New here, tired of the pain

sorry it wont it can be helped with diet

but it can get worse im almost down except being to stubborn and stupid to lay down

3 bad car accidents did my fibro in and put in high gear and messed my lower back

i cant sleep in a bed maybe 3 hours more than that my back cripples me

hopefully others can offer more hope

i cant i also have 20 other disorders problems pain etc

sleep will impact your pain bad or little sleep you have more pain

Hi, Lucky! Welcome to the Fibro Forum.

Well, I can tell you that the pain never goes away for me, and I don't think it does for many others. But I don't live in constant agony, either. It's a trial and error process to find what works best for you to move the pain into the background....and sometimes that takes a good long while.

Take a look at Fibro 101, our first thread. In it, you'll find a variety of threads on subjects from symptoms to treatments to humor (yes! we need it!) to how to explain Fibro to others...and on and on.

We're all different. I use a combination of meds, rest, gentle exercise (mostly walking), and good old distraction. Pacing myself is something I wrestle with every day, and it's so important. If I do too much on any given day, I will pay for it, that's just the way it is.

One of my meds, the one I was put on first (over 20 years ago) along with my diagnosis, is a low-dose antidepressant, Nortriptyline. My dr. said he was NOT giving it to me primarily for depression, but for sleep - it does also help with my pain and migraines - and any incidental depression that may result from, as you put it, not being able to have a life (well put, btw!)

I hope you'll continue to post, because we are here to help. We are like a big family here, and we all get it!

Debbie

Welcome, LuckyLambert! We do understand about the difficulty of dealing with pain.

There are great suggestions above, and yes, everyone is different and what works for one may not work for another. Personally, I use Flexeril for more flexibililty and Neurontin if I have nerve pain. I dislike meds of any kind, but one thing I like is that my doctor gave me lower dosages I can take, if the pain isn't at its worst.

For example, I was taking 300 mg tablets of Neurontin and now have 100 mg tablets on hand. Sometimes even 100 mg will help me!

Here's a biggie for pain: Keep moving. I try to alternate sitting and standing/walking. Warm showers or just trying to keep warm helps me, too.  I dress in layers in cooler weather.  I also use pain relief creams which I buy at Wal-Mart in the pharmacy area.

I like the heated 'bed buddies,' too. I buy some helpful gadgets for fibro from Dream Products. They have a paper catalog and here's their website: http://www.dreamproducts.com/health-beauty

There are lots of great posts on this forum and helpful people who know what you're dealing with. Hope things are better soon.

ETA:  I just stumbled on this while on the Dream Products website and had not seen it before: http://www.reliefandremedies.com/

I emailed them and it appears they have a separate catalog, though I think they're part of Dream Products(?)  I'm not sure if the merchandise is different or not, but would guess at least some of the products are different from what Dream Products offers.  Anyway, I sent for their catalog, so I guess I'll find out.

Hi, LuckyLambert, and welcome! You have gotten some great suggestions, as usual. I do want to say that many have been helped by taking an antidepressant. It helps raise serotonin levels which is supposed to help with pain. Some members have gotten relief and some haven't...just side effects. I didn't take antidepressants because I do not suffer from depression in the least so I didn't want to mess with my brain chemicals. I found alternative things that have helped me be in control of my pain and fatigue.

I use ibuprofen with food, Tylenol, magnesium malate, vitamin D3, and a muscle relaxer called Robaxin that has made a significant difference in my pain. I also walk daily as a gentle form of exercise (yoga and swimming are two others that are good), I do gentle stretching exercises, and I pace myself when doing things. All of the above have me in control of my pain. Having a positive attitude has helped me a lot too along with focusing on other things to take my mind off how I feel.

Fibro is not a progressive illness so if you are getting worse and worse, do get checked out again. This happened to me. My back was hurting more and I was getting raw nerve pain down my legs and in my hips and I almost couldn't lift my feet off the floor to take a teeny step. I headed to a rheumatologist and he ran me through many tests and it turned out I also had ankylosing spondylitis. This is when I was given ibuprofen again and the muscle relaxer. Now I am sooo much better. So do get checked out thoroughly.

Be sure to read Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum. There are links to good infor about fibro and you will learn a lot there. Good starting links would be Symptoms, What Else Could It Be, and A Thorough Explanation of Fibromyalgia. You just might see yourself there. There are links about the supplements I mentioned above and how they work in the body and also a great link about how to maintain a positive attitude when you have chronic pain. All of Fibro 101 is good so do read it.

I just wanted you to know that I've had fibro for 27 years and have still had a full and enjoyable life in spite of this illness. You will too once you figure out what combination of things help you be in control of your pain. Just take one day at a time like you have been and pretty soon you should start moving forward again.

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

Hi Lucky Lambert:

Yes, the wretched pain. My pain progresses throughout the day. I also have Osteoarthritis and my neck is the worst. I have been told that my jaw pain is Neuralgia.

Stress is a huge problem. There are so many things that can cause stress. As the only Rheumatologist that I had an appointment with stated - being in pain is stressful. She did not take me on as a patient, thought I was being managed appropriately. She put me in tears. Will tell you, it really does not help to cry all the time.

I do find comfort in music. I am hard of hearing though. I can't get enough clarity with new music to hear all the words, unfortunately. I do have many favourites from the past that I can listen to and sing if I am all my myself.

I have tried all kinds of ways to meditate. Inside, it is better for me to be on the floor. I focus on a spot and try very hard not to think. Just stop all the chatter. It, frankly, is very hard to do. Another place I can do it easier is in my backyard. I sit in a chair and gaze at my cedars and birds.

Medication is something that most of us have to take. It is wonderful to read of many people on the boards that have found ways to manage without medication. For my Arthritis I am taking NSAIDs. Naproxen. I also use a muscle relaxer - Baclofen. I, too, use the anti-depressant Nortriptyline. It was issued for help with Neuralgia. I do have chronic daily headaches/head pain. I hate it. I tried Lyrica and it did help along with Tylenol but it did not stop all my pain. I didn't know it helped until I came off of it. I could feel my nerves buzzing, especially on windy days. Came off due to weight gain. Off - nerve spasms began at bedtime. Nortriptyline has stopped the nerve spasms and it most nights helps me sleep better. Sometimes it does not help with sleep - too much pain or too much stress. I have had sleep problems for quite some time. You really need a good night's sleep. Went to a sleep lab but I could not sleep because the A/C was blowing into my head. Disappointing.

I have tried the Fentanyl Patch and ever so briefly Oxycontin. One I got quite sick on and the other I just could not cope. I use pain creams. A 535 does usually help for back problems and I bought one now with capsacin that I use on my neck. My Headache and Pain Relief Doctor gave me some Tramadol to use on a trip but I don't use it on a regular basis. Some people have good relief with Tramadol. There is an extended release tablet I believe. I do hate, in Canada, that you are made to feel so terrible when picking up pain meds. You have to show ID now for the powerful pain meds. You really have to always use the same pharmacy because if you go to a new one they are hesitant to fill them.

I do much better when on vacation. It is hard to travel but it can be done if you are stable on your meds. Life is so much easier when you don't have to cook and clean.

Take care. Many good suggestions from wonderful people.

Loring

Osteoarthritis in multiple joints, Fibromyalgia, Neuralgia, Chronic Daily Headaches, I.B., Hard of Hearing...

Post Edited (Loring) : 9/11/2014 7:57:34 PM (GMT-6)