Entire spine hurts - Due to Fibromyalgia?

Posted by frustrated47 @frustrated47, Dec 5, 2018

Hi. I am a 47 year old female, diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2004. Now my entire spine hurts from scull to SI joints. I have 3 bulging disks cervical, 4 disks lumbar, 2 thorasic. My lower back feels like it's being crushed all the time. all the nerves in my legs hurt. I have muscle spasms, stiffness, joint pain, nerve pain, degenerative risk disease, and I can hardly walk. Sitting kills me!
Been on lyrica many years. I'm wondering if anyone out there is going through this with fibro. My doctors are saying all these symptoms are caused from fibro but I'm not convinced.

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

I have fibromylagia and have moderate to severe spinal pain from my neck to my low back, pain in multiple joints throughout my body that comes and goes depending on activity level. My treatment for FM is: massage from a therapist that is familiar with FM, aquatic exercise from an aquatic physical therapist familiar with FM and pain management, meds to help me sleep, low dose naltrexone, baclofen, lidocaine injections (monthly), cymbalta, pain meds/and or CBDs. My list of meds is long but it lets me play tennis, work at a physical job 15 hours per week (that is my choice and brings me joy), and take care of 12 year old at home. Meditation is a good way to relax naturally and gentle exercise, particularly slowly progressed aquatic therapeutic exercise are great ways to help relieve pain and release endorphins in our body that help us feel better.

REPLY
@leilanis

I have fibromylagia and have moderate to severe spinal pain from my neck to my low back, pain in multiple joints throughout my body that comes and goes depending on activity level. My treatment for FM is: massage from a therapist that is familiar with FM, aquatic exercise from an aquatic physical therapist familiar with FM and pain management, meds to help me sleep, low dose naltrexone, baclofen, lidocaine injections (monthly), cymbalta, pain meds/and or CBDs. My list of meds is long but it lets me play tennis, work at a physical job 15 hours per week (that is my choice and brings me joy), and take care of 12 year old at home. Meditation is a good way to relax naturally and gentle exercise, particularly slowly progressed aquatic therapeutic exercise are great ways to help relieve pain and release endorphins in our body that help us feel better.

Jump to this post

@leilanis where do you get your lidocane inj at ? Back or where?

REPLY

leilanis @leilanis - I'm wondering how long you've been taking naltrexone, and if you feel it helps not only fibro pain, but also the spinal pain as well? Do you have low-back or lumbar pain at all, possibly any that radiate to your sciatica? It has been suggested by the compounding pharmacist who has helped me with returning to Hormone Replacement Therapy (due to an increased incidence of UTs), that naltrexone could be helpful with both those conditions. Also, I'm not familiar with baclofen - is that an anti-inflammatory? I'm also interested, just as lioness @lioness indicates she is above, about where you receive your lidocaine injections? I have used the patches which are helpful, but my supplemental insurance for prescription medication does not cover the costs of these so I've been using over-the-counter 5% which are probably just as effective since the dosage appears to be the same.

REPLY
@suecreader

leilanis @leilanis - I'm wondering how long you've been taking naltrexone, and if you feel it helps not only fibro pain, but also the spinal pain as well? Do you have low-back or lumbar pain at all, possibly any that radiate to your sciatica? It has been suggested by the compounding pharmacist who has helped me with returning to Hormone Replacement Therapy (due to an increased incidence of UTs), that naltrexone could be helpful with both those conditions. Also, I'm not familiar with baclofen - is that an anti-inflammatory? I'm also interested, just as lioness @lioness indicates she is above, about where you receive your lidocaine injections? I have used the patches which are helpful, but my supplemental insurance for prescription medication does not cover the costs of these so I've been using over-the-counter 5% which are probably just as effective since the dosage appears to be the same.

Jump to this post

@suecreader Same for me INS. DOESN'T pay for the strength of patches so use the OTC and it really doesn't help me Today I'm having a flare nothing I've done is
helping

REPLY

I'm sorry you're having that kind of day -- it is hard to know then when it is important to keep moving (which it is) and how much of you and your body (and mind) needs the rest. It seems you know your body well, so hope you get just the right amount of movement and rest . . . . hard not to get depressed on days like today isn't it?

REPLY
@suecreader

I'm sorry you're having that kind of day -- it is hard to know then when it is important to keep moving (which it is) and how much of you and your body (and mind) needs the rest. It seems you know your body well, so hope you get just the right amount of movement and rest . . . . hard not to get depressed on days like today isn't it?

Jump to this post

@suecreader thanks yes I've tried all the tools plus my Tramadol didn't touch it so am going to get s hot shower usually makes me fill better but I,ve been on connect all day so haven't had time to get depressed lol

REPLY

I get lidocaine injections primarily in along my spine from neck all the way to low back, sometimes in piriformis (muscle in buttocks), upper trapezius. Lidocaine patches are also helpful for me when i have more localized pain.
Baclofen is an anti-seizure medicine and muscle relaxant.
I've been on low dose naloxone for almost a year. I think it does help; I am very active despite the FM. But I feel like i am able to do more without increasing my pain meds. You can get more information about naltrexone at: http://www.ldnscience.org. There has been more research showing that low does naltrexone is beneficial in the treatment of FM. It's not always covered by insurance but i am lucky that my ins covers it. Check with different compounding pharmacies; i found the one in my small town did not but then at another compounding pharmacy it was covered by my insurance.

REPLY
@leilanis

I get lidocaine injections primarily in along my spine from neck all the way to low back, sometimes in piriformis (muscle in buttocks), upper trapezius. Lidocaine patches are also helpful for me when i have more localized pain.
Baclofen is an anti-seizure medicine and muscle relaxant.
I've been on low dose naloxone for almost a year. I think it does help; I am very active despite the FM. But I feel like i am able to do more without increasing my pain meds. You can get more information about naltrexone at: http://www.ldnscience.org. There has been more research showing that low does naltrexone is beneficial in the treatment of FM. It's not always covered by insurance but i am lucky that my ins covers it. Check with different compounding pharmacies; i found the one in my small town did not but then at another compounding pharmacy it was covered by my insurance.

Jump to this post

@leilanis thanks I will look into it that's the class of meds most are for FM anti-seizure

REPLY
@leilanis

I have fibromylagia and have moderate to severe spinal pain from my neck to my low back, pain in multiple joints throughout my body that comes and goes depending on activity level. My treatment for FM is: massage from a therapist that is familiar with FM, aquatic exercise from an aquatic physical therapist familiar with FM and pain management, meds to help me sleep, low dose naltrexone, baclofen, lidocaine injections (monthly), cymbalta, pain meds/and or CBDs. My list of meds is long but it lets me play tennis, work at a physical job 15 hours per week (that is my choice and brings me joy), and take care of 12 year old at home. Meditation is a good way to relax naturally and gentle exercise, particularly slowly progressed aquatic therapeutic exercise are great ways to help relieve pain and release endorphins in our body that help us feel better.

Jump to this post

Pain meds are bad. I was diagnosed in 1984. I refuse to take pain meds and I have severe pain throughout body, 4 rare diseases, ms, seizures, loud not active,etc & sjogrens is my primary disease and 5 auto immune etc, serious illnesses. Falls galore, rods in legs at least 75 falls & broken bones just last 18 yrs, falling since 1980's What works for me is ibuprofen. My rheum. Said I can take 14 a day, most I have taken is 5. I did water aerobics for 17+ yrs. But because of injuries, and surgeon saying break ankle 3rd time, never walk again. So I have found all my life what works for me is bed rest. Because of severe pain in back I have to rest, and propping my head up I can go online to work. Rest is key. It controls the pain, eating healthy keeps inflammation away, and I take ibuprofen for everything. Sitting kills me because of back issues. Massage is too expensive. I used to get one once a week back when I had money. But there is another option. I have been going to a DO doctor, Dr of osteopathic medicine. Dr does gentle manipulations.Barely moves my arms and legs and all of a sudden I can move without pain Osteopathics believe in musculoskeletal system, your body's interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones. I really believe that this is the route for us, they work more closely than MD's with patients. Read up and you will see how they work with mind, body and spirit.

REPLY
@anniemaggie

Pain meds are bad. I was diagnosed in 1984. I refuse to take pain meds and I have severe pain throughout body, 4 rare diseases, ms, seizures, loud not active,etc & sjogrens is my primary disease and 5 auto immune etc, serious illnesses. Falls galore, rods in legs at least 75 falls & broken bones just last 18 yrs, falling since 1980's What works for me is ibuprofen. My rheum. Said I can take 14 a day, most I have taken is 5. I did water aerobics for 17+ yrs. But because of injuries, and surgeon saying break ankle 3rd time, never walk again. So I have found all my life what works for me is bed rest. Because of severe pain in back I have to rest, and propping my head up I can go online to work. Rest is key. It controls the pain, eating healthy keeps inflammation away, and I take ibuprofen for everything. Sitting kills me because of back issues. Massage is too expensive. I used to get one once a week back when I had money. But there is another option. I have been going to a DO doctor, Dr of osteopathic medicine. Dr does gentle manipulations.Barely moves my arms and legs and all of a sudden I can move without pain Osteopathics believe in musculoskeletal system, your body's interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones. I really believe that this is the route for us, they work more closely than MD's with patients. Read up and you will see how they work with mind, body and spirit.

Jump to this post

TY for sharing. Peace!

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.