Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

INTRODUCTION: I'm Jeanne, 78 yrs old with Fibromyalgia, Encapsulated Rt. shoulder, and DJD shoulder/hip/lower back pain (inflammation & soreness). The Fibromyalgia has been with me for most of this decade, the other conditions presenting since 1992. My actions to reduce/treat the orthopedic pain has been to lose 70 pounds 8 years ago, which eased fatigue and lessened ROM struggles, but brought on weakened leg muscles due to insufficient diet protein and causing ambulation problems. I take Rx Hydrocodone 5 mg-Acetaminophen-325 MG for pain which give enough pain relief for 3-4 hours daily to get chores completed, otherwise I'm not pain-free and miserable. A hot pad and bed rest are frequent treatments. And I'm just starting to wear a Quell pain relief brace. I have not asked my doctor about Lyrica Rx---the side effects sound daunting, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRIED IT.

I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM OTHER FIBROMYALGIA SUFFERERS IN PARTICULAR and learn about their remedies for pain, inflammation, and soreness.

@jeannegordon4

I took Lyrica for just a few weeks, and it was starting to help with my neuropathy pain. Unfortunately, the side effects put me in the hospital. Incoherent, memory loss, signs of stroke and others that I don't remember. I wish I could have taken it. Pain control is a huge challenge. I finally had a spinal cord stimulator implant and the pain in my feet has improved significantly. Morphine and meloxicam and.sometimes oxycodone and muscle relaxers are added to the mix. Finding what works is very much an individual process. I'm restricted by the fact that I had peptic ulcers in the past - NSAIDs are off limits, though I take some anyway and choose to live with the consequences. It would be great if Lyrica works for you.

Jim

Hello @jeannegordon4,

Welcome to Connect. Thank you for reaching out to the community, and sharing your history. I encourage you to go through these discussions about fibromyalgia:
– fibromyalgia pain https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/fibromyalgia-pain-28e002/ started by @clownscrytoo
– https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinics-fibromyalgia-clinic/ where you will meet @pheefoe @angsmith124 @nancywandamoore @1langla @edriaragosin and others who have shared their experiences with fibromyalgia.

You may also be interested in joining these conversations started Mentors @kdubois and @sandytoes14, respectively:
– Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia – alternatives to medications? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chronic-pain-and-fibromyalgia-alternatives-to-medications/bookmark/
– What Distracts You From the Pain?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-distracts-you-from-the-pain/

@jeannegordon4, could you tell us a bit more about the Quell pain relief brace?

Hi @jeannegordon4, I also suffer from fibromyalgia but I cannot take any pain medications because genetically, I don't properly metabolize them which makes them not work for me.

Therefore, I do a couple of things to help with my fibromyalgia pain...

• Like you have listed above... heat. Staying warm reduces my pain, so I wear layers and also take hot showers frequently.
• Upon waking in the morning, I stretch while still laying in bed. My primary care physician suggested this, and I was surprised how much better something so simple makes me feel.
• Acupuncture! I was skeptical, but a year ago, my PCP finally got me to go to a provider that he knew had succeeded with many people he personally knows. I remain stunned that I can go to an appointment with a level 8/10 pain and leave two hours later with a level 3/10 pain. It doesn't relieve all of my pain, but it does reduce it. When I first started going, I had to go once each week, and sometimes I get up to three weeks in between. In the winter, it's down to one-to-two weeks because the cold weather makes me hurt more.
• Massage also helps, but I don't see anyone. I just mostly have my husband rub my legs and arms.

Hi to all of you fibro folks or anyone else. Still endeavoring to find a distraction from the pain. One thing acting up causes a chain reaction. In one of my deep in the vortex funks physically and mentally. So many things I know how to do, want to do and the body does not want to listen to my brain. Think kicking a can would help?

@parus Yes, kicking a can probably would help, especially if your cares were in it and you could just kick it on down the road. I, too, have a lot of pain, both emotional and physical. The physical is the worst, right now. Especially when I get the electric shock from my nerve short, or my heart or dyspnea or arthritis starts really acting up. The emotional pain is at its worst when I forget where I am or what I am doing. But that is also a relief. Thankfully I do not have to look forward to living another hundred years like this. old karl

I,be had fibro for ever it seems ,since the 90,s Magnesium is the key to take.For me Fibro Malic has worked wonders for me , Epsom salts Can't get out of fun so use a washcloth on thighs ,for depression I use St.John wort I don't do prescription as it never helped all that much Hot shower,s help ,ice bag I have restless leg so take Maripax Dr. Prescription.Light exercise but don't set all day that makes it worse.
Aerobic exercise in warm water ,that's hard to fine a pool with this Tumeric for inflammation ,also it drives toxins out of body.That's it. Stay away from hot,spicy ,tried foods. good luck Lioness

Tumeric and ginger will help get rid of inflammation and toxins in body

Hi I'm Lioness 75 hrs young I am a retired nurse and have had fibromyalgia ,triple by pass for hrs ,since the 90,s Magnesium has been a God send for me I have posted below to some people with fibro

Lioness, I'm REALLY suffering with Fibromyalgia pain which opioids only relieve temporarily and not completely per the low dose I stick to. Your post mentioned MAGNESIUM---Does it help the soreness or burning sensation? Or did you mention it helping a different condition entirely ?