Fibromyalgia - Does anything help relieve severe pain during flares?

Posted by ripley @ripley, Mar 7 11:16am

I was officially diagnosed with Fibro two years ago. I don't take any medications except for 5mg Flexeril (muscle relaxer) at night during flares, and some supplements recommended by my functional medicine Nurse Practitioner that don't seem to be helping. A hot bath before bed helps a little.
I'm now in the middle of a flare and in extreme pain all day. I try to stay busy to take my mind off it, but it's very hard to cope.
I'm very reluctant to go on meds such as Cymbalta, Lyrica or Gabapentin. I've read they often don't help and have bad withdrawal issues if you want to stop taking them. Most doctors don't offer much help except for offering drugs, with little knowledge about their effectiveness and side effects.
I'm looking for support or help with how to continue living with this. What works for others with Fibro to lessen the pain?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Fibromyalgia Support Group.

@1kay2

I've tried everything you tried and more. They all have bad reactions. Even my eyes going blurry. So I get 100mg of antibiotic (very old treatment) which helps and 4 - T3"s a day. God bless you.

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Hi, what antibiotic are you on? What are T-3's/

I was diagnosed recently and am in almost chronic lower body pain.

I have tried Meloxican, which did nothing and Gabapentin that made me feel like a zombie and did nothing to solve the problem.

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@zenalucy

Hi, what antibiotic are you on? What are T-3's/

I was diagnosed recently and am in almost chronic lower body pain.

I have tried Meloxican, which did nothing and Gabapentin that made me feel like a zombie and did nothing to solve the problem.

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Hi Zenalucy,
I am so sorry for your pain. I am on doxycycline 100mg daily, T3 is Tylenol with codeine.
That very old antibiotic recommended 30 years ago is all I can take with no side effects and still feel active although is some pain during the day.
God bless.

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@1kay2

Hi Zenalucy,
I am so sorry for your pain. I am on doxycycline 100mg daily, T3 is Tylenol with codeine.
That very old antibiotic recommended 30 years ago is all I can take with no side effects and still feel active although is some pain during the day.
God bless.

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Thank you for your response

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Hello everyone, I was finally diagnosed in 97 along with a type of Lupus, and other related conditions. I had a toxic pesticide exposure in 93-94, where a termite organophosphate was broadcast sprayed everywhere in my condo.
I used very powerful drugs for the Lupus, but for the fibro, I had a deep muscle massage every morning before work, with elbows putting pressure on the gristle type lumps- I would be loose for 24 hours. I also worked on with a trainer, which helped. I used and still use, Skelaxin, and Lyrica, and Cymbalta. They really do help, also one or two Lidocaine patches on the back during the day. I no longer work out daily or get those massages; the fibro is calmer now that I am older. You can use a moist heating pad for helping to relax your back and spine or when you really bad pain. Hope this helps...

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I can offer something on Lyrica withdrawal. I went off abruptly, twice. Once I ran out and second, pharmacy screwed up multiple times over a week. I started feeling sharp pains between my toes that felt exactly like a needle being injected. It would occur over and over every 30-60 seconds and continued for 1-2 days AFTER I resumed med. Also, on Dr's advice I upped my dosage from 100 per day to 200 per day and became confused. I'm still on 100Mg Lyrica but had to decide - pain or confused. Weaning off Lyrica would prevent any such effects.

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@zenalucy

Hi, what antibiotic are you on? What are T-3's/

I was diagnosed recently and am in almost chronic lower body pain.

I have tried Meloxican, which did nothing and Gabapentin that made me feel like a zombie and did nothing to solve the problem.

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Hi
I have fibromyalgia the only medication I can tolerate and helps is cyclobenzaprine for me a muscle relaxer. Also take 1 advil plus after breakfast , if I need something at dinner i take an tykenol arthritis.
Cymbalta was a nightmare to come off and so was Lyrica.

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@sue417

Hi
I have fibromyalgia the only medication I can tolerate and helps is cyclobenzaprine for me a muscle relaxer. Also take 1 advil plus after breakfast , if I need something at dinner i take an tykenol arthritis.
Cymbalta was a nightmare to come off and so was Lyrica.

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It sounds like Cymbalta and Lyrica didn't help you?

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@ripley

It sounds like Cymbalta and Lyrica didn't help you?

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Hi
The cymbalta I was on was after knee surgery for 1 yr it did work. My Dr wanted me off it. The Lyrica I couldn't function on.

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I also have fibromyalgia. I have had it for 30 years. I read a book that said, "remember 3 things, exercise, exercise, exercise." A lot of stretching also helps.

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@bennyjean

Hi. I feel so bad for all of you because after reading this, I realize that my fibro pain is minimal compared to others but it is still pain. A few things that help me. Some of them many of the group has tried and hasn't helped, but for me they help a lot. First of all, no one has mentioned chiropractic treatment. I have a wonderful chiropractor who understands how the spine affects everything in the body. I go for regular adjustments; however, when the fibro flares up, I will go three times a week. It's short, only in there 15 minutes total, the adjustment doesnt't hurt except for maybe a second and it makes me feel much better, but keep in mind it is a process. One must go regularly to achieve maximal benefits from it. Hot shower at night helps me plus Gabapentin, which I read some of you cannot take or doesn't help. Sometimes I beef up Gabapentin with couple Advil. It is frustrating and discouraging. And finding a physician who understands and wants to help is also difficult. I found a pain specialist in a city near me and he,, like the chiropractor understands and is quite helpful. He tried Lyrica on me and it messed up severely with my mental health after only two pills. Stopped it immediately and he put it in my medical record to never prescribe Lyrica for any reason. It caused me to become suicidal very quickly. It seemed to be odd to me, but some meds will do that. He told me that Gabapentin is the most effective, safe and widely used drug. It helps me only if I take it regularly like clockwork. If I miss a dose, my body tells me. A warm shower at night helps me sleep. Also relaxation techniques, such as meditation with soft music playing in the background, yoga because when one is in pain, the entire body tenses up and causes the pain to worsen. Relaxation helps relieve that tenseness and thus the pain. It is a horrible illness/syndrome. I am extremely blessed to have some good periods before a flare-up. Even though those good periods, I still have pain, it is not as intense and I can function better. I hope this helps. Many of you have tried some of these things, but hopefully, there would be something in this that someone could take that would help.

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This is a WONDERFUL example of a process that can keep pain lowered which may be why her’s is manageable most of the time. One note, though. If you have EHLERS DANLOS Hypermobility, some of these suggestions are bad for you. If you have any hyper mobility condition do NOT do yoga, go to a regular masseuse, or chiropractor. All of those things will dislocate your joints, at least partially, which why we are in constant pain. It’s so tempting, I know, but it will be worse the next day, not better.
But fantastic strictly fibromyalgia plan, @bennyjean ❣️

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