Have you found anything to successfully treat fibromyalgia pain?

Hi @mollymm -
How nice that you've found suggestions to look into for fibromyalgia symptoms. You're not alone in the challenges of managing chronic pain. There is some really good advice on Connect and I'm happy to hear you've found a group that understands. Thanks for sharing that!

Outside of the great suggestions you will be looking into, have you ever tried or considered a pain rehabilitation program, like @sueinmn suggested? She's right, pain rehabilitation centers are very different from pain clinics. I spent 3 weeks at Mayo Clinic's Pain Rehabilitation Center and it turned my life around. Here's info on the program -

Mayo Clinic Pain Rehabilitation Center:

- https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/pain-rehabilitation-center/sections/overview/ovc-20481691

Many of the principles Sue and @astaingegerdm
previously mentioned are incorporated. Mayo PRC is a complete comprehensive program treating both mind and body. I was in class with many fibro sufferers. It's a tall order for some to get there, but you never know! Just wondering if that is something you might consider?

I will look into the two day program. Thank you.

What a bunch of c__p you are getting from both doctors!! Surgeons, and some other doctors, think they are greater than God. They have such big egos that they just tear people apart with their comments, and then blame the patient. I wouldn't let either of these doctors treat me anymore. Hugs for emotional support!

Has anyone had any success with red light therapy helping with pain?

@destinnana, There are a few discussions where members have shared their experience with infrared or low level laser therapy:

--- Postherpetic neuralgia from Shingles: Low Level Laser Therapy: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chronic-phn-from-shingles-red-light-cold-laser-therapy/
--- Any experience with red or infrared light therapy for PMR?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/any-experience-with-red-or-infrared-light-therapy-fro-pmr/

Do you live in a state where Medical Marijuana is legal? Fibromyalgia qualifies in my state (OH) and it is helpful.

I so agree! I could not sleep until I learned how to use Indica Cannabis correctly. Everyone on Medical Cannabis has to try sev different delivery modes - (gummies, inhaled, chocolate bar, cookies, drops, and oral syringe) to see what wks for sleep and pain. Sativa is for daytime pain relief. If you get dizzy you have taken too much. For heaven’s sake don’t drive while you have taken any medical cannabis!

I am currently getting frequency specific microcurrent. First time she gave me the adult dose and I went haywire. She is giving me an child dose and it does seem to help. I took the 4th covid vaccine in December and it reactivated my cos/mono so no wonder my system was way out of whack. I have an infrared heating pad. You have to be careful not to leave it on too long.

While I don't have a formal diagnosis of FM, it appears I've had the symptoms and have been treated accordingly for 10 years. Typically I have persistent low-level pain and stiffness everywhere in the body (2-3 on a 0-10 scale). Have been on Duloxetine/Cymbalta 60mg for a decade, we've tried a higher dose which didn't help.

I have been very active regardless of the mild pain and have been attempting to find triggers. On occasion, the pain level skyrockets to 7-8 and lasts for a week or so when triggered and it hits whole body. After a week, it starts calming down. These "pain storms" cause poor sleep and brain fog.

One trigger for me is too much physical activity - mainly repetitive bending.

Also just recently diagnosed with arthritis and a torn labrum in my left shoulder - surgery is pending and also arthritis and a torn labrum in my left hip - that's awaiting a cortisone injection to reduce pain. Trying to get these fixed/managed before re-addressing the possible FM situation. Off the record, I've been advised to consider weed for pain relief twice by different medical professionals.

Hello all of you. You gave my total empathy. I have had Fibro 21 Yrs -it was triggered in the very late 90’s by the loss of sleep and peace a mom goes through when her husb and children are all struggling with chronic illnesses. Plus I had some nerve injuries and the flu about four times over 25 Yrs, plus the Epstein Barr virus, osteoporosis and late diagnosis of adult onset celiac followed by Pancreatic Insufficiency and scary amt of wt loss. I had only a Med for anxiety, sleep and Lyrica for 20 Yrs until I moved to Fl and qualified for medical cannabis. Best thing that could have happened to me. It takes trying out several forms of it before each person finds out which one works for them for significant pain reduction and blessed sleep. One thing is for certain - sweets, processed foods, animal fats, poor absorption of nutrients, msg, food dyes, preservatives and foods that are not certified Organic worsen Fibro and fatigue horribly. And lots of ppl are intolerant of one or more of these foods: eggs, corn, soy, nuts, dairy, wheat, barley, rye and non-organic oats (these four grains contain gluten and Gliadin. All these foods will cause us lots of pain if we eat them and our body is fighting with them. Plus they damage the lining of our gut. It takes the Elimination Diet to find out which ones you are so sensitive to/intolerant of. My gluten intolerance was diagnosed with a saliva test but I hear there is a blood test for that now. Also be sure and get tested for Histamine Intolerance. If u are, u will have to take a Histamine Enzyme 15 min before snacks and meals or else you will have awful stinging headaches. I hope these matters I have suffered through and been tested for, will help lots of ppl.