Leg/foot/toe stiffness; any answer besides meds and exercises?

This Fall is showing itself to be particularly nasty for my fibro/neuro condition.

My goal is to be eventually free of any prescription meds. Is this even realistic, though?  I've been researching alternatives, such as alpha lipoic acid (yes, I realize anything alternative like that and herbs, should be okayed by my doctor, first.)

I wonder, though, if there really is anything non-prescription that would help with the stiffness (and sometimes pain) in my feet, toes, and legs.  I get stiffness elsewhere, but having it in the toes and feet, especially, make it hard to walk sometimes, so right now I'm sticking with the Neurontin/Flexeril regimen.

I am also doing PT stretching exercises, which do help somewhat, but every morning it seems I'm back to square one with the inflexibility.

For stiffness, is there any answer besides medication?  I know some of you here go to a warm pool, which sounds great, but I live in the boonies with no pool nearby.  Also, my feet and toes, for some reason, cramp in pools (always have since I've been a tot), so I tend to avoid them. I even have to be careful of that in the bathtub!

Suspect that it may be more my neuro condition than my fibro (as I said elsewhere on this forum, it's as yet undiagnosed), so I have to wonder if there is really anything else I can do for it.  Thanks for any ideas! 

Interesting.

How do you sit? Or lay?

I was having horrible ankle and calf pain... the toe pain I have is from broken toes. Anyway, I routinely sit (feel comfortable sitting) with my feet under my rear, Indian-style. This puts pressure on the muscles and nerves, and also causes the joint of the ankle to be stretched out in an unnatural way. I do not feel comfortable with my feet hanging down to the floor. Too many movement classes in my twenties and thirties.

I also like to sleep on my stomach, with my ankles, again, super-extended.

Once I really began to take note of these habits and try to change them, I felt some relief.

Also, aspercreme helps.

Massage a couple times a week helps me when I can. It hurts bad while getting it, but I feel so much betternafterwards

Hi Luv,

Maybe you have a pinched nerve? I would suggest that you call a chiropractor who is knowledgeable about fibro and what is going on with you. You could call and speak with one or more on the phone then go in for a free consulation.

Good luck to you.

In states where it is legal ... medicinal marijuana is medically recomended at low dose, administered via vaporizor, to treat symptoms such as that. I ran across it in research only. I hate taking meds. Leukemia runs in my family (so I want to save my kidneys). Heat and stillness have been the two things that have helped me. Sometimes ice for my hands help. ( Sorry almost medfree, Im scared of a chiropractor. ) Have you been tested for ms. It is something else I ran across while researching my symptoms.  When I stand with my feet together and look directly up to ceiling, it is like someone spinning me round n round. Vertigo. Ms is also known to mimick fibro. My lower legs, ankles, and feet also feel very similar to how you were discribing yours. I will look like an orangatang walking. These are some of the things that lead me to research, seeing as I have a crapy dr. Seems like you are doing all the right things ... stretching ....(scared of that too). Hope it starts to get better soon. Shame we cant write off a winter home in the tropics to our ins. or taxes ... "medically needed to aquire substantially improved daily quality of life."