Fibromyalgia - I would like to hear how others are treating this condition?

Question

I'm pretty frustrated with my hmo. In order to get decent treatment, I'm having to go to a dr. outside of my hmo & pay out of pocket. I'm so frustrated with the constant tiredness and my flares last FOREVER. Any help would be appreciated!

Answer 1

I have had fibro for about 8 years now. I take tramadol for pain, amitriptyline for sleep.

I have changed my diet extensively avoiding all the following foods: Caffiene in any form (Yes colas and chocolate also) No carbonated drinks, no foods with MSG, no foods with aspartame family of sweetners, no food with added sugar , no preprocessed foods. Also in my case I have to give up gluten foods. I basically eat fresh fruits and vegies and lean meats. This has been difficult but it has made huge difference in my pain levels. Drinking lots of water can help also.

I also take the following vitamins: multiple vitamin, vitamin c, b-complex, magnesium/calcium/ zinc blend.
Finally the one supplement that has really helped lower my pain levels and boost my energy is DRibose. Its the D in your "DNA" . Its being used by many fibro doctors to treat their patients with marked success.

I have also found that exercising in water is very helpful in reducing pain.

As you know with fibromyalgia you will also have lots of other problems, treating all your problems together is a must for lowering pain levels. One source of increased pain in fibromylagia is food allergies or sensitivities. If you continue to eat foods your body is sensitive to you will continue to have increased muscle pain.

One of the easiest ways to help yourself is to keep positive thoughts. When we have negative thoughts our brain sends out signals to increase certain chemicals in our bodies that can cause pain in our muscles. Its something we can control easily on our own. To stop that cascade of pain producing chemicals just change the way you think. Thats why meditation works so well for many people.
I hope you find soemthing that works for you.

Answer 2

First treat yourself to a bed mattress topper, excellent for stopping the trigger points triggering. Then try one massage a week, but make sure you the person giving the massage knows about Fibro. I also take Valium 2mgs at night to relax my muscles and give me a good nights sleep, as sleep is important. Outside of that keep busy, get exercise, fresh air and take your mind off the Fibro.

Answer 3

My mom has suffered for years with this. She gets massage therapy, hydrotherapy and just finished a tai chi class. I think she also takes Neurontin and Skelaxin, among other meds. I keep telling her she needs to get out and exercise more, like daily walks, in addition to her classes. Energy is a funny thing, the more you expend the more you have. I am tired and achy a lot myself and have often wondered if I have it too. I rarely have the energy to go for a walk or cook dinner for my family. But when I force myself to do it, i often feel a little better.