Posted by Beth on April 15, 2000, at 10:23:18
In reply to Re: fibromyalgia, posted by quilter on February 21, 1999, at 23:31:31
> > Has anyone been diagnosed with fibromyalgia? I just got this diagnosis and, while it makes a lot of sense for my symptoms now, I'm confused about how it overlaps with depression and not too happy that, unlike depression, it seems most often to be described as a chronic condition with few if any well-documented successful treatments. If anyone has it, what has helped? Does anyone know about the work of Jay. A Goldstein, MD (ie., read his books or tried his treatments)? Thanks for any info. you can supply!
>
> I was diagnosed with FMS about a year ago but had suffered from it for far longer. I have also been depressed for many years. I have found that the only really effective pain medications are not practical in the long run so I depend on other methods for the most part.
> Massage is a great help when I can afford it, Heat helps most when I can exercise in the hot pool, but microwave heat packs are good too. Biofeedback and relaxation techniques help but only if practiced regularly, Stress reduction is a great help but easier said than done.
> For me, Sleep makes a great deal of difference. I find it hard to differentiate FMS symptons form depressive symptoms and med side effects sometimes. It helps that I have something specific to complain about now, but management of both problems seems to mean addressing whichever of them is worst at the moment.
> Currently I am taking Effexor-300mg, Ativan-2mg, Celexa-10mg, Cytomel-25mcg, Ambien-10mg and ibuprofen 600-800mg up to 3 times a day until it eats my stomach and I have to just live with the pain until my stomach heals for a while. Tylenol-codeine works well on the pain but only if I can't function any other way because it puts me to sleep. I would love to hear other opinions on these problems especially options for pain control. Celexa is replacing nortryptiline and was begun about a month ago. Depression is much better but pain is worse.
> Sorry to be so long winded but this barely scratches the surface.
> Quilter
I was diagnosed woth FMS about 4 months ago.
I have tried all the new medcation for joint pain
but I seem to do the best on ultram 50mg,2 tabs,
3X a day. I do take ambien every night to help me
sleep. I have found that sleep dose help but the
best thing do do for FMS is exercise.
When I don't do a lot of moving around i find that
my joint and muscles are very stiff amd painful.
If i walk at least 5 to 10 minutes a day or ride
my bike around the neighberhood I feel a lot
better. The hardest thing is to get moving, but
once I do I feel much better.
I have done so much research on the internet and
every time I find the same answer. Exercise!
It is hard to deal with FMS, becasue it is a
quality of life issue, but even though I was just
dignoised with FMS a few months ago I believe
exercise is the best answer.No high impact
exercise, but just walking riding bikes, water
arobics really work well to make me feel better.
I hope this will help people who read this. I do
also suffer from depression and all the other things
that go with this disease, but if people with it
want quality of life I believe exersie is the
answer to at least help a little with the pain.
poster:Beth
thread:3073
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000411/msgs/30073.html