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Fibromyalgia & Corsets: Can a Corset Help With Fibromyalgia Pain?

Posted on by Rachel Barb
Fibromyalgia & Corsets: Can a Corset Help With Fibromyalgia Pain
05
May

Featured Corset: Jenna Black Satin Corset

Like many consumer products, clothing has more than one purpose. Sure, you use it to protect your body (and modesty), but if that’s all it was good for, you’d save some money and run around in flour sacks.

Clothing is also a way to represent your personality, social status, and professional standing as well as to create a desired impression with other people. The right garments can also help to correct, or at least camouflage, a range of perceived flaws, such as bulges, sagging, and so on.

Of course, specific pieces of clothing can actually improve your life. We’re not talking about magical items like a cloak of invisibility or sheath dress of instant weight loss (we wish!). When you choose the right support garments, you can not only create a sleek silhouette but also enjoy some feeling of relief or enhance how you function every day.

To be clear, corsets are not medical devices, but some women find that wearing them can help with a variety of issues, from menstrual cramps to back pain related to poor posture. Can a corset help with fibromyalgia pain? We’ll first have to discuss what fibromyalgia is and the potential physical benefits of donning a corset.

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that presents as pain throughout the muscles, bones, and joints. In other words, those who suffer from fibromyalgia experience widespread pain often described as a constant ache that lasts for months.

It is believed that fibromyalgia impacts how the brain interprets pain signals (possibly intensifying pain sensations) and that it can be triggered by certain forms of nerve stimulation related to illness, infection, or physical or emotional trauma. Those with fibromyalgia can experience a range of undesirable symptoms in addition to chronic pain.

Sleep disruption and fatigue are common in those diagnosed with fibromyalgia, as are conditions like migraines, IBS, TMD, and anxiety and depression. Patients may also experience heightened sensory sensitivity (to sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch) that can amplify feelings of pain.

How to Treat Fibromyalgia

As of yet, there is no cure for fibromyalgia, but there are a number of treatment options to diminish symptoms. The most prevalent is the use of painkillers, often over-the-counter (Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, etc.). In some cases, antidepressants or anti-seizure medications may be used.

Other treatment options include physical therapy and occupational therapy, and some patients use counseling services to cope with the mental and emotional strain of a chronic pain condition. Lifestyle choices like a healthy diet, regular exercise, and a focus on adequate sleep could also contribute to symptom relief.

Can a Corset Help with Fibromyalgia?

Many people with chronic pain are willing to do almost anything to reduce symptoms, but how can a corset help? Corsets are not medical devices and they are not typically prescribed as a treatment option. 

While it’s always best to consult with your doctor before starting any new treatment regimen, many patients try a range of potential therapies before they find what works for them.

For example, some people find that wearing a corset not only provides waist-slimming benefits but also can contribute to feelings of relief. Those who suffer from conditions like arthritis, scoliosis, or fibromyalgia have nothing to lose by trying a corset to see if they notice any physical benefits through daily wear.

Corsetry for Posture Correction

A corset is a garment designed for compression and support. 

While you’ll have to undergo some amount of trial and error to find a corset that suits your unique physiology and your personal needs and preferences, you may find that it can help with symptoms associated with poor posture, hyperlordosis (excessive spine curvature), or kyphosis (lack of spine curvature).

One study found that fibromyalgia patients may be more prone to altered trunk posture, often presenting as kyphosis. The right corset could potentially help to support proper posture and spine curvature, which may, in turn, ease associated pain symptoms.

The Snug Hug of a Corset

Studies have shown a connection between fibromyalgia and joint hypermobility, a condition characterized by laxity, or looseness, in the joints. In cases of hypermobility, one possible treatment option is braces designed to stabilize joints. 

A corset is not a medical brace, but the right model could ostensibly serve a similar purpose by keeping everything in place, so to speak, and preventing bending and twisting that could lead to increased discomfort.

Comfort and Confidence

Many people start a waist training regimen because they want to look and feel beautiful and confident. Those who elect to try wearing a corset as a way to help with fibromyalgia pain can also enjoy this benefit. 

For starters, a corset is a lot more fashionable than a brace, although again, it’s best to seek a medical opinion before deciding one is better than the other.

Anecdotally, many corset wearers find that this garment provides a sense of comfort — thanks to snug compression around the torso — that only adds to their confidence. 

While a corset is not a prescribed treatment for fibromyalgia or any other medical condition, there’s no harm in trying it if all else has failed or you’re looking for additional help. It might just improve your life in ways you never imagined.

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