Fibromyalgia - Does anything help relieve severe pain during flares?

I was diagnosed in 1996, and have been using Lyrica, Skelaxin- a mild muscle relaxer, Tylenol, Cymbalta, Lidocaine 5% pain patch for the 12 hours during the daytime. I also have always used a moist heating pad, and also two ide bags to sleep with on my neck wrapped in bags and towels at night. I did this for eight years and it really helped- this seemed to quiet the muscles that were having spasms. Also, if you have daily knots, I used a massage therapist for the first year who put his elbow into each know until it would disappear. They would be back the next day but this allowed me to go to the gym and workout. Later I discovered the medication I mentioned above.

I still use the above medications, the heating pad as needed but rarely use the ice now.

I have discovered “The zero-gravity lawn chair”……I discovered it while surfing for chairs that would be comfortable to sleep on at nite, when the Fibro gets to bad I end up on it……..Walmart sells them, they are grey metal with a nice pad….price tag was $250.00…but on sell for $99.00 bucks, got one….its wonderful and immediately ordered one for my son, just finishing up with radiation and chemo treatments….he loves it too. I ditched the lounge chair to the living room and now have the zero gravity at the foot of my bed for the nights when the bed doesn’t work….which is many…..hopefully they continue to have them on sale….Good Luck and God Bless all of us Fibro sufferers!!!!!!!

Thank you for that info. I have not heard of a zero-gravity chair. I will look into it.

Hi,
I have had infra red therapy its good for pain relief, muscle relaxation and improved my circulation, also I have dry cupping sessions which affects the deep tissue, that massage doesn't reach, and it relaxes my muscles, especially in my spine and shoulders where the pain can be at its worst, it reduces the symptoms and I get some uninterupted sleep.

Also acupuncture has worked for me, again pain relief, muscles relax, balances my body and makes me feel good. Hydro therapy, I understand some people struggle with exercise but of you don't keep mobile the pain will get worse. I do gentle stretches in and out of my bed, also, have epsom salts baths as the magnesium relaxes the muscles and soothes the pain and I'll put in a few drops of lavendar oil.

It can be hard work to start with but once you build some stratergies into your daily life they really can help, the days when I am really bad I get my son over to run me a bath with epsom salts, I have a bath chair lift and he stays in the house until I have finished to make sure I am safe and ok. But those baths really help relax my muscles and for my body get some sleep when my body has a flare up. Also how is everyone with heat? I have an electric blanket so that is great sometimes when I am having a flare up, I also get muscle spasms and cramps so my electric blanket is great to help relieve those symptoms.

I’m thankful they have medications to help me. At this point if I take my medication long term I can’t think about only the present. The gabapentin really helps me

1kay2, Thank you. I just saw your reply....sorry in being so late.

That's so interesting to me that you take 100 mg of antibiotic and get relief.

When I take antibiotic for a sinus infection, bronchitis, etc., my Fibromyalgia is better. IMO,
since antibiotic helps with infection & inflammation, it would only make sense to question if Fibromyalgia is an autoimmune inflammatory issue.

I would love to hear your comments please. Blessings & Prayers.

Does the gabapentin relieve pain? Could you share your starting dose and the dose that you take? Thanks.

It does help a lot I taking 300mg twice daily

Infrared therapy is fantastic, really worked well for me. It is just too expensive to continue.

Just getting through a flare myself. Because of the other issues I have a pain manager prescribes Lyrica and Oxycodone. Fibromyalgia has complicated the other issues I have and stress is the biggest problem. Getting enough exercise and sleep are vital…