Life with fibromyalgia

Hi, I'm in the middle of a flare up with severe pain in my hands, wrists and neck, spreading up rear of head. I have full on Fibro fog and my usual fatigue.  I am taking gabapentin, morphine and paracetamol for the pain but less morphine during the day as it makes me too sleepy.  im worried about my hands because when the pain is bad I can't do much with them.  I think what is happening is arthritis which is then amplified by fibromyalgia.   I can't take anti inflammatories because of previous stomach and intestinal surgery. Any suggestion would be helpful.

Thanks and wishing you as well as you can be. x 

I know when I have really bad flare ups, my hands feel like they are swollen and I lose a lot of my ability to grip anything. I can't have anti-inflammatory meds as they don't mix well with asthma. I find heat gels work, to a point. Deep Heat is a good one with no ibuprofen in it. make sure you ask if there are any anti-inflammatorys in before you buy them. If you feel you may have arthritis as well, you can have blood tests to check.

hope you find this helpful 

Thank you for your advice. I have had tests and been diagnosed with osteoarthritis which I think isz amplified by fibromyalgia.  I also think deep heat is good. And I use microwave wheat bags and heat gel pads.  It's good totalk to others going through similar experiences as you. I hope your flare up is short lived.  Ive found I get a little depressed when I can't use my hands.  It frightens me. I'm an artist and fear not being able to paint and draw. But there will be ways round it?mThere always are. 

Suffering quite badly the past few days and have not been able to get out, luckily have Tesco shop online and delivered.  So feel for you peewit on your flare.    Yes Dean I find Deep Heat helps me for my lower back pain, I think people are quite used to me smelling like I have horse linament on .. that is the only thing the smell of it lingers for hours.   I have osteo also peewit and the medication I take for that is Celebrex and when prescribed it many years ago the doctor said it would help the fibro pain too, for sleep I take a low dose anti epilepsy drug Clonazepam to relax my muscles just 0.5mg with 10mg Amitriptyline these two were prescribed by a Pain Consultant and have helped enormously, also take Solpadol 30mg Codeine/500mg Paracetamol.

Thanks for your input I hope mine helps also.

Thanks for your advice.  My GP doesn't seem to be aware of medication options other than Painkillers.  I went to see him yesterday as the gnawing, non stop pain was unbearable.  He's now prescribed morphine patches as well as the oral morphine I take.  The experiences of fellow sufferers on here is useful and next time I go, I'll be more prepared with suggestions for alternative medications.  I was due to see the pain nurse and psychologist at my local hospital in October but we're moving out of the area so I'll need to get referred again. Went to Tai chi lesson yesterday but I don't think it's a good idea when I'm in a bad flare up as it seemed to make the pain worse.  

Hi,

i am Jen, I was diagnosed nearly 3 yrs a go with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, I am getting worse as the weeks go by, I am taking 60 mg amitryptiline and 30 mg of citolpram with the usua doses of co codamol, I am a care assistant in a nursing home for dementia, although I cannot do any manual handling anymore, so I sit with a resident the whole night and do nothing more than that, it is very demanding and I find every day a complete struggle, I am struggling to drive now too, the anxiety I suffer from us mainly to do with going out on my own as I have fallen a couple of times in the past, I have really bad brainfog, I all so get anxious over meeting people as I am scared that they will shake my hand too hard and cause mire pain for me, this condition has really made me go from a very busy and always on the go person to a very anxious and slow one.

I have very similar symptoms to you and I admire you for holding down a job.  Do you get specialist treatment at your local hospital or do you rely on your GP for treatment.  I get physio and psychological treatment as well as pain management consultations. its worth searching out.  I've been suffering from very painful hands and neck.  In constant grinding pain.  The doctor put me on morphine patches and since starting on those my symptoms have lessened. Keep searching for things that help you.  It helps me to feel that I'm actively trying to mange fibromyalgia.  Sending you get well vibes ( yes I was into flower power etc ) . 

I am mainly managed by my GP, although I have had the one session of pain management and found the practitioner very condescending, I will go back again but if I feel the same way I will end it right there and then.

I was on a lot more meducation last year and it just made me put weight on, so exasperated my symptoms, I cannot use morphine patches as they cause me bad irritation on my skin, it's nice to hear you are getting some pain relief anything I take just takes the takes the edge off the pain.

hope you have a blessed day  

I ate like a cart horse when I was on Pregabalin (lyrica) so changed to gabapentin.  I've also found that amytriptyline increases my appetite enormously.  They use amytriptyline as a treatment for anorexia! I don't blame you for coming off those meds. 

If you find the pain practitioner condescending, let her know And ask if there is anyone else you can see.  We do tend to accept what we get from the NHS rather than asking for what we need.  We paid for it with our taxes.

I do hope you get the support you need. X Patsy

Ty patsy for your advice I will let the pain management practitioner know if I still feel uncomfortable around her.

blessings

jen

x