recovery from fibromyalgia?

Question

is it ever possible?

If everything hurts what exercise am i meant to do (even walking hurts the soles of my feet and my right hip)

Does diet play a part

Will it be like this forever?

Can the tiredness improve?

Answer 1

I've had Fibromyalgia for 7 years. At first I had nearly every symptom the disease has to offer, which is about 25 symptoms, but over the years my symptoms have lessened. There is a drug called Lyrica that came out on the market a couple of years ago. It was made for nerve pain, but it also treats Fibromyalgia pain and helps some with the fatigue too. Lyrica has really helped me a lot and I don't even have to take the full dosage. I also take a muscle relaxer called Cyclobenzaprine. I usually just take it at night to help me sleep, but it helps with Fibro pain too. Anti-depressants are used to treat chronic pain.

Amino acids and protein sometimes help with fatigue. The specific amino acid that helps the most is L-carnitine. You can take up to 3000mg daily of it. Acetyl-L-carnitine helps with brain fog.

Cutting sugar out, or at least most of it, helps a lot. My muscles feel so much better when I cut out sugar.

There's a good book called "Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" by Dr. Rodger H. Murphree. Out of many different books on Fibro that I have read, I like this one the best. You might be able to check it out at a library before you buy it.

Answer 2

First off, don't give up. I know it may feel as though there is not much hope. I too Have the "F" word as my family and I call it. It has taken me 10 years to figure out how to cope. I read a book called Fibromyalgia relief book 213 ideas for improving your quality of life. I had read many before and after and this one was the most helpful. As far as work the key is to find a job that gives you more then you put in. What I mean is working somewhere that is personally rewarding. Even if the pay isn't great the benefits in positive energy is priceless. I am not some new age quack. I am a mother of 3 and have had jobs that were great and jobs that I had to quit. I suggest that you first decided the top 3-5 things that you would love to do for a job and then go for it. Even if you can only do part-time you will feel better. I work as an activities assistant at a nursing home. This job is ideal for a Fibro. I work with people who understand chronic pain and discomfort. They don't rush me or make me feel like I am worthless. In fact they give me more encouragement and support then i have ever gotten from any where else. When you set your goals for employment just understand that every job is not for you. Be selective, be upfront and never give in to the hopelessness. I hope you find rewarding work.

Answer 3

Fibromyalgia is a mysterious illness. There is no universally accepted cure and the cause of the disease is still unknown although there are theories out there and many success stories where people have recovered from Fibro.

Many people do not recover from Fibro but can learn to "manage" their pain and suffering to lead perfectly ordinary and happy lives. This will take time, research and trying as many different things as possible.

Some doctors even claim that fibro is psychological in cause. That the chronic pain is a method of distracting you from deep emotional issues and that by dealing with these issues through cognitive behavioural therapy it may help to cure it. I am skeptical about this though but it may definitely be worth paying a visit to a professional psychologist as they will also help you to deal with the psychological side of the illness - sleep loss, depression which many fibro sufferers have and a feeling of hopelessness.

Many fibro sufferers are suicidal at the beginning of their disease but this goes with time when they get "used" to the illness and learn to manage it effectively.

Exercise - try light water aerobics or calm swimming, these are low impact activities. Excessive exercise can exacberate the pain in Fibro. Light strecthing and a brisk walk every day is also recommended.

There are drugs out there - Cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride,gabapentin and pregabalin, Dopamine agonists, such as Mirapex. But you are best off talking to your doctor about these.

I am sure you probably know all this already but as you asked and I had a bit of time on my hands I thought I would elaborate.

Also - massage and acupuncture have had good reports.

There is no real definitive cure, but there are many treatments that can make your life much more pleasant, comfortable and enjoyable. Don't give up, fight this thing.

Don't let it bring you down - dealing with the stress, depression and anxiety will dramatically reduce the pain. The more stressed and depressed you get the more you will suffer from pain.

You need to learn to ACCEPT that you have this, instead of resisting it. It just is. There is no point in resistance. It may be cured, it may not. Once you have completely accepted your affliction as just a part of what is, this is the first step to dealing with it. From this will come productive and constructive positive action instead of resistance action - anger, depression, stress - which will just increase the suffering and not do you any good.

Support groups are very VERY helpful. By relating to other people going through the same thing it can help you to feel a lot less alone.

Answer 4

Hi!
Forum’s answers and links are too good.
I have many symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Can you lead a disciplined life, perfectly tuned with the clock?
It is required.
Take enough rest and please do 2~3 minutes free hand exercises every morning in empty stomach.
How many glass of water you consume per day? Increase it. Your urine should not be even light yellow at any point of time.

You will surely get the relief. I have got relief. No medicine please. Do not make yourself dependent on medicine.

Regards,

Answer 5

ask your library to order a copy of "from fatigued to fantastic" by jacob teitelbaum, M.D. (he has a website)

also, in that book he recommends some book with the byline "the trigger point manual" which is more specifically about fibromyalgia.

diet plays a part. certain supplements may help also. (be cautious with supplements.) read through http://www.acu-cell.com to learn more about how nutrient levels affect health.

i think i probably don't have fibromyalgia. if i do, it is mild. still, i know some things so use my email if you want.

Answer 6

My rheumatologist diagnosed it by pressure points confirmation about '93, when I could no longer reach around my neck in the shower to swath my upper back, telling me to expect it to worsen and that the then-current speculative cause was "insult to the body", either from an auto accident or by extensive surgery, which surgery I'd had six years prior, explaining that unlike arthritis, it is not inflammation of the bones, but rather inflammation of the connective tissue holding flesh to the bones.

As it worsened and I researched, all joints became involved -- ankles, knees, hips, elbows, wrists, even the bone whose name I forget in the forearm -- and all the other side-results began. Research finally showed my best bet was naproxen.

An unanticipated lifestyle change bringing stress, begun in '05, brought the pain to such a level as yours, unable to stand -- in your case, walk -- over five minutes without incredible pain in my feet, such that Rockport shoes had to be bought to enable me, and naproxen was prescribed in 500mg doses at three a day. Once 1500mg of naproxen was in my bloodstream, the pain began to noticeably lessen.

After relieving the cause of the stress in 2001, I started weaning off the naproxen, testing how little would keep me at a manageable level. Slowly learned the proof of stress as exascerbation. Now only keep naproxen 500 for very occasional hip and knee pain. Rockports are no longer necessary. At 60, I'm now almost wholly relieved of the pain of fibro.

Answer 7

Fibromyalgia is a rheumatic disease. If you were misdiagnosed, you could suffer from seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, just like myself.

The telling signs of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis are the following:
- Joint pain in the feet (or cracking ankles) in the early 20's;
- Fatigue;
- Joint deformities of the fingers, a specific sign of rheumatoid arthritis;
- Negative or low level of Rheumatoid factor;
- X-Rays showing bone erosion, a consequence of rheumatoid arthritis;
- Generalized arthritis, involving the whole body;
- Elevated levels of C-Reactive protein and Sedimentation rate.

NSAIDs like Voltaren, COX-2 inhibitors like Celebrex, acetaminophen like Tylenol, and codeine are all used to control inflammation and relieve the pain of arthritis.

A low dosage of anti-depressants, 25 mg or 50 mg at bedtime, can also be used to relax muscles and avoid the pain of fibromyalgia.

Regular exercise like walking, biking and swimming is also helpful for most patients. Make sure that you are not overweight as carrying too much weight can only increase the pain of arthritis in the supporting joints of the hips, knees, ankles and feet.

You should consult an Orthopaedist who will order blood tests, joint scans and X-Rays to better diagnose the type of arthritis from which you suffer.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (http://www.aaos.org) maintains a public online directory where you can find the address and phone number of orthopaedists who belong to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Orthopaedists are listed by geographic location and family name, inside the USA and in most countries.

The membership directory of the AAOS is located at:

http://www6.aaos.org/about/public/members.cfm

Lyme disease could be a possibility. Ask your doctor to test you for the bacteria causing Lyme disease.

Are there any other cases of arthritis or rheumatic diseases among your relatives? Chronic forms of arthritis are usually prevalent in families where a defective gene is passed on by parents to their children.

There are a few hundred types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases. The good news is that science is progressing rapidly in its understanding of rheumatic diseases.

Antibiotics are now used to achieve full remissions for at least 40%, if not 65% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Fibromyalgia is even easier to treat. For more info, please join our group at:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/antibio

Answer 8

I am not sure if this is an illness that can be "cured" but it most def is an illness that can be improved upon and lessened. Medication for pain is a big place to start. And lots of rest.

Answer 9

http://www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer