I was recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, any suggestions to help cope with the day to day pain?

Answer 1

Hi

I have been living with fibromyalgia for 10 yrs now, The most important thing is to understand that you are going to have to change your lifestyle in order to manage your pain. You'll most likely need to slow down which can be a difficult thing to do. Some days your'll feel better than others, on the days your in more pain try to take it easy, no strenuous actiivities. Eat healthy, get regular exercise (daily) I walk for 30mins to 1 hour. Make sure your getting enough sleep, most people with fibro don't get enough deep sleep REM sleep. If your waking alot during the night talk to your doctor about a sleep aid, Sleep is very important its when your body repairs itself, If your not getting into deep REM sleep you will keep getting worst. Most people also experience depression and anxiety with fibro, anti depressants and anti anxiety meds also help you sleep. You don't say what your taking for pain? When I was first diagnossed Ibuprofen or Aleve was enough to help with pain along with hot baths and moist heat applied to painful areas. Unfortunatly when I was diagnossed my doctor didn't know much about fibromyalgia so I was not told about what to do to help it from progressing. Now I have to take oxycontin extended release and oxycodone at a lower dose for break through pain along with trigger point injection every 6 weeks just to reduce my pain by 50 percent. The most important thing you can do for yourself at this point is to make sure your doctor is qualified to care for you and that you are receiving the correct treatment. If you can avoid having to take narcotics for the rest of your life I would strongly advise it. Its a rollor coster once you begin to take them, now you not only have fibromyalgia your body is dependent on narcotics which causes a whole new set of problems. If you do have to end up taking a narcotic, make sure you follow your doctors directions to the letter. When your having a bad day and the pain is intolorable its tempting to take another pill because you know it will help. However they can be very dangerous and taking more than your suppose to only leads to you body building a tolerance to them and you dose will have to be increased to get the same effect. I know some of this sound scary, but I want to stress how important it is to really take care of your self and make sure your doctor is qualified. I hope this helps. P.S. Joining a support group is also very helpful, and bring your family with you can be helpful also, Its difficult for someone who doesn't feel the pain of fibro to understand it., we don't look sick. There are also some really good sites on line type in fibromyalgia and pain management or symptoms. The best of luck to you.

Answer 2

Hot baths, heating pads, I take herbs, but the pain will always be there. Some people take pain killers, but they make me a zombie and I have small children. I do use the heat pads from ben-gay and they just stick on and it helps. I take several hot showers a day. Some people use physical therapy (massages) for their pain, but my cousin, she can't have a massage it makes her pain worse... so you just try things that may help you ... I hope this helps.
Good luck

Answer 3

yOU NEED TO WALK A LOT AND MAKE SURE YOU STRETCH WHEN YOU FIRST GET OUT OF BED. ALSO YOU NEED TO TRY AND GET A MASSAGE IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. JUST MAKE SURE IT'S NOT A DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE. TAKE YOUR MEDS LIKE YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO IF THEY GAVE YOU ANY AND READ ALL YOU CAN ON THE SUBJECT.

Answer 4

ask your library to order a copy of "From Fatigued to Fantastic" by Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. You could also check out his website to find out what else he has done.

Answer 5

take walks around the park. Surrounds yourself with friends and lvoe ones

Answer 6

I think my friend has rhe saame thing (regular flu like symtoms?)She takes alot of echinacea which is an herbal supplament that helps your bodies immune system. she says it helps her.

Answer 7

go to webmd.com
and type fibromyalgia
a wealth of information at yuor fingertips

Answer 8

pain killers