leg pain

Oh yes, that's fibro. I rarely can cross my legs without pain. Sometimes it hurts just to have my laptop on my lap. If the cat walks across my legs, it's torture! The outside of my legs always feel like they are badly bruised. It's horrible. The lightest touch is so painful. It helps some to keep my legs really warm. Soaking in a hot bath is good. I haven't tried any sort of creams, but I do like those Thermacare heat wraps. I do NOT like the Icy Hot heat patches. They do not stay hot like the Thermacare, there is way too much adhesive on them (painful to remove), and they aren't as pliable. Gentle massage can also help.

Sorry Sappy, I didn't see that you are a new forum member. Welcome! I think the "fog" hadn't lifted yet when I wrote earlier today. You will get a lot of great info here, and lots of support and understanding.

As for the leg pain thing, right now I have a sharp pain in the front of my left thigh. It feels like a leg cramp waiting to happen. UGH! It feels a little better if I massage it but only for a few seconds and the pain comes back.

Again, welcome to the forum. I apologize for being short this morning. I should make a rule not to post until after noon!

{hugs}

thanks everyone, it is tough going through this alone. Noone understands how in a matter of hours you can feel ok and then horrible for the rest of the day. People say snap out of it, ignore the pain, don't think about it but i can't do that when it consumes you with pain everywhere. For two years it was just from my neck down to my thighs but since October it got worse and when the doctor put me on Cymbalta to wean me off ativan I had a very very bad reaction to just one dose of Cymbalta. What a mess I have been since April 30. Now it has spread to my head, major neck pain and even into my feet. I am medication free since last week and though the pain can be intense I prefer that to the side effects of the drugs I was on.

Shash13, what pain medication do you take? I too have herniated discs in my back but does anyone have problems with constipation? It seems to create more problems.

Fibromyalgia is a scary disease because it mimics so many other things. I don't have a good fibro doctor and the family doctor really doesn't know much about it. My pyschologist thinks its my anxiety causing the pain but I tell him -- it is the pain (and thought of having the pain) that is causing my anxiety. My endocrinologist says my thryoid tumors can't be causing all these symptoms so I just try to deal with them as best I can.
Thanks for letting me express myself. I haven't been able to work since October so i am glad to have found this web site. I hope with everyone's help I can manage this disease better and get a life back.

Sappy, I am new here too. I don't have the leg pains, but my arms and hands  are aching and burning so darn bad. My Dr told me to take Tylenol Arithritis Strength. I tried it over the weekend with 2 -500 mg Robaxin, with no relief. I have three bulging discs in my neck and am on Cymbalta which he ordered increased to 60 mg daily. It really doesn't help either. I was on Ativan for many years and it really worked for me. The Dr's don't like to give it... it was very hard to get off of.... but I think with long term pain it would be nice to have again. My stress worsens my pain.  The Cymbalta helps keep me from having panic attacks, but does not help my stress enough.  I pray you find some relief from your leg pain. I sounds like finding the right medication combination is a time consuming event!

 Marissaleemom

Hi Sappy.
I am a new member also and have found this to be a great place for support and it helps me not feel so alone! I can relate to your post so I wanted to reply with what I have done. Maybe something I have tried you could talk to your doctor about??? Regardless, know you are not alone. I am SO SORRY to hear about your mom. I have been going thru lots of stress this past year and it really has affected my fibro. Way to go for the classes!!!! I believe trying anything positive can't hurt right?

I have had really bad leg pain for about the last 6 months. I also believe stress has lots to do with it. I work at a desk all day and the pain gets so bad from sitting in a chair that I want to cry. I tried ActivOn since it helps with my neck & back (I have herniated discs also). I apply the ActivOn to the back of my legs and it helps. I put it on before I go to bed too.

I had read posts here about ActivOn so I tried it. So far the best OTC topical for me. As for meds, I tried Cymbalta too with bad side effects. Pretty much everything that is suppose to help fibro has given me bad side effects. I use to take Ativan too and it worked great but my new doc will not prescribe it. I cannot take NSAIDS anymore (bad stomach also) but can tolerate Darvocet and Soma only when really needed.

As for something regarding decompression, I do not have insurance so my new doctor sent me to a "one-time free" physical therapy session where the physical therapist made a neck traction device for me out of a towel and a stretchy/rubbery cord. I secure it in a closed door and lay there for 15-20 minutes. It relives the pressure where my discs are herniated. Cheap fix so if you can try something to help stretch the vertebrae out it might help you too. I know they sell traction "beds" on the internet but the physical therapist said the towel-thing she made me works just as well and luckily it is easy to use since I seem to have problems follow directions or even remembering directions from the day before :)

Good luck!

Hi Sappy,
I think there is a way we can "chat" thru this site but I am new and not sure how to do it. I will look into it tomorrow unless someone else reads this and posts directions :)

Yes I have IBS too and 3 weeks ago I gave up wheat (all gluten) and refined sugar in hopes of getting my allergies calmed down. I read on several medical sites that those 2 food items can cause allergies so I figured it was cheap and couldn't hurt. What was amazing is that my IBS stopped and for the first time in forever, I was regular, no running to the bathroom after eating and getting cramped up! I go back to my doc next Monday and I am going to talk to her about it. My daughter in law has Crohns disease and she said her doc told her to give up the wheat and sugar too...So if we can chat somehow I can tell you what I have substituted since I realized my diet was pretty much gluten and sugar.


I have trouble swallowing only occasionally and never thought to ask about it so I don't know about that one. As for the traction thing, it looked easy to make, just the towel and the rubber/stretchy rope cord thing. Maybe you could ask your doc about any physical therapists that might see you on a one-time free basis? I certainly wouldn't want to try to explain it and then how to use it 'cuz the physical therapist who made it for me showed me how to do it. I would imagine I could mess myself up it if was done or made wrong. Or maybe you could call some local physical therapists in your area????

Dear Sappy: Welcome aboard. Leg pain. Huh? It tends to come and go for me. When I can get a lot of rest, and get my legs elavated, for several days, it tends to go. Then when I get real busy, for a couple of days, it's back. Voltaren works well for muscle pain, like arm muscles and also for back pain, but it seems to wear off in about twemty minutes. There is another cream, Emu Blue, really much the same, but a cream, not a gel, and that lasts longer, I find. You mentioned you couldn't take tylenol, but thought Darvocette might work. Unfortunately, Davocette is a compound of Darvon (a sedating pain killer, and Acetominophen (tylenol). so if you wan to avoid the tylenol, you ask for Darvon, and if they won't give it w/o the tylenol (cette) part, then always take it with food or at least with ensure or boost, something to coat your stomach. Good luck.

I guess what we all have to come to terms with is acceptance. Acceptance of the limitations. In some part the pain can be managed with relaxation, heat, meds, and light exercise but the fatique, well what can we do about that? I for one, can't afford a $2000.00 bed. I spend about 14 -16 hours a day laying down. My bed isn't kind to me. There should be some way to get help with this but if Fibro isn't recognized as a legit, illness, then, that's not going to happen.

sappy

welcome!
I know it sucks to have to deal with Fibro.
I have lots of hip pains and shin pains. I frequently whack my husband upside the head when he even touches my shins. I think it helps to prop the legs up on a chair or desk.

hey tyno3, don't give up. I am having a bad day too and feel very hopeless but we can't give up . There are people depending on you. Your dad needs you. I went through the same thing with my mom since Oct with breast cancer. She passed away in April and I still can't believe what we went through. I had to find a friend who helped me take my mom to her appointments since it was so hard for me physically. My friend has fibro too. I know facing adversity is hard and with fibro there are bad days and good days.


It doesn't seem like you have anyone to support you. You need some help even if it is to move again. Always turn a negative into a positive. i know it is hard and don't give up. I have lost 35 pounds because of eating problems and I am under 100 pounds. Some days it is really hard to even walk around but sitting isn't any better. We have to thank God we were given another day to help others if we can. When you feel really down call someone you know and talk to them about anything but your problems. Sometimes a diversion is helpful. It is hard to be positive and caring about things when you feel so hopeless and alone but you have to look at it another way. Maybe the next place won't have any weeds :) I am not making light of your situation. It is serious and I understand.

If you believe in God you can always ask him for help. I can't hurt and sometimes you will be surprised at the answers!

i hope you find some help for you and your dad.

Thank you for the reminder to breathe, sappy.

Today is Saturday, and I am feeling better. I stood my ground with the three act circus next door and refused to be intimidated. I said a prayer for me and Dad, and then I said a prayer for the roommate b---- next door who stirs everything up and splits while they fight it out with me. I have already a bead on a place, that may be better. Less expensive, will allow my dogs, and the fellow comes from the same area as my children's father, and seemed keen to rent to me. So, we'll see. I also called my old Landlord and let him know I'm looking. I also found a beautiful, rustic house on the Atlantic Ocean, but I think it would be costly to heat in winter. We'll see what comes down the pike. Thank-you all, for being there.