Confused, just want some help managing muscle tension relief

[MJRAUSTIN]

Recent DX for Fibromyalgia… being referred to a Specialist for other possible immune/muscle disease. At this point, I just need some muscle tension relief. I can’t turn my head, left my arms and having trouble opening things. I’m almost welling to deal with the pain, but would love to have normal mobility back…

 

[cookiebaker]

Hello and welcome, @MJRAUSTIN

have you found anything at all that helps you? hot shower/bath? heating pad? gentle stretching? anything at all?
have you tried massage therapy at all? what about chiropractic? or physical therapy?

have you had any x-rays or other imaging that could point to a physical problem?

 

[MJRAUSTIN]

Hello Cookiebaker, I’ve had blood work from my PCP… that showed RA. I’ve was referred to. Pain management provider due to sore and swollen muscles. This provider placed me on Lyrica and stayed on Physical Therapy… I had an allergic reaction to Lyrica and the physical therapist recommended I see a specialist before moving forward with PT. He discovered extreme loss of motor skills on my right side. Due to the PT report, my pain mng doctor has referred me to a Rheumatologists. Currently waiting for that appt. In the meantime… I’m scheduled for a MRI… Thank you for checking!

 

[MJRAUSTIN]

Hello Cookiebaker, I’ve had blood work from my PCP… that showed RA. I’ve was referred to. Pain management provider due to sore and swollen muscles. This provider placed me on Lyrica and stayed on Physical Therapy… I had an allergic reaction to Lyrica and the physical therapist recommended I see a specialist before moving forward with PT. He discovered extreme loss of motor skills on my right side. Due to the PT report, my pain mng doctor has referred me to a Rheumatologists. Currently waiting for that appt. In the meantime… I’m scheduled for a MRI… Thank you for checking!

Sorry… blood work showed NO RA.

 

[cookiebaker]

every little bit checked for and ticked off helps. Hopefully the MRI will show something definitive

I wish i could be of more help to you, but is kind of hard with no definite diagnoses to point to a path of treatment.
You say bloodwork showed no RA, but what about MS, Lupus, or a whole host of other autoimmune things? are all of those being discounted as well?
The loss of motor skills is kind of concerning, and I am glad that your PT made the recommendation to a specialist.. Hope you can get some answers soon.

 

[sunkacola]

Hello @MJRAUSTIN .....You might find something in the post I made on managing fibromyalgia that would help you. I recommend you read it and try some of the things in it.
Welcome to the forum and I hope we will be of help to you.

My advice for managing fibromyalgia (especially for newcomers)

I am not a doctor or anything, just a person who has lived with fibromyalgia for several years now and has done a lot of research and trial and error experimentation. What follows is just basics. There are a lot of variations. You will find your own versions of everything I say, as this is not a...

www.fibromyalgiaforums.org

 

[JayCS]

For muscle tension relief I use intense relaxation exercises, mindfulness, stretching, exercises, a massager and increasing serotonin with the amino acid GABA and further supps.

 

[kap]

I find myself saying that if I could just get rid of my muscle tension I'd be a step up on all of this. My massage therapist has always said my facia is so tight. I've had the huge lab work up for everything under the sun. I started gabapentin over 2 years ago and it helped a lot, but now not so much and I'm weaning down. Couldn't increase the dose or all I'd do is sleep. Also tried many other typical fibromyalgia meds (SSRI, SNRI, etc.) and the side effects were awful - but not sure if it was the meds themselves or if they weren't playing nice with the gabapentin. I've considered acupuncture but nowhere local and I just don't see the benefit being worth the drive, especially now that it's winter. MRI done and two surgeries this past year for cubital and carpal tunnel to relieve that. I do relaxation techniques, light stretching, hot showers and heated mattress pad are wonderful. Recently started CBD.

What I don't like the thought of is the muscle tension messing up my tendons, ligaments and joints. Working with my primary after exhausting options with my neurologist to get it figured out.

 

[cookiebaker]

MRI done and two surgeries this past year for cubital and carpal tunnel to relieve that. I do relaxation techniques, light stretching, hot showers and heated mattress pad are wonderful.

i have to ask, were the surgeries on the same arm? and if so, has anyone looked at your neck? Nerve impingement/irritation in the neck can cause the same symptoms as the above problems, but the problems are actually starting in the neck (ask me how I know this)

I also have problems with overly tense muscles, and frequently have tension headaches from it... I know this is going to sound silly to many, but many years ago I took a Lamaze class when I was pregnant with my first... and the techniques taught in that class I still use to this day.. the mindful, deliberate tensing and releasing of individual muscles, the breathing exercises, etc..

the muscle work needs to be done when you can be relaxed (as much as possible) either lying down, or perhaps in a recliner..
try to relax your body as much as you can, then starting with your toes, deliberately tense the muscles, one group at a time, hold it for a couple of seconds, then relax - repeat 2-5 times, then move to the next muscle group, working your way up the body and out to the hands - and dont forget to breathe!! lol.. It takes a fair bit of concentration to focus on just one muscle group at a time, but when you are done, you are usually far more relaxed than when you started.
Focused breathing can also help one relax - focusing on breathing in slowly thru the nose, exhaling slowly thru the mouth. It is all about being slow, calm and deliberate.

 

[sunkacola]

@kap , if you live in a state where it's legal I recommend adding 'THC to the CBD because THC is far better at relaxing the body that CBD is. When I really need to relax and can't do it in other ways, that is what I use and it works every time.

Just want to say.....
It may not work to do the tense and relax thing @cookiebaker recommends. It might go great for you, not saying it's not a good thing to try. Just saying that you aren't necessarily doing it wrong or something if it only makes things worse. It doesn't work for me and only makes it worse because deliberately tensing up a muscle group (even after getting as relaxed as I can) usually leads to those muscles simply staying tensed and unable to relax at all. I can do it if I am already totally relaxed, but then there's no need. If I am feeling muscle tension it's the worst thing I can do.
We're all different.

 

[Cutiegirl]

I use yoga and at bedtime an acupressure mat ("bed of nails"). The mat works well on my back. It does hurt which then sends signals to your brain. The brain then focuses on the pain from the mat, which stops pain anywhere else. It's like your brain initially over-reacts to cause pain everywhere. The mat forces the brain to concentrate on your back only, which stops it from causing pain anywhere else. The relief is enough that after 20 minutes i am falling asleep. I hope this makes sense!