joint muscle ache tendon stiffness cracking and pain

Hi, Horseygal, and welcome! Fibromyalgia is an illness that affects the muscles, tendons, and ligaments but it does not impair the joints like arthritis can. It can feel like our joints hurt but it’s actually the muscles, tendons and ligaments we are feeling. We seem to get some nerve pain also.

If you haven’t already, see a good board certified rheumatologist and have them rule out things like Lyme disease and lupus because we have many of the same symptoms as these illnesses but these illnesses are treated differently than fibro. You mentioned IBS and some of our members have that. I have Crohn’s disease and a few other goodies along with fibro so not everything is caused by fibro. I also have GERD.

Fibro can be debilitating so you do need to keep moving. Sitting and laying too long will make you stiff as a board and have more pain. Exercise does help. Exercise??? Gentle exercise! I walk daily as a form of gentle exercise and I swim in the summer. Yoga is good also. Stretching exercises help, too. By doing these things, I live a pretty normal life.

No one here wants to take pills but we don’t have a choice. I take mostly over the counter things that have helped my pain. I use ibuprofen with food, Tylenol, Vitamin D3, magnesium malate, and a prescription muscle relaxer called Robaxin (methocarbamol) that has made a significant difference in my pain. But, what helps one with fibro might not help another. It’s more a trial and error type thing. You will get ideas on this forum. I do the gentle exercise, stretching, and I pace myself when doing things. All of the above have helped me live a full and enjoyable life in spite of this illness.

Be sure to read Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum. There are links to good information about fibro and you just might see yourself there.

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

A lot of people have GERD and there are a variety of reasons why. Many have a hiatal hernia, some are obese, some are pregnant and so on. My GERD happens if I eat fatty or spicy things. Plus I have a huge parastomal hernia from having my colon removed. It’s the size of a small soccer ball. I look like I’m pregnant and, when I sit down, the hernia pushes up on my stomach. It has nothing to do with fibro.

Here is a link from the Mayo Clinic explaining this a little better. Even though I’ve had GERD for years, I learned some things from this link.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gerd/symptoms-causes/syc-20361940

Sherrine

After researching this years ago- the root cause of gerd can be multiple things like food sensitivities, bacteria like (SIBO), candida, even LOW acid ect results in upset stomach which gets the LES valve acid burned and the cycle repeats like throwing gas on coals- you get flames again, gets better.......then repeat.

D-Limonine coats the gastro system with citrus oils (alkaline not acidic) like oil on water, you digest fine (even better), but acid stops splashing on the damaged LES and the paralysis ends with a healed LES that closes once again.

1000mg before bed each night for 2-3 weeks then back off to every other day for a few weeks if you see improvement- I stopped at 2-3 months. And only add back for a week or so if it acts up.

Eat what simple foods you digest well during this time. We all need to know what this is. Diet this diet that LOL- its different for everyone so dont get hung up on health diet fad names - I use a little from several diet "fads" , figuring out what works for me too a long time.

I have used DL for liver issues as well not just gerd.

Best thing for hard tendons is trigger point therapy using a LaCross ball used daily and a golf ball for more accurate penetration. Foam fitness rollers are good for muscles but to soft and dont penetrate deep into tendons.

Some of us are very sensitive, so a soft rubber stress ball , works for me..without causing more pain...