anyone with fms here?

Question

i would like to kn whats best pain killres u use

Answer 1

I was dx'd with lupus almost 12 yrs ago and fms developed afterwards. In fact, I'm starting a new drug soon that just finished its trials. I'm hoping it works!
I also had a very low testosterone level. It's being treated with a transdermal cream.
Here's part of a pamphlet that my pain doctor hands out.
Fibromyalgia (FMS) is a connective tissue disease
that tends to strike women, especially Caucasian, much
more often than men. It was once thought to be a
psychiatric disorder among “nervous” women, because
when a doctor would take the symptoms seriously
and do the workup, he would find that all the
tests were “normal.” It wasn’t until a few years ago
that physicians finally began to recognize FMS as an
actual rheumatologic disorder. Some physicians still
don’t believe it, or, more likely, they become frustrated
at the difficult time in treatment and the apparent lack
of response to standard therapy.
Therefore, what do I believe FMS is? I believe that
it is actually a variety of connective tissue disorders
that have a common thread (unknown at this time)
and it is not just one thing wrong. I believe this because
of the following: ask 100 women with FMS what their
symptoms are and they will basically agree to the following:
painful, tender points, lack of sleep, and lack
of energy. Ask those same women what “works” for
them to treat the symptoms and you will get at least 50
different answers. So it isn’t a simple disorder.
Current Therapies
What are the current therapies being used in a standard
medical practice today? There are many but most
fall into the categories of an analgesic (Motrin®,
Naprosyn®, Vioxx®, or Celebrex®), a muscle relaxant
(Soma®, Flexeril®, Baclofen®, Robaxin®, Skelaxin® or
Zanaflex®) and an antidepressant (Effexor XR®, Wellbutrin
XL®, or Elavil®). These therapies aren’t bad and
in fact, I tend to use them as the “front line” therapy
myself. Some women will respond dramatically, but
others will not find any relief whatsoever with that
combination.
My Therapy
As I stated earlier, I do find that those medications
can work and I do use them on the women who I
make the initial diagnosis of FMS. However, many
women come here as a chronic pain patient with FMS
being an already established diagnosis. They have already
been through all of the standard therapies with
little to no response. Normally, their physicians had
given up on them or would refuse to change anything
in their standard regimen for the treatment of FMS.
So what do I do that is different? I believe, as
many physicians do, in the multiple modalities approach
to the treatment of FMS, if the person is able
to do that. There is a multidisciplinary center here in
Fresno that is specifically for FMS treatment and, if
you would like that, I can easily refer you to the center.
If that occurs, the physicians there will assume all care
related to your FMS, including pain medications.
However, if you choose to have me as your primary
physician in the treatment of FMS, then we would
address the following issues:
1. Sleep – FMS patients do not sleep very well. Some
researchers believe that this is the core problem.
Lack of good, restorative sleep does not allow the
body to heal itself. Different hormones, especially
growth hormone, are not secreted in the manner
that it should for your body to heal correctly. So we
start with making sure that you sleep. Most FMS
patients have tried standard sleeping pills in the
past (Benadryl®, Ambien®, Sonata®, Elavil®) with
little to no effect. Remember that restorative sleep
would last at least six hours and eight hours is our
goal.
2. Pain – FMS patients suffer from pain “all over” or
in specific tender points along the spine or the
joints. Treatment for the pain is not necessarily that
simple. The improvement in sleep will aid with your pain. The use of anti-depressants, e.g., Effexor XR®, will also relieve
your pain to a greater or lesser extent. None are
truly the only answer to your pain. Your condition
is complex, so there is never a “simple” answer, i.e.,
one pill, to take care of all of your problems.
In addition to these therapies for pain, a standard
muscle relaxant (Soma® or Flexeril®) is given
along with an analgesic. The analgesic will vary in
strength depending on what you have used in the
past and what has worked for you. Medications
used here for the treatment of pain with FMS
range from ibuprofen all the way to oxycodone/
morphine. Whatever it takes to help you.
3. Exercise/Stress Reduction – You must exercise.
Low-impact exercises for those of you who are
couch potatoes and aerobics with resistance training
for those who can handle it. Will the pain get
worse at first? Yes, it will. However, that can be
“worked through.” Tai Chi is another form of exercise
that should definitely be included for every
FMS patient, regardless of age or physical ability.
In addition, you must learn how to reduce your
stress levels. Stress will cause your FMS to “flare”
and that means increased pain. Tai Chi, again, is an
excellent way to reduce stress. Getting more involved
in the spiritual life of your church, synagogue
or temple can also help. Please note that I stated
spiritual life and not physical activities, e.g., bake
sales, fundraisers, etc. Caring for your inner development
will benefit you in many ways. Speak to
your clergy about how to become more spiritually
involved in your faith.
4. Physical activity – Do something! You must begin
to occupy your life with things to do that provide
fulfillment. Sometimes all that means is working
eight hours a day. Depending upon your financial
situation, it may also mean volunteer work. Many
good organizations need volunteers, e.g., hospices
and senior centers. Do you see a pattern here? By
taking your mind off of your problems and putting
it to work for the good of others, i.e., your family,
your friends, the handicapped, the aged and the dying,
your FMS will become less of a focus in your
life. It does NOT mean that the pain was all in
your head and you are now cured. But if you lie
around your home and dwell on your pain (no matter
the diagnosis), your pain and physical condition
will get worse.

Fatigue – This is the most common complaint of
FMS and can be the hardest to treat. Some physicians
have advocated the use of psychostimulants
to help offset this debilitating fatigue, i.e., amphetamines
or Provigil®.

Hope this helps! I have more info if you're interested.
Nic

Answer 2

I use a chiropractor and massage therapist.
Much pain is from muscles below is an example of what may help (based on headaches).
Begin with a couple swigs of molasses or a couple of bananas daily - magnesium (which regulates many things in the body) and potassium (a needed building block for muscles).
Drink at least 1/2 gallons of water per day. Running a body low on water is like running a car low on oil is the analogy the head of neurology at UCDavis told my husband about 10 years ago.

Now to the cause - muscles - your back, neck shoulders and head have tender spots. They are knots in the fibers of the muscles called trigger points. It makes the muscles tight which makes them press on nerves and other things causing the pain.

The cure - start with a professional massage, you will also want to go back over any place you can get to 6-12 times per session up to 6 times per day rubbing (or lightly scratching on your head) every where that is tender until the knots go away. The place where the skull connects to the spine press up under the edge of the skull (to get to those muscles).

For more information read The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies. It teaches what to do and where the pain comes from.

Answer 3

Please elaborate r question without syllables, but in full wording in order to get a proper answer. It sounds like Fibromyalgia and I
can help you with that, as I have it as well.



Thank You,
Summer

Answer 4

It's not about pain meds. And yes, among other things, I also have FM.

Answer 5

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