Sometimes with my fibromyalgia I have pain in various parts of my body. Although I do believe in taking medication I like to try as many other remedies as possible. Generally I try these techniques or others before I get to the point I try medication. .
One of the places I can experience pain is in my legs. This isn’t necessarily pain from the trigger points. I have learned to look at several things, that sometimes. I just forget about when I feel that pain.
The first thing I look at is what position I am sleeping in. This is probably the easiest solution. If I am not in the correct position I may not hurt the next day. If I continue to sleep in the wrong position I will start to hurt though.
My best position is on my side with a pillow between my knees. The pillow allows my hips to be distributed evenly and I sleep much better. I have friends with fibromyalgia who sleep with a body pillow as it allows their hips and shoulders to be even.
The second thing I do is try to pay more attention to what I am eating. I do love sweets. A little on and occasional basis is ok but sweets every day make me hurt. When I realize I am doing this I stop, I also become diligent about adding a little protein to my diet. Every three hours I have something, a boiled egg or cheese stick if nothing else.
The other thing I have successfully tried is a over the counter insert in my shoes. I have had particular success with the gel inserts. They help me correct small problems with my posture that have caused me pain.
Finally I reflect on when I am feeling pain. For instance sometimes I feel pain after I engage in some low impact exercise. If this is true then I need to and do spend some more time warming up those muscles. Again very gently warming them up with something like a slow walk.
Of course medication is always something I can turn to when my fibromyalgia pain is too overwhelming but these are several of the techniques that I might try first. It sometimes takes me a couple of tries to figure out what will work. Other times I feel no shame in going directly to medication.
Showing posts with label Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Signs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Signs. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
New Description
I haven't felt like posting for awhile. It just gets like that.
I did hear a lovely description of fibromyalgia the other day. It was described as a condition where the pain fuse has been blown. That's exactly what it felt like to me.
I went from a period where I could successfully handle pain to not being able to handle it. I took pain medication but an occasionnaly tylenol was nothing like what I was and still do have to do every day.
What did suprise me was the list of co-occuring disorders. Let's see, it was fatigue of course, thinking problems (fibrofog), dry eyes, dry mouth, sleep disorder, irritable bowel and irritable bladder.
Wow, I have several of those. Although I knew one went with the fibromyalgia, I never even considered the others.
I'll have to think about it some more. What do you think?
I did hear a lovely description of fibromyalgia the other day. It was described as a condition where the pain fuse has been blown. That's exactly what it felt like to me.
I went from a period where I could successfully handle pain to not being able to handle it. I took pain medication but an occasionnaly tylenol was nothing like what I was and still do have to do every day.
What did suprise me was the list of co-occuring disorders. Let's see, it was fatigue of course, thinking problems (fibrofog), dry eyes, dry mouth, sleep disorder, irritable bowel and irritable bladder.
Wow, I have several of those. Although I knew one went with the fibromyalgia, I never even considered the others.
I'll have to think about it some more. What do you think?
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Fibromyalgia and a Cure
Some people in the medical field are ambitious. They may want a large grant or a disease named after them selves. They may want honor from colleagues. None of this really, has anything to do with finding a cure for a disease.
It reminds me of the story of Robert Stroud. He started of life as a semi-literate man who was sent to prison. He was sent to prison for crimes that would be plea bargained away in this day and age. Stroud spent 43 years in solitary confinement.
During this time he discovered his own intellect. In prison classes he awed his teachers by passing tests. Many of the tests were passed the first time he took them. Stroud became a self taught mathmetician, astronomer, engineer, linguist, ornithologist, and biologist.
He also was the discoverer of many of the cures of disease of birds and canaries. Stroud taught himself criminal law. He wrote a 200,000 word book on the penal system.
At this point either you are saying I get it or what is your point. The point is that brain power is what will find a cure for fibromyalgia. Speculation can only bring smiles and smirks. A cure is the answer.
Many questions remained unanswered. Like what is the relationship between fibromyalgia and the complaints of pain in the skin? Are there older diseases which cause similar problems that are more destructive? Allergies seem to figure into Fibromyalgia for some people. What would that relationship be?
At some point I will write more about cause and effect. I also will be looking more into what can be done with old world medicine or what we are calling today alternative medicine.
I also want to explore what this group of symptoms may have been called in the past and what may have been done to treat it. Unfortunately it is slow and there is only so much time and energy when you have Fibromyalgia.
It reminds me of the story of Robert Stroud. He started of life as a semi-literate man who was sent to prison. He was sent to prison for crimes that would be plea bargained away in this day and age. Stroud spent 43 years in solitary confinement.
During this time he discovered his own intellect. In prison classes he awed his teachers by passing tests. Many of the tests were passed the first time he took them. Stroud became a self taught mathmetician, astronomer, engineer, linguist, ornithologist, and biologist.
He also was the discoverer of many of the cures of disease of birds and canaries. Stroud taught himself criminal law. He wrote a 200,000 word book on the penal system.
At this point either you are saying I get it or what is your point. The point is that brain power is what will find a cure for fibromyalgia. Speculation can only bring smiles and smirks. A cure is the answer.
Many questions remained unanswered. Like what is the relationship between fibromyalgia and the complaints of pain in the skin? Are there older diseases which cause similar problems that are more destructive? Allergies seem to figure into Fibromyalgia for some people. What would that relationship be?
At some point I will write more about cause and effect. I also will be looking more into what can be done with old world medicine or what we are calling today alternative medicine.
I also want to explore what this group of symptoms may have been called in the past and what may have been done to treat it. Unfortunately it is slow and there is only so much time and energy when you have Fibromyalgia.
Monday, January 11, 2010
9 Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Signs Facts
These are some of the most important things to know about Fibromyalgia symptoms and signs. When you know these you are well above the curve.
1. Fibromyalgia overlaps with other diagnoses. It has some of the same symptoms and signs of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Lupus.
2. More women than men have Fibromyalgia. No one is sure why this is so but it is.
3. Medical personnel think there are two types of fibromyalgia. One type people just seem to have. The other people seem to get because of some type of stress or other disease.
4. Which came first the chicken or the egg? Medical personnel don’t know if depression comes before Fibromyalgia or because of it. Either way antidepressants seem to help with the pain and are one of the first medications prescribed.
5. Medicine is bitter, so is exercise. Exercise helps with the stress that contributes to Fibromyalgia and stress that comes from having Fibromyalgia. Whether stretching exercise, water aerobics, or whatever type of exercise get up and move.
6. Learn about tender points. You probably already know more than you realize.
7. A rheumatologist usually makes the diagnosis. People who have fibromyalgia usually are between 20 and 55, but children can have Fibromyalgia.
8. Do not be surprised it you have to go to several doctors to get a diagnosis. This is common. You will probably have to have a lot of medical tests too. Try not to become frustrated and stressed when you have to repeat tests.
9. Major symptoms of Fibromyalgia are muscle pain, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, sleep problems, memory problems, and problems moving in the morning.
1. Fibromyalgia overlaps with other diagnoses. It has some of the same symptoms and signs of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Lupus.
2. More women than men have Fibromyalgia. No one is sure why this is so but it is.
3. Medical personnel think there are two types of fibromyalgia. One type people just seem to have. The other people seem to get because of some type of stress or other disease.
4. Which came first the chicken or the egg? Medical personnel don’t know if depression comes before Fibromyalgia or because of it. Either way antidepressants seem to help with the pain and are one of the first medications prescribed.
5. Medicine is bitter, so is exercise. Exercise helps with the stress that contributes to Fibromyalgia and stress that comes from having Fibromyalgia. Whether stretching exercise, water aerobics, or whatever type of exercise get up and move.
6. Learn about tender points. You probably already know more than you realize.
7. A rheumatologist usually makes the diagnosis. People who have fibromyalgia usually are between 20 and 55, but children can have Fibromyalgia.
8. Do not be surprised it you have to go to several doctors to get a diagnosis. This is common. You will probably have to have a lot of medical tests too. Try not to become frustrated and stressed when you have to repeat tests.
9. Major symptoms of Fibromyalgia are muscle pain, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, sleep problems, memory problems, and problems moving in the morning.
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