Fibromyalgia -- Need help on how to handle severe pain

Hi @ripley - I'm sorry about your recent pain flare. I know it's not fun and can be testing. Some tools that help me are meditation, diaphragmatic breathing and distraction. Calming and quieting the mind can be helpful to quelling pain. When I'm in a flare I try to focus on where I am not hurting and make the most of what I can use in the moment...sort of distracting from the negative and focusing on the positive. Also, as many of us folks living in chronic pain have learned the hard way, push/crash cycles don't do us any favors. Again, the mind (mindset) - it has a lot of power to help control push/crash (this is an area I continue to work on). Physically speaking, moderation with light activity, as to not be too hard on yourself during a flare.

I found this Mayo Clinic blog in mindfulness, maybe it can help -

- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/mindfulness-exercises/art-20046356

What are some of the ways you distract while working through flares?

How much Tizanidine do you take and do you take it throughout the day or only at night? Did it minimize your pain better than Flexeril? I have a microwave heat pack that I use. I will have to find a new rheumatologist or pain clinic. Thank you.

Before this latest bout with pain, going on 6 weeks now, I was pain free for six months except for some headaches part of the day. I guess I was hoping that was the end of it. I will have to find a pain clinic or new doctor, most of them have long wait times for appointments. Have you tried any prescription medications and, if so, what was your experience with them? What kind of doctor prescribed your pain pump, is it surgically implanted, and what medication is dispensed from it? Thank you.

I distract myself with household tasks, short walks outside, and going on the computer. Right now I'm having a hard time accepting the fact that this might be my "new normal" as it has significantly changed my life. Thank you.

My Rheumatologist also referred me back to my PCP and said to get a referral to a pain specialist. The pain specialist wasn't helpful.
My PCP prescribed gabapentin which helped but the side effects were horrible. I thought I had dimentia! So I stopped taking it. Then I tried nortriptyline and those side effects were terrible. It did work. I had to go off of it.
So right now I don't want to take any more meds, I already take several meds for chronic depression with PTSD. Those meds make it difficult to add such drugs as gabapentin and nortriptyline.
It took me 3 years to get a diagnosis.
My joint pain is much worse, muscle pain is awful and muscle weakness and sleep disturbance make for a changed life.
I celebrate the rare good days and don't fret anymore when I am relegated to the couch.
Whenever I do anything extraordinary like travel, hike on a rare good day, or walk 30 minutes 5 days in a row, I can expect a bad flare.
I apologize for the run on sentences. Too tired today to correct.
I meditate, stretch and move around for an hour and a half when I get up in the morning. Meditation helps.

Hi, @rocknrobbn - Understandably, the cycle of meds and side effects, and not wanting to add more to the mix is a frustrating plight. You might be interested in the following discussion:

Moderation and Modification: How can it help your chronic pain? -
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/moderation-and-modification-how-can-you-benefit/

Perhaps you'll find tips, or be inspired by others accounts of what helps them manage symptoms from a non-medicine perspective.

While doing extraordinary things like hiking or walking 30 minutes 5 days in a row may set you back, tweaking the approach or plan may still allow you to find your joy without suffering so much. You mention muscle weakness. Deconditioning sneaks in so easily when living in chronic pain. Have you tried a gentle, daily stretch routine?

Thank you for your help.
I do hobble out to my living room first thing and get out my yoga mat. Getting on the floor to stretch and meditate is a relaxing, wonderful moment to the beginning of my day. I am still trying to find out how to moderate. I was a very athletic person up until 3 years ago. I was an athlete from my teens through my 50's.
I will check out this link.
I will try stretching more. Everything is so painful.

I had typed out a rather lengthy response to you, but, right in the middle of it...boom! it all disappeared! I will retype when I have more time.

My mantra just about ANY health problem/disease is: Are you, old sport, living OVERALL a reasonably healthy lifestyle? The question helps me bcz I can start Immediately with something if my food, posture, stress/thoughts, and physical activity/flexibility are deficient.
My first pain problem was some 30 years ago: right foot and left knee. Thank goodness taking care of myself in areas that were within MY control I had been able to continue working in my profession that often required much hazardous/difficult walks. Thirty years later, I still am (fingers crossed) walk up to 12 floors in my apt bldg -- I often do it, last one was yesterday. But NOT to avoid pain as much as to see how far my body still can cheerfully take up on self-challenges. But I do have 'pains' as all lives do.

In fact a look at NIH and Mayo both recommend physical activity/therapy,
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fibromyalgia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354780

Exercise, relaxation and stress-reduction measures also may help.

Good luck

I started reading your post, sounded like me! However, with fibro, rest does not necessarily help; movement is so important. Take that daily walk first thing in the morning and/or get into the pool. I also do stretches from past PT classes. I find I am only half breathing, so make a practice of occasionally doing intentional breathing: 8 count of taking in deep breath; hold for 4 and then exhale for 8. EFT tapping helps. My feeling is that our autonomic system makes us tense up muscles/tendons and that is the pain. PT strengthens and relaxes muscles. I have to do this particularly at bedtime. Sleep yoga moves help, too.