Today is one of those days~Suggestions?

[AmaElaine]

Today is one of those days that make me just want to cry.  I was doing ok this morning but was very fatigued and weak.  I could tell then how the ending would be.  Since around dinner time the dull pain has gotten worse throughout my body and I could tell the snow had started.  Who needs a forecast when you have fibromyalgia?

My only prescription is Cyclobenzebrene (probably spelled very wrong lol).  I am supposed to take it at night to help me rest, but a lot of the time I dont have enough of a set schedule for how much the muscle relaxer knocks me out.  It also does not alleviate any pain, just puts me to sleep through it.  I am about to go start a hot bath in the middle of the night again, but I was wondering what works best for everyone else.  I am new to this site, but not new to Fibromyalgia.  My mother has had it since 95 and I was diagnosed a year ago.  I am looking for non narcotic ways to help with the pain or prevent some of the flares.

Thank you for all of your input in advance.

AmaElaine

[trublukrav]

I agree with the massage idea- I go twice per month, and sometimes you can put it on a flex card, or get insurance to cover it. Also, acupuncture works well too, if you have the time.
I sleep with a heating pad on my bed, and also have one on the couch for my hips/back. For legs, do you know those cylinder things that are made out of Styrofoam? They have them at trainers and gyms a lot... It is hard Styrofoam, doesn't give. Anyway, it will hurt at first, but rolling your legs over it- you can look up the correct ways to stretch with it online, but it really helps you stretch and massage really tight bands of muscles at the same time.
Also, stretching in general- if you can sneak away in a different room at the office, or both when you get up and when you get home will help your muscles too.
Finally, you can ask your doctor to write you a prescription for a 10s unit. The idea is that the little shocks the pads give you distract you from the pain with a small stimulus, while gently massaging your muscles. They have 4 and 8 channel devices. I wear this to movies and can sometimes get away with it at work. Also works well on long drives.

About the anti-depressant- they really do work for a lot of people. I tried them, and was not depressed, so they had the opposite effect on me, and I went crazy- sad, emotional, screaming crying over nothing. Went off of them immediately and just control with narcotics on bad days.

Remember winter is the hardest time for us- weather changes, cold, etc., so dont give up hope! Just figure out what is best for you and stick with it! Oh yeah! Tiger balm sometimes helps too!!

My dr also wrote me a Rx for one of those compression devices that squeeze your legs after surgery, but I haven't had time to follow through with that and fight the insurance company to pay for it. I know this would also work for me, just haven't put up the fight yet!! Think about your bed too- I have sleep by number and tempurpedic- both worked, but my husband didn't like the sleep by number so we needed to get a new one. I can't even sleep on springs anymore- so much pain.

GOOD LUCK!!

[TrudieC]

I would highly recommend you try an anti-depressant.  It helps you to rest and helps you deal better with everything that fibro throws your way.  I am recently diagnosed and now that the depression meds (I am on remeron) are working I can deal so much better.  Only try one thing at a time so you know what is helping and so that you can monitor any side effects.

I have found a lot of relief from therapeutic massage.  I go twice a month.

Otherwise, try everything you can to lower the stress level in your life.  Try and keep your mind busy and off of your medical issues.  I try and think of my bad days as  holidays for me.  If I'm bad I take a lot of baths, wrap myself in blankets and a heating pad, watch my favorite shows and movies, and use my laptop on the net.