Reading Aids and Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Why reading can be difficult with fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia affects people in ways that can make reading harder than it used to be. The physical act of holding a book requires muscle effort, and when you have widespread pain and fatigue, even a paperback can feel heavy after a few minutes.

Some people with fibromyalgia report visual disturbances such as blurred vision, double vision or floaters. These are not officially recognised as direct symptoms of fibromyalgia and may relate to overlapping conditions like migraine or medication side effects. Whatever the cause, they can make focusing on text tiring. Then there is fibro fog, the cognitive difficulty that affects concentration, memory and comprehension. You might find yourself reading the same paragraph several times without taking it in.

None of this means giving up on reading. Several strategies may help alleviate these challenges.

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Supporting the weight of a book

If holding a book causes pain in your hands, wrists or arms, the simplest fix is to stop holding it altogether. Rest the book on a stack of cushions on your lap, or use small fabric bags filled with rice or wheat to prop it at a comfortable angle. These can be warmed briefly in the microwave beforehand to provide gentle heat, which some people find soothing for stiff muscles.

Lap trays with a beanbag base mould to your body and hold books steady without you needing to grip them. They are widely available from homeware shops and online retailers. A mobile overbed table or adjustable side table can position reading material at the right height beside your chair or bed.

For desks or tables, book holders and stands keep pages open and at an angle that reduces neck strain. V-shaped wire or plastic holders work well for paperbacks and smaller hardbacks. Larger stands designed for cookbooks or music scores can support heavier books.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Alternatives to physical books

E-readers and tablets can be lighter than many paperbacks and allow you to adjust text size, font and background colour to suit your vision. Increasing the font size reduces the amount of focusing effort needed, which may help if you experience visual disturbances or eye strain.

Large print books are available from most public libraries and can reduce eye strain without requiring any technology. For those with more significant visual difficulties, braille editions may be an option.

Audiobooks are another practical choice. Listening requires no physical effort and lets you close your eyes or rest in a comfortable position. Many public libraries in the UK offer free access to audiobook apps such as BorrowBox or Libby, so check what your local library provides. The RNIB runs a Talking Books service for people with significant sight loss or other print disabilities who meet their eligibility criteria.

Text to speech features built into smartphones, tablets and computers can read digital text aloud. On most devices, you can find these in the accessibility settings. This can be useful for emails, articles or ebooks when concentration is low.

Managing fibro fog while reading

When concentration is poor, shorter reading sessions often work better than pushing through. Ten or fifteen minutes at a time may be more productive than an hour of struggling.

Reading at certain times of day can help too. Some people find their cognitive symptoms are milder in the morning, while others think more clearly later on. Paying attention to your own patterns is worthwhile.

Choosing lighter material on difficult days is sensible rather than a failure. Saving complex or dense reading for better moments means you are more likely to enjoy and remember what you read.

Keeping a brief note of where you left off, or using bookmarks and highlighting on e-readers, can reduce frustration when memory lapses occur. Some people find that brief relaxation or breathing exercises before reading help with focus.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Flare Up Analyser lets you describe your current flare up and we will help you identify likely triggers and what might ease it. Try it now →