Fibromyalgia: Functional Medicine Dr & Supplements Helped Anyone?

Thanks for the information, is your doc a GP or Specialist, I would like to take info to my doc and see what he has to say.

Correction to my earlier comment: The Functional Medicine provider I'm working with is not an MD. She is a DNP, FNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice/Family Nurse Practitioner) specializing in integrative medicine. My internist also recommended some of the supplements she suggested (B vitamins, CoQ10, Fish Oil and Magnesium). Sorry for any confusion.

Please see my comment above. I would be interested in your Dr's opinion. Thanks.

God Bless You! Fibro is complicated. I have had it for 28 years. Please get a complete thyroid panel done as thyroid issues can go along with Fibro. Also, Arthritis tends to go along with it. You are on some good supplements. I would add D3+K2 to the list since you are on something for reflux it makes it hard to absorb D3. The added K2 helps. Talk to your Functional Medicine Provider about that. I also only take Flexeril for Fibro, soak in Epsom Salt, use heat packs & Voltaren Gel (over the counter) helps a lot with the pain. I wish you the very best. Blessings & Prayers....

I'm on Synthroid for my thyroid since it was removed due to cysts. My calcium supplement contains K1 and K2 and I take Vit D supplements.
How often do you take Flexeril? I don't want to take it too often because I read it can stop working.
I thought Voltaren cream/gel was only for joint pain? My pain is all over but worse in my neck, back and upper arms.
Thank you.

I only take Flexeril when I am miserable and I am ultra sensitive to medication. I can only tolerate 1/2 of a 5 mg at the time. The Voltaren gel is for joint pain, BUT, my doctor recommended it for fibromyalgia. It helps me with that too. I apply the Voltaren Gel and then use a heat pack (Bed Buddy on Amazon). If I am miserable I will take 1/2 a Flexeril. I have never heard that Flexeril can stop working. It has always worked for me. I get in flareups that can last for days. Try and lower your stress as much as you can, eat healthy, no caffeine or Aspartame (makes Fibro worse), a massage helps if I am not in a whole lot of pain where I can tolerate it and stretches in the morning because I am so stiff. I have a lot of arthritis and I also have both Thyroid Diseases which pushes the arthritis. It's important to move as much as possible, BUT, when you need to stretch out and rest do it. I empathize. Prayers right now.

Do you measure how much Voltaren you use each day? My husband uses it and has directions on that since it can get into your system. I will ask my Dr about it. Thanks

My doctor said apply up to 4 times a day. Very little of this is absorbed by the body or I would not use it as I cannot take NSAIDS orally, but, the cream has never bothered me. What folks do wrong is apply it occasionally and then stop using it. You have to be consistent with it or it will not work as well. Bless you.

Hope more questions are ok. So you have to use it at least once a day? How big of an area do you apply it to? My pain is is worse at my neck and across my shoulders and that seems like a large area. Thank you.

Not a problem. I hope I can help. On my arthritic hands when they hurt badly, I rub them down 4 times a day. I have arthritis in my spine, back, neck, shoulder (need replacement), knees, elbows, hands & feet! Yee Haw! I have a family member to rub my back down with the Voltaren 2-4 times a day when my arthritis in my spine gets really bad. I can rub my neck and shoulders and the rest myself....head, shoulders, knees & toes, right? LOL. I know there are a lot of conflicting comments about Voltaren Gel. I was inquisitive about it like you are. She told me to put it on like ketchup and up to 4 times a day for best results. Not to go over. I don't use it every day...only when I'm flared up the most until I get relief and then as a preventative measure, the next day afterwards. My shoulder was really flared up on Friday. I applied it liberally 2-4 times that day and then again yesterday and applied heat. It is so much better today. I will apply it again before bedtime tonight. Talk to your doctor about it please. I'm so sorry you are having so much pain. It's so tiring. God Bless You and give you some relief.