Can anything be done for my fibromyalgia?

Question

I have been diagnosed with fibro for almost 3 years, but I have suffered my whole life. I remember that I hurt when I was 4 yrs. old. My symptoms worsened while pregnant and my daughter is almost 3. I have gone to chiropractors and massage therapists. My rheumatologist and pain dr. gave me klonopin, ultram, ultracet, hydrocodone 10/325, soma, effexor, paxil, zoloft, cymbalta, elavil, flexeril, zanax, oxycodone, etc... at different times. Some I had to use together. I had to quit my job and now hurt 24/7. I sleep all the time and cannot to anything on my own. I also try to do pilates every other day. I can't carry my daughter or take her shopping. I can't hug my husband. I snap and yell at everyone. I have been told to stop smoking. I quit, and the condition worsened for at least 6 months. I currently smoke again to try to get my mind off the pain. I've read book after book and tried everything in my power. I feel like I'm dying. If I can't get help I don't know what else I can do. HELP

Answer 1

I have had Fibromyalgia for over 35 years, so I know what you are going through. I've tried all of the treatments and medications that you have. I do find massage therapy gives me great relief. Perhaps you should try a different therapist. It may make a difference.

There is a new medical treatment that is being used for Fibromyalgia, Lyrica, many people are getting very good results with this medication. Talk to your doctor about taking this.

I strongly recommend you take a Multi vitamin twice daily. Believe me this will help your body with the nourishment it needs. Smoking destroys all of the B vitamins in your body. So it's important to replenish daily. For energy I really find Co Q 10 in soft gel form to be the best. Take 100mg three times daily. You should see a difference within two weeks. Also a powdered mixture of green supplements will give you enormous energy. You can find these at any health food store.

Nutrition is very important with this condition as with any serious physical condition. Avoid caffeine products, sugar, processed foods and fried foods. Low blood sugar (Hypoglycemia) is often a factor in causing the person with Fibromyalgia to feel fatigued. That is why a good nutrition program is very important, eating frequent small meals with some protein is very important in keeping the blood levels even. The object of this is to prevent blood sugar starvation by keeping a certain amount of usable sugars constantly going into the bloodstream. Only the proteins needed by the body at the time of digestion are utilized as proteins-the rest are changed into sugar and burned as energy food, increasing blood sugar level.

Whole grains, seeds, nuts, yogurt, chicken, Turkey, organic beef, eggs, natural cheese and cottage cheese should form the base of your diet. Accompanied by Appropriate vegetables and a minimum amount of fruit.

if you have any further questions please let me know.

best wishes,
Billie77

Answer 2

Hi There. I am not 14 years old, I am 31years old right now, and have had Fibromyalgia in a dormant state for 2 years now. Fibromyalgia, can go into a dormant state (a state where there is no pain, or very little pain or hindrance to your daily life) for a matter of months, years, or for good. If you have not been diagnosed, please verify that this is what you have and not what the Doctors have labelled it as because they are out of possibilities. I would speak with your parents and have them help you, either way a support system is going to be key. If you have Fibromyalgia exercise and diet are very helpful. Please understand though exercise will have to be done differently. For example if you decide to walk everyday start with a small 5 minute walk for a week, and then the next week up it to 10minutes, and so on. Pacing is key, if you feel good dont think you can do more, if you feel bad try to do something. Diet everyone is different what may work for one will not work for another. The common factor that I have found with individuals with Fibro is sugar. Processed sugar, which includes white sugar, brown sugar, any man made supplement including splenda, are all horrible for people with Fibro. There are natural supplements such as honey, or agave (sorry if spelling is wrong), or cane sugar (which for some is still a problem). Others find gluten free diets to work. I would discuss all with your parents, educate yourself and your parents. Ask what is happening, what could happen, and how to plan for it. If you have a flare up a plan should be in place so your parents are prepared. Hopefully they do understand what you are going through. If you have any questions or want to pick my brain please contact me. Hopefully this helps a little

Answer 3

I'm so sorry that you are in so much pain- it's just not fair!!!
I have FMS secondary to SLE (lupus)
Easier said than done, but you really do need to quit smoking. You'll have to find a substitute... something else to help you get your mind off the pain. Quitting is difficult but you can do it!


Here are some blurbs that my doctor gave me.
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 (which is why you are here). 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.
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®
It is a lifelong disorder. What we will try to do is
lessen the number of “bad days” that you have and
give you more “good days.” Keep in mind, however,
that if you become ill, get into a fight with your
spouse or significant other, get under a lot of stress,
etc., the FMS will “flare” and your pain may go back
to levels that you may have had before you came to
see me. That is to be expected. Just remember that the
flare will subside and you will go back to the “good
days” if you keep doing what you have been taught to
do.

Answer 4

Do not give up! There is help for us. There are new medicines available, and developed for fibromyalgia. Read about them on fmaware.org. This is the newsletter of the National Fibromyalgia Association. It is the most responsible website for fibromyalgia I have found.

You are not dying. For most of us, mild exercise works well. On the NFA website I read that the top conditioning for us is 30 minutes of walking, 3 days a week. You might be doing too much exercise, and putting yourself in a flair (long-term consistant pain and symptoms, up to 2 years.) Ask your doctor about applying for disability. You didn't mention using Gabapentin. I find it valuable for the pain. I use cyclobenzaprine (muscle relaxer) only at night, to sleep better. I use 50 mg of Elavil to keep me asleep, but not for depression.

The symptoms I have change, as do the symptoms of many of us with fm. So while you may not be able to hug your husband now, you may very well be able to get some soul lifting hugs in the future. I had a wonderful soul mate who I always said gave the best hugs in the universe. But he was a big, strong man, and he almost broke my bones giving me back rubs when we first got together. I taught him to very gently, slowly run his hands over me when I was nude. It was so effective, it almost instantly put me to sleep. The next morning my muscles were always softer. That's an excellent treatment you could try.

Another treatment that helped me was accupuncture, over 30 treatments are needed to make a difference, but if you can afford it, use the deep tissue form, the others don't do much for us.

My pain started at 9, and I was diagnosed at 43, 12 years ago. If you want to communicate more, go to my profile in Answers! and click on email me. I will answer you.

Answer 5

I think you need someone to talk to such as a therapist and this is certainly understandable. also, look into acupuncture....I have had leg pain for years with no diagnosis just a lot of random meds that did not help. got sick of the testing and being passed around the medical community so decided to try an alternative....life is wonderful off meds and you'll be amazed at how much you can do and how good you can feel. Best of luck. look into hypnosis for smoking.

Answer 6

my mother has it too.. .we call it FM for short...she does not have it as bad as you but after reading this i wonder if this is what my mother has to look forward too..she was just diagnosed with it the last 7 years or so maybe a little less..and the doctor gave her some pills in which i dont know what they are called..but he told her to cut out caffien...to take a shower every night before she goes to bed and to drink the required amounts of water a day that everyone should be drinking..she was doing it but with all the stress she was havin from her divorce she sorta fell back on it..im hoping to get her back on track soon cause it did help her..im sorry to hear about this..if i can get more information for you..i will sen you more later..

Answer 7

Most of the people I have run across when asked if they have done anything about yeast overgrowth find it helps - hand in hand with NO sugars. (limit starches)
Vegetarian diet (mostly) LEAN if meat
Read The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies then educate your physicians and massage therapist as well
The things I use most are:
Calcium citrate with magnisium
Turmeric
Resveratrol
Prenatal vitamins (they contain so much) even for men - recomended by a cardio-specialist.

Answer 8

This is a terrible condition.....and sorry to say but if you have tried all of those medications and tried a chiropractor and massage therapist, I do not know much more you can do.....

One thing I have heard about is magnetics...I think you can get them for your shoes....there are also mattresses and matress pads that have magnets in them, i have heard that these have helped people, you may try this......
GOOD LUCK........

Answer 9

My mom has been going through the same things as you. She started going to a support group for it. Right now I dont think that there is anyhting for it. I feel for you. I see my mom go through it.

Answer 10

Reading your question and the meds you are on reminded me of my mom she was also on many meds due to Fibromyalgia/ chronic pain. I feel for you I don’t actually know what you are going through but I have stood and watched and cried along with my mom and called doctors for my mom. I watched my mom become a different person because of this “syndrome”. She had her good days and over did herself the next day was hell for her. Try as much as you can to keep your daily activity the same everyday. If you are having a good day don’t over do yourself. She also had said B12 shots helped her, you might try. God Bless you and I wish you the best

Please Read

While from the outside I may seem normal,
It’s the part that you can’t see,
The constant pain and struggles within,
Are ever so apparent to me.

Although I may wear a smile,
Often times it's covering the tears,
Yet not tears because of sadness,
As it often may appear.

Don’t be too quick to judge though,
Because there is so much more than is known,
What may seem to look like one thing,
Just might turn to prove so wrong.

I may sometimes seem unfriendly,
Or too centered around self,
Because sometimes standing takes all I’ve got,
And there is just no energy left.

Sometimes my words may sound awkward,
My communication may not always convey,
My true inner thoughts and feelings,
Aren’t always expressed by what I say.

You may think that I’m not really listening,
Sometimes my face or speech may not show,
But I do hear every word you say,
I really want you to know.

The information doesn’t always process,
As quickly and as clear,
And sometimes it takes me longer,
To interpret what I hear.

I possibly miss many opportunities,
To offer needed love or support,
Because sometimes it just takes to long,
For my thoughts and words to sort.

So if my actions seem inappropriate,
In the things I say or do,
I hope that you can understand,
That it is not because of you.

There are times I get discouraged,
When forced to accept my inability--
It’s hard to admit my limitations,
And it leaves me feeling so guilty.

Yet every moment is a reminder
As I look all around,
The effort it takes just to get through the day,
Just picking my feet up off the ground.

I am not looking to find pity,
I am just attempting to explain,
That the person that you may often see,
And the real me aren’t exactly the same.

You may not see the peace and joy,
When you look upon my face,
But I know that each day I live,
Is because of God’s amazing grace.

It is hard to always be cheerful,
When the pain is so very real,
And not everyone can comprehend,
The extend of how I feel.

I don’t see it as all bad though,
Although I’d much rather it not be so,
But I know that if I must endure,
God will strengthen me as I go.

It may seem as if I take no pride
In the way that I look or dress,
However, there might be much more going on,
Inside of the big mess.

My home may not be nice and neat,
My bed not always made,
The laundry may not all be done,
And often it makes me ashamed.

But I must only do what I am able,
Each day I have to choose,
What is most important right then,
And the tasks I am able to lose.

All the plans and dreams I once held,
Now don’t seem quite so clear,
Yet I feel a peace within,
As my Lord keeps drawing me near.

To have a chronic illness,
Or a disability that one must bear,
Somehow puts life into perspective,
And helps to make us more aware.

I realize now that each day I live,
Is a gift from God above,
It is hard not to lean on Him,
Or to look to His great love.

I now can fully understand,
On my own, there is nothing I can do,
It is only be faith and prayer,
That I can make it through.

It may seem an exaggeration,
No one can always feel so bad,
But only those who have walked in these shoes,
Can appreciate the battles that I have had.

I see so many people less fortunate than me,
Don’t have to look very far,
There are so many suffering all around,
It doesn’t matter who you are.

Circumstances and illnesses can hit unexpectedly,
And you can never really be prepared,
It may be difficult to understand,
Leaving you vulnerable and feeling scared.

I must constantly guard my thoughts and mind,
As Satan always tries to bring me down,
He wants me to feel hopeless and unworthy,
And turn my smile into a frown.

It is hard not to get depressed,
When I see the burden my family must bare,
The fact I cannot always meet their needs,
No one could be more aware.

There are times I feel like giving up,
When I look too far ahead,
But I know if my loved ones were given the choice,
They would just choose to have me here instead.

There are so many ups and downs,
New challenges each day,
I must strive to keep my eyes on God,
So that I be not led astray.

It would be so difficult to cope,
Without God, my hope would all be gone,
Because through submitting to Him in prayer,
Is when my weaknesses are made strong.

So when you see the way I look,
When my insecurities are in view,
Base who I am on what’s inside,
Not by the things that I can do.

The greatest lesson that I have ever learned,
Is the reason that I am here on earth,
Is not to live for self and gain,
For in these things are not my worth.

God has a purpose for my life,
Although the details I may not see,
He still has it under control,
And is continually watching over me.

Maybe one day I will be well,
And my health He will restore,
But if that is not in God’s will,
I will still praise Him ever more.

If this suffering can bring honor to Him,
I will gladly accept the call,
Because of His great love for me,
He suffered and gave His all.

I have to believe that what I am going through now,
Will somehow work together for good,
And one day it will be revealed,
And all things will be understood.

While I still worry about what you think,
More the example that I may show,
I am learning so much more each day,
And this has really helped me to grow.