Aa
What are some OTC meds that really help w/fibro symptoms?!?!?!?!
Hi. I have not been diagnosed with FMS as of yet. I do not have health insurance, and can not afford expensive Dr. visits. I have done A LOT of research though, and truly believe this is what is wrong with me.
I have constant pain, and numbness and what feels like swelling, too. I take Tylenol like it's candy (which I'm sure can't be healthy). I tried Advil and Aspirin and neither of them helped me at all. The Tylenol isn't even doing what it used to.
I'm wondering if anyone here has found an OTC that REALLY works. I also don't like all of the side effects of Rx meds either. I am running out of ideas (and well known meds, too LOL)
If anyone has any ideas ie. home remedies, new meds I forgot about etc... anything at all, please help me. I have been suffering with these symptoms for over 6 months now with little to no relief.
Also, is it common to have sinus problems, too? I have the WORST sinuses of anyone I know, and can't seem to find anything that helps them either. I have tried Claritin D, Tylenol allergy sinus headache, Nasonex, Afrin, Psuedofed and others I can't remember. I haven't tried any antihistamines yet because I don't like to take things that cause drowsiness. But I will if anyone has any ideas.
Thanks for any and all help you all can give me. I really apprecaite it, and look forward to reading your replies.
Thanks again, and Happy Holidays to everyone!
I have constant pain, and numbness and what feels like swelling, too. I take Tylenol like it's candy (which I'm sure can't be healthy). I tried Advil and Aspirin and neither of them helped me at all. The Tylenol isn't even doing what it used to.
I'm wondering if anyone here has found an OTC that REALLY works. I also don't like all of the side effects of Rx meds either. I am running out of ideas (and well known meds, too LOL)
If anyone has any ideas ie. home remedies, new meds I forgot about etc... anything at all, please help me. I have been suffering with these symptoms for over 6 months now with little to no relief.
Also, is it common to have sinus problems, too? I have the WORST sinuses of anyone I know, and can't seem to find anything that helps them either. I have tried Claritin D, Tylenol allergy sinus headache, Nasonex, Afrin, Psuedofed and others I can't remember. I haven't tried any antihistamines yet because I don't like to take things that cause drowsiness. But I will if anyone has any ideas.
Thanks for any and all help you all can give me. I really apprecaite it, and look forward to reading your replies.
Thanks again, and Happy Holidays to everyone!
I am 22 years old and I feel just about the same exact way. Since a car accident (head trauma) 3 yrs ago, I have had fibromyalgia, worsened by hypersensitivity (you cant even touch me without it hurting). I also have chronic daily headaches, weakness, fatigue, POTS, nerve pain/discomfort in my extremities, sleep problems, gastro issues & many other symptoms/issues.
'Tiger Balm' sells a rub & patches that help with my fibromyalgia symptoms. For head pain, "Be Kool" patches really help. I know CVS & Walgreens sells them. Melatonin is also OTC and really helps with sleeping.
Go to a vitamin store near you & ask for homeopathic remedies. I use various types of homepathic "pellets", like 'Bryonia' (for muscle & joint pains). The ones I have are made by a company called Boinron & I bought them at 'The Vitamin Store'.
If possible, try acupuncture, yoga, and/or light exercise. I know it is hard to do much when you are in severe pain, but do your best to even walk for 10-15 min. It has helped my pain. Acupuncture & Melatonin has helped with my sleeping. I am able to sleep more during the night. I would usually wake up every hour during the night in extreme pain.
Hope that helps!
'Tiger Balm' sells a rub & patches that help with my fibromyalgia symptoms. For head pain, "Be Kool" patches really help. I know CVS & Walgreens sells them. Melatonin is also OTC and really helps with sleeping.
Go to a vitamin store near you & ask for homeopathic remedies. I use various types of homepathic "pellets", like 'Bryonia' (for muscle & joint pains). The ones I have are made by a company called Boinron & I bought them at 'The Vitamin Store'.
If possible, try acupuncture, yoga, and/or light exercise. I know it is hard to do much when you are in severe pain, but do your best to even walk for 10-15 min. It has helped my pain. Acupuncture & Melatonin has helped with my sleeping. I am able to sleep more during the night. I would usually wake up every hour during the night in extreme pain.
Hope that helps!
P.S. I forgot to mention, I take Elderberry capsules for my sinuses. It prevents flu and colds too.
I've had Fibromyalgia since I was a teen. What I found that helps me is Essiac - from the health food store or online. MSM helps with the pain, Magnesium Glycinate helps with the spasms and cramps.
When the pain gets unbearable, Naproxen helps me. All the other NSAIDs are ineffective for Fibro. Massage does help and chiropractic does too. Sometimes just wrapping yourself up in a warm electric blanket will ease some of the pain.
I take 1 mg. of Melatonin to help me sleep.
Calcium is also good for fibro pain, believe it or not.
What makes us hurt is that the muscles and our bodies don't heal while we sleep because our sleep is disturbed all night by "flashes" of electricity or zaps. So we wake up tired and grumpy. When this happens, our muscles become weak and thready and under a microscope they have tiny pin prick holes that can tear if we exercise too much - causing pain.
Very mild stretching exercises are recommended or slow steady walks where one stops to smell the roses. Vigorous exercises tear the muscles which lead to more pain. Take it easy, but do exercise as we lose muscle if we don't. That leads to more stiffness and spasms.
Sometimes I feel that I have to tighten my shoulders for about 10 seconds, release, then tighten again. This helps to relieve the spasms in the shoulders and upper back.
For the calves, I stand on a stair, heels off the step and lower the heels gradually to stretch them. Repeat about three times. Doing this more often can cause a rebound effect.
The key to exercise with Fibro is do only what you can without causing pain. You have enough pain already.
My biggest problem are my wrists and thumbs - haven't found a good exercise or massage that really helps that pain.
When the pain gets unbearable, Naproxen helps me. All the other NSAIDs are ineffective for Fibro. Massage does help and chiropractic does too. Sometimes just wrapping yourself up in a warm electric blanket will ease some of the pain.
I take 1 mg. of Melatonin to help me sleep.
Calcium is also good for fibro pain, believe it or not.
What makes us hurt is that the muscles and our bodies don't heal while we sleep because our sleep is disturbed all night by "flashes" of electricity or zaps. So we wake up tired and grumpy. When this happens, our muscles become weak and thready and under a microscope they have tiny pin prick holes that can tear if we exercise too much - causing pain.
Very mild stretching exercises are recommended or slow steady walks where one stops to smell the roses. Vigorous exercises tear the muscles which lead to more pain. Take it easy, but do exercise as we lose muscle if we don't. That leads to more stiffness and spasms.
Sometimes I feel that I have to tighten my shoulders for about 10 seconds, release, then tighten again. This helps to relieve the spasms in the shoulders and upper back.
For the calves, I stand on a stair, heels off the step and lower the heels gradually to stretch them. Repeat about three times. Doing this more often can cause a rebound effect.
The key to exercise with Fibro is do only what you can without causing pain. You have enough pain already.
My biggest problem are my wrists and thumbs - haven't found a good exercise or massage that really helps that pain.
I was diagnosis with firbomyalgia last year I'm 37 yrs old. And I feel like a old lady. I've been on both lyrica and cymbalta. I've done pt, i 'm on muscle relaxer. I'm in pain everyday from my head to my toes ,I have muscle spasms in my lower back. Get bad headaches or mind grains. I wake up being all sweaty. About three times a night if I get any sleep .right now it 4:30am I've only slept for about a half hour. I use mine tens when I can take very hot baths. I'm running out of ideas on what else to do. Can anyone give me and help or what u have done to help u calm down the pain.
Save your money - don't bother buying OTC pain relievers like Tyelonol. they just don't work with FM.
Massage is effective because it breaks up the substance P that keeps those aches and pains bound up in your connective tissue -- ask very specifically for deep tissue/ connective tissue/ myofacial massage. Do NOT get that wimpy Swedish relaxation massage! Also I recommend buying the biggest heating pad you can find (sometimes medical supply stores carry the big 2 foot by 3 foot ones) - worth every penny. I wear mine like a cape around the office!
Don't give up. I agree that going to see a rheumotologist will be worth saving $ for. Also, assuming you are in the U.S., you can get free health insurance through Medicaid, and free health care through community health clinics.
Massage is effective because it breaks up the substance P that keeps those aches and pains bound up in your connective tissue -- ask very specifically for deep tissue/ connective tissue/ myofacial massage. Do NOT get that wimpy Swedish relaxation massage! Also I recommend buying the biggest heating pad you can find (sometimes medical supply stores carry the big 2 foot by 3 foot ones) - worth every penny. I wear mine like a cape around the office!
Don't give up. I agree that going to see a rheumotologist will be worth saving $ for. Also, assuming you are in the U.S., you can get free health insurance through Medicaid, and free health care through community health clinics.
Yeah, we get this at the Hepatitis Forum too and it isn't cool. People are sick and we don't need a sales pitch.
traci we dont sell our products here. it is against the rules to use medhelp for profit and shame on you for doing so!!
I'd be careful of the Tylenol too. Anything over 4 grams (4000mg) a day is bad for your liver.
Thank you for getting back to me.
I appreciate your help and advice. You said that you are currently taking Cymbalta. Can you tell me what kinds of side effects it has for you? I was prescribed Zoloft a few years back, and stopped taking it immediately as I did not like the way it made me feel.
There is a health clinic here, and I do have an appointment this coming Tuesday night, but the care there is what you would expect from a clinic- not so good. But I am at my wit's end with the pain and discomfort and am willing to try it.
Do you by chance have any problems with your sinuses? I have read that many FMS sufferers have them. I myself have some of the WORST sinuses of anyone I have ever known. It feels like I have a sinus infection practically 24/7 on and off for the last 7 years, and getting worse now. And now, it is starting to affect my ears too. I read about it here--
www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org
I also get the nausea, the pain that comes and goes, weakness, fatigue sometimes and acid reflux everyday, which is also caused by FMS so I hear.
Do you have an info or have you seen anything about the cause of this? I have read many things, and have seen that it may be a neurological disorder, or possibly caused by a virus that takes hold in you. Just wondering if you have heard or seen anything different.
Overall, I'm going to have to bite the bullet, save some money and see a Rheumatologist, and take the proper medications. It's just that even after all of that time and money, I'm still severly sensitive to the meds, which is why I take so much of this OTC ****. But, we'll see what happens and if anybody has any more useful info, don't hesiate to post!
Thanks again, and Happy Holidays to you too!!!!!
I appreciate your help and advice. You said that you are currently taking Cymbalta. Can you tell me what kinds of side effects it has for you? I was prescribed Zoloft a few years back, and stopped taking it immediately as I did not like the way it made me feel.
There is a health clinic here, and I do have an appointment this coming Tuesday night, but the care there is what you would expect from a clinic- not so good. But I am at my wit's end with the pain and discomfort and am willing to try it.
Do you by chance have any problems with your sinuses? I have read that many FMS sufferers have them. I myself have some of the WORST sinuses of anyone I have ever known. It feels like I have a sinus infection practically 24/7 on and off for the last 7 years, and getting worse now. And now, it is starting to affect my ears too. I read about it here--
www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org
I also get the nausea, the pain that comes and goes, weakness, fatigue sometimes and acid reflux everyday, which is also caused by FMS so I hear.
Do you have an info or have you seen anything about the cause of this? I have read many things, and have seen that it may be a neurological disorder, or possibly caused by a virus that takes hold in you. Just wondering if you have heard or seen anything different.
Overall, I'm going to have to bite the bullet, save some money and see a Rheumatologist, and take the proper medications. It's just that even after all of that time and money, I'm still severly sensitive to the meds, which is why I take so much of this OTC ****. But, we'll see what happens and if anybody has any more useful info, don't hesiate to post!
Thanks again, and Happy Holidays to you too!!!!!
i know some of you will frown, but massage helps TREMENDOUSLY with fibro. i have clients i see on a regular basis and it helps them so much. same with my other therapists i work with. massage isnt a cure, but it can reduce your pain for a short time and help you to feel better. i have read about a cream that is to work, but i have no experience knowing. its called emu cream. its supposed to be a miracle thing, which we all know most miracles arent that at all. its worth a try if you can afford it.if you do decide to try massage therapy, make sure the therapist has enough education, has treated clients for this prior, you dont want someone to try, but not know what they are doing!! i wish you all the best of luck!
D-Ribose is a supplement that can be purchased online or at a health food store. The results of a recent research study to find out whether or not D-Ribose helps CFS & Fibromyalgia symptoms found that D-Ribose helped with energy level, sleep, mental clarity, pain intensity and well-being.
I would also highly recommend a B-Complex vitamin, magnesium (I buy the powered form)and Guaifenesin (Mucinex). Walgreens now sells a generic form of Mucinex... highly recommended for CFS & fibromyalgia patients'.
I think massage helps with any condition... even if you don't have health issues. ;^)
HELLO AGAIN,YOU HAVE ALL READY TAKEN TYLENOL,AND IT IS NOT HELPING ANY MORE,THAT WAS THE FIRST CHOICE AND ONLY CHOICE TO USE,A LONG WITH ADVIL OR MOTRIN THEY HAVE IBUPROFEN IN THEM.THERE AREN'T ANY MORE OVER THE COUNTER MEDICINES FOR YOU TO TAKE.YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE A DOCTOR.I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE,BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO SEE A DOCTOR.HAVE YOU NOTICED ANY SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY.CAN YOU POSSIBLY SEE YOUR DOCTOR AND WORK OUT A PAYMENT PLAN,UNTIL YOU CAN GET HEALTH INSURANCE?THERE IS A DRUG CALLED CYMBALTA,IT IS AN ANTIDEPRESSNANT,BUT ALL SO HELPS WITH FIBROMYALGIA PAIN,IT DOESN'T TAKE IT ALL AWAY,BUT LESSENS THE PAIN TO MAKE IT MORE TOLERABLE.THAT IS WHAT I TAKE,I ALL SO TAKE TARAZODONE TO HELP ME SLEEP AT NIGHT,IT IS ALL SO FOR FIBROMYLGIA.IS THERE A LIFE SKILLS OR DEPRESSION CLINIC YOU CAN GO TO?YOU NEED TO FIND SOME HELP,THAT IS THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE YOU HAVE.LIKE I SAID IN MY OTHER POST,EXERCISE,WITH DOING STRETCHING FIRST START OUT SLOW,THEN GRADUALLY BUILD UP.DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER SYMPTOMS?SUCH AS LEG WEAKNESS,ARMS BEING WEAK,HEADACHES LIKE A MIGRANE?TRY TO FIND A DOCTOR TOMORROW SWEETY,I KNOW IT IS DIFFICULT IN THIS LIFE,BUT YOU MUST PUT YOUR HEALTH FIRST.HOW OLD ARE YOU?DO YOU HAVE A DOCTOR,LIKE A FAMILY DOCTOR?IS THERE A FREE HEALTH CLINIC WHERE YOU LIEVE?I KNOW THAT FREE HEALTH CLINICS CAN'T DO THAT MUCH BUT AT LEAST IT IS A START.LET ME KNOW IF THEER IS ANY THING ELSE YOU NEED.I AM SO SORRY YOU ARE GOING THROUGH THIS.REMEMBER TO KEEP WARM AND TO NOT WEAR BINDING CLOTHING.TAKE CARE OF YOUR SELF.HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR,SWEETY.BLACKROSE
HELLO,I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH FIBROMYALGIA IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.I TOO WOULD ALL SO TAKE TYLENOL LIKE CANDY.THERE ARE NO OTC MEDS THAT WILL HELP,WITH FIBRO.YOU SAID YOU DON'T HAVE INSURANCE,WHICH IS REALLY HARD FOR ANY ONE WITH A CHRONIC SYNDROME,THAT CAN'T AFFORD GOING TO THE DOCTOR.YOU REALLY DON'T NEED TO TAKE ANY MORE TYLENOL FOR ANY TYPE OF PAIN,BECAUSE YOUR BODY STARTS TO HAVE A REJECTION TO IT,AND CAN ALL SO MAKE YOUR PAIN WORSE,DIDN'T KNOW THAT UNTIL I WAS TOLD BY MY DOCTOR.SNESE YOU DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE RIGHT NOW,YOU CAN TRY HOME REMEDIES,LIKE GREEN TEA,THE REAL GREEN TEA NOT THE ONE IN A BOTTLE,ALL SO FIND SOME GOOD VITAMINS THAT HAS A LOT OF PROTIEN IN THEM,FOR MUSCLES,ALL SO EAT ONE HIGH PROTIEN MEAL A DAY.AVOID CAFFINE ALL SO.DO YOU HAVE AN ELECTRIC BLANKET?IF YOU DO,USE IT TO WARM YOUR BODY.IN THE WINTER TIME YOU WILL HAVE MORE ACHES,AND MORE STIFFNESS,TRY TO EXERCISE,DO STRETCHES FIRST,SO THAT YOUR MUSCLES WANT DRAW UP,IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE COLD,WALK AROUND IN YOUR HOUSE FOR TEN MINUTES A DAY,TWO TIMES A DAY.KEEP YOUR BODY WARM,DON'T WEAR CLOTHES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL ALL BOUND UP,WEAR LOSE PANTS,LIKE JOGGING PANTS,OR OTHER LOSE CLOTHING.WHEN YOU HAVE TO DRESS NEAT LOOKING,AND CAN'T BE COMFORTABLE,CHANGE AS SOON AS YOU CAN WHEN YOU ARRIVE BACK HOME.TYLENOL ARTHRITIS WOULD OF BEEN GOOD FOR YOU TAKE,BUT YOU HAVE ALL READY TAKEN TO MUCH TYLENOL.I WILL THINK OF SOMETHING FOR YOU TAKE,I WILL DO SOME RESEARCH AND GET BACK TO YOU.IN THE MEAN TIME I AM SURE PEOPLE WILL POST WITH MORE ADVICE,WE WILL ALL HELP YOU THROUGH THIS HANG IN THERE.TAKE CARE OF YOUR SELF,STAY WARM.BLACKROSE.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Fibromyalgia Community
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
