treatment fibromyalgia
Read and learn more about treatment fibromyalgia. For more, visit the Pain Q&A website FeelTheHurt.com
Q: What is your treatment for fibromyalgia?
My doctor says he beleives that I have fibromyalgia. My mom has suffered from this for 20 years also so I guess it is hereditary. I am wondering what other people do for the pain and what they have tried out and what works best to help.
A: Hi Natalie,
rather than go into a long message here about Fibro and all of this i will be glad to talk with you and answer any questions you have and help if I can just email me at poohinmissouri@yahoo.com I also own a totally free chat room where people with all kinds of diseases like fibro, lupus,ra,ms,mpd, etc come to talk and help each other about medications they take, symptoms, dealing with doctors, pain and so on, and we would love to have you come join us, sometimes it helps to talk directly to people instead of trying to find answers out on the net, so come and talk with me and the others, we look forward to hearing from you, just email me and i will get the link to you right away
Q: What is the best treatment for Fibromyalgia?
I also have high blood pressure and thyroid trouble. my sysmptoms are leg pain and daytime sleepiness. I had a sleep study done and was told that I have the Fibromyalgia. I am on meds for depression , highblood pressure and thyroid. I already take the zanaflex and ultracet and voltarin. Along with klopin wellbutrin synthroid and topral xl and a baby asprin. What else can be done? What type of dr should I go to to have this treated? Any help would be great.
A: Sounds like you are taking enough medication already. You should be seeing a rhumatologist. Are you sure you don’t have CFS or something else? Have they tested for anything else?
Q: what is currently considered the best treatment for fibromyalgia?
I’ve had fibro for 15 years and have tried just about every treatment out there, but I’m still seeking real relief. What is the latest consensus on the most effective treatment? Many, many thanks!
A: massage therapy is the best way to manage your pain. some people find releif from a very deep tissue massage and others prefer a soft massage such as a swedish.
Q: What is the best pain treatment for fibromyalgia?
Currently I am taking Savella as well as 5 mg Lortabs for pain. The Lortab is having little to no effect lately. Have any of you fellow sufferers had success with other medication for pain?
Also, I do light exercise daily to keep my muscles and joints healthy. I also use hot baths to ease pain as well.
Thanks in advance for you help.
A: I haven’t tried Savella or Lortabs, but I’ve tried a lot of different things in the past. The best thing that works for me (for pain) is Darvocets. I can take up to four a day, but I usually take 0-2. I don’t want my body to get used to Darv’s, so I only take one when I really can’t take the pain. If its mild pain (which it rarely is mild anymore) I’ll take 4 Advil & that seems to help a bit too. I also have been taking Ambien for about 15 years, which is the ONLY thing that helps me sleep at all, if I don’t take Ambien, I don’t sleep, & I feel much much worse, so if you don’t take anything for sleep (most Fibromyalgics have sleeping prob’s) you can ask your doc about taking something to help you sleep. Sleep helps us feel a lot better!
Take care!
Q: What seems to be the best treatment for fibromyalgia? What is the medical opinion on tx with narcotics?
Someone I know takes hydrochodone and I would like to know if the benefits outweight the almost certain dependency.
For clarification purposes, I am not speaking ill of those who use narcotics for pain management and not trying to tell someone how they should be treated. I am just asking a question. Please don’t be so defensive in answering. That is the purpose of this place, is it not?
A: Since pain relievers are practically useless, and the prescriptions carry a lot of baggage like side effects, addiction, etc… I choose to eat the healthiest possible diet, take a few supplements to insure that my immune system and overall health is as good as it can get, and practice daily cognitive therapy (thought conditioning) to enhance my mood. If it weren’t for the latter, I’d probably shoot myself.
Besides the pain, sleeplessness, balance issues, and myriad other symptoms, one of the worst things about fibro is trying to tell people about it. If they can’t see it, they don’t believe it’s there. Even some moron doctors think its a mental issue. I can assure them that it most certainly is not. The cognitive therapy cured my nearly five year long depression… if it can do that (when doctors and their drugs could not), then fibromyalgia would be a piece of cake… if it were mental. It’s not.
Here’s some helpful fibro info:
http://www.geocities.com/seabulls69/fibromyalgia.html
Q: What medicines did your doctor give you for treatment of fibromyalgia?
I’m heading for my appointment in an hour, and I want to kind of know what to expect so I can do a little research.
A: Well, I dont have fmg, but I know that there are many different medications prescribed, from opiates for the pain, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants. How its treated would probably depend on what the doctor thinks, since there are a lot of different approaches since its a pretty variable condition. It would probably be best to not “expect” anything in particular, and, well after you go to your appointment, you’ll have a lot more info.
Q: Any good treatment ideas for fibromyalgia?
I was wanting to know if there was anyone who could tell me what treatments there are for fibromyalgia. If you could name specific medicines it would be helpful. I also suffer from chronic fatigue and its ruining me. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
A: Fibromylagia is believed to be a disorder of teh central nervous system.
there is NO inflammation–therefor NSAIDS and steroids are generally ineffective….
vitamins may help releive some secondary problems which will in turn help FMS–but does not act directly on FMS–
the most promising treatments are neuro in nature–
such as Lyrica and Cymbalta–Tramadol is also a pain medicine that works on teh neuro system…..
be careful with seatives–they are good for short term occassional use–i almost died because my doc pushed sedatives and didn’t properlly wean me–
even Ambiem and Lunesta lose their effectiveness eventually…
Q: Does anyone know of any treatment for Fibromyalgia?
My wife is really suffering from this condition. We were sent to a orthopedist who recommended a balanced diet and blamed the condition on cigarette smoking. We’ve tried Over The Counter Pain medicine but they didn’t help.
A: I have Fibromyalgia -Vitamin D3 supplementation has cleared the constant muscle pain (for the most part). I did high levels for 3 weeks & was pain free. I knocked the dose down to 2000iu’s a day & a week later the pain was back. After restarting high levels, the pain is managed again after 3 days.
Vitamin D3 deficiency is becoming an epidemic. U.S. RDA are much too low & the prescription vitamin D supplements are the wrong type (ergocalciferol ). Luckily you can buy vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and the upper limits are extremely high. Current recommendations are for 35iu per pound – a 150# person needs minimum of 5250iu per day & the rda is 400iu. This amount is for minimal needs and does not account for depleted stores. March is when stores are at their lowest.
I personally did 35,000iu per day for 2 months trying to refill my stores. It is highly recommended that you have your vit.D levels tested but my research shows toxicity only at outrageous, long term levels.
I originally did B12 injections daily for a couple of years & then I tried guaifenesin (Dr.St.Amand’s protocol) for 10 years but discovered vit.D3 supplementation only recently & that has worked better than anything else! Vitamin D3 is not a vitamin, it is actually a hormone that controls immune functions.
Low Vitamin D levels greatly increases risk of cancer, diabetes, MS & heart attack.
http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1560518#i
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17023693
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/10/10/Vitamin-D-Experts-Reveal-the-Truth.aspx
Q: what is the duration of medical treatment for fibromyalgia?
my patient 32 yrs female height 5.2 and weight 95 kgs correctly diagnosed as fibromyalgia under venlafaxine SR 75 mg in morning tab topiramate 100 mg in afternoon and tab amytryptyline 25 mg at bed time doing very well is any furher treatment recommended. thanks
A: once you have found a medication that is working, it is best to stick with that medication until there is a CURE! i have had FM for 10 years and i have yet to find a medication that would allow me to say i’m “doing very well”. others that i have come across feel the same way.
Q: Anyone have any experience with Cymbalta and Fibromyalgia treatment?
A: I was diagnosed about 1 yr ago. I’m 32. I’m on Cymbalta. I was on Lyrica and it didn’t help much but I’ve heard several people say they liked it. Lyrica made me gain weight which didn’t help my condition. I also go to physical therapy 2 times a week and it helps a little. They teach me stretches, a few strengthening exercises and do massage. They also have a hydro-bed which is very nice. The main thing I have learned that helps is to get as much rest as you can. I have 2 kids so it’s not easy but it’s essential. I wear comfy shoes and try to stay somewhat active but don’t push myself too hard or I’ll flare. My rheumatologist suggested yoga which I plan to try. I hope some of this helps. I know it’s frustrating but just know you aren’t alone.
T.
Q: Can anyone suggest a good fibromyalgia treatment center in Atlanta?
A: email
kindness@fibrobetsy.com
she keeps a screened list of good doctors all over teh USA-
there are a few others like fmaware and co cure taht have a lot of baddocs on their lists-even if most patienst say tehya re horrible
Q: Can a person taking Lyrica the drug used for treatment of fibromyalgia cause severe psychological side effects
My business partner has just started taking Lyrica and his behavior is a little scary he is saying and doing things that make me feel uncomfortable
A: it’s not listed as a min side effect-but it’s possible as it is a drug that works on the brain-
you can clal a pharmacy-and say your significant other is taking it-and ask a genral question such as -could this be a side effect
Q: I am looking for options, suggestions for fibromyalgia treatment.?
I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia as a result of an allergic reaction. I have significant swelling in my joints, which seem to be closely associated with changes in weather or severe weather. Most everything I read about fibromyalgia talks about muscle issues, but mine is purely in the joints, though I did react pretty strongly to the ‘pressure points’ indicative of this disease. I cannot live forever on pain killers and anti-inflammatories.
A: Currently, there is no cure for fibromyalgia, but there are many steps you can take to understand your condition and manage your symptoms. Treatment is focused on managing pain, fatigue, depression, and other symptoms common in fibromyalgia in an attempt to break the cycle of increased sensitivity to pain and decreased physical activity. Every person may respond to a different combination of treatments.
Treatment may include:
Medicines to help you sleep better, relax muscles, or relieve muscle and joint pain. Medicines your doctor may suggest include tricyclic antidepressants, SSRIs, muscle relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), anticonvulsants (also called antiepileptics), mixed (or dual) reuptake inhibitors or, less often, nonprescription pain relievers.
Exercise therapy to relieve sore muscles and increase energy.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy to help you learn to manage your pain.
Home treatment is also a vital part of managing fibromyalgia. Your efforts to get regular exercise, improve your sleep habits, and reduce stress are as important to your treatment as any medication your doctor may prescribe.
Q: I am looking for the average cost of treatment for fibromyalgia for a college class presentation?
A: www.fmaware.org
Q: Does anyone know of treatment or medication for fibromyalgia?
My wife suffers from Fibromyalgia and no one and nothing has helped thus far. She has tried Celebrex, and other meds. All Doctors seem frustrated by this. Any help would be gratefully appreciated!
A: I have had Fibro since I was 16 and am now almost 36. I have seen more doctors over the years than I can count from Neurologists to Rhuematologists to Chiropractors to Psychiatrists to Pain Specialists. In my experience pain medications do not work. A muscle relaxant is much more helpful. I have also tried biofeedback, steroid shots, trigger point injections, two sleep studies, nerve blocks, accupuncture, foot braces, wrist braces, carpal tunnel release surguries, and so much more. All just torture and I felt like a guinea pig.
My best advise is to get as much rest as she can. Nap if she needs to and sleep when she can. Try delegating some responsibilities to others whether it’s at work or at home.
Taking a muscle relaxant (I take Zanaflex) is more helpful than pain killers. Have her take a good multiple vitamin, a B Complex supplement (helps in dealing with stress), keep active in at least low impact sports, and consider Magnesium and Malic Acid supplements (consult the doctor or a nutritionist to have her Magnesium level checked- it is a simple mouth swab and not painful), meditation does help some in keeping the pain back if you can seperate your mind from the pain. You may want to learn some home massage techniques for people with Fibro.
Have her try to take at least 2-3 warm Epson Salt baths a week (Epson salt contains Magnesium and soaking in a warm tub of it helps to get the mineral into the body. Magnesium aids the muscles in using oxygen and when the level is low which is typical in Fibro it can cause are cramps, spasms, and pain.)
Also, Fibromyalgia is a neurotransmitter disorder and certain foods can trigger similiar symptoms to Fibro. Try eliminating Monsodium Glutamate from herr diet. I did and some of my symptoms (chronic headaches and nausea) went away. It is in everything from Doritos to chicken soup. A few key finding’s of an FDA study found MSG to cause a “burning sensation in the back of the neck, forearms and chest”. Otherwise, help her learn herr limits and pace herself.
The last source below is a study that shows how Fibromites differ from “normal” people in their reaction to pain. I found it very interesting and it helped me verify that this is all real and not just “in my head”.
Good luck!
