I am a 19 year old , about to turn twenty female. I am a college student also. For about the past six months i have had constant pain all over my body. It feels like i need to stretch 24/ 7 to get rid of the muscle aches. At first the doctor thought it was my knees because they pull to the side in and out of the joint. But that isnt even what hurt me. The whole side of my leg from my butt to my ankle is one constant pain. I also have pain from my lower neck into my fingertips. My doctor told me i had this disorder and just said theres nothing to help you and that was that . I dont know what to do, what to help it with. We tried physical therapy and it did nothing. last nite i spend the whole night crying in my moms arms because i did not want to deal with this anymore, and im twenty years old but i wanted my mom haha. I feel like no one believes me (doctors) when i tell them my pain. Does anyone have any advice? sHOULD i ask my dr for medicine My mom has Fibromyalgia! She's in bed all of the time. She also has Rhuematoid Arthritis(or however you spell it), Elhers Danlos Syndrome and some other stuff.. All i can say is.. ask your doctor about a pain reliever like Morphine. Just don't abuse it. traditional medicine has very little to offer for this ailment -- alternative therapies fair far better with relief from the symptoms --however since therapy would be dependant on a fuller picture of what is wrong with u a complete evaluation by a good alternative doctor would be in order --no one therapy works for everyone I am not an expert on this condition. But I think some people who have it experience similar doubt from others like you are experiencing. That is common but don't give up.
I do have a friend that was diagnosed with a combo of Fibromyalgia and Lyme disease. She said exercise helps her a lot. She said if she goes several days without exercise the pains start to come back. On the hopeful side when she first got diagnosed she was experiencing a lot of pain. But now it is a minor thing for her the majority of the time. I hope the same for you My mom was just diagnosed as well. I found her this amazing drink called Xango, made from the fruit of the Mangosteen tree. It even helps other stuff, like allergies, arthritis, etc. You just drink between one and three ounces a day and it does help. My mom's doc put her on these really strong painkillers, and I don't want to upset you, but they hardly help her pain at all. I feel for you and your family; I wouldn't wish this on anyone I know. Did your doctor try water therapy? Like in a warm heated pool? That might help you as well. Yes, I have advice for you. There is a WONDERFUL doctor in Texas, named Dr. Donald Rhodes, who not only will believe you, but will help you. This man is amazing. He developed a machine designed specifically to treat pain. The treatments are non-invasive and do not require any pain medication at all. While morphine can help, it does not always do the trick, and it is possible to become dependent on it. Dr. Rhode's treatment is completely medication free. He has helped hundreds or possible thousands of patients who had tried every other possible type of pain management from physical therapy to surgery to morphine pumps. Patients have gone to his office in wheelchairs and, after finishing or getting close to finishing their treatment, have walked out. He has had patients fly in from all over the world after exhausing every other possible treatment option. I know that this may sound a little far fetched, but I speak from experience. While I was no where near in the same amount of pain as many of his patients, he sucessfully treated me for severe back pain several years ago and got me off of my 5 pain killers a day regimen I had been on. While being treated in his office, I met several other patients who were far worse off that I was. He helped every one of them. I was just amazed by what he can accomplish. Here is a link to a website that features a book about him. www.painbanishment.com.
A wish you good luck, and know there is a doctor out there who will believe you and who will help you. I also have recently been diagnosed with Fibro (I am 35 and had pain since I was a kid, but got worse to the point where I couldn't really get out of bed without excruciating pain after some bad emergency surgery experience).
Do not despair, your Doc is an uneducated idiot. Any good Dr. should recognize when they are unable to answer (and apparently unwilling to research) and be willing to send you to somebody who has at least has some of the answers.
Since he was unable to give you any information on Fibro, you should probably see a Rheumatologist (or some other Dr. that has a greater familiarity with the disease to properly diagnose you and make sure your Dr didn't miss anything).
I am not sure what kind of physical therapy he put you in, but weight bearing therapy will increase your pain not lessen it.
Aquatic exercise is generally recommended, along with yoga and any other non-weight bearing but stretchy exercises.
Contact your local Arthritis Foundation, they have information on local programs (thru the YMCA, physical therapy facilities or other health clubs) to help you decrease your pain and help you manage the illness. They may also be able to recommend a specialist for your condition. Trust me you are not alone, I went through a few Dr's in the last few years that do not "believe" in Fibromyalgia. I am currently seeing a Rheumatologist who has been giving me Gabapentin to help control the pain and help me sleep better (the more you and your Mom read the more you will connect the dots with things that have been symptoms for you outside of the pain). Honestly, I have been on it for 35 days and I am still very "dopey" on it for a good part of the time after I take my daily dose. I have decided that this is as long as I will put up with the side effects when the pain relief is only minimal. So I will be trying something new, don't be afraid to voice your opinion on meds, treatments, etc. Everybody is affected differently on meds, what works for one may not work for you. I wish you well and hope you get to feeling better soon. Take care. There are many things that can be done for fibromyalgia, but there is not one standard treatment. What is difficult about this disorder is that no one really fully understands the cause. Yet, the most current research methods lean towards levels of neurotransmitters. These are chemical messengers in our body that trigger many different reactions. We have many different neurological pathways in our body...for everything from our heart rate, to performing a movement, to sensing pain. It is this latter pathway that is of concern in people who have fibromyalgia.
Our pain response is neurologically controlled. We have a system that keeps us in a relative state of "normal" and one that alerts us to pain. Certain neurotransmitters and other chemicals regulate thesepathways. In fibromyalgia, you might lack a certain neurotransmitter that keeps us feeling "normal" or you may produce more of a neurotransmitter that triggers the pain response. Therefore, your pain response system becomes more easily triggered. It is a very chemically mediated process and is NOT "all in your head." (however, if you do have depression or anxiety, this will further worsen the condition and NEEDS to be addressed). Therefore, medications that regulate this process are often used...often these medications are anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications. Even in the absense of depression or anti-anxiety these medications are often helpful.
The suggestion about aquatic therapy is also a very good suggestion. Exercise is a natural way to mediate your neurotransmitter levels and the water is an excellent medium in which to work...it helps reduce the impact on your joints.
Your doctor obviously isn't comfortable treating FM, and it may benefit you to find someone who is willing to help you. HI. There is hope. I have been living with Fibromyalgia and chronic Lyme Disease for over 10 years. I had spent several years in bed, on the couch, and in recliners. I still live with pain constantly, yet I have learned to manage it. I will share this with you, alternative therapies gave me back my life.
What I have consistently found to be true for me is that nutrition, exercise, and rest are the difference between my being able to function or not. I have also experienced phenomenal results with acupuncture, massage, YOGA, EFT (emotional freedom techniques), emotional journey work, meditation, personal development and walking.
Using nutritional cleansing and replenishing products has not cured me, yet it has changed my life for the better in so many ways. I have better mental clarity, am more emotionally balanced, have renewed energy, sleep better, lost weight and just generally feel better. This in addition to yoga makes a difference. Yoga is helpful because it helps to stretch and relax the myofacial tissue which hardens and causes so much of the pain. Also, the breathing helps detoxify the body. If you can find a yoga studio that teaches a Somatic class, this will especially help.
Antidepressants are helpful also, and certain pain medications. However, if you could explore alternative therapies first, you may discover that you can manage your pain and symptoms without them. There are awesome herbal products that can be helpful in place of them, also.
Believe in yourself and be your advocate. If a doctor does not offer you help, move on. There are plenty of health practitioners who are knowledgeable in FM and treating pain effectively.
Good Luck. You can email if you wish to discuss further. Hi, kiddo.
Go to www.FibroFix.com All free site.
Nothing for sale.
Complete info on Symptoms, Testing, Diagnosis, Medications, Tricks and Tips and Treatment Method.
Read every word. Have your mom read it too and she can encourage you.
What's great is, you can feel better today.
Free help by email or phone - contact info on front page. You can call if you want to get a quick start.
Anne I have fibromyalgia and have found lots of things that have helped me to have a better life and less pain. I will list them for you:
A good doctor who knows how to treat fibromyalgia( mine is a rheumatologist).
Tramadol for pain. When I first started I needed 4 doses a day, with life style changes I rarely use more than two doses. Tramadol isn't for everyone, those who have had any type of seizures shouldn't take tramadol. It lowers seizure threshold. Tramadol doesn't get rid of all your pain, it simply takes the edge off of it. Since Fibromylagia is a central nervous system problem it is unrealistic to expect pain meds to make all your pain go away.
I have found the following dietary changes to be very helpful:
Avoiding foods with added sugar. Avoiding foods with any of the sweetners from the Aspartame family of sweeteners. Aspartame is a neurotoxin and in me it increases pain and has even made breathing difficult.
I eat basically fresh fruits and veggies, lean meat , low fat dairy and I drink mostly water.
Avoid foods with caffiene, including chocolate . I am extremely sensitive to caffiene. Most people with fibromyalgia are.
Give up drinking anything with carbonation in it. Sodas have no nutritional value and basically are cans of chemicals . There are lots of health reasons to avoid them.
I have to avoid foods with MSG in them, not only does it cause muscle pain but I get migraines from it. Lots of fibro patients have migraines.
One last thing about food. Food allergies can contribute to muscle pain. I found out my IBS type symptoms were actually from a wheat sensitivity.
Exercise of some sort is very important. If a person has been sedentary work up slowly to a level that doesnt drain all your energy. Walking is good, water work is very good and gentle stretching , like Yoga is good for us also.
I found a supplement called DRibose which is very helpful in about 69% of the patients who try it. I have the research studies and articles on my 360 page if you would like to read them. I also have links to places you can purchase it. DRibose helps on the cellular level. Its safe for most people , except those with diabetes, pregnant females and those with uric acid problems.
I also found that with fibromyalgia my body doesn't process anything the way it is supposed to so I need to supplement with the following supplements:
multiple vitamin
vitamin c for immune boosting
b-complex for the nervous system
magnesuim/calcium/zinc blend for muscle cramping and muscle pain
I also take elavil for sleep . Once you finally start getting deeper sleep your muscle pain should lessen.
We can lead fuller lives, fibromyalgia may change some of the things we can do but if a person is willing to make lifestyle changes they can have a fairly full life. Its just very important for us to take better care of our bodies than most people have to do. What others can tolerate , we can't.
I do advise you to find a good fibro doc who knows how to treat fibromyalgia.Below you will find directions on gettinga referral from FibroBetsy, please read the instructions and be patient . She has fibro also and may be having a bad day:
--------------------------------------...
When Asking For The Name Of A Care Giver:
*Keep the wording in your request short.
*Keep in mind that only Fibromyalgia Doctors are on this list, Not CMP/CFIDS ETC.
*If your city or town is small, please mention nearby bigger ones.
kindness@fibrobetsy.com
PS...You have gotten some really great advice from all of the posters. Im really proud of how fibro patients help one another. I think it's great that you have your mom there to offer support. I would recommend talking to your doctor about seeing a rheumatologist (a doctor that diagnoses and treats disorders of the joints and bones and other conditions like fibromyalgia). The consultation with a rheumatologist can be helpful.
In the mean time let the doctor know how much pain you are in because it really concerns you.
Please feel free to e-mail or IM me any time off site if you need to talk one on one. hmmmmmmmmmm
Dr Rhodes? id love to know more on this Dr. I have lived with this for 15 years. Have been on 23 meds at a time and sometimes lived like a zombie....i have 2 children i am trying to raise ages 8 and 10 and also have a 22 and 23 year old with a 2 and 4 year old . Its painful but i live each day in pain. I take my kids to their activities , swimming, dancing, auto racing, circus, street festivals, fireworks...museums, parks, and whip those pictures, but every picture comes back with my face stricten in PAIN!!!
Oh yes, i try, you betcha!!!
SO, hunii, dont give up hope, never give up , never never ....i have done physical therapy, been in the wheelchair, done the stretching, everything you can IMAGINE....
GODs grace is all that sees me thru.and HE can see you thru too.
Trigger point shots has helped me alot. and now they have me on that new depression med which is for easing pain...CYMBALTA!!! oh man.....try it!!! it works! Hey Gal,
I also have FMS and have had it for about 7 years now. Check out Men Surviving FMS for some detailed information. It's for men, but there are other links and the treatments and ecperiences are very similar between men and women that have this disorder. Be weary of any fix it all right now treatments. I can tell you that I don't know of anyone that has had this happen for them. I know hundreds that have this illness through support groups on the web, etc. MSN groups also has a great support group that has mostly women in it. It's called FMS Support. Check it out and most of all, educate yourself. You have to be your best advocate. SO many physicains have no clue how to treat this illness. Things that work for some don't work for others. That's why there's no "cure all." Best of luck. I hope that you get some answers through this and get to feeling better. I was Dx'ed at 27 yrs old and I thought that was young! http://www.fibromyalgiasource.com has lots of information about Fibromyalgia and may be able to provide you with some information. Hi,
Don't despair. There is help available to you. I just started a group for Fibromyalia sufferers on MSN Groups but I will send you the posting. Sorry it is so long.
I am helping people who have Fibromyalgia, including a good friend, and the results are amazing. She had pain in her joints, weakness, nausea every day, sleep difficulty, depression, anxiety, and felt like she had the flu all the time. She was too weak to go to her mailbox.
She has been using several of the oils for about three months and while she is not strong enough to return to work yet and she sometimes tires easily, she is out walking every day and feels much better. Fibromyalgia is a long term disease and it takes awhile for it to go away, but it can be treated effectively and without drugs. Yes, the treatment is all natural, no drugs with the devasting side effects!! You are too young to go through all of that. : )
Many doctors don't understand Fibromyalgia and they don't believe it is real. They think it is "all in your head" or you are stressed out. But the pain IS real. Again, don't despair. There is help.
With your symptoms, you would benefit from the following oils: Muscle Relax Wellness, Nerve (for nerve pain - the pain from your neck to your fingertips), Body Ache, and Joint Wellness for your joint pain.
Please contact me directly at natureswellness@verizon.net if you have any questions. I have a list of oils I can send as an attachment if you want it.
Thanks.
Wendy
Here's the post:
Fibromyalgia sufferers, there is a drug free, effective, natural way to manage your Fibromyalgia symptoms. Why be drugged out on expensive medications that ravage your body with negative side effects?
I am currently helping people overcome the devastating effects of Fibromyalgia with these topical oils and the results are amazing. This is not a quick fix or a cure all, but my clients feel much better and have seen marked improvement in their conditions. Just rub the oils into your skin and you are on your way to feeling better.
Joint pain, body weakness and nausea kept one client from doing the simplest tasks such as shopping for groceries and watering her flowerbed. She had lost her job, friends stopped calling, and family suddenly became "busy" whenever she needed help. She had to resort to walking with a cane just to navigate a few steps. She has been using several of the oils for three months and although she is not able to return to work full time yet, she feels much stronger and has the energy to take care of herself and is walking 1/2 mile a day, unassisted!!
Help yourself feel better and be well again!
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www.naturesinventory.com/wendyholmes
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Free shipping on orders over $35. I see a pain management doctor and a physical therapist. I don't like to take medication. I had to start with baby steps at physical therapy. But as I increased them I am improving. I am supposed to walk for only 10 min. Thats when I start having trouble, then gradually increase the time. I've had to walk to the library lately, were down to one vehicle. I didnt' think I'd make it the first couple of times. It been getting easier and easier. I finally rode my bike 30 blocks the other day. Same thing, started feeling it as soon as I left my place, but kept going. I think I'm even starting to lose weight now. But I dont' know if I will return to work or not. Keep at it. First of all if you have someone who tells you there is no help find another doctor.. The best medicine is yoga and meditation.Keeping the right attitude and eating right also helps.The kind of doctor you should be seeing is a rhuematologist or even a neurolgist may give you a diagnoise.You also may have a different condition but If it is fibromyalgia find a good support group.
Best books to read: Fibromyalgia advocate |
