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Holistic Approaches/Pain Management Specialists

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Posted 3/20/2018 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
I have read about some of you using topicals, vitamins, trigger point therapy and massage to help manage your pain and fatigue. Since being diagnosed a month ago I have started conventional treatment (Cymbalta) and added both Magnesium Malate and Omega-3 supplements to my regimen. I already take probiotics, calcium and vitamin D. I juice and drink smoothies with superfoods and amino acids. I have also tried melatonin which does not really seem to do all that much.

I've been doing a lot of reading and I wanted to get some feedback from you all on any holistic regimens you have tried (vitamins, supplements, herbs, physical therapy, trigger point injections, acupuncture, etc.) and if they worked or not. Also, have any of you gone specifically to a pain management doctor in addition to your rheumatologist? If so, what was that experience like.

I like to be very proactive about my illnesses so any input would be very much appreciated. My dilemma is that I would like to add supplements and herbs as they have worked for me in the past and I like combining natural treatments, but now I am on so many pharmaceuticals that I have to worry about what will interact with what and I also have to be careful about how it will affect my ulcerative colitis. And of course asking doctors about supplements and herbs usually doesn't go over too well so I have to rely on my own research.

Thanks in advance!
Posted 3/20/2018 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi RockerGirl,

I went to a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor for a while and all he could do was try to prescribe prescription medications and prescribe physical therapy.

With the latter, I had to stop going because my pain from my fibro and my old injuries became so much worse. And he realized just from my speaking to him about it, how sensitive I am to various prescription medications. So, another words, he couldn't do much for me.

I believe what has helped me the most is my most recent massage therapist who I have seen five times now. My former massage therapists were not as knowledgeable. I asked her about that and she informed me that there are spa-type, feel-good massage therapists and theraputic massage therapists who work on healing. I am fortunate that she is the latter.

Also I have to watch what I eat, have regular mealtimes and eat healthy snacks between, do my twice a day stretches and exercises, go for short walks, and try not to overdo. I also take supplements.

Good luck to you.
Posted 3/20/2018 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Read the PPI thread. We talk about things that help us with fibro and other problems.

Sherrine
Posted 3/20/2018 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
Almost medfree - Thanks! would you mind telling me which supplements you specifically take for your Fibro?

Sherrine - I did read the Fibro 101 a few times the first week I was diagnosed. I have read so much since then about Fibro that I don't remember what the Fibro 101 even said lol. Maybe I need to re-read it. I actually posed the question (and you have more than answered it already in all your posts so no reiteration needed for what you use/do) because I wanted to hear actual feedback from live people with the illness rather than read more links.

I know we are all so different with how we respond, but it always helps me to hear from people who have tried different things. It brings about other options/perspectives.
Posted 3/20/2018 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
I didn’t tell you to read Fibro 101. I told you to read the PPI thread started by Almost Medfree! You will find information that you are looking for from “live” people. Several people posted, including Almost Medfree. She stated what supplements she took. I told her what I take and I’m not repeating all I wrote. I simply don’t have the time.

The good thing about Fibro 101 is that if you can’t remember what you read, it’s always there and you can refer back to it. Many members do that...including me.

Sherrine
Posted 3/20/2018 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sherrine. Yes, you did tell me to read the PPI thread...I must have had a fibro fog moment!! I'll look at that thread again. You have definitely stated on numerous occasions all the supplements you take so I'm good on that. Others may take different things so I'm still interested in anything else anyone has to add including stuff other than the supplements. There are so many pain management techniques posted on the internet and I am not too familiar with them and their effectiveness for Fibro. I work with someone who does a lot of pain management stuff (yoga, trigger point injections, acupuncture, etc.) but she is doing it for herniated discs so I can't rely on her input for the Fibro dx. I am thinking of going to a pain management specialist and they may try to throw treatments my way that I am not educated about.
Posted 3/21/2018 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
I haven’t written all the supplements I take in several years so you definitely haven’t read it. But, you can skip over my posts. They are easy to spot because I type in blue. I shared all that I take because I haven’t felt this good in decades. Hopefully some of this might help others. Others had input too and that’s why I referred you to the thread.

Sherrine
Posted 3/21/2018 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
I went to a pain clinic, years ago , but they pretty much wanted to throw meds at the issues.. since i cannot tolerate strong drugs.. i left..

Over the years , have tried many things..gentle physical therapies have helped at times , like strain and counter strain and the alexander technique..acupuncture has helped at times, less for the pain, but more for the fatigue.

D ribose has helped with fatigue, so you may want to read up on that..

I love my acupressure mat for at home.

There are many ways to help ourselves.. i had read in a post here years ago, that they were starting to open pain clinics that used alternative methods, but in my area there are none.


For most of us, its trial and error, what helps each of us..and the same things might not help the next person. But i fully believe you can find ways to help yourself..

I sure get a good bit of help from topical pain relievers

Lj
Posted 3/21/2018 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much Lj. Just Read some about the D-Ribose. Sounds good for muscle fatigue which I have plenty of currently. Did you take it daily and long term? I know some supplements are only suggested for a period of time. I never heard of an acupressure mat, but am going to look that up too.

That is my hesitation with going to a pain mgmt dr or clinic. I'm on enough meds already...
Posted 3/21/2018 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
I have used the d ribose m for at least 20 years...daily, three times a day..

It helped tremendously, until my vit d crashed a few years back..since then, it still helps..but not quite the same punch i guess..

I had to go to 10,000 d a day this winter, as 6,000 last winter did not keep my levels high enough..

I am due for testing again soon..but i feel less of those symptoms this winter
Posted 3/21/2018 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
Rockergirl ... lol ... I get you ... I can read and read and not get the information ... my brain is so foggy. Trigger point therapy has been helpful to me for those bad muscle knots (there's a trigger point therapy manual, but you can google to get an idea). Topicals are great for me - Sombra warming gel (hip, glutes and legs) and cryoderm (neck and shoulders) are my favourites at the moment. It depends on the type of pain - my friend who as fibro and osteoarthritis find them of little help. I have fibro, migraines and nerve and muscle pain and I love them. Also, my fireplace. Seriously, I have spent a lot of time beside a fire this winter. Just getting the air dried out and my legs warm is the best!
Posted 3/21/2018 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
Scoobymummy,

Tell me about the topicals you like..frankly my favorites smell for the first few minutes i apply it..but i am always trying new ones..do they have much scent?

Pain erase has an alcohol base, that smells for a few minutes, but it works pretty well and has an applicator top on it..


Lj
Posted 3/21/2018 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
Lj - good to know that the d ribose can be taken long term. I know I will have to try different things and see how I react to them, but it's good to get some ideas here. Thankfully my vitamin D was really good when I was tested in Jan. I was actually shocked because usually it dips in the winter. This winter really needs to be over.

Scoobymummy - I too suffer pretty bad with migraines and the meds that treat them are pretty much out for me so I find very little relief when I get them. My body loves heat also. My heating pad has been my best friend for a long time.
Posted 3/21/2018 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
I don't mind the smell of these two. My family says the Sombra is really strong, but after using tiger balm for years, I think it's quite pleasant. It's lemony with that menthol undertone that kind of socks you. lol. The cryoderm isn't too bad - minty, but doesn't last long. I'm so used to the smells that I don't really notice any more.
Posted 3/22/2018 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
Som Ray is my favorite also. I like the roll on. My hands don’t get messy that way.

Sherrine
Posted 3/22/2018 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
I've always used the copy-cat topical cream (generic) versions from Wal-Mart; most seemed to work fairly well. But I've been reading about arnica lately and found it impressive. I saw that Swanson's has an arnica cream, so I might try that, or one of the ones mentioned here. Always good to keep trying to find that best product.

Sherrine: I love the idea of a roll-on! Yes, hands don't have to get messy--very much a plus.
Posted 3/22/2018 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
I live alone and when I need to put some on my back, I have long barbecue tongs that I grasp the roll on container with, then I slip up the lock so it holds it firmly, and then I roll it all over my back! 😊. This works great! I don’t have to depend on anyone. 👍

Sherrine
Posted 3/22/2018 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
Great idea! yeah yeah yeah

Funny you should mention tongs, Sherrine. I dug my everyday food tongs out of the kitchen drawer yesterday and found it really helped when I needed to pick things off the floor (am currently in a nasty flare).

When I was working on laundry, there was a sock that had fallen and the tongs did a great job of grasping it, saving my stiff body! Same for a few other things that didn't belong on the floor!

Maybe they should come up with a special tongs just for us "fibromites." idea
Posted 3/22/2018 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
I use the long tongs to get laundry out of the dryer if I have just polished my nails. 😂. And, in the grocery store, I’ll go pick up a pair in the barbecue section and use them for getting things off the top shelf. I’m only 5’1”. Then I return the tongs to the barbecue section. I don’t have to stretch so much this way. If there’s a will, there’s a way.

Sherrine
Posted 3/23/2018 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
Ok i am having a foggy day, but tongs? You mean you do not have reachers all over the house? They are about three feet long , often with rubber grippers on the tips? Wait are they called grippers?

😳She said after one flare too many this month
Posted 3/23/2018 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
No worries, LJ, this is a very foggy month for me, due to, like you, one flare too many! What is it with the crazy weather the past several weeks?? Now they're saying we could get several inches of snow once again. And here I am, looking out the window and seeing the snow ever so slowly melt. I think I would welcome a 70 degree day to take it all away so maybe my body could settle down. It would be a jolt at first, but hopefully, no flare to follow. We'll see what happens.......

Hey, if you happen to think of the name of the 'gripper' thing, could you mention it in a post? It sounds ideal!

Hope everyone has a good weekend! The birds are singing their spring songs, so that's a positive sign. smile
Posted 3/24/2018 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
I use both, probably more medicine than vitamins or supps, though. Many of my meds are for other issues and are used for dual purposes.

One thing that I would like to add is about melatonin. I've taken it for a long time and have different sleep Dr./neurologists during that time. One told me that if you're waking up with headaches it's probably a sleep issue. Hmm, who knew that fibro can mess up your sleep. ;)

An different Dr. added that you should take your melatonin around dinner time. That's when your body usually releases it. It's meant to be a signal helping your body realize that it's evening and bedtime will be coming up. Thus, it takes quite awhile to even work.
Posted 3/24/2018 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
Something I did for awhile when sleep was a big issue was to take both slow release and fast acting melatonin - one to help me fall asleep and one to help me stay asleep. That really helped a lot.
Posted 3/25/2018 11:18 AM (GMT 0)
Luvs,

I,was really in that brain fog..it snuck up on me cause i usually do not have that as a bad symptom..the reachers as i called them are called grabbers..

There are so many differnt ones when i looked at amazon..some used even outdoors..i have very light ones, for softer items on the floor..to ones that are heavy duty.... as can lift heavy jars of things off high shelves...

A great tool though that keeps you off climbing stools...lj
Posted 3/25/2018 12:44 PM (GMT 0)
I have a grabber and my long handled tongs. Each works better than the other for various tasks. The grabber wouldn’t work nearly as well as my tongs for gripping my roll on Sombra. The tongs work great for getting things out of the dryer but the grabber is better at getting jars and such plus picking things up off the floor. The tongs are too short for that.

Sherrine
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