9 Responses

1. Cyberia_C

   March 30th, 2009 at 1:35 am

   1

   I have the same thing. My doctor prescribed a very low dose of an anti-depressant. It didn’t get rid of the pain completely, but made it much more bearable. You should talk to your doctors about it.

2. You_Can_t_Handle_The_Truth__

   March 30th, 2009 at 4:11 pm

   2

   my wife suffers it. I know that avoiding caffeine helps.

3. heogog

   March 30th, 2009 at 5:05 pm

   3

   Fibromyalgia has three diagnostic characteristics; chronic pain, bilaterally for longer than six months; at least 11 matching pairs of pain pressure points and sleep characterized by its poor quality. You may also have chronic fatigue syndrome as well, as the two usually go hand in hand.

   There is no "real" physical reason for it; it is more an auto immune disorder than anything else. Apparently our bodies become our enemies and we have pain. It feels inflamed, but there is no inflammation. It has to do with a lack of serotonin(which makes us feel good) and an overage of substance P(which causes pain). There is no definitive cure, just treatment of symptoms, which differ from patient to patient.

   I was diagnosed in 1995, but had it for years before that. Currently, I am on several antidepressants, one to help me sleep(trazdone), one to help with both the pain and the depression. Over the years I have tried a variety of medications and treatments. There are two medications in the same family that can reduce pain; neurontin and Lyrica(which is targeted at FM’ers). If ibuprofen or naproxyn work for you, take them. sometimes narcotic are prescribed, but they can make you sleepier and more tired.

   Other things that can help with the pain include eating a good diet with 40% protein, 30% carbs and 30% fats.
   Take a daily multivitamin at a minimum. FM patients need to take magnesium maleate; magnesium reduces pain(it is now given in operating rooms to help with post-op pain), stress B capsules and immune system boosting supplements.

   Oddly enough, despite being as tired as you are, exercise is particularly recommended; weightlifting and aerobic exercise. When you start, use minimum amounts of weight and keep the reps high(one set of 30). Use machines. For aerobic exercise, try starting to use a bicycle at the gym. When you get home from one of these workouts, you are going to be very, very tired, but it will help you sleep very well.
   Start exercising once every three days and work up to weights 3x/week and 30 mins of aerobics 4-6x/wk.

   Other things that can help you feel better are to have a set schedule when you get up and go to sleep. Routine is very important for FM’ers. Also, you may notice that you have much less tolerance of heat and cold extremes, are more sensitive to barometric pressure changes.
   Heating pads(I had 4 extra large ones when I was most miserable and I’m all of 5 feet tall) can help with the joint pain.

   I have tried massage, acupuncture, Reiki, TENS unit(doc will prescribe that for you- it helps with pain control as well), trigger point injections, trigger point therapy and many other things I can’t remember.

   When I was diagnosed, there was an argument as to whether or not FM really existed. Thank goodness that today, it is recognized as a real disorder. The most difficult part is that everyone’s FM responds differently to treatment, so your care is dependent on how well or badly you respond to whatever the docs suggest. It is essential that you start reading up on whats out there and start becoming a patient advocate for yourself. There are a number of websites out there, as well as books and groups which send out information on what treatments are being used this month, tips for living with FM and CFS(chronic fatigue syndrome). These disorders are mostly found in women; the statistics vary but try 28:1 female/male as a guideline.

   In addition to the very good Mayo Clinic website, try
   http://www.fmnetnews.com/
   http://www.fmaware.org/site/

   There are some great books out there, so get to a Borders or a Barnes and Nobles, check out the illness books and start reading.

   Good luck, remember that only you can really make the difference; it’s a tough disorder to deal with, but if you decide that you are going to take charge and live despite the FM, you’re in better shape than if you let the FM run your life.

4. marcopub27

   March 30th, 2009 at 6:28 pm

   4

   Fibromyalgia exercise is important in order to alleviate pain associated with fibromyalgia. It is important for FMS sufferers to exercise by starting out slowly and to be steady. To find out more about what is good for fibromyalgia please finish reading the article here: http://fibromyalgiadiet.wordpress.com/2008/09/13/what-is-good-for-fibromyalgiawhat-is-good-for-fibromyalgia/

5. justmeinthisworld

   March 30th, 2009 at 7:56 pm

   5

   FMS is a disorder of teh CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
   it is not autoimmune
   it is not musculoskeletal

   the diagnostic criteris is 11 out of 18 tenderpoints–there are pairs of points–but both don’t need to be tender

   i have had chest pain–it is costeochondritis–but i get it on both sides-

   be sure your doc is truly knowledgable and not just brushing you off
   for a second opinion froma recommended doc

   email
   kindness@fibrobetsy.com for a referral

   many docs us the lable fibromyalgia for normal aches and pains–but it sounds like you may really have it..

   the most promising treatments are neuro in nature-cymbalta, lyrica, possibly tramdol

   NSAIDS don’t help as there is no inflammtion
   muscle relaxants have minimal effect (work on complications–not teh fms itself)
   vitamins will not cure it
   narcotics have limited benefit as they target the pain from teh muscle to the brain

   in FMS–the paiin is the opposite–from teh brain to teh muscle

   cold helps me-most people say heat-also mild stretching

6. little78lucky

   March 30th, 2009 at 8:45 pm

   6

   There are a few FDA-approved medications for fibromyalgia and more are in development. Drug options include antidepressants, muscle relaxers, sedatives, painkillers, NSAIDs, and other medicines that ease symptoms, relieve pain, promote sleep, or fight fatigue.

7. _BAAW_

   March 30th, 2009 at 10:21 pm

   7

   I don’t know anything about the condition but i saw a commercial for a medicine….here is the link.I hope you can get help with this, best of luck to you!

8. ronsaddress

   March 30th, 2009 at 11:06 pm

   8

   There is a lady on another message board that said medicinal marijuana is a great help for her but it’s only legal in some states.