Can you please give an intelligent answer please?

Question

I have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, arthritis, and whatever else. No, I am not complaining but just wanted to give you an idea of the real problem. I fell Friday in my bathroom and, of course, the pain is intense. Vicadin, or however you spell it, is only given to take one a week. Do you have suggestions on any new meds. for these diseases? My doctors do know what they are doing. They do not want me to become addicted. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Have you tried herbs? Like Passion Fruit, I think it is called and Valarian Root, that stinks to high heaven, but is suppose to be good. Also Glucosamine is good. I too have Firbromyalgia and have a lot of pain.
I have taken Neurontin, even though it is a seizure medication and isn't going to work like a pain pill, but it will over a period of taking it, will help with the chronic pain. Trazadone helps too, but I believe that is addictive, and is a strong psychotic med. But any of the siezure meds are good for pain, like Depakote, however that one also helps you to gain weight; any way talk to your doctor about some of the seizure meds. I also know that swmining in a very warm pool, like Easter Seals pool for those with muscle diseases help. I can't swim, but when I get a chance to play in a warm pool, I go. I don't hurt for a while after words.
Yes I do know how much Fibromyalgia intensefies the pain of a fall, or surgery, or arthiritus, which I also have in my back. I and pain are partners.
Also stretching exercise like at Curves helps a lot! You don't want to over do, but the exercise, stretching exercises, really keep the muscles from tightening and stiffening up. Any way feel free to email me. [e-mail]

Answer 2

I have similar things going on. I stay away from pain meds b/c I have constant need anyway and dont want to add addiction to my list. I take RX anti-inflammatory when things get a bit too intolerable. I use a product called Biofreeze which helps immensely. I also recently found an article on "probiotics" and have bought some, as well as another product, which I am using before the probiotic. Just to keep track if there is a reaction, of which was which. The probiotics address pain and are natural, tho they have to do with digestion and histamines and not pain directly. A long time ago there was a list of foods and other things that aggravated fibromyalgia on About.com, but when I went back to refer to it again, I couldnt find it. It was an amazingly long list including soaps and toothpastes, shampoos and other things one wouldnt think would have a connection. I wish I had the list now. I sleep under an electric blanket. Good Luck.

Answer 3

::sigh

You probably already know it, but you aren't a "basket case" and arthritis isn't a "symptom" of fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, the disinformation folks come out in droves almost every time someone mentions FMS around here!

Thanks to recent research, we now know that FMS is a neurological disorder of hypersensitivity. Brain scans have identified abnormal levels of activity in FMS patients' brains in response to various kinds of stimuli, especially anything painful. We react more strongly to EVERYTHING, though - temperature changes, tastes, smells, textures, lighting, you name it.

Stress reduction is a major key to improving FMS symptoms, simply because it reduces the overall load on the nervous system. There are medications that can help, too - Lyrica is getting a lot of press these days. It's an anti-seizure medication approved for treatment of neuropathic pain from diabetes or herpetic viruses. Cymbalta was the big thing before Lyrica, and a fair number of people are taking it. It's an anti-depressant, a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, I think, (SNRI), similar to Effexor.

Medications that improve sleep without being "sleeping pills" (meaning not benzodiazepams), like Sinemet, are also helpful to many people.

Unfortunately, FMS can slow healing from any injury or illness, so your recovery from your fall may take longer than anticipated. If you continue to be in pain after the Vicodin runs out, ask your doctor for referral to a pain management specialist. I see one because of my FMS/arthritis/spondyloarthropathy/etc. , and adequate pain control is a MAJOR plus.

Good luck!

Answer 4

First, chronic fatigue and arthritis, among other things are "symptoms" of fibromyalgia. There are dozens of others, but I may be able to offer you some info.

I think your doctors MAY be looking out for you.

Patients with fibromyalgia can not tolerate medicines as well as everyone else. They are VERY sensitive and bad reactions are very common. Unfortunately, because of this the FDA has not approved any drugs specifically for fibromyalgia.

If you have other symptoms like insomia or restless leg syndrome, you should be able to tolerate trazodone, tiagabine or clonazepam.

If you want my advice. I work in the medical field, and from what I have seen it seems to me that most patients with fibromyalgia benefit more from pramipexole, it is a sleep-aid but it works well for pts with fibromyalgia (take it only a bed time). I think it helps relax you enough as you sleep, that it aids circulation and makes you feel more rested and less tired during the day. The chronic fatigue comes from your body not getting enough rest to heal itself or recooperate from daily activities. So, pramipexole is an excellent medication for you, and you should be able to tolerate it well.

If you are taking Flexeril, you doctor probably has you doing some kind of physical therapy (if not he should). This is great, keep it up.

Eat a lot of green apples, green apples contain a lot of malic acid. The more sour the apple, the more malic acid it contains. Or, you could buy the pills http://www.immunesupport.com/malic_acid.htm . This is what your body is lacking.

Research shows that taking 2400mg of malic acid per day plus 600mg of magnesium reduces the symptoms of fibromyalgia. (American Journal of Medicine 2004 Vol 6)

If you can do very minimal exercises, try Tai Chi. This is the exercise that you see people doing in the parks, looks like they are in slow motion...this helps improve everything, circulation, balance, energy.

Oh, and if you are not happy with your doctor(s)...go with your gut instinct and get a second opinion. This is YOUR body and YOUR health. If you are feeling like they are mistreating you, or misdiagnosing you...don't hesitate to go to a doctor that is willing to listen and work with you.

You CAN demand that your doctor give you something for the pain. You are paying him to give you relief, but if he says that your body can not tolerate it...listen to him. Ask for something that will work.

I am sorry that you are in pain. I hope you get the medication that you need.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Fibromyalgia is a common nonarticular disorder of unknown cause characterized by achy pain, tenderness, and stiffness of muscles, areas of tendon insertions, and adjacent soft tissues. Diagnosis is clinical. Treatment includes exercise, local heat, and drugs for pain and sleep.
Please see the web pages for more details on Fibromyalgia.

Answer 6

I'd as a substitute have wise solutions. There are a few folks in this website online that simply solutions stupidly simply to get the facets. Having an wise reply to a no longer-so wise query makes it so a lot more informative.

Answer 7

You are a basket case.
No insult indented.
You are what you eat.
Medication is not food.
Research all the illnesses you have grown accustomed to be afflicted with.
Instead of expanding energy to find labels to fit the symptoms of feeling ill, learn what it takes to maintain the body the natural way.
Macro nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
These things are essential for repair and maintenance.
It will not be a simple task, but it beats running to the doctors for help and sympathy.
It is your body, take charge.

Answer 8

One a week is ridiculous- find someone that specializes in pain management- - or a pain clinic- it is ridiculous to have to suffer and be in pain when you don't have too- make sure you have not broken anything w your fall-D