Hey everyone, I am new to this site. I am hoping to help others who have Fibromyalgia and also receive a little support myself. Living with this disease is very debilitating, and sometimes no matter how much friends and family care for you, it seems like they never will truly understand what a struggle each day really is. If you all wouldn't mind, would you tell me some things that seem to make the FIbromyalgia pain and foginess a little better?
I pray everyone is having a pain free day. Love and blessings!
Seems as though this is a tough question. I asked my Rheumatologist about the 'fog', he explained it simply as "It is caused by chronic pain, and the lack of sleep due to chronic pain". Therefore, handling the pain is the double edged sword. It depends if you can get a med that actually helps fibro. The AMA is teaching that narcotics are NOT effective for Fibro. This is a matter of personal opinion, and a matter of possibly needing a further diagnosis.
I have autoimmune arthritis, and some injuries from car accidents, my Rheum said that the Psoriatic Arthritis, which is my primary disease, most likely caused the fibromyalgia.
Keep a running list of symptoms/problem areas and talk to your Doctor, asking if an X-ray can be done, if there is one area that bothers you substantially more than others. Ask him/her if they can offer you more care, more answers in the nicest way possible.
I am not a medical professional, just a fellow patient. I hope that your Dr can give you some answers and some substantial relief very soon!
WARM WELCOME
Hi Ahava, yes I would have to agree that this is a debilitating thing to live with & most people unless you have it, just don’t understand the full spectrum of how difficult it is. My daughter (29) is my biggest support ( outside of this group) & I thought she really understood, but when I read her the spoon theory she cried and said she too, thought she understood … But it was limited. She has a better ( not full ) appreciation now for how much I struggle. Why we try so hard to put up a front and appear ok, is beyond me…I think we have to come to some level of acceptance before we can really be able to share how we actually feel. We just keep trucking along, being strong… As most of us have our whole life.
The pain… Well for me a low dose Fentenyl patch has helped with morning flu like symptoms, and an occasional 1/2 Lortab when I need or want a few hrs of relief… As with all meds we have to weigh the side effects with the benefits. The fog… I have found co-q10, magnesium , calcium and Malic acid helps … I have also been reading a lot about how important our Omega 3 's are for proper brain function.
The best book I ever got, was Prescription for nutritional healing 5 th edition, it’s so worth the money !
Prays for you also to have some pain free days !!
Hugs & blessings
dee
Hi Alva and welcome! Yours is an excellent question and I think each of us has different methods for treating the pain. I'm on Lyrica plus I use ice for the impacted joints. I also use Salon Pas pads which are sold over the counter. They really do help me some, especially when I use more than one in the sore area. I also use soft braces for my knees. And take an Ibuprofin.
For fogginess, I have to sleep. Nothing else really helps except maybe taking a lot of time to just rest.
Thanks for sharing with me, Dee. It really helps to have so many supportive people welcoming me on this forum. I know it must be very challenging for my loved ones and friends to see me in so much pain and being so absent minded constantly, but no matter how hard I push against this disease it definitely fights back with a passion. My brother has even said he feels helpless when it comes to me and the fibro.
Thanks to everyone who posted so many helpful ways that you cope with this disease. It truly does help and I am thankful for every one of you. I have tried pretty much every fibromyalgia medication under the sun but nothing has truly worked. The best I have been prescribed thus far is Soma, which is a muscle relaxant. Spasming is one of the worst problems I suffer from, typically in my neck and shoulders. It hurts so bad some days that I can't even turn my neck and get terrible migraines. Overall I do feel like the medication helps a little though. I also have found that hemp oil (the kind you can get at natural grocers, etc.) has been very affective for nerve pain. I get shooting and searing pains in my legs and this coupled with a hot bath really does seem to help with the knawing pains most of the time.
Thank you all so much for your amazing support, I pray you are all having a pain free, fibro free day!