I have recently been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia..any suggestions on how to manage the pain and fatigue?

Question

I did not do well with the Amitryptaline treatment. I don't think the anti-depressant properties agreed with me. I'm tired of feeling bad all the time. Help!

Answer 1

I suffered from fibro and arthritis for years-was on every medication know to man. About 2 years ago, I switched my diet to vegetarian and found out I was allergic to wheat eggs and soy. When I eliminated them and all chemicals, food dyes, etc from my diet, my fibro and arthritis cleared right up. Now, I only get a flare up if I cheat on the diet. Try keeping a food diary (nutridiary.com or fitday.com to see if your symptoms get worse after eating certain foods. I have cheated on my diet 5 times in 2 years, and all 5 times I had a flare. Its amazing, really.

Answer 2

I have RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) Had two very bad years. The fatigue and exhaustion was horrible. In 2005 my knees were so bad I couldn't walk much at all. The all of 2006 the wrists were so bad I was wearing wrist supports and couldn't lift or open anything. In Dec. 2005 I went on a 9 day run of Prednisone and eliminated the fatigue, exhaustion and fixed knees. 2006 it moved to the wrists and again last month I did a ten day run of the Prednisone. The wrists are 90 percent OK.

By myself I went on a vitamin diet. I must say it has made a HUGE difference and I would tell you exactly which one but I do not know. So I will just list what I am taking.

The Vitamins allowed me to go back to my physical job and feel 90% every day. In 2005 I was on the sofa and horizontal for 9 or 10 months. So I truly sympathize. If I understand it correctly Fibromyalgia is an autoimmune disorder like so many other things. I also have serious side effects from most prescriptions. So I try hard to avoid prescriptions.

Here are my Vitamins. Acidophilus, B-complex-co-Q 10-Ester C-Vit.D-Ginkgo Biloba-Iron-Magnesium- and a Good quality multivitamin for anything I have missed. I was feeling enormously better in 3 to 4 weeks.

I still take Walmarts equate brand of Excedrin as I need it, always before bedtime. I do believe the RA is moving into my low and upper back (this is common) but I am still enormously better.

Every morning I drink 1/2 cup of each of the following mixed together aloe vera juice, prune juice and cranberry concentrate drink. (at a health food store get cranberry concentrate unsweetened) mix 8 oz per gallon of water.) It flushes all the poisons out of your kidneys and keeps them healthy. The aloe vera works on your entire digestive system and the prune juice for constipation caused my aging and medications. It is working very well.

I hope something here is helpful. Good luck.

Google "AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS" and you will get sooooo much information.

After reading Beeps message I remembered that I had developed an alergy to wheat and yeast and have a sever anaphylactic reaction. So I had to go off of wheat and yeast. So it is possible that has been helpful also, I only eat moderate dairy.

Answer 3

May I suggest aqua therapy. It's a great way to exercise and the water supports a lot of your weight so that it's easier. You can do it in warm or cool pools which ever feels better to you. Just about any YMCA or other rec-centers offer this type of program. Another idea may be yoga, it's gentle movements to help stretch and strengthen your muscles which will help. Rest when you need it. Pain does cause depression and perhaps a better anti depressant would also help. Amitriptyline is good to help you sleep, but some just don't take to it well. Talk to your doctor, and ask him or her to prescribe aqua therapy, most places lower the price per month for it if you have a prescription because it is a medical necessity. Good luck!

Answer 4

I have Fibromyalgia as well and have been on both anti-depressants (which didn't help me either) as well as pain meds, sleeping pills, anti-inflammatories and a whole lot of other drugs. The only one I have stayed on is a very small (50 mg) dose of amitriptaline taken at bedtime. Other than that, exercise is probably your best bet. I find walking 30 to 60 minutes a day very, very helpful. I also go to Fibromyalgia meetings where a whole group of us talk. It's good to know you're not alone and the pain is not 'in your head'!

Answer 5

I have fibromyalgia. I would suggest that during the day, you take frequent rest periods. When you feel like your muscles are getting tired, stop for a few minutes to give them time to rest up. I take naprosyn for pain, because pain relievers I seem to react adversely to. I also take a muscle relaxer, as my muscles have a tendency to spasm. I also take a sleeping pill at night. It seems after 5 years I have the best combination I can find for myself. However, it might not work for you. Everybody is different.
As far as exercise, so far about any kind of exercise I can do without being in major pain afterwards, has to be in the pool.
Good Luck to you.

Answer 6

I don't have any rememedies for pain, but I hope you find some comfort.

Ginseng, however, is a herb that helps to give you some energy. I would talk to a doctor before trying it, because it IS known to raise your blood pressure some.

I've hoped I helped some. :)

Answer 7

Gosh, my aunt has this and I know it is very stressful. She has tried a lot of different things to manage it, such as reflexology, vitamins, magnetic therapy, alfalfa supplements, heat compresses, and I'm sure much more. Since I don't have it myself, I don't want to recommend anything that is not legitimate, so you could try this site for more resources/info.... http://health.divinfo.com/
Best wishes to you!

Answer 8

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 9

I think beebs answer says it all, most of todays more common ailments seem to be caused by our lifestyle and eating habits, get back to basics and start treating your body naturaly, drugs only treat symptoms we need to find and treat the cause. good luck and good health.