Re: Fibromyalgia Questions Annie (very long post in answer......)

[Guest guest]

Hi Annie:

I have Fibro, RA, OA, and Raynaud's. I take different medications

for my fibro than I do for my RA, although the one thing they do have

in common is the pain medication, and for that I am on Ultram CR

300mg. and I take one pill daily. Prior to this, I was on the 200mg.

Ultram, and also on Utracet. The difference between Ultracet and

Ultram is that Ultracet has Tramadol plus Acetominophen, while Ultram

is just Tramadol.

I first began taking Ultracet for my RA pain about four years ago

when the Motrin just was not cutting it anymore. By the end of last

year, I was up to taking six pills a day, and not getting pain

relief. That was when I was switched to Ultram, which is more

helpful, but still only takes the edge off the pain. I don't

think " painfree " is something that we can really get, at least from

what I have read on the fibro/CFS group (you might want to

check that out). Some of them are on narcotic pain medications, but

I am not willing to try any of that for a long while, I hope,

although at times the pain makes me think differently!

As far as exercise, Tai Chi or similar stretching exercises are good,

just gentle stretches, not jerking on your muscles. I was in Curves

for a year or so, but gradually found it more and more difficult to

do because of the RA/Fibro combo. I had more pain after a work-out,

and just was not able to get on and off the machines quick enough,

felt like I was holding the others up. Water exercise is supposed to

be the best thing for fibro, so if you have access to a pool, I would

definately do that. We want a pool someday, or a hot tub at least,

but we still don't have the finances for that.

I do use hot showers to minimize the pain, but sometimes cold showers

work instead. Just depends day to day. I use rice socks, massage

pads I got from JC Penny which are really quite reasonably priced,

one for my back and one for my neck, and also, of course, heating

pads. Everybody is different and responds to pain control in their

own way, just try heat or ice and see which one works for you. Long

hot baths for soaking help some of the people, but I am not a bath

type of person, so I shower.

The reason that every single person has their own interpretation of

fibro and what should be done about it, is because we are all very

individual as to how the fibro affects us. I have muscle pain, and

also have burning, shooting pains in my legs, usually at night.

Sometimes it feels as if my skin is " sunburned " and I am very

sensitive to touch then, and this sensation usually occurs just

before a fibro flare begins. Fatigue is a very big part of fibro, as

well as RA, so I suppose I have a double dose of that, but for

fatigue all I can do is rest, and nap when I need to. Learn to pace

yourself, don't do everything in one day, take breaks to sit down,

breathe, do some gentle stretching, and relax for a bit. We

basically need to adjust and adapt to our new lives.

Yes, some days the pain can be in one part of the body, some days in

others, and some days there is more pain or less pain. My body is

pretty much permanently stressed out and tense. I always have pain in

my feet, tops of my feet, and into my ankles (don't know if this is

RA or fibro...) but the leg pain will vary from day to day, and the

nerve pain is not always present. I take Lyrica and Cymbalta for

nerve pain, as well as muscle relaxants, Skelaxin and Zanaflex.

Ambien CR helps me to sleep.

I have heard that massage is helpful, but the masseuse has to know

about working on people with fibro. I have not known of anybody to

use chiropractic for their fibro. Sometimes people go into physical

therapy if their muscles become so tensed up it causes difficulty

with motion. My doctor has suggested it to me, but, again, I have to

pay a chunk before my ins kicks in, so have not done that.

Hmmm, well, if you have made it to the end of this novel lol, I hope

that I have answered your questions. If you have anymore, please

feel free to contact me via email, either through this group, or

privately.

Take care - Kathe in CA

>

> I've had a lot of drama surrounding my diagnosis lately and to be

> honest I don't really understand this because every single person

> has their own interpretation of it is and what should be done about

> it.

>

> I just wanted to know if anyone finds that doing light work on

> weight machines helps or if they prefer water aerobics.

>

> Does heat or cold help you better with pain?

>

> Is it possible to be in pain that takes you to your knees on

Monday,

> Tuesday feel perfectly fine and not need one pill whatsoever but

> Wednesday feel worse than you did Monday?

>

> Do you try to stay away from Narcotic pain relievers? Or do you

feel

> they are necessary for your pain on bad days?

>

> Does chiropractic care help at all?

>

> It doesn't have to be your experience. I just want to know of

anyone

> because I'm curious. I understand everyone is different. I'm just

> reaching out for ideas and answers that might " help " I'm taking a

> break from looking fdor a miracle cure for a while :/

>

> Annie

>

[Guest guest]

Kathe,

Thank you for caring enough to write me a novel! I feel so loved. I

had to take a break but I came back and finished it. lol I did read

the whole thing! My sister in law said she would give me her used

lap top for when I have flares and can't get out of bed so I can

still keep up with what goes on around here.

My husband and I joined a gym and it helped (I thought) at first and

then it started to hurt and I found I could only get in the pool.

I'm still going because they have a sauna there with aromatherapy

that feels like ben gay all over my entire body and feels so good. I

find massage therapy makes me hurt worse to the point I can't get

out of bed.

I'm looking for methods other than drugs because number one I have a

hard time remembering to take them and number two I just don't like

taking them. I have had such a serious stomach ache it's unbearable.

Doesn't anyone else here get sick of taking all the pills?

Maybe I'm a big pansy belly acher because people here have suffered

for so long and here I am not even a year in to this mess and I'm

ready to give up, go to bed and just stay there for ever. Can you

tell I have started a flare? I'm going back to bed.

Hugs ands and positive thoughts to everybody!

Annie