Fibromyalgia - Does anything help relieve severe pain during flares?

AFR Sauna is wonderful. Thankfully you have access to one. I tried it, it helped a lot but I couldn't afford to continue.

I take Gabapentin, and have no side effects, or trouble, from it. I take Tylenol at the max, every day of my life for years. I take cyclobenzaprine (flexeril) 3 times a day, religiously. I've gone off the Flexeril a couple times because I just plain ran out while travelling for months all across the US. It's not withdrawal I am concerned about. My left leg literally twists up, and my foot turns in, from the pain and cramping, until I get another cyclobenzaprine prescription. I am eternally grateful that I can take it. The other choices didn't work for me, though they work for others sometimes. I was told to take magnesium to replace the flexeril, but my IBS couldn't take it. I'd spent all my time in the bathroom, which really doesn't work when travelling. It's not fun if you stay at home, either. But I've heard of magnesium gel, a topical, and that I do need to try out. As for Cymbalta, I've had this disease now since 1990. And it was misdiagnosed for decades. So, it's only in the last few weeks I'm trying Cymbalta. I discovered only after starting it that people say it's a pain to come back off of. Lots of drugs are hard to come back off of. Not least of all because of possible "withdrawal" symptoms. I had to go off of St. John's Wort to try out Cymbalta. That wasn't fun either. Not because of withdrawal, but because the St. John's helped with the natural feeling of hopelessness that we who are treated like this, have to fight off most days. I've had a year of hydrocodone twice during all those years. One year of Zanax. All of those were "a pain" to quit when the doctors exhausted their meager ideas to fight what I live with 24/7, ever since 1990. Withdrawal, if necessary to find solutions my doctors can live with, at the same time it works for me, is minor. I think the only time I'd be concerned is if going off something gave me seizures, or real dehydration. Perhaps you'd like the St John's Wort. I started it because there's evidence of a brain-gut connection and I was hoping it would help my GI tract. I can't take most antidepressants and it was risky in the first place for me to even try out Cymbalta. If it works, why would I ever want to go off it? To me, it's the same as some people's major injuries to spine, where they will be on an opioid the rest of their lives, and grateful for it.

Can you share what dose of Gabapentin and cyclobenzaprine you take every day? Thanks.

Sure. The Gabapentin is now at 600 mg, 3 times a day. However, I didn't begin that high. I was switching from Lyrica to the Gabapentin, at 300 mg, 3 times a day, originally. It was a Physiatrist who decided to increase it, and it helps a lot with my nerve pain. The Cyclobenzaprine has been the same since I started on it. I was switching from Tizanidine that literally made me fall asleep, even while walking! I take 10 mg Cyclobenzaprine, 3 times a day. I do think it tended to make me a bit sleepy originally. Not anymore. For me, it is way better than Tizanidine. They did try to switch me to Baclofen instead of the Flexeril, but that didn't work at all, for me.

I don't know if it is actually treating my fibromyalgia pain, or my osteoarthritis, or my epidural lipomatosis. But recently I was given a prescription for Meloxicam. It's what my foot surgeon called "old lady medicine." It's been around for ages. It's a prescription NSAID, which isn't normally used for fibromyalgia. When I take it, I almost have no pain at all. But my kidneys are now having trouble from being told to "Just take an Ibuprofen" or Advil, for decades, so I only get to take the Meloxicam 7.5 mg as a rescue med, maybe 1 or 2 pills a week. A relative of mine told me her friend does it that way too, so I asked. It's still great and so much better for me than the opioids no one gives me anyway. One of the first things it did was make me angry that it took 30 years for someone to even try me on it. My kidney doctor told me to get over that, and just move on forward.

I think my fibro pain is more muscle pain, not nerve pain. Does the Cyclobenzaprine help you with muscle pain? Also, I've read you shouldn't take this drug long-term, but I know others take it every day. Was this at your dr's recommendation? Right now I only take it a before bed, if needed. Thanks.

Yes, I'd say the cyclobenzaprine deals with muscle pain. At least, on me it does. I have muscle spasms. Also, lot of muscle pain comes from muscles being too tight, for whatever reason. Some people talk about muscle cramping. To me, that's the same thing as spasms. Maybe not, but I certainly have both. One problem I have is severe lordosis now in my lower lumbar spine. And of course, my whole left leg. A supposed scientific study was done about the use of cyclobenzaprine (I've read it, but can't find it again) just sounded like garbage to me. To be fairer, I think it was a study on the use of it for people with new injuries, not for those of us with what appears to be permanent literal spasms, constantly. Another term for that is spasticity. That study said there's no real reason to use it past the first 10 or 14 days, something like that. So, we sometimes get Pharmacists who forget there's whole huge segments of the population (like those born with cerebral palsy) that sometimes have to live with spastic (as in spasms) body parts. I wish I could find out what is being used for them. Those medicines might be useful for me, but it takes a whole visit just to ask my PCP to refer me to someone else, about that subject. Right now, I've got a relatively new one, and other major issues that I need to see specialists about (prominent epidural lipomatosis, avascular necrosis in both hips, etc). When there are also other important physical problems, it's really not appropriate to take away a medication that's dealing well with a problem. Who knows? Maybe when my spine is dealt with properly, the spasms might go away. Something caused it in the first place. It's not like I've ever asked for the cyclobenzaprine to be increased. If I get a doctor that gets in my face about the cyclobenzaprine, I dump them and go find a new one. Life's too short to be treated like a drug that's not even labelled a "controlled" substance is addictive. If it was, they'd have classified it so. If that convenient non-basis of putting down their own patients was true, some of them would go to the trouble of getting it classified as a Controlled Substance. Otherwise, I just consider it to be harmful gossip. I've not found it hard to stop taking Cyclobenzaprine. What is hard to deal with is my whole left leg and hip in contracture 24/7, which is why I started taking it in the first place.

Yes! I have just begun to use an soft, fuzzy electric throw and it is so warm and cozy. It helps reduce some of the pain and psychologically cuddling up with a soft warm blanket makes me "feel" more relaxed and comfortable.
Someone in this group had suggested it. Also, some gyms have IFR (infra red) Saunas. Medicare Advantage Plans cover gym basic memberships. I have to pay a monthly amount above that to have access to the IFR Sauna, pool and hot yoga classes. I am trying everything to try to make this winter a lot less painful as in the past.
I am grateful to all who sent the message to "keep warm".
I thank everyone for their input. Many blessings.

I hear you. I would rather spend my money elsewhere. I do not know your age, but if you are a senior, your Advantage Health Insurance does include a basic gym membership.
I pay a monthly amount over their coverage to have access to the IFR Sauna and Hot Yoga classes and more. I am willing to do without something else in order to feel better. Honestly, it has been really difficult these past winters. I am looking for other resources to help offset the cost of full access to the gym.
I hope you can find a way so you can continue your membership especially during the winter months.
Wishing you the best and many blessings.

I am using malic acid (600mg). I used it years ago with much relief. I read it also helped sojurens. I have been back on it for a week and it is helping. Has anyone else had relief with it?