How does your doctor treat your fibro pain

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kmpisces

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My Rheum gave me one medicine which is basically a type of Ibuprofen. She also suggested physical therapy. That was the extend of things. I am wondering what else might be available to me?
 
I'm surprised - from everything I've heard, normally rheumatologists just put you on Cymbalta or Lyrica, neither of which I can tolerate. I reacted way too strongly in a negative way. My body is highly sensitive to everything though.

I'm seeing a naturopath, and his treatments are working very very well. He's a specialist in chronic illnesses, though, with a focus in nutrition. So he's treating me through a highly strict diet, 45 minutes of cardio exercise a day (which I'm really bad at), supplements (a lot of them), and treatments at his clinic. He is a chiropractor and acupuncturist, but since I have to travel out of state to see him, I decided to get those treatments locally. I get chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture 3x a month locally, but when I see him I tend to see him for 3-4 days at a time, and he gives me those treatments each day. He also has his nurses give me colonic irrigations (very weird, but very helpful,) hyperbolic chamber (oxygen therapy,) infrared sauna, foot bath and detox bath, IV of B and C vitamins, and a clay mold sweat treatment to deeply detox joints and muscles. It all helps substantially - I haven't had any fibro flares for many months until the night before last, but I'm thinking that was allergy related due to the very sudden change in weather.

But I have a lot more going on than just fibro. He thinks my fibro is a symptom, not a root cause. So he's treating all the root causes and isn't doing much to address the fibro specifically. It's working really well!
 
Well, I must say I am lucky to have found a doctor that understands our pain. I take Cymbalta daily but, I still have to take narcotic pain medicine at least once a day. My doctor has three parts to treatment at his practice and, if you do not follow them explicitly you will be discharged. First, medicine is the starting point he uses non-narcotic and narcotics because he knows that is the only way to properly manage devere pain that is associated with this disease. But, you must also see the staff couselor and, attend group classes that train you on how to function with this disease and educates us on how to properly take medication. They are very strict because of just how serious narcotics are. I dont like taking them but, sometimes they are the only things that help.
 
Well, I must say I am lucky to have found a doctor that understands our pain. I take Cymbalta daily but, I still have to take narcotic pain medicine at least once a day. My doctor has three parts to treatment at his practice and, if you do not follow them explicitly you will be discharged. First, medicine is the starting point he uses non-narcotic and narcotics because he knows that is the only way to properly manage devere pain that is associated with this disease. But, you must also see the staff couselor and, attend group classes that train you on how to function with this disease and educates us on how to properly take medication. They are very strict because of just how serious narcotics are. I dont like taking them but, sometimes they are the only things that help.

I'm in a similar type of program with my pain management Dr... Except no classes, that's actually really a great idea and plan your Dr has implemented! I've been with my Dr for a year and a half now, and she has been a god send, seriously.. We have tried dozens and dozens of medications, and my body hates medication.. I either have side effects, or the meds do nothing, or I'm allergic.. So it's been an uphill battle to say the least... We've finally found some meds that I'm tolerating, but like you said, narcotics are on that list, and while I hate taking them, sometimes it's the only way I can function! As soon as I find something else that works, they find better treatments, or they can fix me with a miracle, I'm done with narcotics... I just feel stuck though.. I did see a pain psychologist before though, although she wasn't a right fit for me, I'm trying to find a new one because my PTSD is out of control... But I definitely think seeing a professional counselor or psychologist is a great idea for people suffering from any type of chronic pain...
I really wish my Dr offered or knew of classes like you mentioned though!
 
My doctor treats my pain in a way that many specialists do not take now a days. But, for people with our type of pain it takes both narcotic and non-narcotic medications to actually make a difference. Combined with counseling and physical therapy. Granted there are still bad days with pain but, they are not one as fter the other and not as intense as they used to be.
 
My doctor treats my pain in a way that many specialists do not take now a days. But, for people with our type of pain it takes both narcotic and non-narcotic medications to actually make a difference. Combined with counseling and physical therapy. Granted there are still bad days with pain but, they are not one as fter the other and not as intense as they used to be.

I agree it can take both types of medications.. A lot of drs don't think narcotic pain relievers are appropriate for fibro pain, in fact there's still a lot of Dr's out there who think fibro is 'all in our heads'... Which is a shame... My pain management Dr actually told me I the past that narcotics wouldn't help fibro pain.. I have them because I have a slew of pain issues besides fibro, but I find they do help my fibro pain as well..
 
My doctor is finally understanding more about this condition. One doctor told me that sometimes a psychiatrist may understand it better. I went to one for this reason, and over all he didn't help me the way I think he should. I decided to go back to my regular physician with this condition. I've never found a doctor that truly understand the condition. There are doctors out there, but the hard part is finding the right one. Now, I'm doing better cause I'm eating gluten free. Try eating gluten free, and, some of your painful symptoms may just go away. I heard a man tell me once that he lost 30 pounds eating this away, plus, his arthritis was so much better.
 
Learning how to self-manage fibromyalgia symptoms with exercise and other lifestyle habits is vital to improve your mood, improve your sleep, and get relief from pain. For instance, many people with fibromyalgia are often caring for others, either by parenting or care giving for an older loved one. Yet they allow little time to take care of their own health and well-being. This is a problem because a chronic disease such as fibromyalgia comes with a whole set of limitations. Those limitations stem from fibromyalgia tender points, chronic fatigue, and ongoing pain and stiffness.

From what I learnt, you should learn to keep a journal, manage a support group, take medications and live life as normal as possible.
 
I won't dog him out and say that he doesn't care, but I can say that he wasn't convinced that I had Fibromyalgia until an Rheumatologist diagnosed me with it. Honestly, I can't say I have it either because I don't hurt when you press me in those 18 spots that identifies Fibromyalgia. Yet, I do have chronic joint and tendon pain, all over. Once the Rheumy said I had it then he took off with it and changed my Zoloft to Cymbalta. He says Cymbalta takes care of my depression and anxiety attacks as well. I hate Cymbalta. I would have much rather stayed on Zoloft. I think, though, that all of this medicine slows you down, making you sluggish and depleted.
 
My friend is also on Motrin, a brand for ibuprofen. Since he has been in physical therapy, the pain is less often; however, when he tries to get up, he says it still feels like he is getting punched.
 
The best medication I have used for Fibromyalgia is Tramadol. It helps alot with depression, energy, focusing, and aches and energy.
 
My doctors treat my Fibromyalgia with therapy, medication, and injections every four months. WalMart used to carry the best pain relief mentholatum rub for $0.98 cents, so much better than the more expensive stuff. Lasted awhile after rubbing it into my shoulder blade, where I get most of my burning pain.
 
For a while I was only given Naproxen because I was a minor so narcotic drugs where not appropriate. For me it did almost nothing for the pain so after a while I stopped taking them. I figure there's no sense taking it everyday when it wasn't giving me results and would cause more harm than good. After I reached 18 I was given muscle relaxants but those make me so sleepy and like disconnected so I don't take those anymore. What works best for me is Tramadol. I haven't been prescribed anti depressants or strong narcotics and honestly I don't want them. I don't want to be taking pills all my life and some of the side effects are just not worth the relief.
 
Right now im on 100mg of tramadol every 6 hours...it takes the edge off the pain which is great. But tne pain is still there and I wish it did more...but better than nothing.
 
My doctor has me take tramadol which truly helps the joint pain that I have and makes me feel a bunch better in the morning. I also take an anti-stress supplement called Confianza that balances my mood and concentration so I'm super even keeled. I don't take much tramadol. At most, 3 times a day. I may take two at once to kind of kickstart me, and then drink tons of water to keep my muscles hydrated.

Exercise is important to keep the ligaments around my joint (hip joint) tight. With a good diet, exercise and water, not forgetting my super supplement, I live a very happy and pain free life. It takes a warrior mindset to conquer this.
 
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