Managing fibromyalgia

Hi, I too suffer from Fibromyalgia for the past 20 years plus. You mentioned the drug Gabapentin, this name came up recently somewhere ( I’m not sure if it was while I was in hospital recently or maybe online I really don’t remember where, my memory is terrible!), anyway- next you mentioned high blood pressure….
Was the high blood pressure in relation to the Gabapentin?

I’ve never been offered anything for my Fibromyalgia ( docs don’t seem to care about it around here where I live:/), and I desperately need something to ease the pain as I also have a bucket load of other medical probs including several auto-immune plus other medical conditiions and diseases which mostly all cause me pain.
I’m on morphine meds ( oxycontin and ordine- liquid morphine, but not prescribed for fibro of course). I just don’t know where to turn or what to even ask for so I thought that depending on your reply to my question that maybe gabapentin might be a good place to start?
By the way, I’m in Australia and Fibro isn’t given the attention that its given in the US:/
Soft, gentle hugs for you and for all of us who suffer pain, ,
MiriG

My Rheumatologist gives me soma 350 mg 3 a day if needed. The generic name
is carisoprodol an is for muscle pain. Narcotics will not help a
fibromyalgia attack but this will. But be careful taking it. The less the
better. You system gets very used to it then it won’t work. Gabapentin is
really good in combination for overall pain and Fibromyalgia. Your on some
really strong narcs and I would think you would have to cut back on those
some before adding more meds. Just my opinion. briansr

Hi everyone,
My docs haven’t mentioned Gabapentin, but I think my sister takes it for fibro. I’m staying away from the narcs so does this really help? Web searches I’ve done don’t really mention fibro as a condition they prescribe this for but they do mention nerve pain. The stimulant I mentioned..Modafinil…is helping a little, i’ve asked my doc to increase the dosage and we’ll see how that helps. It helps with the fatigue and helps keeping me awake and functioning at a higher level which I’m very grateful for. I’m working hard at addressing my sleep issues so I can help reduce the fatigue. Now if we could only find something that could treat the flu sick symptoms that seem to go along with barometer changes in the weather. Does anyone else have these issues?
I’m also walking with a knee brace on my left knee and use a walker as i have an inflamed IT band on my right side. This is really a drag for a once very active “jock” personality!
I’m also realizing how much stress affects the level of pain I’m experiencing! A few stressful events over the last couple weeks really put me into a well of pain, sick, unable to think straight. I’m giving the mindful meditation a more serious consideration as a combatant to this. has anyone else tried mindful meditation? I was taught to do this at the pain management clinic I attended.

I too am on a fixed income and I guess I am so very lucky to have my three children who can help me out .My blue cross helps somewhat..

Gabapentin really helps alot esp in combination with soma which is a
schedule 4 drug. Soma or carisoprodol 350mg is for muscle pain and you take
it when a fibromyalgia attack is out of hand. Narc pain meds won’t help. As
for gabapentin they usually start at 300 mg 3 a day and go up if needed. I
take 800mg 4 times a day for over 15 years. Works on fibromyalgia and
really helps my neuropathy more than anything! briansr

I am 50 and was diagnosed with fibro a year ago at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. The first thing I got under control was sleep. Generic Lexapro was prescribed after my PCP at home was confident I didn’t have other sleep disorders. I have proven to myself this works best combined with adding a soak in an ultraviolet half sauna as part of a pre-bed nightly ritual.

After a year I finally have more days not in denial. I have been trying to improve my eating by focusing on what to eat. My cholesterol is ultra high (up to almost 400 at times) and I am trying to control it without meds at this point. I started with 3 fruits a day, 2 veggies at each lunch and dinner, fish once a week, eating out no more than once a week.

I started walking 5 minutes every other day a year ago and worked up to 30 minutes 4/5 times a week now. I continually fight myself on routines but have proven to myself that if I could focus on one thing only that us key…it is to drill the word “routine” into every fiber of my being. It’s hard. At times I just want to be defiant to the whole idea.

I finally changed jobs to something manageable long term. I worked full time managing a call center for a magazine company. I was patient to find a part time accounting job that fits me and it had taken since the first of the year to adjust. Against, routine.

I started yoga once a week faithfully a year and a half ago. After a while a realized its value. Routine! I’ve tried swimming and tai chi, both I see will be great but I haven’t been able to regularly incorporate them yet. I could tell it’s too much.

I started chiropractic on December and added massage to compliment. It’s been painful but improving my shoulder, neck, hips tremendously. I’m trying to find a sweet spot as far as scheduling frequency right now.

Pain became horrendous lately. It came on suddenly and now Jeff just as much so. It is always something, as other normal symptoms have taken over. I want to get a handicapped parking permit for that one day in many that the walk in our parking garage is oh so tough. I want to purchase a cane to have at home for those times when my walking is unstable and my knees buckle without warning. I put it off though because I’m fearful its acknowledging defeat in one battle of this war in my body. I plan to discuss it with my PCP next month.

My doc at Mayo is recommending magnets and acupuncture to try.

jharsh, I’m sorry to hear that you are going through so much pain. I’m 54 and have had pain most of my life. Had a severe head injury at 10 years old. It has caused me to suffer from the most awful migraines, and caused arthritis in my neck. I had a tomur and had to have a histerectomy at 22 then my gallbladder a year later. Always would run fever every evening and would suffer from the worst case of fatigue that would keep me in bed for days. I went through more test and doctors in a three year period. I was diagnosed with Lupus 10 years ago and inherited my mom’s RA and dad’s high blood pressure. Now the last week of this month I go for a MRI to find out if I have MS. I know I have scar tissue because I have one done every 6 years, and was told that became of the scar tissue I would likely have these type of symptoms. There are days it takes all I’ve got to walk, and the pain in just moving can be unbearable. Like this morning. And I got to take care of something for mom this morning. I to go to the Chiropractor and it helps wonderfully. I also get in a hot tub with Epson salt an lavender at night when it seems like nothing helps. You sound like you stay pretty active, I find that if I can do as much as I can, I can have productive days. I use a lot of different oils for my problems and they do help to a certain degree. I understand where you are coming from wanting to get a cane, I have quite a few and use them when I feel like my legs will fall from under me. I know we are still young, but we can make the best of this journey. Like you said you were eating different. It’s a lifestyle change! And we can make it. Hope you have a great day. Prayers salena54

I do have a Facebook page but I don’t use it, mostly because I’m an abuse
survivor & he has tried to find my many way including Facebook, thanks for
the info though.

I second the recommendation for Therapeutic Yoga! I think that Yoga has enabled me to be more active, and although I often am sore, it feels like a good sore. But I caution you to never ignore a sharp pain that is persistent and keeps getting worse. I dislocated my shoulder one time, and thought it was just Fibro pain, until I finally went to a chiropractor and he put my arm in a sling for six weeks – at the beginning of gardening season!

Hi!I’ve Fibromyalgia.So,I know what that’s like.But,I hope your pain’s
better!