@kristacat Let me begin by welcoming you to Mayo Connect! I'm so glad you joined us! The pain from bursitis in the hip sounds so very painful. Are your doctors treating the inflammation? I also have fibromyalgia although I have a good deal of symptoms that go along with it than you experience. I believe the tiredness you are feeling is from fibro What I do is have a vitamin panel run with all of my blood work orders that my doctor puts in for me. Many people find taking B complex vitamin, calcium with magnesium and a multi-vitamin help ease the fatigue, @kristacat I wonder if you have seen a rheumatologist? Can you please share with us what you are doing at this time to manage your chronic pain?

Thank you so much all for your valuable replies. Sounds like a trip to a rheumatologist would be a good idea with looking at these replies. Currently, I take low levels of gabapentin (100mg per day). I am not really taking anything for inflammation. I just bought some MSM powder - my friend has back problems and he swears by this- he advised me to take it 2x a day for inflammation. For anyone else with inflammatory problems reading this - it’s worth a try and has good reviews online. For the tiredness, I have taken B vitamins for sometime now which really does help. I take iron for the fibroid blood loss. I just started on the magnesium a couple of weeks ago so I am yet to see whether this has an effect. Sometimes I try ginseng and I think it can help a little. I try and keep things as natural as possible - I am scared to become addicted to chemical painkillers. Any more ideas welcomed 🙂

@kristacat I too welcome you to Mayo Connect. As a Volunteer Mentor, I am not a medical professional and can offer only my experience and support to members. I am so sorry to hear of your pain at a comparatively young age. I am nearly 70, so I accept a certain amount of pain at this age.

When I was your age, I had what my doctor said was bursitis in my hips. My pain was terrible and often I felt like my legs were dragging. He gave me shots (cortisone?) at the time and they helped a little. I kept going anyway. I didn't have X rays, CT scan, or MRI at that point. It wasn't until I was in my 60's and the pain put me in bed and a wheelchair that I finally got an MRI at the urging of my doctors. I'd had a bad car accident when I was 35, where they used the jaws of life to remove me from the car. I'm sure I injured my back then, but nothing was done at the time. My MRI revealed multiple lumbar problems and a compression fracture of my C7. I ended up 1.5 years ago having a laminectomy for my L5-S1 disk that was impinging on my spinal cord. It ended my right side pain. If you look above this post about 3 posts, I have given more details about what I did for my other side pain.

-Have you had X rays or an MRI of your spine? If so, what did they find?
-Are you seeing a spine specialist? Mine was excellent, and not surger-happy.
-If you haven't already been seen and had an MRI, I recommend starting that process.

Your doctor who diagnosed you with bursitis is taking the most conservative track, which is a good thing. However, as with mine, if he is wrong, more damage can be done by you without knowing it. You are so young that it's important for you to have the correct diagnosis to take the right corrective action. A second opinion is a reasonable action right now.

I also recommend CBD and/or THC (marijuana) oil taken sublingually for pain, rather than addictive pain medications. I took Tramadol 50 mg 4 times a day for over a year, and Gabapentin 350 mg 2 times a day for 4 months and had to withdraw from both. It wasn't easy (CBD helped me withdraw) so I recommend not starting if you are in a state where marijuana is legal. I recommend getting a medical marijuana prescription. My pain doctor said he can no longer prescribe for me because marijuana is still not Federally legal. That's OK by me as what I take in CBD now works for me. I did do the ART treatments I discussed above first.

I can't speak to your fibromyalgia as I'm fortunate not to have that diagnosis. I do take a multivitamin twice a day, as well as calcium citrate, and a bone support formula daily. I have good energy, which is even better when I get enough exercise. It's had to get exercise, even walking, when you're in pain I know.

I'm glad you are part of this community and I hope you find ideas and support here that let you know you're not alone.

Gail
Volunteer Mentor

Oh my gosh Gail when I had my L2fracture I aS put in the turtle shell brace for 3months then 6months aerobic exercises with P.T.yes at this time I was on 6Tramadol but since 2005 the Dr started tapering me of now I take 1Tramadol @Meloxicam I now use a brace when I walk alot but L5@S1fused together ,and a bulging disc it's not fun is it Im 75 with the fibro I just use Epsom salts and Magnesium pills tried all meds weren't good,so I do usual plus rest.

Don't worry you won't get addicted to pain meds. You cannot get them. The gabapentin is a great pain me but I can fall asleep while talking, just from that drug

My back surgeon asked me ...do you want to walk,? Back brace was ordered..then another doctor insisted the concrete will let me walk no back brace. It worked. But I will have pain forever.even in bed I hurt. All I can get is tramadol. 50 mg. Doctor told to take two. But now I hear I may have trouble coming off them.

What strength gabapentin do you take? I take three capsules every morning for my neuropathy, but I cannot even tell I'm taking them as far as side effects are concerned.

@ May I please also respond? I have 2 bulging disks and a pinched nerve in the lumbar spine and also 2 pinched nerves in my neck (cervical). I started gabapentin about 6 weeks age with 300 mgs 2 times a day at dinner time and then bedtime. Now, for the last 10 days I am taking 600 mgs 2 times a day same times. I WONDER IF THIS IS TO HIGH A DOSE. Wow? (This is doctor prescribed.Peach414144

I don't know but it depends on how it makes you feel I would say

Hi
I take 300 mg. of Gabapentin- 1 in the am and 2 in the pm.
ronnie