Been away a looooonnnnnggggg time...

Hello my Fibro friends, I've been away for a very long time. I'm just "stopping in" to say hi and see how you are all doing? I posted tonight in the chronic pain forum. I had surgery 11 mo ago, lumbar laminectomy and fusion and have been suffering with severe nerve pain ever since, actually worse than before surgery. I'm hoping someone on that site may have an answer to a question I posted. I've had fibro for over 30 years, diagnosed about 30 years ago. I have to say that over the past couple of years, it seems to have eased up somewhat. I am gluten free which I believe may have helped, exercising every single day even when I have to force myself to get on the treadmill or elliptical and eating a low carb lifestyle. I also take some supplements. The one thing I can't seem to conquer is barometric changes...they get me every time. Wondering if the dog lovers are still here? I've had golden retrievers for over 37 years and 4 years ago, I certified with my golden for animal assisted therapy. I love it. The organization I volunteer for mainly does programs in schools for special needs kids, read to dogs library programs, in-patient hospital visits, adolescent psych wards in hospitals, rehabs centers for children and de-stress programs for staff in hospitals, and corporations, also students before finals. I've recently been asked to become a trainer for the group which I am really excited about. Well, I guess you are all caught up, LOL. Hope everyone is doing well.

Hi, Miriam! It's so good to hear from you! I'm sorry about your back. I think I would have to be paralyzed before I'd attempt back surgery. I've heard too many bad stories. We did have a mod who had back surgery and has had some problems but I'm hoping she is feeling better. Her name is Acheybody. Here is one of her posts. This way, you can get her email address and possibly write her. She might have good suggestions.

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=24&m=2357641

I used to really struggle with all the barometric changes here in Florida. Then I was put on a muscle relaxer called Robaxin (generic is methocarbamol). It has made a significant difference in my pain...including my sacroiliitis and ankylosing spondylitis pain. I take a fraction of what was prescribed so I don't have the usual side effects of a muscle relaxer. The pill is even scored so you can take a tiny bit if you have problems with medications.

I remember what a dog lover you are. It's wonderful what you are doing with your dog. I used to take my little Havanese Sabra to a nursing home and the patients loved it so much! Sabra isn't with me now and I have another Havanese named Michaela. She is hyperactive so there is no way I can do what you are doing. Retrievers are such a wonderful and loving breed.

I do hope you keep posting. We miss you! But, please remember to use paragraphs and put double spaces between the paragraphs. It makes it much easier to read.

I hope you have a wonderful day today and I hope you find some answers to your back pain.

Sherrine

Thanks for the response LJ, thanks for mentioning strain and counter strain. Someone else mentioned it to me. I have to Google it, before now, never heard of it or know what it is, but I'll check it out. I was working with a PT who has her doctorate in PT and specializes in neuro so I thought I was with the right person. Just seemed that whatever she tried to do just increased the nerve pain. I do have the print outs and I will continue to try to do them at home. Again, thank you for responding. Be well

Thanks Sherrine! I'll check it out...wonder if it's in same category of drugs as Flexeril? I take a small dose of that in the evening, it's a muscle relaxer. Yes, PT was blown away at how tight my muscles, tendons and ligaments are in my legs, hips, buttocks. One thing, I learned SO much from her about anatomy. I've known for a long time about all the tightness. 30 years of fibromyalgia

Here is a link below about muscle relaxers that help with neck and back pain. The link talks about taking 1500 mg of Robaxin every six to eight hours. I have never taken that much. I was first given Robaxin back in the late 1970's for extreme low back pain. I was taking 1000 mg every six hours. The first dose put me to sleep within minutes but the subsequent doses didn't do that and I could drive, too. Back then I didn't think about taking less medication.

When I came down with ankylosing spondylitis and sacroiliitis, I was having the raw nerve pain running down my legs. I thought I was going to have to sell my home and go into assisted living because I could barely walk because of the intense pain. I started searching info about ankylosing spondylitis and came across a Medline site that said that ibuprofen was the first line of defense. I was already taking ibuprofen! But I continued to read and it said there had been good success with Robaxin. Robaxin! An old familiar drug that I knew I could take without a bunch of symptoms! I have had some medication sensitivities in the past so I don't like taking anything new.

I had a rheumy appointment coming up so I asked when I had the appointment if they would prescribe Robaxin for me (the generic is methocarbamol). They agreed and prescribed the 1000 mg every six hours, just like my doctor up north had done. I decided to try taking less so I took 500 mg every six hours instead and it worked! I don't like to overdrug myself. I only take what I absolutely need. Before long I got rid of the canes and could walk normally again and my pain diminished immensely.

I now only take 500 mg twice a day...one tablet before breakfast and one before dinner. I could take even less since the tablets are scored. I like to keep it in my system because my muscles are still tight but not nearly as tight as they used to be. I still have chronic pain but not to the point that it greatly interferes with my quality of life.

The generic is quite inexpensive too. I just picked up 360 tablets, a six month supply for me, and they cost $14 and change.

So, I do hope you can try this. It can't hurt but could help with your quality of life. It did for me.

Here is the link I mentioned above. Methocarbamol (Robaxin) is the first one listed. Hope this helps you.

/www.goodrx.com/blog/which-muscle-relaxants-are-best-for-neck-and-back-pain/

Sherrine