Does anyone have any ideas as to how to reduce the pain of fibromyalgia?

I am in absolute agony. I have burning pain in my neck arms back and shoulders. I have tried cold pack, hot baths painkillers, ibufen and nothing seems to help. Any suggestions please.

Bob, how do I e.mail you? You not not recieved e.mails.

It is the worst isn't it? Mine started 3 years ago. I have been on Hydrocodone since it started. More recently I started taking Gingko Biloba and Ginsing for the low energy levels and the brain fog. They have both helped enormously.

I find that long periods of fixed positon rest (sleep) causes horrible pain in the morning. I take Two Ibuprofen and two extra strength Excedrin first thing in the AM. and walk or actually limp around the house in the wee hours till I can walk almost OK. The activity really helps it go away.

I use Ice on joints, and heating pads, walking two miles every evening. This is very helpful. Stretching and gentle exercise does help. The more I sit the worse I feel. But I still sit so much because I feel like ---------, you all know what I mean.

The fact it roams around the body just "painfully" fascinates me.
Year One= both knees, (I needed a raised toilet seat, )because my knees would not lift my weight and while I am a tiny bit over my ideal, it is not much. My upper right jaw hinge, it would swell so much I couldn't close my mouth. I got the steel hinged knee supports NOT THE ELASTIC ONES and fixed them both in a few days. Knees not jaws.

Year Two- Wrists and thumb joints, both, I could barely lift anything.

Year three it moved to my spine and my elbow (left) and back to the left thumb joint.

Year Four-This year, Left elbow, left wrist, right is great. Right shoulder (under the blade), right knee, right ankle, bottom of right foot.

I have been able to get a change and one to three month reprieve with a Cortisone shot and and graduated month of Prednisone. I am ready again. I only have this about once a year.

How many of you have compounded diagnoses? I had Endometriosis (when young), now Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid arthritis, and OsteoArthritis. They are so similar I have know real Idea how they clearly determine the differences.

I am seriously considering Acupuncture or Acupressure. Desperation is close at hand.

Strangely enough if I can force myself to go to work. I still work a couple of days a week calling on garden shops. The walking and garden shops in the spring are a huge boost.

Good Luck and God Bless to each and every one of you all.

I do get a Chiropractic adjustment and a massage monthly just to feel the best I can.

I use Arcoxia it works at times and relieves the pain enough to let me do some light exercise which also helps. See if your GP will refer you to a Pain Clinic.
Good Luck.

There are two things that you can do to help with fibromyalgia that I have done. Get in contact with a massage therapist or physiatrist (physiotherapist). By getting work done on your trigger points thru trigger point release, you may begin feeling a whole lot better. Have you considered aqua therapy? This one was great for relaxing my over-tensed body. In addition, some insurances cover both treatments as long as you have a referral from your rheumy or GP. Good luck!

Try EFT. (emotional freedom technique)...go to www.emofree.com and check in archives or find a practitioner in your area

1. Gradually increase aerobic exercise to 20-40 minutes a day and include stretching; 2. Do some form of stress management; 3. Consider medication... most patients with FS use an anti-inflammatory, low doses of tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., Elavil, Pamelor) and the only FDA approved medication is Lyrica (an anti-epileptic medication, but one used in many types of pain including many "nerve pains" like diabetic neuropathy).

I'm in a similar dilemma with FM - can't exercise because of the pain, if I take enough pain killers to help, I just want to sleep. I do get some relief from a wheat bag heated in the microwave and applied where it hurts most, usually my lower back. Be careful not to make too hot - can burn you - I find around 2 minutes on full power about right. If you find any good remedy, please share it.
All the best to you.

Got it myself honey. Move to a hot country. I live in Portugal. Sit in the sun as much as possible, no to tan you, under an umbrella. Also, reduce ALL stress, this is a key factor. Eat fresh and healthy food. Despite doing this, I am an achy individual. Never mind, at least we are alive! Good luck.

E-mail me on regular e-mail at Yahoo.com and not through Yahoo Answers, I can help you.

Do you drink Diet Coke? Sorry for not answering the question.