your form and will let you know if a consultation would help your situation. 

3. $49 consult

Have a real conversation with one of our AHPRA-registered practitioners via secure video where they can offer a prescription if clinically appropriate. 

4. Ongoing support

Beyond your first appointment, we're here for follow-ups, renewals, and questions along the way.

Fill in our intake form and find out if you're eligible. We do the rest.

This article is general information only and doesn't replace medical advice. Suitability for any treatment, including medicinal cannabis, is determined solely by a qualified practitioner on an individual basis, and outcomes vary between individuals.

References

1. Macfarlane, G.J., Kronisch, C., Dean, L.E., et al. (2017). EULAR revised recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 76(2), 318–328. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27377815/

2. Häuser, W., et al. Evidence-based guidelines on the treatment of fibromyalgia patients. The Journal of Pain. https://www.jpain.org/article/s1526-5900(16)30364-9/fulltext

3. Central sensitisation syndrome and the initial evaluation of a patient with fibromyalgia: A review. PMC. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4422459/

4. Strand, N.H., Maloney, J., Kraus, M., et al. (2023). Cannabis for the treatment of fibromyalgia: A systematic review. Biomedicines, 11(6), 1621. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11061621

5. Kurlyandchik, I., et al. Cannabis oil for fibromyalgia: Randomised controlled trial. https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-oil-fibromyalgia-rct-results/