Fibromyalgia

[Marie0]

Hi ladies - just some ideas if anyone here suffers from fibromyalgia?

My DH suffers from fibromyalgia and is in constant pain which he manages with ibuprofen and paracetamol.

Sometimes different parts of his body ‘flare up’ and are particularly painful- for him these seem to be his neck area and calf muscles.

We are away for the weekend and enjoy walking and unfortunately the soles of his feet are in agony. Poor thing has been placing his feet on freezer blocks to try and ease them.

Anyway - just wondered for when we get home if anyone had tried any different treatments which made a difference?

He currently has weekly massages (mainly on his problem areas), which does provide some relief but only for a day or two.

He’s got a yoga mat and is looking into yoga at home - (too self conscious to go out to a yoga class), and in the past has tried physio therapy.

Was thinking of maybe trying acupuncture- anyone else try this? Also any herbal remedies anyone recommend?

Many thanks if you have any ideas

I have fibromyalgia and wish my partner was as lovely as you are.
Joint care capsules and extra vit d really help as done volterol gel .

Aw thank you hey Jude - that just jogged my memory- he actually had a vitamin D deficiency a while back and started taking supplements which he probably has forgotten all about now so I’ll get him some of those on Monday- thank you 🙏

My 37 yr old son has the same condition, and the soles of his feet get terribly painful. His doctor prescribed CoCodamol, (a higher strength than the ones available over the counter), and suggested my son go for Physiotherapy (he's on a waiting list).

Thank you - his footwear are very comfy Merrill trainers with insoles and we also have cocodamol but he feels a bit sick with these.

Guaifenesin and low-dose naltrexone both worked for me but they're pricey (and a bit quacky) and you'd need to read up about them.

Omega oil help a bit with joints. Yes to rub on iberprofen (Morrison's own brand is good!)

It's unpopular but try to treat the symptoms. So for me and painful feet I went to a podiatrist - they gave insoles that help a bit. I get pressure gloves for my hands. If you can't fix the problem improve what you can. You do have to push your doctor a bit by saying I want xxx eased so they focus.

Longer term amitrypteline (can't spell!) Does help.

I was at a talk recently about neuroscience, mainly focusing on epilepsy but a few audience members asked questions about a new fibromyalgia therapy where people are taught to retrain their brain to cope with pain better. At the time I thought it sounded a bit mumbo jumbo but when I spoke to a friend with fibro she says it's real and does make a difference. Might be worth looking into?

Kitkatsy - that’s interesting about retraining the brain - he quite often laughs and says it’s all in my mind - in between the yelps of pain between his steps

I have fibromyalgia. Warmth rather than cold is best. Hot baths with either magnesium flakes or Epsom salts every day really helps. I take Naproxen rather than Ibuprofen as it's a stronger med.

Thanks

I just suggested the hot bath idea and he said he was afraid he might not be able to get out again! I’ll try and persuade him, as I agree heat is really good for pain rather than coldness.

I find eating a lot before cocodamol prevents the sickness feeling, you can also have patches of certain types of pain relief which could be of help. He needs to speak to his GP as finding the correct pain management for fibro can be a lot of trial and error due to so many different symptoms falling under the fibro umbrella. My mum has it, but with a good doctors help it's a lot more manageable. She has amitriptyline as PP mentioned and that helps her alot too. I hope he finds some ease soon, and flowers to you because it can get difficult at times seeing someone you love in so much pain. X

I think your husband should look into taking a magnesium supplement. There is a link between fibromyalgia and low magnesium. One tablet a day changed my friend's life and she suffered from fibromyalgia.

Forgot to say, once I'm in the bath I really don't want to get out but it sets me up for the day.

Acupuncture can help a lot but you have to be careful. I became over sensitive to it (it hurt too much). The physios trained my husband how to do it as they could only offer a short course.

Watching with interest. Also have Fibro and ME and yet to find much that helps !

Thank you - unfortunately he’s tried amitryptoline and it didn’t agree with him it really ‘spaced him out’. Will look into magnesium supplements tho 👍🏻

Lurking with interest. Real pain issues and the GP shrugged and said it “might be” fibromyalgia.

I have fibro. I was diagnosed 2 weeks ago. I use gel eye masks that you can either heat in the microwave or put in the fridge. I put one that is cold on my forehead when I have a headache (not over my eyes as the mask) and have tried it on the back of my neck too. I only just bought some this week and they do help. Also try putting his feet in a bowl of warm water. That seems to help more than cold.
I bought several of the gel packs so that I could keep some in the fridge, here is a link to the eBay shop I got them from www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Blepharitis-Eye-Mask-Innovative-Design-To-Relieve-Blepharitis-Dry-Eyes-2-pairs/132330082468?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
You could use them anywhere on your body.
I also have a wheat pack that I use on my knees and hips that I put in the microwave.
Experiment with both and see if it helps
I also have cocodamol and don’t take them on an empty stomach because they make me feel sick
Hope that helps

I have a hot bath with Epsom salts every evening without fail. sometimes I'm in there for two hours but it helps. I'm also on cocodamol, naproxen, and clonazepam as a muscle relaxant among other things. Lidocaine patches for surface pain (burning, pins and needles). Trigger point injections every six months along my shoulders and spine. And a TENS machine I bought on Amazon for localised pain, which may help his feet. You may need to experiment with where to put the contacts to get the flow in the right place but I gradually increase the strength as much as I can stand then run a 30 minute cycle and it overloads the pain receptors, the relief when it switches itself off is incredible.

Lots of great ideas here, hadn’t heard of the Lidocaine patches are they over the counter or prescription only?

We have a wheat cushion - but it’s quite old now so maybe I’ll look into replacing it - can’t remember where I got it from!

Will get the eye patches - coincidentally he has also suffered blepharitus in the past but doesn’t seem to flare up as much now as he avoids air conditioning and driving

I had to go through several types before I settled on amitrypteline. Lots of trial and error.

I was taken off naproxen recently as it can lead to stomach ulcers. 😭

Oh dear - stomach ulcers - that's a bit serious :(

My doc gave me ibuprofen and omniprazole to protect my stomach. Apparently ibuprofen can cause stomach problems too.
They didn’t help with the pain
How are hubby’s feet today?

Thanks Dodie, he also has omniprozole on prescription- he’s relaxing a bit more today as we’re home now so the feet are not as bad x