Thanks for shedding more light on the disease. It's so vast (and has many symptoms and treatments that highly individual) a subject that you could not possibly cover it all in a day, much less an hour. After a year of all forms of tests by specialists, I was formally diagnosed with FM - since 2004. In my case, the FM pain and fatigue forced me to resign from work, and I am on SSI as permanently diabled indefinitely. Not good - going from a triple digit income to subsidized level living. However I can offer some leads for people to pursue, as follows: >Wikipedia.com has very good data to help in understanding FM and CFS, as does the Mayo Clinic (.com) Although I have tried and will continue to, every Nerology based treatment to no avail.Included are Neurontin, Lyrica, Savella ; one might help you. I have had to resort to opiate pain killers which work well and are highly addictive (be careful of this route). >Trigger points and trigger point pain injections need to be understood as they can be very helpful. Work with doctor or pain speacialists on this. >Combining Eastern medicine with traditional medicine is very helpful (if not always covered by insurance and therefore can be quite expensive). >Accupuncture can work very well, and helps me. Also, massage if you can tolerate and afford it. Reiki is my choice. >Exercise IS great, when it can be tolerated, even brisk walking. > Give medical marijuana a try. I have not yet, but am told by others that it can be very effective. > One of the widely held truths is that there links between FM and depression (not helped by all the stigmas on the show. Almost everyone I know or talk to about FM and CFS is getting some relief by taking prescribed anti-depressants (myself included). Be open to discussing your symptoms with others!
Finally; don't be shy about letting people know that you have FM, and hopefully are under care from doctor or two that fully understand the disease and routinely work with patients with FM. Nobody is going to come to your aid when you are secretive. Seek and try any and all medical aid and treatment. Let all know how you really feel! Good Luck, sluggo
64° Partly Cloudy
Fighting Fibromyalgia
Thanks for shedding more light on the disease. It's so vast (and has many symptoms and treatments that highly individual) a subject that you could not possibly cover it all in a day, much less an hour.
After a year of all forms of tests by specialists, I was formally diagnosed with FM - since 2004. In my case, the FM pain and fatigue forced me to resign from work, and I am on SSI as permanently diabled indefinitely. Not good - going from a triple digit income to subsidized level living. However I can offer some leads for people to pursue, as follows:
>Wikipedia.com has very good data to help in understanding FM and CFS, as does the Mayo Clinic (.com)
Although I have tried and will continue to, every Nerology based treatment to no avail.Included are Neurontin, Lyrica, Savella ; one might help you. I have had to resort to opiate pain killers which work well and are highly addictive (be careful of this route).
>Trigger points and trigger point pain injections need to be understood as they can be very helpful. Work with doctor or pain speacialists on this.
>Combining Eastern medicine with traditional medicine is very helpful (if not always covered by insurance and therefore can be quite expensive).
>Accupuncture can work very well, and helps me.
Also, massage if you can tolerate and afford it. Reiki is my choice.
>Exercise IS great, when it can be tolerated, even brisk walking.
> Give medical marijuana a try. I have not yet, but am told by others that it can be very effective.
> One of the widely held truths is that there links between FM and depression (not helped by all the stigmas on the show. Almost everyone I know or talk to about
FM and CFS is getting some relief by taking prescribed anti-depressants (myself included). Be open to discussing your symptoms with others!
Finally; don't be shy about letting people know that you have FM, and hopefully are under care from doctor or two that fully understand the disease and routinely work with patients with FM. Nobody is going to come to your aid when you are secretive. Seek and try any and all medical aid and treatment. Let all know how you really feel!
Good Luck, sluggo
October 13, 2009 at 5:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )