Fibromyalgia / Chronic Pain - Ideas to help those who suffer

[itsmiso]

Hello!

I have Fibromyalgia and have recently noticed that I'm not alone with it. I'm starting this post so that we can all share ideas and tools that help us survive the day and the pain. Here are some things that I try when I'm suffering.

• heating blanket
• heated mattress pad
• warm showers
• epsom salt / magnesium flakes soaks in the tub
• icy hot with lidocaine
• muscle stimulation
• massage (I cry through it, but the massage actually helps long term)
• gentle stretching / yoga
• finding a fun mobile game or book to read to distract and relax your mind

Please share what works for you!

[Odyssey13]

@itsmiso  thanks for starting this thread.

FM, my old and inconstant companion.

Had to learn not to fight it, but how to live with it. It's a journey not everyone understands unless they experience it. Ignoring the signs that it's flaring up is not a good idea. Realizing it's FM and not just a simple muscle strain from lifting or something else is important. Know your body, know your FM.

Resting helps. Forcing myself to rest and not sit up at the computer, but to actually be on the couch or in bed.

Listening to old radio shows (The Lone Ranger, Lux Radio Theater, and so many others) is a good way to drift off to sleep and keep my mind off the discomfort.

Support of family and loved ones. It's something we all need. Convincing my husband this was real wasn't easy. Now he understands I'm hurting, even if it doesn't show.

That's all I can think of at the moment, but I'm sure others will add to the list.

[emili]

I think this is such a good idea... I am lucky enough not to have it, but I know women who do. One of them mentioned that certain changes to diet may help. I am not an expert by any means, but I found this link for some ideas of what's what with nutrition. 

[Odyssey13]

Thanks for the link @emili

I have been getting cheese and crackers a lot lately. Crackers with soup, chili, cheese and oh my, it's the crackers! 

[Sunstrider]

---

@itsmiso wrote:

Hello!

I have Fibromyalgia and have recently noticed that I'm not alone with it. I'm starting this post so that we can all share ideas and tools that help us survive the day and the pain. Here are some things that I try when I'm suffering.

• heating blanket
• heated mattress pad
• warm showers
• epsom salt / magnesium flakes soaks in the tub
• icy hot with lidocaine
• muscle stimulation
• massage (I cry through it, but the massage actually helps long term)
• gentle stretching / yoga
• finding a fun mobile game or book to read to distract and relax your mind

Please share what works for you!

---

Thanks for sharing! 
Personally now I try to keep as much as possible of my body moving and try to focus away from pain onto things that give me pleasure. I still get some pain but not like before.
Rest and stress reduction also seem to be be related to pain relief. I gym every day as I know it's important but can't achieve much as so tired. I eat well, don't drink or smoke and keep my weight down. I find it hard to keep up with everyone else especially if we go on holiday with family but I just have to be honest. Lots of people think it's rubbish.

Buy yourself a weekly calendar / planner where you can pencil in a schedule for each day, with blocks of time set out for work, rest and play. Allow a limited amount of flexibility, but only a limited amount. Some nights you'll have trouble sleeping, some days you'll need a nap, some days you won't feel able to take a walk, but try and stick to the schedule as much as you can.

[gr8ful81]

SO glad to find this post. 

Tiger balm is my best friend.  I also have found that clove bud essential oil helps.  I know that diet & exercise is best but struggle with both of those things.  I got my Fitbit to help track & keep me accountable.  I found that having 'friends' on here helps me to challenge myself.

[Tina_L]

I also have Fibromyalgia. The best thing I've found is diet and exercise. The medications the doctor prescribed did nothing for the Fibro and made me feel like a zombie. I didn't stay on them long at all. I eventually persuaded my doctors to allow me to weight train, with a certified person trainer. We took it slow and easy, and it worked! Between strengthening my muscles, and improving my diet, I started losing weight. I'm continuing to lift weights, walk, eat better, and feel better! (I'm currently exercising 5 days a week, most weeks.) Like someone else said, recognize a flare-up, don't ignore it. When I have one, I lay low for a day or so. That may literally mean not leaving my recliner for that day or two, except to go to bed. If I ignore it, and try to push through, I'll be down for a week or more. Thankfully, I'm having fewer and fewer flare-ups as I get stronger and lose more weight. I try not to eat any processed foods. That being said, I use condiments, and such from the store, but I don't eat any boxed/frozen/highly processed foods. My normal foods are salads, salmon, and chicken. Sometimes I'll eat tuna. It really has made a difference.

[Granny-Treacy]

I have fibro and also FND and degenerative disc disease. Between them all life is very difficult. Some days I feel better and other days when they all flare up I could be needing my wheelchair. Nevertheless, I am trying stay as best as I can. Got this Fitbit to remind myself crawl if I must but keep healthy

[Smiley1969]

If you are still active in the Fitbit community., I would like to be friends with you, because I also have fibromyalgia. I was diagnosed in 2015.  I need encouragement from people that understand how difficult it can be to exercise having fibromyalgia.

[Moxie5md]

I've suffered for years. Try swimming, water aerobics, topical gels like
Biofreeze. Deep breathing. Prescribed muscle relaxants.Online fibro
support groups.

[Williman1989]

I have never experienced such terrible pains, but I am familiar with this situation. I saw how my best friend suffered for three months from these pains and it was really terrible. It seems to me that this is one of the most terrible diseases and that it is very difficult to deal with it. Nevertheless, he and I found a way to ease his pain. I'm talking about kratom. I could not even imagine that some herbs can improve his physical and mental health so much. This is really amazing. We found kratom capsules vendors and he took Kratom capsules for three weeks and as a result his pain became weaker and he became more energetic and cheerful !!!

[Michellefreeman]

Thank you so much for posting this - I just posted a question about increasing activity with disabilities. 

I am so happy to be here and am learning how to get more active with my fitbit. This is a tremendous resource for me! If anyone would like to be buddies - please let me know - we can all use extra support and care. 

[SunsetRunner]

I just got a versa 2 recently and it has really helped motivate me to move.  I'm looking for friends who are more at my level and not so athletic that I feel left in the dust.  I want to push myself but not to the point I bring on a flare.  I love to use my treadmill and do what I can on slow days.  On days I'm feeling a little better I gradually try to increase my time and speed.  I've been going to physical therapy and they are helping me.  When I'm in pain they help show me how to gently stretch the muscles in that area and when the pain isn't so bad they help me slowly build strength.  I'm so glad I finally decided to go and give it a shot.  

[Kligan]

First of all, you should determine the cause of your pain. If you feel pain due to a physical injury, then you should see a trauma doctor to help you. If it is muscle pain after a workout, then there are several ways to solve this problem. The most basic method is to use CBD or its derivatives. If you've never heard of this before, then I suggest you visit https://treetvapours.com, where you can find more information about this product. I often use CBD after training and it works great as a painkiller. I hope this method will help you!

[AnyaLR]

I have fibromyalgia and ptsd. I found out I also have food allergies that make it worse and that I need to take vitamins my body can digest (mtfhr). I m dyslexic too.  I found CBD works well. I especially like Reliva  and Hit! products. The brothers apothecary for CBD tea.  Anyways been surviving and would love some similar friends who understand because they also are spoonies.  Take care. Live Love.