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Posted 8/16/2013 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
I try to live my life really healthy and all the sudden for days on end I have pain moderate to severe. Actually not suddenly but this time it doesn't seem to be giving me any breaks in between. The pain is consuming me and I hurt in to many places to list and there is not any point anyway.

I am starting to feel pretty desperate so I am trying to be proactive here. I want to treat this as healthy as I can but how do I do that or how do I fight this when I hurt so bad??

So far I am on Sklextin or how ever you spell it. (mild muscle relaxer 3 times daily) Ambien for sleep and Lortab which is not touching my pain. I don't want to have so much pain killer in me that I am wacked but I also don't wish to be this miserable.
Posted 8/16/2013 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Dechaine,

Welcome to the fibromyalgia forum. I am glad you have joined us, but sorry for the reason why.

If you need the pain killers, they probably wont make you feel wacked as for some reason, people build a tolerance fast, and when you are in pain, you rarely get "high" off of them. It is the people who aren't in pain that seem to get that euphoric feeling. From my understanding any way. I took norco for years which is equal to lortab. It just has less tylenol in it. But I would talk to your doctor and let them know that the lortab isn't helping.

Muscle relaxers help a lot. I use to take soma, but my doctor was new and didn't like to prescribe it. He gave me some flexeril which I hate. But I practice meditation which relaxes my muscles.

You have to keep moving as much as you can. What a lot of people don't realize is that your muscles can get in what is called a rigor state and they get rigid. And not very flexable. So the secret is to keep those muscles moving and warm.

We have an interesting thread called "fibro 101". It is the first thread on the forum. It is always there for you to read, I think that you will find it intereting. I hope that you feel better soon. Keep posting, and again, welcome to the forum!!!

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 8/16/2013 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Dechaine, welcome to the forum. We understand the frustration and pain...what works for one doesn't always work for another. It really is trial and error.

A combination of deep breathing, meditation and visualization has helped me. I walk daily and that helps with stiffness and is a great stress reliever too. Moist heat feels good on achy muscles...I like the microwave heating pads and I use them often. Distracting the pain by doing things you enjoy helps. I've been on Savella for over 4 years, but will be weaning off soon...it no longer seems to be providing the relief it once did. I take flexeril too and that helps take the edge off.

Hoping you find some relief. Glad you have joined us...keep posting we care :)

Hugs, Robin
Posted 8/16/2013 4:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, dechaine. Welcome. Nice to have you aboard, although sorry you have to be here! Have you had Fibro for a long time?

Your pain comes through in your post....when you're in that much pain it's easy to feel desperate. You've got to find something to get it down to a tolerable level, and then you can start living your life to the fullest again. If your pain's not under control, it's pretty hard to think about anything else.

I had pain like that over 20 years ago, until I finally found a doctor who understood what I was going through and took the time to figure out a plan that would really help. At that time, he was dead-set against narcotics for chronic pain, which was fine by me....I handled the Fibro for years with only an antidepressant to help me sleep. But as I got older, and my spinal problems increased, he gradually changed his mind.....now I'm on Hydrocodone and Gabapentin (and dang it, I hate needing them! - but such is life.)

Do you like your doctor and have a good relationship with him/her? Communication is so important. I had too many bad experiences with docs who wouldn't listen or explain things, and obviously couldn't have cared less. I won't deal with that kind anymore.

I hope you'll find something to help soon, and that you enjoy "Fibro 101." I still do! Looking forward to getting to know you.

Debbie
Posted 8/16/2013 9:25 AM (GMT 0)
I thank you all for your answers. I have been in back pain since 2000 but it was a couple of years ago that I have started realizing that there was more going on because of the wide spread pain. I told my husband then that I had fibromyalgia an then I just went on with my life and forgot about it because I knew there really is no treatment so the best that I could do was just live my life. However the last few months the pain as gotten intolerable and I was already seeing a pain doc for my back. I never really said much to him because I was afraid he would think I was a hypochondriac. A few weeks ago I told him about my rib pain, face pain and the fact that I hurt from my neck to my hips. He couldn't touch me my back was so tender and then he said that he was pretty sure that's what I had going on and I just hadn't thought about it in a while but after reading a little it makes so much sense, I am a pretty classic case.
Posted 8/16/2013 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome, DeChaine.

Hiding pain doesn't work for long, does it? Go to your doctor and be clear and honest. With luck, you can get the pain relief you need. HAs a doctor diagnosed you, or are you self-diagnosed? It's not clear from your post.

No one really wants to be taking a elephant-load of pills. Really. But, in my opinion anyway, quality of life is what is important. If a pain pill makes your life more livable, then it's a good trade. And, it is true, if you are using opiates for pain relief, it does very little to cloud your mind.

Be well, and Happy Friday!
Posted 8/16/2013 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
I had self diagnosed a couple of years ago and never said anything to my doctor that that is what I suspected. He told me this week that was what was wrong with me. I didn't want to suggest anything I wanted to wait and hear it without placing ideas in my doctors head. I know it doesn't work like that but.........
Posted 8/16/2013 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
It is what it is. There is no one way to go.

Sleep is important. Ambien and a muscle relaxer at bedtime ought to help.

Pain relief is also important. It does take time for medications to work effectively. Give the medication a month, and if it isn't working as it ought tell your doctor.

Keeping moving is very important. Staying still because it hurts makes it hurt more. Walking, stretching, even for 10 minutes a day can do wonders. I am pretty active and while it can raise my daily pain level in the short term, it also helps me have more endurance and energy long-term.
Posted 8/16/2013 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Dechaine, and welcome!  You have gotten some excellent answers so there isn't a lot I can add.  I've had fibro for decades but a couple of years ago I started having extreme pain in my back.  My back always hurt but now it was severe and also pain was going down my legs and I needed two canes to walk. 

 

I knew fibro is not a progressive illness so I went to see a rheumatologist and was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis.  I still have fibro but I developed this also.  I was put back on ibuprofen with food and given a muscle relaxer...Robaxin.  It doesn't space me out at all.  It did take a while to get back to where I was before AS but I'm about there.  Stairs still give me problems but other than that I just have my "normal" fibro pain.  So, I'm telling you this to file in your memory bank in case something like this is happening to you.

 

I'm like you.  I don't want to take the more powerful meds and narcotics.  When my pain was so severe they tried Vicodin and it didn't help at all.  Then they tried Tramadol and that didn't help me either but ibuprofen did because AS is an inflammatory illness.  Fibro isn't.  

 

As I said above, I use ibuprofen with food and Robaxin but I also use Tylenol, malic acid/magnesium supplements, and vitamin D3 supplements.  I walk daily, do daily stretching exercises, and pace myself when doing things. 

 

These are the things that help me but, as has been stated, what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.  I started out with a more "natural" approach to my pain and lucked out.  But quality of life is important.  You can and should live a healthy life but, if you still can't function, that makes life quite miserable.  So, my advice would be to try the supplements and maybe over the counter things...ask your doctor first, of course....and these might just help you, too!  We've had quite a few members who were helped this way.  If it doesn't work out for you then try some of the more powerful medications.  I know you might be thinking that my pain isn't as bad as yours if over the counter medications help me but I know if I miss taking my meds, I can't move and it hurts to breathe, too.  My pain levels rachet up to about 8.   

 

Debbie directed you to Fibro 101.  Please read it.  You will get good info there.  There are links about the supplements I mentioned and how they work in your body.  There are gentle stretching exercises that you can do sitting down.  There are explanations about fibro and you will see you are not alone.  All the links are good so do check them out.

 

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

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