Fibromyalgia and autonomic peripheral neuropathy

So sorry for your illnesses. I was diagnosed with fibro in 1990 and finally became disable to work in 2005. I live in chronic pain everyday and I don't know how much longer I can do this. So sick of taking meds and pain pills! Please pray for me!

Hi @mikee,

You are right: autoimmune diseases do affect gland in the endocrine system. There is a great article (about the conditions being related) from the National Institutes for Health (NIH), which you can read here: http://bit.ly/2gPuhQh

I'd also like to introduce you to @bobsconnect, @jigglejaws94, @oldkarl, @johnnyzee3, @tbeckys, @kathyzendner, @mojoearle who have all discussed some form of neuropathy, and can provide some insight.

@mikee, do you have a family history of autoimmune disease? How are you managing your pain?

Hello @inpain55,

Fibromyalgia can be so debilitating; I'm sorry that you are experiencing such pain.
We have many existing and new members who talk about fibromyalgia. You may want to participate in the very active discussion about it, here: http://mayocl.in/2effi2l.

Allow me to also introduce you to @wandamiller, @blindeyepug, @persist, @rhondami, @aztec7557, @sandytoes14; I hope they will be able to provide some more information and suggestions.

@inpain55, besides medication, have you tried other alternative therapies?

Hi inpain. You are not alone. I had to stop working after 30 years due to the pain and fatigue. I was diagnosed in 2008 with RA, psoriatic arthritis no fibromyalgia in 2008. It was a slow and painful end to my career. I will pray for you too. I recently went through a series of Behaviorial Cognitive Therapy and it is helping me to cope and accept my situation better. Additionally I am now starting to activate (on good or less than bad days) myself by getting out a bit more and forcing myself to socialize a bit again. Baby steps though. I hope you find relief soon.

Inpain, chronic pain isn't something to give up on yourself for. After 15 back and neck fusions, I've been in pain for many years. I've got the longest butt crack in the world. I'm on many medications.

I was a drug and alcohol abuse counselor, treatment director and inpatient and outpatient Executive Director. I am careful with all medications and use as prescribed. It's useful to try to accept our conditions and not fight the pain. Stress makes you feel worse. Relaxing into the pain not letting it absorb you can be helpful. Do what you can each day but don't go beyond your tolerance. Be glad for having done something.

New here,

I understand, have fibro, Psoriatic arthritis, recently Lupus, and sjorgnes (sp?). Its difficult but your right, baby steps are good. Trying to do too much always hurts us worse. Its difficult saying i cant go, but im getting usef to it. I also had to stop working ini 2000. Now have it spreading to my abdomen and think my lungs so its overwhelming.

Best wishes today is a goid day for all.julie

mikee and Jewel8888, yes, these are tough nuts to crack, and getting legitimate treatment is very difficult for any of them. I have Sjogrens, Sicca, peripheral neuropathy, spinal stenosis, ankyloising spondilitis, cancer in lots of places, lots of wasted effort, more surgery and chemo coming, and a bunch of other stuff. Getting a diagnosis is just awful and usually quite expensive, and in the case of amyloidosis, there is no treatment at this time on which you can depend. But there are some things which help. Stay as close as you can to someone who really loves you. Cut back of meds as much as you can. If you find a doc who you truly think is helping you, stay close. Don't be afraid to die, and don't be afraid to live.

My late wife said I could be active 1 day if I rested 2 after. It's a shame you picture yourself doing things the way you could before and find out you can't move that way anymore.

I don't know about family history. My mother was a raging alcoholic and my father a stepfather. I manage pain with a variety of medications including gabapentin, Baclafen and acetaminophen. When I can get it, I prefer minimum doses of morphine. I've found it to be an effective medication for me. The oxys-- oxycodone, oxycontn and synthetic codeine medications. Tramadol was also ineffective.

I've had medical marijuana to be unpredictable and expensive. By unpredictable, I mean it's difficult to control dosage or function well efficiently on it.

I've developed a high tolerance for pain but have an innate high tolerance to most medications. Anytime I see a new doctor, it takes too long get him/her to recognize this to be true.

Sorry you are in such pain. What I found to work for my Peripheral Neuropathy is Medical Marijuana. Not the mail-order crap with little or no actual Canabis, but the good stuff found in states where Medical Marijuana is sold. The stuff you buy off the street illegally contains varying amounts of the actual good stuff so, the effects will vary as well.