Fibromyalgia

[Floridagal]

I am suffering terribly with "fibromyalgia". If you have fibromyalgia what do you take or do for the pain?

[MicheleE]

I was suffering as well and my doctor told me to stop eating wheat/gluten products and I looked into it with much resistance. Low and behold, my aches are much better and most days I feel great! I also went on LDN (low dose naltrexone) and it's helped very much with that as well as the other issues I have. Google it and see if it fits for you.
Michele

[NotGolfer]

First of all I see a rheumatologist for fibro. She put me on a low-dose antidepressant (for inflammation),one other RX strength anti-inflammatory as well as a low-dose muscle relaxant for sleep. I too am doing a gluten/sugar free plan and it does seem to help---though the extreme weather changes may cause some stiffness and achiness at times. Mine is "controlled"! I also do water exercise (they'll tell you to 'keep moving'--the doctors that is) so it's important. I'd say find a rheumatologist and go from there.

[adichiara]

Please make sure that you don't have Lyme Disease, which a lot of Dr's don't know anything about. Good luck.

[jblum315]

How do you know it's fibromyalgia? My doctor said there's no diagnosis, no treatment and no cure!

[LisaJ]

Have you tried Lyrica or Cymbalta? I have tried these without much luck however, I have enthesitis as well. Are you struggling with fatigue as well?

[NotGolfer]

How do you know it's fibromyalgia? My doctor said there's no diagnosis, no treatment and no cure!

Not true re: no diagnosis, no treatment...there is help out there. IF the OP has a diagnosis of fibro. then she should see a specialist for treatment. A good rheumatologist would be a start.

[mrdarcy]

Regular pain medications, even opioid-like ones, do not work for fibromyalgia. Low dose amitriptyline works but is only available by prescription. Amitriptyline is an anti-depressant, but it's mechanism of action to mitigate the pain of fibromyalgia is not known--in other words, it's not affecting mood in the case of fibromyalgia because you're not necessarily depressed, it's working on the brain's pain centers, but no one yet knows how. Amitriptyline has an unfortunate side effect of weight gain, but that's less of a problem at low dose. The similar drug nortriptyline has slightly less potential for weight gain and probably would also be affective, but I don't recall ever prescribing nortriptyline for fibromyalgia, only amitriptyline.

[LisaJ]

Floridagal, are you feeling any better this morning?

[Bizdoc]

Floridagal, I tend to believe in "first do no harm..." If I had your symptoms, I would try an elimination diet. Try gluten free for 2 weeks or more - you'll have to really look at labels and ask questions in restaurants. If that helps, simply keep doing it. If not, try eliminating milk and milk products. Again, look carefully for hidden milk and "lactose". If neither helps, start eliminating one specific food (beef, chicken, potatoes, carrots, etc)

I suspect some change will help you feel better. The good news is that it will cost little or nothing to try and none of it is harmful to you. Two weeks without cake rarely kills someone... If not, you cant try all of the various meds that people have suggested.

And if you have a lot of pain from it, try some garlic oil and or tumaric (yellow mustard). Again, neither will harm you, but may make you feel better.