Do you have tips and tricks to manage pain from FM?
By darberg
@darberg (55)
Canada
June 29, 2007 8:22pm CST
If you have found natural ways to deal with the pain of FM please share with us. Share your success stories and struggles with Fibromyalgia.
3 responses
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
30 Jun 07
Hi darberg! I find that my FM gets much worse when I'm having bouts of insomnia so if I can't get some good sleep I take small doses of Melatonin and that really seems to help. I prefer natural ways to deal with my FM also but there are times when nothing helps but my muscle relaxers. Fortunately that's rare. I have learned to do things a little differently, pace myself carefully and try not to do too much at once. That's the best advice I could give anyone. Don't overdo.
2 people like this
@darberg (55)
• Canada
30 Jun 07
I find I have to use meds to help me sleep sometimes. It took a while to get used to it but using ear plugs helps me a lot and I do seem to sleep better with them. I find it hard to pace myself. I forget to do it until it's too late. I used to use muscle relaxers but, now I try yoga and meditation in place of it. I have been doing great for about 4 years but I find myself in the middle of a flare up now because of extra stress. FM is an ongoing battle and it never lets you forget it's there.
@craftcatcher (3699)
• United States
30 Jun 07
That's for sure. Stress is the worst, even moreso than overdoing. Overdoing can keep me sore for several day but stress can throw me into a flair-up for weeks. I find that Tai Chi really helps, nothing complicated just the basics. It's good exercise and easier on my arthritis than yoga. I have been using meditation a lot more recently and it does help also. If you haven't read my epilator discussion, don't know what I'd do without my sense of humor. I wouldn't want to lose it. It's the best medicine of all. http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1175923.aspx
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18365)
• Orangeville, Ontario
30 Jun 07
Heat definitely helps with the pain. Exercise helps keep your muscles from atrophying, releases uplifting chemicals from your brain, and helps you to keep your weight in control. A lot of fibromites are overweight due inactivity and/or medication.
Natural remedies in the form of supplements are also helpful. Magnesium is severely lacking in fibromyalgia patients. We all need more magnesium. I get that in the form of a multi-vitamin, 2 Calcium/Magnesium/D vitamins a day, and 3 Mag-Citrate (Magnesium/Malic Acid) a day. As soon as I started on the Mag-Citrate I immediately felt an improvement. I highly recommend it.
2 people like this
@ASL19741978 (319)
• United States
19 Jul 07
I have had fibromyalgia for about 20 years. I have tried a lot of treatments, so it will be hard to narrow that down to the best natural treatments. I would say, for thyroid problems, compounded T4 (98%) and T3 (2%) as advocated in Dr. Blanchard's Book "Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor NEVER Told You About Hypothyroidism." Also natural hormones (that would be per lab tests) like compounded estradiol and estriol in a gel, or natural progesterone cream or compounded in an oil capsule. For the pain, I like Enzymatic Therapies' End Pain Formula, cheapest to buy at www.vitacost.com, it's all natural but if taken 3 times a day, it really takes the edge off the body-wide pain without having to take Rx meds that make me drowsy. One of the best treatments for candida yeast/fungal overgrowth that I had were natural extracts in ethanol prescribed by a kinesiologist (sp?). It worked really well, but the price was high. I also use Enzymatic Therapies' "Daily Energy Enfusion" (one of the main doctors who developed these Enzymatic Therapy natural supplements has a website at www.endfatigue.com). I have a family member, or if no one is around I give myself intramuscular B12 injections that were compounded so I'm not injecting Cyanide (a common and cheaper ingredient of B12). I also take fish oil capsules 3x per day (check the source--some fish oil can be contaminated by toxins like mercury). I take a lot of other things, but these are some of the more effective ones.
