Anyone out ther have any answers on fibromyalgia and chronic pain and how to get by on a daily basis?
I have fibromyalgia and chronic pain, am wondering about meditation techniques or any other techniqeus that help one deal with it on a regular basis, just the pain aspects, I have the whole, pain medication under control, but would like a more wholistic approach.
Public Comments
1. you will be surprised to know that fibromyalgia is not any kind of medical condition. for a long time people was going to the doctor with complaints of pains and hurting, well the doctors couldn't find anything wrong with any of them. after years of this, they just named all of this pain fibromyalgia, honestly fibromyalgia is just a medical name of pains that people have in their heads, like, the more you think you are in pain, the more you will really feel the pain. what i have said is nothing against your question, i just wanted to tell you the true meaning of this. best of wishes with this2. peakcox, are you on drugs? honestly typical american doctor!
try eating from the earth. the more complex the food is that you take into your body the more complex it is for your body to digest. our bodies were not meant for eating out of a box or out of plastic.
no complex cabs. ( white bread is the worst) no prepackaged food. shop around the outside isles at the grocery store. try this for a week or so. when you start feeling better, your body will tell you what you can and can't eat. what can it hurt? you'll be eating healthy.
3. I keep hearing that cherry juice is wonderful for fibromyalgia, but I hate even the smell of cherries so I have not tried it myself. It even talks about it on the label of the bottles. You can buy it in the freezer departments in most bigger grocery stores
4. (I hope I never have a doctor like peakcox!!!!!)
The pain is in your head, and in your ribs, and in your legs and in your arms, it is everywhere. Imagine waking up each morning feeling like you have the flu, or that you lifted cement blocks all night long.
Pain is a warning sign. The thing is not to feel morally weak because you have pain and ignore it. Get a thorough medical checkup to rule out disease, see a rheumatologist, and once you are certain there isn't some other disease process going on, stay away from MDs--they just don't Get It.
One thing I learned as an RN is that YOU cannot know what another person's pain is other than by their description (unless they are grimacing and moaning when unresponsive). Pain is very subjective, and the way it is perceived is what is real.
Attitudes like those of peakcox are the reason pain is so misunderstood and undertreated in this country. Yes, there are non-pharmaceutical answers to pain: meditation/relaxation/visualization; heat and/or cold; nutrition; exercise; stretching; rest; management of emotions and stress (therapy/antidepressants/friends). Jacob Teitelbaum seems to have a good handle on it. You just have to find what works for you.
5. apparantly peakcox isnt paying attention in class...You are going to be an awful doctor.If I knew how id report you. Fibromyalgia is a real disease. To check to see if someone has this, There are pressure points which a DOCTOR would know to tell if someone has this. Its not in your head,dont listen to that quack. My mother has polymialgia,its kinda like fibro...She is on Morphine patches to help ease her pain. Her doctor says its like your body is eating up your muscles...Try water therapy...
6. I have had fibro for twenty years now and I can tell you from my personal experience, pain medications do not work. I have tried everything up to Fentynl patches with Actiq suckers. The amount of pain medication that I require is too toxic to my system. After being on pain meds my liver function was consistent with Hepatitis induced from drugs, I had Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, rotting teeth, and terrible bowel problems from the pain meds shutting down my gut. I awoke one day with paramedics looking over me with my husband. I had come out of a seizure (which I'd never had before) and a temp of 107.5. Scary. Moral of the story, pain medication is not effective in Fibro pain treatment because if increasing resistance to the medication it builds up to toxic levels. You are really better off taking a good muscle relaxant (I am on Zanaflex)
As far as insomnia, first have a Sleep Study performed. Mine was ordered by a Neurologist This will tell you what is happening when and if you sleep. For instance I found out that I had three types of insomnia: chronic, initial (can't fall asleep), and maintenance can't stay asleep). I also get no REM sleep which explains the extreme fatigue. You can then work with your doctor to address your problems.
The fibro fog can be from medication side effects &/or the bodies concentration on the pain signals it is constantly receiving. I believe the fog is a combination of both and it is genuine. Sometimes I can't find words to say that I speak all the time. Or I forget things a lot. My computer calendar has helped tremendously. A study was performed to explain why we feel so much pain. You can find it at http://www.fibrohugs.com/article.php?story=20040301120311535
The increased pain response kicks our bodies into the "fight or flight response". Medscape explains that pain alerts the central nervous system to the presence of a major stressor to the body; one that demands a response. Pain experiences are typically accompanied by systemic responses similar to those that characterize the "fight or flight" dynamic. These responses are caused by the involuntary release of norepinephrine and adrenaline, which causes increased mental alertness, muscle tone, respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels. Facilitated clotting factor, shunting of blood from the viscera to skeletal muscles, increased visual acuity, and sweating also occur when catecholamines are released. The "flight or fight" response, although clearly beneficial to the endangered organism, can be a threat to the individual with chronic pain. Further, the level of high acuity and anxiety commonly associated with the "flight or fight" response is often caused by the anticipation of a painful event rather than the actual "experience" of one.
Try taking warm baths in Epson Salt. It contains Magnesium Magnesium allows oxygen into your muscles, reducing cramping and spasms. Consult your doctor or a nutritionist to have your Magnesuim level checked- it is a simpe mouth swab and not painful. If you have a low level, which most people with Fibro do have, take Magnesium and Malic Acid supplements. There are a few studies listed below that explain the rationale of using the combination in treatment of Fibro.
Try eliminating Monsodium Glutamate from your diet. I did and some of my symptoms (chronic headaches and nausea) went away. It is in everything from Doritos to chicken soup. A few key finding's of an FDA study found MSG to cause a "burning sensation in the back of the neck, forearms and chest".
If you need adjustments try to see a D.O. that is familiar with Firbro instead of a chiropractor. In my opinion Chiropractors tend to be a little more violent in their adjustments and can cause more pain in your soft tissue. D.O.s do a more passive adjustment.
Before you exercise make sure you really stretch out and breathe deeply (remember the goal is to get oxygen into your muscles to reduce cramping and spasms. I have found begineer Pilates DVDs to be helpful in guiding me. It also improves your abdominal muscles which takes strain off of your back.
I cannot honestly say that I am 100% myself and realize that I will never be, however, since giving up the narcotic prescriptions I have recovered at least 60%. I have good days and bad days still but the good days are coming more often.
Good luck and hope I helped!
