I too think this is a good idea. I'm glad you came up with it. I take dilaudid for my pain and that helps me a LOT. The heating pad is my best friend too. Especially since it's been so cold out lately. I'm hoping others will comment soon. I want to hear what other people are doing. I prefer more natural ways but, I haven't found anything that worked for me - yet.
Another thing I do - I rub eucalyptus essential oil on my painful areas. You can also use Vicks Vapor Rub and will do the same thing. The eucalyptus is natural anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxer and, it lessens the pain. I can tell you from experience - it works GREAT.
Ben
Hot baths with Epsom salts snd baking soda with lavender oil
I have recently been using a product called Plexus. A friend of mine just went through breast cancer treatment and it has really helped her. Ive only been taking it for less than a week, but am feeling a little better. Nothing to shout about, still having pain and fatigue, but the Fibro fog has gotten better, and I feel a little better. Going to continue it through the month to see if its worth the cost of $120 monthly. Fibromyalgia is a lot different than most diseases, and I know there isn't a miracle cure.
Wondering if anyone else has tried this?
MAGNESIUM OIL (very expensive store bought)
I can't recommend a specific product as I do a home crafted version made with Epsom salt dissolved into boiling water. It then is cooled, put into a spray bottle, and add a touch of essential oils. Shake well. Lavender doesn't sit right with me, so I choose other things like rosemary which I have found good for blood vessel circulation, or jasmine and Australian sandalwood because I love the scent mix and it lifts my spirits. Shake well before using. High quality therapeutic quality organic essential oils can be ordered from mountainroseherbs.com and no, I'm not an affiliate or making any money by recommending them. Anything I am unable to grow in pots or source locally I have shipped from them. They practice great sustainability, are very helpful and knowledgeable.
BIOFREEZE
My physical therapist introduced me to this. I also have myofascial pain disorder, and using this before stretching helps a whole lot. Also good for after exercising. Can be purchased at a pharmacy or big stores like walmart, etc. Comes as a gel, or spray. Goes a long way. same company makes a product called FREEZE IT. Convenient roll on applicator.
HOT BOOTIES
one of the great gifts from hubby. look like old fashioned bedroom slippers, but are filled throughout with microwaveable moist beads. available online at Walgreen's, Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, and more. (the only reason I even own a microwave.) helps with tired achy feet, and arthritic joints.
I use a muscle rub called Unkers which is made by the amish. If it weren't for that I probably would not sleep at all.
I take Nucynta, flexeril, and savella for the pain and muscle aches.
Salon pas (you can find these at Walgreens) are cloth strips with medication on them for relieving localized pain; however, my preferred ointment to use is called Wong To Yick Woodlock ointment (I found this on amazon.com) which is kind of like Ben Gay but it's more intense and is from Japan, I've never seen it sold anywhere in the US.
I also do weekly acupuncture, which, believe it or not, actually is quite helpful if your acupuncturist knows what they are doing.
Monthly professional massages with a masseuse who knows something about fibro is amazing.
Yoga is also helpful to strengthen your muscles to take pressure off your bones and joints so they don't hurt so much.
Hi Scott. I was just coming on to share some links to webinars and this discussion is going on. How perfect. The links are below. I am signed up for the first one done by Dr Ginevra Liptan. I am starting therapy for Small Fiber Neuropathy on Thursday so this is real interesting to me right now.. I think these webinar tools will be real helpful because I hear knowledge is power. Right?
I hope this link works. It looks funny.
Kitty
Hae organicmama. I've been a customer of Mountainroseherbs.com too. I love getting the herbs and teas into the house. It's so important to have healthy alternatives to coffee and other things. If they're around we use them. So the magnesium oil is used on joints and aches? Do you just use these ingredients that you have listed? That sounds really nice.
Kitty
kitty, magnesium oil is great fo muscles. our bodies absorb and use it better by applying to our skin than taking oral supplements. works fast on my muscle spasms. the proportions for the spray are 1 part Epsom salt, 4 parts boiled water, and since essential oils vary in intensity, use what you feel is right. make in small batches, doesn't keep well without reforming the salt crystals.
I use a lot more than what I posted, in moderation, and make gifts for others when able. do my own tea blends and body products. my permanent hand weakness hold me back from doing more. name sounds terrible, but skullcap as tea or infused into oil cold method for 6 weeks as a muscle rub is very helpful for me for pain. have to do a skin test any time I am learning a new herb, react to a lot.
tremor kicking in, more when able.
loving hugs
Thank you, organicmama.
Well this sounds like a great thing to try. Many times the thing that sends me to bed is the terrible muscle pain in my thoracic region and spreads through the ribs. I will be making some of this and using it. I've heard of skullcap being good for many things.
I have given up working in our big garden, but my husband built me a small raised bed that's close to the house. I am going to designate it for herbs only. I drink a lot of tea. Love it loose and locally grown. I'm so happy to see February ! Hopefully we are through the worst of winter in most areas and we can all start to think of spring...soon.
Thank you again. I hope you are doing ok.
Hugs back,
Kitty
Thanks for posting this thread, Scott! It'll help quite a few people.
I've found that Salon Pas over-the-counter pain pads help me quite a bit. They seem to soothe the pain out. I like them and highly recommend them, although each fibro person gets relief in their own way.
I also use ICE when my back or knees are killing me. Well, an ice pack, to be technical, because it lasts longer. It helps me with the deep, throbbing pain.
One other thing: once while I was in PT, they used an ultrasound machine on my pain for deep heat relief in my elbow. which was experiencing that horrid deep, throbbing pain. It worked!!!! It banished my elbow pain completely! I don't think it's used very much any more but it worked well.
It does for some pains, Rachel. I used it recently on my chest, when it was hurting and feeling full from mucus, front and back, rib area too. It did help. Thank God.
There was one word in my comment that shouldn't have been there. This is what I meant to say.
Ben, I didn't realise that Vicks can help with pain.
I found out about by accident one day when I was reading an article about different uses for everyday things. I've been dabbling with essential oils for many years now and I already knew and use eucalyptus oil for muscle pain. So when I read the article about Vick's, it made sense to me. Of course, I had to try it to see if it was true. And sure enough... it helped.
Here's another little ditty I experienced - There was a masseuse I went to a few times and she used olive oil for her massages (plain olive oil, nothing mixed in it). Beside the fact of getting a massage. I think the olive oil helped with loosening the muscles up too. I've been to many masseuses through the years and she was the only one who gave me such good relief the lasted the longest. The only thing I could figure out was, it had to be from the olive oil. That was the only thing she did differently from the other masseuses I saw. I haven't tried it on my own to prove my theory on it though. I actually forgot about till now (smiles).
Ben
My counselor uses a biofeedback program called Brain Paint. She just learned a new protocol for fibromyalgia. I've had one treatment and it's done some good - I feel more energetic and less foggy (but the pain is still there.)
Here's the website for the program: http://neurofeedbackdefined.com/. This site does have a feature where you can find a therapist/counselor who uses this technology.
What they did was first relax, then stimulate the left side of my brain, then they stimulated and then relaxed the right side of my brain. I was really out-of-it for about an hour afterwards, and had a bad headache. But, within an hour, I had started feeling better. We had used Brain Paint for depression and anxiety before - but this is the first time for fibro. I'll be back on Friday for another round.
And - thanks to everyone for all your advice - I'm going to be trying some of these out.
Thank you for the Salon Pas recommendation. I just tried it today for the first time, and I have freer neck movement now than I have had in years!
I'm going to my doctor tomorrow to ask to start Savella. How does it help your fibro? Thanks for sharing!!