Fibromyalgia Medication and treatment

Hi Freedom,
How are you doing today?

@freedom05 - You are not alone!
Fibromyalgia seems to run in families at times. I have it as does my sister and our mother had it. In addition, my 2 daughters and son have it.
It appears to wax and wane through life.
One important factor I learned when my 2 youngest were evaluated is SLEEP. Fibro is also a sleep disorder. You may sleep for hours, but wake up unrefreshed. With poor sleep, the pain and other symptoms get worse.
The Rheumatologists prescribed a certain medication to help with sleep.
Physical activity is recommended- swimming is good. It doesn’t put so much stress on your joints.
You may look online for in-person support groups. Sometimes local hospitals have educational meetings.

Hello @freedom05 and @sundance. Forgive me for the dual response. I'm struck by each of you, and your struggles with chronic symptoms, such as pain and sleep disturbances, due to fibromyalgia.

Sundance, I read in your bio that "you never give up". I love that because neither do I.

Freedom05, you most definitely are not lazy, because anyone who consciously has concern for such, is typically not a lazy person.

A little about me...in my search for proper diagnosis of my chronic situations, I was Dr. hopping and swore fibro must be next on my list. The rheumatologist said that I had mirroring symptoms, but not actually fibro. A couple of years later, by process of elimination, and the failure of multiple treatments, meds, and tests, Central Sensitization Syndrome (CSS) became the answer.

Last October, I graduated Mayo Clinic's Pain Rehabilitation Center (PRC). It was life changing. What brought me there was that I refused to give up, like the both of you. I was fed up with opiates which increased my pain and symptoms, fed up with my body deconditioning, fed up with lack of sleep and my reclining chair being my bed for over 3 years, fed up with dependence on doctors to treat my chronic pain verses myself, and just plain fed up with not being present.

Did you know Mayo PRC treats a multitude of chronic pain issues, including fibromyalgia? I'm wondering if either of you folks might consider looking into this amazing program as an option?

Here is a link to learn more. You will find patient testimonials as well.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/pain-rehabilitation-center/sections/overview/ovc-20481691
I will be curious to know what you think. Do you mind getting back to me with any questions, comments, or concerns you may have?

In reply to @rwinney…..I have multiple chronic pain issues including fibro and was accepted into the PRC 3 week program two years ago but broke my foot and could not attend. My foot is finally to the point that I could probably resubmit a request. However, as part of my fibro diagnosis (done at Mayo) it was directed to follow up with a sleep specialist; which I did and was prescribed medication that I believe is heaven sent. The PRC program has already stated they would want me to discontinue at least, this medication. I’m not into lying and will not do this, so I don’t know if this program would be the right choice for me. Everything else about the program, as laid out to me, sounded very helpful and hopeful in assisting me in managing my chronic pain.

My wife suffers from fibrimialgia for the last 10 years. She was first having cimbalta and lyrica . But since 2018 she stopped the medications and takes cannabis oil C10T10 -a few drops 3 time a day. The result is unbelivable -much lesser pain and full night sleep. No side effects.

Wow. I had no idea. I cannot get any opiates period. The strongest sis Ultram which helps some. I don’t think my rheumatologist is much on treating fibro tbh.
I have 3 other autoimmune disorders with one being a new diagnosis this past Tuesday.
So it’s multiple specialists etc and going through the figuring out what’s happening.
I’ll check out the link above.

Great! I'll be curious to know your thoughts after checking it out.

Thank you for your reply. Well, dang! Of all the luck with a broken foot to deter you from getting to Mayo PRC.

I 100% encourage you to move forward with trying to go again. Please do not let your sleep medicine deter you from attending this program. PRC is voluntary, and is open to anyone who is willing, and has desire to make changes in order to progress in a healthy positive direction and take back control. What you take away from PRC is life changing and well worth the investment, but you've got to want it.

Here is a members post that I found helpful:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pain-rehabilitation-21da8b/
Are you willing to contact the front desk of PRC again? You are already in their system from your prior attempt to go, so you're that much closer.

Thanks for your input…I will give it some consideration but I do not want to discontinue my sleep medication; regardless of the other valuable insights I may gain from the program. If they are willing to accept me with this limitation, I would definitely be open to trying again. A call to discuss would be an idea.

You're welcome. I understand where you're coming from. lt never hurts to call, and PRC does a great job with communication. Good luck!