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What have you tried to help your Fibromyalgia?

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Fibromyalgia
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Posted 6/19/2013 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi!

I usually have a hard time falling asleep at night due to fibromyalgia pain near my ribs and hips. Unfortunately, I have many health contradictions and medication intolerances. My Dr has prescribed me a NSAID medication called Etodolac, and I have tried aspirin and ibuprofen as well as Tylenol. I've even bought menthol gel and sticks to help the pain, but still sometimes even with the medication and gel, it's still not enough. What else have you people done to help your fibromyalgia?
Posted 6/19/2013 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
Sleep specific, I take a hot bath before bedtime, to loosen the pain. Then I generally rub the achy areas to help relax the muscles. I like aroma-therapy, others do not.

Light meditation can help you fall asleep.

I also use a muscle relaxer as well as generic ambien. Sleep is an important component for me, personally.
Posted 6/19/2013 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
I spray Magnesium oil on my skin to help relax the muscles and ease the pain (or drink Magnesium powder dissolved in a glass of water, which is more effective but can cause diarrhoea in large doses).

I use Brauer Sports Ice Gel - Joint and Muscle, which contains:
arnica, bellis, ledum, apis mel., belladonna, bryonia, camphora, hypericum, kalmia, ranunculus bulb, rhus tox., ruta grav, strontium carb. and symphytum. (Just in case you don't have access to this product, you can look for other creams/gels that contain some of these ingredients.)

Tiger balm is good but expensive. It contains: camphor, menthol, cajuput oil, mint oil, clove bud oil, cassia oil and paraffin.

Nature's Way Joint Restore: Triple Action capsules, which contain glucosamine, MSM and chondroitin

P.S. Sometimes I use menthol gel as well

Posted 6/19/2013 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
Increased Vit D and getting plenty of sunshine, hot packs at night, hot showers 2/day(upon waking and before bed), epson salts in 2nd bath, physical therapy, self-trigger point release every other night before bed (like a mini massage on my hips and thighs), and most importantly getting 8-9 hours of sleep.

Its important to sleep before 2 am (ideally 10 pm) because the body releases healing hormones between the hours of 10-2am. Waking up early seems to matter too...you should look into how to optimize your sleep cycle so it can help your body heal itself. I read about this a while back and tried it myself and it seems to work for me. I always have considerably less pain if I sleep during the right hours.

Other supplements: Cal-Mag, Skin Eternal (Skin detoxifier that has a lot ingredients that are good for fibro), and DIM Plus (Estrogen metabolizer to keep the female hormones in check)

Hope this helps.
Posted 6/19/2013 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
I wish I had a bath...
Posted 6/19/2013 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
Warm baths and bed buddies are good. As for muscle ache creams, I have a jar of a "wannabe the name brand" cream I bought at the dollar store, and have had good luck with it.

I take malic acid tablets, vitamins D and E, calcium, and a multivitamin. At the worse times of the year when it's cold, I might add something like fish oil capsules.

It helps if I'm fairly warm when I'm in bed, and I wear some sort of socks to bed year round. Warmer socks when it's cold, and thin cotton socks in warm weather.

Bedtime is always the same, except maybe on weekends.

Try to find something to laugh at every day, and avoid stress when you can (I know-not always easy). Having a pet or two and hobbies are helpful.

Prayer and my faith are at the top of the list. Sometimes I just have to 'unload' on God, when things are overwhelming. I believe He understands.

Walking and being as active as possible helps. I love gardening, and the warm sun feels great! :)
Posted 6/19/2013 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, KrazyKatz, and welcome!  I used to have that problem but was put on a muscle relaxer and that has made a significant difference in my pain.  I would awaken many times during the night and then couldn't get comfortable to get back to sleep before the muscle relaxer.  Now I get up once to use the bathroom.  Now that is a huge difference to me! 

 

I, too, take ibuprofen with food,and also Tylenol, malic acid/magnesium supplements, and vitamin D3 supplements.  All these help with pain and fatigue.

 

Be sure to read Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum.  There are links to good info about fibro and you will learn a lot there.  Good starting links are called Symptoms and A Thorough Explanation of Fibromyalgia.

 

I'm looking forward to getting to know you better.  Don't hesitate to ask questions because we are here to help you.  Hope to hear more from you soon.

 

Sherrine

Posted 6/19/2013 3:57 PM (GMT 0)
ive heard a few of you mention tylenol...is this something available in the UK?

I have tried Elavil (amitriptyline) magnesium with malic acid tabs, cod liver oils, vit D

For energy Vit B Complex and D - Ribose powder.

Doc currently trying me on Remeron for sleep again as i have real problems in this area :o(

I did find going to gym and doing gentle exercise helpful until I got a flare and now it hurts...but everyone seems to recommend exercise and to keep moving
Posted 6/19/2013 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
tylenol=acetaminophen
Posted 6/19/2013 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
Major reduction of pain= Stretching (like yoga), tins machine (OHHH YEEAAA!), Positive affirmations (watch Louis Hay- you can heal your life), and Protandim (fights off free radicals at rate of 1,000,000:1), all these will restore your body. No more feeling like every step is so hard to take. at 24 felt and walked like a 70 year old, now back to my young self =)
Posted 6/19/2013 11:06 PM (GMT 0)
P.S- FOR HIP AREA DEF. TINS MACHINE!!!!
Posted 6/19/2013 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
I use hot showers, heating pads, ice packs, gentle massage, bengay, aspercream, tylenol, tramadol, and remembering to say "no, not today". :)
Posted 6/19/2013 11:48 PM (GMT 0)
Exercise helps me significantly. When I do not move at least a little during the day, I have significantly more pain at night.
Posted 6/20/2013 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone!

I'm new here, so be as nice to me as you can :-)

In response to sleep problems with fibromyalgia (which I have had for @ 30 years) I have found Trazadone to be the answer. It is an anti-anxiety type drug, and totally non-addictive. I have taken it every night for about 10 years, and it always lets me sleep peacefully through the night. I don't feel at all tired in the morning, after my coffee of course.

Posted 6/20/2013 3:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hello is good juju, and welcome to the forum! Everyone here is very nice most of the time :) It might be a good idea for you to start a new thread to introduce yourself to us - you can tell everyone a little bit of your story, and everyone can welcome you. It's nice to have you here.

You can start a new thread by clicking on "Post New Topic", and then giving the thread a subject and writing up the first post in the thread.

Posted 6/20/2013 3:49 AM (GMT 0)

Wackers34 said...
ive heard a few of you mention tylenol...is this something available in the UK?

I have tried Elavil (amitriptyline) magnesium with malic acid tabs, cod liver oils, vit D

For energy Vit B Complex and D - Ribose powder.

Doc currently trying me on Remeron for sleep again as i have real problems in this area :o(

I did find going to gym and doing gentle exercise helpful until I got a flare and now it hurts...but everyone seems to recommend exercise and to keep moving

Tylenol == Paracetamol in the rest of the world. Or commonly known as Panadol.
Posted 6/20/2013 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
I rely on a sleep aid called stilnox (zolpidem) not for long term use. And Clonazepham (muscle relaxant) also not for long term use.

Sleep is a hard thing. I was never used to be able fall asleep till 1 - 2am. Unfortunately, currently having some liver issue, so have been very lethargy, been sleeping for more than 12 hrs a day... And my little boy is complaining why am I sleeping so much...

Non medication stuff include exercise, try to relax before going to be (ie no TV.) Ambient sound, stretches. If you have a good partner ask for a massage. Or if you're up for it, (ahem) couples activities helps. Most ideas involved slowing down your heart beat, or tire you out a lot, so you call fall asleep.

Another thing that helps is develop a routine, just like what we do to our children... it works for them, works for us too. It's just that being an adult, it's a lot harder to set ourselves a routine.

BTW, unless you've for inflamation, Fibromyalgia is not an inflamation condition, so NSAIDS will not work and will probably cause more stomach issues down the road. Tylenol will help with the pain, since it's an analgesic, but problem is, the dosage you need to take the pain away will be way too much from the recommended dose per day.

If you're suffering from mood disorder or depressed, there an anti depressant called Valdoxan, which is designed to help with restoring your circadian rhythm. That may be an alternate answer.

I hope these information help.
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