HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

What the heck do I do for this pain?

Support Forums
>
Fibromyalgia
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/8/2009 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hey all. I know I'm not around and posting often, but I do want to let everyone know I love to read this thread and get advice and input. I'm going to try to be posting more hopefully. Anyway, I have had especially bad pain in my arms/neck/shoulders lately. It seems the worst right along my shoulder blades to the middle of my back. I have tried heat (I have a seat that heats up which I sit on), massage, and taking motrin (that's all I take for fibro) and nothing is helping. So far I've considered myself to have a rather "mild" case of fibro, but the past few days this shoulder and neck pain has brought me to tears. Does anyone have suggestions for me other than taking a more heavy duty painkiller? The more I am in pain the more I tense up too, which I sure doesn't help. Having my shoulders up near my ears can't be good! I appreciate any advice...
Posted 2/8/2009 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
I know you seaid you tried heat, but have you tried a neck wrap? I have one from Bath & Body Works that has lavendar in it, which is great for relaxing aromatherapy. I also have another homemade one that has rice in it that can be microwaved - just a minute or two releases moist heat, which is very therapeutic. Some posters have suggested it's as easy as putting some rice in a tube sock, securing the open end with a rubber band or something. I have made my own for me and friends out of flannel fabric. You can wrap these right up around your neck, or lay them across your shoulders.

I dunno, maybe you can get some relief from this type of moist heat.

I store all my stress in my neck and shoulders. I have to conciously tell myself regularly to relax my shoulders and upper arm muscles to avoid fatique.

If it continues, you might need to get referred to physical therapy. Before I had fibro, my PT person was able to work wonders for me with moist heat and gentle massage.

I hope some of this will help.
Posted 2/9/2009 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Julie, I have really been making a conscious effort to relax my neck and shoulders lately too. I have tried the "bed buddy" - I wish I had a giant one I could heat up and lay on so I could get the heat spread all over my back and on my arms all at once...hmm now there is an idea...
Posted 2/9/2009 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
Oh, hey, now that you mention it...I purchased an electric throw blanket for my couch from Kohl's...it has been a godsend to me. I snuggle under when I just plain feel horrible, I fold it and wrap it behind my lower back when it's bothering me, and I wrap it around my shoulders in layers, too!
Posted 2/9/2009 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
I have the exact pain and in same areas, mine became unbearable and after alot of running around I now see a pain spec and have doc on side.  In the beginning I had meds for pain and meds for sleep. I ended up having to see a spec for pain as I cant take tablets he was able to put on a patch and now I am much better,     sue2z   

Posted 2/9/2009 4:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there, I am sorry that you are having this level of pain. I would like to ask if you have ever tried ultram [generic tramadol]? It really works for me, for exactly what you are describing. It sounds to me that you may be dealing with some connective tissue pain, and ultram is helpful for that connection when it becomes painful, or inflamed, or or knotted. It doesn't work for everyone and you may not have to take every day, only when you are flaring or in increased pain. Also I have been working with a great massage therapist who helped me so much with knots and pain like this. One last thing- how is your posture? I have worked on standing straighter and this helps with pain also. I hope you feel much better soonest!
Posted 2/9/2009 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
I hold a lot of pain in the same area. The best advice my PT gave me was a motion called shoulder rolls. Slowly roll your shoulders forward about 5 times and then backwards about 5 times... you'll hear some snap crackles and pops but that's good... it helps to get the knots out. I'm sure you can look it up on line under shoulder rolls (in google). Hope that helps!!
Warm hugs,
Posted 2/9/2009 6:17 PM (GMT 0)
That's where a lot of my pain is, too.  I use the stretching exercises on the Fibro 101 thread.  I will also get in a sitting position and then lay across my lap and let my head and arms hang down.  It feels so good to me.  Lastly, the muscles in the middle of the back are difficult to stretch so I talked to my massage therapist about this.  She told me to bend at the waist and start swinging my arms back and forth, side to side, etc. and it helps stretch those hard to reach muscles.  This does help me too.

 

Sherrine

Posted 2/9/2009 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there,

You have gotten some very good advice, from the shoulder rolls, stretching all the way to heat. 

I find I carry all of my tension in my shoulders and neck.  That is the place that I get my worst pain.  So I do meditation.  I consciously relax the muscles in my neck and shoulders over and over.  It really helps.  You have to focus on your breathing too.  Also it is good for freeing up the mind.  When you focus on your breathing, you forget everything else for a while.  So meditation helps in a lot of ways.  It also gives you some YOU time.

I hope that this helps some.

Have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Karen

I forgot to add that if you want to go the medication route, there is a muscle relaxer called SOMA that works good for me. 

Posted 2/9/2009 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
My 'everyday pain' is also in my neck and shoulders, my neck will make cracking noises sometimes on a bad day up to 100 times a day (maybe not that many but it feels like that if you know what I mean!). It's really loud and sometimes people will say what's that noise and I'll say oh it's only my neck!
I don't have any suggestions myself but I've found this thread to be really useful. I will try some of the suggestions given. I'm going to ask my mum (she's really good at sewing and I'm useless!) to make me a bed buddy out of a spare piece of material and rice.

Hope you soon find relief from the pain,

Best wishes, Deb

Posted 2/9/2009 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
Dear AnxietyRidden: Man can I relate. My life is so full of anxiety ridden events, dealings with people who are less than congenial, too much responsibilty, uncertainty and pain. I carry it all in my shoulders and upper back. The mucles there are rock hard. My shoulders are always up around my ears. I have the official bed buddy, which helps, plus a moist heat heating pad, plus, an electric throw to wrap up in, plus Flexeril, a mild muscle relaxer. So, recently I found this rub, like linament, called Voltaren (Emugel). It works differently than other menthol or camphor products. It seems to be absorbed right into the muscle or joint and really seems to help. The only problem is, unlucky, I, am single so don't have a partner to reach those hard to reach spaches between my shoulder blades. So I improvise. I take a strip of cloth, about 40"in length, and spread some gel along the middle, and use it like a loofa sponge rubbing the gel in that area. Us sorry single folk got to be creative.

Posted 2/9/2009 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi AnxietyRidden,  You have gotten some good advice so all I am going to say is hello.  I have been wondering where you were.  It is nice to have you back.  I hope you find some answers that help you through this.  I wrote a long post to you last night but for some reason I couldn't get it to post & finally lost it.  Not good in my state of mind.  LOL I will say I do have a mattress cover that goes under my sheet that is like an electric blankest but I actually lay on it.  It has two controls which is good because my husband doesn't like to much heat.  I have to really crank it up sometimes when dealing with pain.  My brother bought it at WalMart, what a wonderful product.  Many soft hugs, Denise

Posted 2/9/2009 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
Mojolou, you can make a bed buddy by taking a tube sock, filling it 2/3's full of raw long grained rice and tying a knot in the end.  Then microwave it and it gives off moist heat due to the moisture in the rice.  I don't sew either!   smilewinkgrin  

Sherrine

Posted 2/9/2009 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
Beans or dry peas or lentils do as well. The moisture comes from the grain. I even tried filling a legging once, so it would wrap around, wherever I need it to. Also, I note, after two weeks, the supplement;Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM, has kicked in and my joints don't ache like they used too. I have been crushing it and feeding it to my dog, who is hugh, arthritic, and almost 13 yrs. and she's like a puppy sometimes. Usually large dogs don't live this long but she's doing fine. I took a look at her out romping with our younger dog, in the snow, and thought "why haven''t I been taking it?"Finally, I get a small ammount of valium, for another disorder, but I find, I have much less pain when on it, due to cumulative effect of a small bit every day, which protects against the shoulder and neck pain. Good luck.

Posted 2/10/2009 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Anxietyridden,
I have the same problems....my pain is burning in nature and goes across my shoulders, half way down my spine and up my neck and half way up my skull. I have fibromyalgia and I have also got degenerative disc disease and have had 4 cervical spinal surgeries and a plate in my neck. Everyone has suggested heat which does work but have you ever tried ice? I have a large block-like thing that I keep frozen. I wrap a towel around it and lay with it right between my shoulder blades close to my neck. about 20 min. per hour is what is recommended but to be honest, when I have one of those searing headaches I will use it longer. My internest gave me a script for Valium to use if I need it. If I feel it coming on I take 5mg. and it takes to edge off. I had to quit my job as a nurse and I am only allowed 15 to 30 min. per day on the computer. I'm not allowed to work anymore. I do so enjoy reading the tips from all of the people who write in. I'm thankful to have found this site. Hope you are feeling a little bette today.
Nurse2
Posted 2/10/2009 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for all of the replies! I really didn't think of an electric blanket...doh! I should definitely invest in one of those. Whoever mentioned the heated mattress pad, that sounds divine as well. I will have to look into that and see how pricey it is. I am sad to hear that so many of us have the pain in this area, but relieved as well that it's "normal" if that makes sense. It is interesting to note how many people have remarked that they carry their stress/anxiety in their shoulders and neck. I guess we could all benefit from some more stretching of these muscles! Sherrine, thank you for the stretching advice. I do make a concentrated effort to do shoulder rolls and such when I noticed my shoulders are hitching up toward my ears. I think I do a similar type stretch to you, but with a different twist that some might find helpful - I have one of the big exercise balls and I will drape myself over it with arms reaching to the floor. It stretches the spine nicely and feels good. I also lay my back over it to arch it and stretch. My posture is horrific too so I've been trying to work on that, especially when I'm at work in front of the computer. It is the worst.

Thanks so much to each and every one of you for your advice, I appreciate it and I hope we all find solutions for some of the pain! Whatever way we can, right?
Posted 2/10/2009 6:36 PM (GMT 0)

The majority of my pain is also in my neck, shoulders, cervical and thoracic regions of my spine.

I am on Ultram Er 300 mg per day, darvocet 2 every 5 or 6 hours as well as Cymbalta and occasionally 2 mobic. I still have pain but not nearly as bad as before the meds. I also use a heat in the microwave pad from a body shop party. I use Ice and Have one of those homedics crapsu massagers which has helped. Nothing is going to clear the pain 100% I've discovered other than being totally under the influence of high doses of morphine or something. Who wants to live like that?

Posted 2/11/2009 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
Is it possible that there is an underlying cause to this pain that isn't fibro related such as an old injury? I know in my experience that my fibro just loves the areas on my body that have been injured in the past. They seem to be the vulnerable spots. You may want to think about having that pain evaluated instead of just assuming that it is caused by fibro and nothing else. I saw my orthopedic doc for shoulder/neck pain and he sent me to a chiropractor. This guy isn't your run-of-the-mill chiro though. He is a specialist in orthopedics/sports medicine so does most of his work on muscles and joints, not just spinal adjustments. In fact he does very little spinal work on me. He uses techniques such as Graston and active release technique(ART). It does hurt sometimes but I consider it to be constructive or healing pain instead of the destructive pain of fibro or injury. I would recommend anyone with muscular type pain to see someone like him. He works towards fixing the problem which of course eases the fibro part of the pain. Something to consider. Lisa
Posted 2/11/2009 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
My aunt has some of the same symptoms with her fibromyalgia and discovered the healing benefits of Epsom salts a few years ago. She’d been buying the same box for years but while in Walgreen a couple days ago, we found a new Epsom salt product in the elastic bandages section, called Pepsom Sports. She decided to try it and really loved the new spearmint formula (and the way she felt afterwards!). Just thought I would pass this information along to anyone struggling with this disease because I have seen how much pain she is in on a regular basis.
Posted 2/11/2009 5:29 PM (GMT 0)

VIEW IMAGEHI,

I AM NEW TO THIS FORUM, BUT, I SURE HAVE ENJOYED READING EVERYONE'S POSTS AND I CAN SURE RELATE TO EVERY ONE. I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH FIBRO IN SEPTEMBER OF 08 AND I HAD IT TWO YEARS PREVIOUS TO THAT AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ME. I HAD CONTINUOUS PAIN IN EVERY JOINT I HAVE. MY FIBRO GOT WORSE AFTER I HAD A TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT IN JUNE OF 07. ONE OF MY DOCTORS SAID THAT A TRAUMATIC SHOCK (SUCH AS A KNEE REPLACEMENT,,,OTHER MAJOR SURGERIES OR A DEATH OF A LOVED ONE) CAN START THE ONSET OF THIS PAINFUL DISEASE.

I TAKE 1 OR 2 VICODIN A DAY .....THAT IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET RELEIF. I ALSO HAVE OSTEOARTHRITIS AND PANIC DISORDER, WHICH, ADDS INSULT TO INJURY.

I GET THROUGH IT....BUT....WITH NO HELP FROM MY FAMILY.

I WANTED TO KNOW FROM SOME OF YOU IF YOU HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. MY HUSBAND, MY TWO SONS (AGE 40 & 36) AND ALSO MY MOTHER (AGE 80) STILL DO NOT REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST IN MY HEAD. THEY HAVE ALL HEARD AND READ about FIBRO, BUT, THEY STILL DO NOT RELATE TO THE HORRIFIC PAIN THAT I ENDURE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THEM, BUT, IF ANYONE HAS ANY INPUT...........I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. YOU SURE NEED SOMEONE TO BE THERE FOR YOU AND LOVE YOU AND UNDERSTAND. I HAVE ONE FRIEND THAT ALSO HAS FIBRO, BUT, WE DON'T TALK MUCH. SO............I PRETTY MUCH KEEP EVERYTHING INSIDE AND IT FINALLY GETS ME REALLY DOWN. STRESS IS CERTAINLY NOT GOOD FOR FIBRO.................VIEW IMAGE OUCH!!

CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR FROM SOME OF YOU,

NANNYLOUISE

Posted 2/11/2009 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Banana and Nannylouise, and welcome!  I'm so glad you joined in!  We do have a good group of people here that have great ideas to help you live a full and enjoyable life.

 

Be sure to check out the Fibro 101 thread...the second thread on the forum.  There are links to some good information about fibromyalgia...links that might help your families understand this illness.  Banana, you might see if you can get your aunt to come here.  We may be able to help her.  But, thank you so much for telling us about the Epsom Sports!  I never heard of that.  There are some members that like using the Epsom salts so this will help them.

 

Nannylouise, you do need to keep moving.  If you sit or lay too much you will be stiff as a board with fibro.  Walking is a good exercise as well as water exercises if you have access to a pool.  On the Fibro 101 thread there is a link to some good stretching exercises that really do help, too.  They get the blood flowing.

 

Moist heat really helps, too.  Hot showers and Bed Buddies feel great.  You can get a Bed Buddy at Walgreens and other places but you can make your own, too!  Take a tube sock, fill it 2/3's full of raw long grain rice, and tie a knot at the end.  Microwave it and it gives off moist heat due to the moisture in the rice.

 

I'm so glad you both have joined.  Read back posts and ask questions.  We are here to help you.  Meanwhile, I do hope to hear more from you soon.

 

Sherrine

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply