Fibromyalgia flare-ups, headaches, and bad pain days can all be tracked and managed using one simple device–your smart phone. While pain journals have existed for a long time, new technology is allowing for a more data-based approach for tracking symptoms, triggers, and pain levels. Smart phone apps for fibromyalgia pain can also help patients monitor the effectiveness of a new course of treatment and create reports for doctor’s visits.
These apps provide many opportunities for patients, but research them thoroughly before deciding on one.
Take into account what works best for you, what works on your mobile device, what feels the easiest to use, and how much medical backing and endorsement the app has. Test drive a few apps to start to figure out which one is the best option for you. Some of our favorite fibromyalgia tracking apps follow.
Chronic Pain Tracker (Free and paid options)
Chronic Pain Tracker provides 18 different modules to track your pain, including options for triggers, onset speed, intensity, duration, weather tracking, and sleep history. The app also allows you to map your pain areas with four different colors to indicate the location and intensity of the pain in that area. It also provides a summary and analysis of your pain history in over 60 downloadable graphs.
My Pain Diary ($4.99)
My Pain Diary was created by a chronic pain patient to track, manage, and report his pain symptoms. With it, you can track symptoms related to fibromyalgia, but also headaches, arthritis, anxiety, Crohn’s disease, and more. The app also has a built-in feature for tracking weather changes and changes in symptoms, as well as a photo function to document swelling, rashes, or other problems. You can also email or print a report of your symptoms to your doctor.
WebMD Pain Coach (Free)
WebMD’s chronic pain tracker allows you to create a personalized experience to track pain triggers, set goals, and share your progress. The app was designed with options for specific conditions, including fibromyalgia, nerve pain, osteoarthritis, migraines, and more. Daily physician-reviewed tips provide more information straight to your phone. You can also access a full library that contains content relevant to your condition, including articles, videos, and quizzes.
Do you use any smart phone apps to track or manage your pain? Share your favorite ones in the comments!
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