Is anyone suffering from fibromyalgia and mental health conditions?

Posted by lijar @lijar, Nov 3, 2023

My 37 year old daughter was diagnosed with fibromyalgia at 19, mental health diagnosis of bipolar at about 16. On and off of many, many meds throughout the years. Currently in much pain, taking 300 mg Gabapentin 2xdaily, 25 mg doxipen, 3 mg Invega. These are doing nothing good, getting worse every day. Is anyone dealing with mental health issues and fibromyalgia and have you been successful in finding alleviation for both?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Fibromyalgia Support Group.

God Bless you & your daughter. Fibromyalgia is hard to treat. I do not have mental health issues with mine, but, I know many people that do with Fibro. Pain & fatigue are wearing. Here is what helps my pain the most:
1) Stretches in the morning
2) Espsom salt bath soaks for sore muscles
3) Massages if she can stand it
4) Flexeril 5 mg (Prescription) muscle relaxant as needed
5) Voltaren Gel applied at least 4 times a day and Bed Buddy heat packs (Amazon)
6) Get off sugar & caffeine & junk food.
7) Try and keep moving as much as you can or she will get stiffer and hurt worse.
8) Try and get her into a pain clinic which could help with her pain and depression.
9) If she needs to nap, let her. Sleep is healing and restorative sleep helps greatly with Fibro. That is the #1 complaint of a fibro patient, "I don't sleep well" or "I am a light sleeper."
Praying for much relief.

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These are great suggestions from covidstinks2023. I agree with all of these. I suffer from Fibro and depression and anxiety., diagnosed 23 years ago. I do many of the suggestions given, and they help.
Things I do as well: EFT Tapping is Emotional Freedom Technique. Look it up online especially from Nick Ortner. There are youtube videos explaining what this is, and the proven science behind it. It is FREE and very worthy. Nick Ortner created a free app called The Tapping Solution. I use it daily.
I use a Happy Light daily which is Bright Light Therapy, for depression. It helps so much. Again, look it up online, because I cannot explain the science behind this therapy very well.
These may sound too weird but please help her find these. They work.

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@charliegirl

These are great suggestions from covidstinks2023. I agree with all of these. I suffer from Fibro and depression and anxiety., diagnosed 23 years ago. I do many of the suggestions given, and they help.
Things I do as well: EFT Tapping is Emotional Freedom Technique. Look it up online especially from Nick Ortner. There are youtube videos explaining what this is, and the proven science behind it. It is FREE and very worthy. Nick Ortner created a free app called The Tapping Solution. I use it daily.
I use a Happy Light daily which is Bright Light Therapy, for depression. It helps so much. Again, look it up online, because I cannot explain the science behind this therapy very well.
These may sound too weird but please help her find these. They work.

Jump to this post

Thanks so much

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@covidstinks2023

God Bless you & your daughter. Fibromyalgia is hard to treat. I do not have mental health issues with mine, but, I know many people that do with Fibro. Pain & fatigue are wearing. Here is what helps my pain the most:
1) Stretches in the morning
2) Espsom salt bath soaks for sore muscles
3) Massages if she can stand it
4) Flexeril 5 mg (Prescription) muscle relaxant as needed
5) Voltaren Gel applied at least 4 times a day and Bed Buddy heat packs (Amazon)
6) Get off sugar & caffeine & junk food.
7) Try and keep moving as much as you can or she will get stiffer and hurt worse.
8) Try and get her into a pain clinic which could help with her pain and depression.
9) If she needs to nap, let her. Sleep is healing and restorative sleep helps greatly with Fibro. That is the #1 complaint of a fibro patient, "I don't sleep well" or "I am a light sleeper."
Praying for much relief.

Jump to this post

Thanks so much for these suggestions

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@lijar I too have fibromyalgia, generalized anxiety disorder, bi-polar2.

The antidepressant I take, Zoloft also relieves the pain of fibromyalgia.
My body is very sensitive to medications so the only pain reliever I take is Tylenol.
Once in a while I use a topical cream like magnesium lotion, or Bio-freeze anywhere I am really having issues. Or, I just grin and bear it…

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I have the same problems I'm sorry I will pray for you and you should pray to God can heal all of that

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I have a "diagnosis" of polyarthralgia, and anxiety and Duloxetine (Cymbalta) has helped me immensely! I had been dealing with worsening joint pain since I was 12 and nothing (Aleve, Tylenol, ibuprofen) touched it until I started duloxetine. I've also added in daily stretching and movement exercises to help with pain and stiffness. I would also recommend capsaicin patches for those particularly painful days.

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I am from a giant family and I am old so I know a lot of people. I have a niece that has fibro. and my friends sister has it. They don't know each other. I have talked to them over the years and felt so bad for them and their misery. Now in talking to them they both told me they went on a veggie diet with protein from nuts. My niece is claiming after years she is cured (she is so skinny too). My friend said she felt like she was brand new and her arthritis pain is gone and other issues are fixed like blood pressure and weight. I am so happy for them.

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Yes, I have bipolar and fibromyalgia. I was on disability for 8 years, learning to manage them, now back at work. Things that have been helpful to me:
—dialectical behavior therapy, especially mindfulness, distress tolerance, radical acceptance
—physical and emotional pain are a big part of my life; acceptance of that fact, letting go of anger and bitterness about it, just allowing myself to notice, accept, and move on with my day (every day) has been life changing.
—listening to my body: take breaks when I need them. Afternoon naps are my faves.
—Duloxetine, anxiety meds
—Stretching, breathing, stress management, and self forgiveness.
—Regular reminders that my brain is a blob of fat with electricity in it—helps me forgive my brain for not being perfect, helps me give the poor thing a little grace.

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hi there! i’m 19 and just got diagnosed with central sensitization and it includes fibro. i suffer from adhd anxiety and severe depression. i’m currently trying to figure out how to balance it all. i just started nortriptyline and it is supposed to help with my depression and pain. they said it should take a few weeks before i can tell if it works or not. i will keep you posted!

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