Fibromyalgia - what to do with the pain

srichards

I know theres already a thread on this, but I wanted to ask a specific question.

I've had Fm for about a good number of years, and still havent found a way to deal with the pain or to lighten my symptoms.

Some days I am fine, not a painful feeling at all and some days I feel crippled, even getting up from a chair is agony. I refer to these as flare ups and can last from a few days to a few weeks.

My doctors havent offered me any treatment or help, sweet FA in fact. So all I do is struggle on with it, or dose myself up on painkillers - usually enough codeine to kill a medium sized mammal.

I donit really know how to deal with the pain or to ease things, I've just put up with it for years.

What do you guys do, what helps you, eases your pain?

Is there anything available?

ps mostly my pain is in my hip, on the right side, but also shoulders, arms, thighs and back.

cheers all

nearlyrich

Like you good days I get on with life without pain killers bad days take pain killers and hope it's not too bad. The worst thing for me is the Fibro fog, it makes doing my job hard as it involves a lot of thinking.

sharon59

Dont know if you have been tried on Amitriptylline or Gabapentin which can both be prescribed for pain and give some relief from fibro pain for some sufferers.Dont know where you live but your gp may be able to rfer you to a chronic pain service -lots of hospitals have them-but initial waiting lists can be bit long.
come and join the fibro thread for other help and support we can give!
by the way dont ask gp to refer you -tell him you want to be!

nearlyrich

I had Amitriptylline when I was first diagnosed, I was like a zombie on them, couldn't drive or work I use 3 x 400mg Ibuprofen most days and nothing if I am feeling good. I also have some stronger painkillers for really bad days. I am worse in damp and cold weather I was in Thailand a few weeks ago and in two weeks I used 2 painkillers, maybe I need to move somewhere warmer and drier.

tightperson

I am unable to work at the moment due to FMS and I am taking 30mg Amiltriptyline which is going to be increased to 40mg then 50mg over the next few weeks.

For the main pain I am taking 2 x 200 microgram of temgesic Buprenorphine every six hours. It is very strong, goes into the blood stream straight away and works within a couple of minutes. I have been told you can get patches with this painkiller too but I've not tried them. I find them very good and have no side effects with these, I still have pain but they help a lot. Before the Buprenorphine I was on Tramadol and Dihydrocodeine but found both these not strong enough and I got too many side effects.

septemberblues

I'm on 150mg Amitriptyline and that has helped with the pain, and I am now able to sleep like a log. Otherwise I have used Solpadol (30mg codeine & 500mg paracetomol), or Tramadol when I am in serious agony. Unfortunately Tramadol makes me vomit if I have more than 1 at a time, I have to decide what is worse - the vomiting or the pain and dose accordingly!

There are some good painkillers that can be prescribed by your doctor, you need to go with a list and tell the doctor what you need, I'm sure there will be some good medication ideas from the Fibro people on here.

Jo_King

I'm not sure that the meds 100% eliminate pain, but mine do help take the edge off it. I'm on Lyrica and Tramadol. The tramadol has been a saviour for me. I take 100mg slow release every morning, and it keeps me going until the afternoon. I've permission from my GP (and lots of different dosages) to go up to 400mg every 12 hours at the bad points, but I rarely do - I don't react well to the higher doses.

I've also recently discovered shiatsu. It's working wonders for me - far more than the meds. I now have it fortnightly, and the session itself and the few days after are as pain free as I've been since I first got fms. It is expensive - I pay £35 a session - but I can't recommend it highly enough.

I work full time, my job isn't very well paid, and the various things I do for FMS (shiatsu, gym membership for my daily swim, prescriptions) eat up an awful lot of my income. But I couldn't keep working without those things, so it's a vicious cycle really!

sharon59

Jo_King wrote: »

I'm not sure that the meds 100% eliminate pain, but mine do help take the edge off it. I'm on Lyrica and Tramadol. The tramadol has been a saviour for me. I take 100mg slow release every morning, and it keeps me going until the afternoon. I've permission from my GP (and lots of different dosages) to go up to 400mg every 12 hours at the bad points, but I rarely do - I don't react well to the higher doses.

I've also recently discovered shiatsu. It's working wonders for me - far more than the meds. I now have it fortnightly, and the session itself and the few days after are as pain free as I've been since I first got fms. It is expensive - I pay £35 a session - but I can't recommend it highly enough.

I work full time, my job isn't very well paid, and the various things I do for FMS (shiatsu, gym membership for my daily swim, prescriptions) eat up an awful lot of my income. But I couldn't keep working without those things, so it's a vicious cycle really!

excuse my ignorance but can you explain what shiatsu is -certainly sounds worth exploring.

Jo_King

Shiatsu is a form of massage based on acupressure (it uses the same points as acupuncture) which originates from Japan. It takes a holistic approach - the therapist is interested in everything that's going on, not just your aches.

It's usually done on a mat on the floor and you remain fully clothed throughout. This was a draw for me, not because I mind being undressed, but the effort of undressing and dressing again can take quite a lot out of me! The person I go to actually uses a massage table. He's also experienced in working with ME and FMS, so he knows what to do and what not to do. I was a little nervous initially - acupressure didn't seem to fit well with the FMS pressure points - but the sessions have been really helpful. If you're considering it, I think it's important to ask upfront what experience the therapist has with FMS - but that's pretty much habit for anyone with one of these conditions I reckon.

I'd been quite cautious, given that being touched usually hurts, but almost immediately I was in a lot less pain in my shoulders and my neck, and I'm sleeping better. I had a session in the midst of a flare recently, and afterwards I slept for the first time in 4 days. I was still in pain, but it's a whole lot easier to cope with after a night of sleep!

I think part of the benefit is in the actual work with my joints - my posture's improved for example. I'm beginning to believe (as a natural cynic) that there's a benefit in the theory of Chinese medicine. And I also think that, since FMS causes me to be tense practically all the time, the encouragement and help to relax makes a difference.

I'm a fan. Can you tell?!