Flare-ups

[deedee]

How are flare-ups minimized?  I am almost afraid to do anything because I know that the next day I won't be able to do anything.

[Sonflower]

PACE...   is a good 4 letter word !

I suffer from MPS/FMS/CFS, and I have graduated from a Pain Management Program twice now!

One of the biggest thing emphassized is, in all 12 sessions of this 6 week long program is, that we must learn to PACE !!!

We can PACE by resting between our endeavers, and/or do something sitting down and then do something that requires more energy like, i.e., stand or walk. Then rest even if only for a short time, then do something sitting down again, etc etc.  

I myself am very guilty of...  often times when I feel better than usual, I too have a tendancy to over do.  I very well know if I over do, I then will suffer a flare up. So, it's not only learning, I learnt what I needed to do, PACE, but all of my life I had vertually no limits and now I do, as many of you do also...   so now we must retrain ourselves.  

Just like training for anything else, and it's not easy, it takes obedience!

Sonflower

[deedee332]

Thank you VaBreeze, I am working on it.  It's hard to not just do things like I used to.

Angel, feel better.

Patsy10, I'm not sure about Lyme Disease.  I'll ask about that when I go back to see the doctor.

[kiddthekatt]

Hi;
   I think we all go through the feel good days and then suffer afterward. I'm going through a flare now and it's really a bad one. But I enjoyed my weekend with my daughter so it was worth it.

   The pain is hitting me with 8-10 level spurts, and my head feels as tho it has something growing out of it. I took a pain pill a little while ago and I can feel my feet relax a little. I'll be around reading but it really hurts to use my hands a lot right now. Take care.


gentle hugs
Angel

[VaBreeze]

The most important thing when you suffer from FMS or CFS is learning how to pace yourself.  You sound like me in that, on the few days I feel really well, I tend to over do things and then i'm down for two or three days.  Break your tasks up in little bits...rest often inbetween...you will learn what really sets you into a bad flare by how your body reacts.  

As for the pain, anti-inflammatories are not effective because there are no inflammatory processes with fibro.  At least none that have been detected to date.  Handling the pain is what most everyone here is trying to do also.  You can read and learn all you can about your illness so that you are well-informed for doctor visits.  Most often, those who have the dx know more about what they need than anyone else does.  

Your physician should perform tests to rule out any other possible cause for your symptoms.  If he/she has not, you should request them.  PlateletGal has put some useful treatments on the right side-board Health Pages that do not involve drugs and she is getting good results from one method.  

Wishing you the best and low pain days ahead.

[patsy10]

Could your problems be caused by lyme disease?  I see you live in one of the highest endemic states.  

[j_s_w]

I don't think you'll ever be rid of all the pain... I don't even think it would be healthy to take the amount of drugs needed to do that...

Personally I prefer to feel a bit of the pain, so that I know what my body is telling me - if I block out the pain then I suffer for it later - I end up doing more than I should and then you get beyond the point where pain killers can help...

As to what works - it depends on the day... I always try to make do with Ibuprofen or Aleve if I can... Tramadol works good... in a worst case scenario I have some Vicodin I can take.... but I really hate taking the stuff...

[j_s_w]

I try to find things that I can do... and focus on those things... reduce stress in that way...

Take just enough pain meds to keep me functional (where possible)

I've also been coping a lot better since I started on Cymbalta... it has only reduced my pain a little... but that helps.... but also it has stopped the numbness that I used to get... I also think since it acts as an antidepressant, that helps you to deal with everything a little better... Chronic pain and fatigue is very depressing... if you are emotionally wounded then the physical trials are that much harder to overcome...

[j_s_w]

Believe me, I understand...

[j_s_w]

I'm sure others can answer your question better... I'm quite new to this whole thing...

My thoughts are though that it probably varies from person to person, for the most part you will have to come to know your own body and your own condition... so that you can know for yourself....

General wisdom though is that you should minimise stress, since that can be a common trigger....