Anyone have Fibromyalgia and Osteo Arthritis

Amanda - posted on 02/13/2010

Hi my name is Amanda im 34 a disabeled single mum with 3 boys, for the last 2 yrs iv had fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, asthma, underactive thirod and ventricular tachycardia but i also suffer from osteo-arthritus in my spine with a bulging disc on my nerves which iv suffered from for 7 yrs, im on a mixture of medication gabapentin for the fibro (in england its usally used for epilepsy but its showed good results for people suffering with fibromyalgia to.)They have helped me lots if i didn't take them i wouldn't walk at all, I also use slow release Butran patches for my bad back and other pain, when i get very bad with pain i have liquid morphine im also on a low dose of prozac antidepressent . I think they all help in there way but i also take a multi vitamin every day aswell as other stuff for my other problems. I don't have a medicine cabinet i use a big draw its more like a chemist in my house ...i used to have hand/leg cramps all night but as soon as i started using my thirod medication they dissapeared maybe get your thirod checked. hope iv helped abit if you need a chat just send me a message
take care Amanda x

Dawn - posted on 02/13/2010

I agree that magnesium and vitamin d have helped me. I have fibro and o.a. and r.a.But a blod clotting factor eliminates a lot of the stuff that should be effective with the arthritis for me. Mild exercise and theraputic massage also helps ( can't always afford this). It is just such a constant battle that some days all you do is deal with pain. I do still work after changing jobs 5 times. Cut back to every other day and split up shifts to allow for rest. Often use cold packs during the day to minimize joint inflamation. What I really struggle with is sleep. I cannot lay down w/o severe pain. But for some reason I can sleep soundly in the early morning for 2-3 hours. After reading some of these responses beginning to think cymbalta may be doing more harm then good. Will try it first thing in the morning, see if I can get to sleep before dawn. Very frustrating. Really relieved to know I'm NOT just plain crazy and other people do have symptoms that they chase around with varying degrees of success. : ^ )

Shelly - posted on 01/23/2010

Thankyou Kristen I tend to agree that the anti depressants do nothing for the fibro. I have been on the anti depressants for a few months and they have not decreased the pain one little bit. I do find that if I stay on my Glucosamine it helps but the one I usually buy has been out of stock every where since just before xmas. I let it go but the pain has become unbearable everywhere. This humidity we are having here is not helping but I got onto a new brand of affordable Glucosamine today from Aldi worth a try so hopefully within days it will start to ease.
Rosie you have to find somethiing that eases the pain I understand where you are coming from but you can't give up sure you have a family well think of them it will make it worth keeping on goiing.
Try some Glucosamine and some fish oil or at least the Glucosamine.
Yes Kristen you do have to keep active I want to get into Tai chi as it is gentle movement but trying o find classes that work in with my own ability to attend is the problem. Most in my area are night have just found some that are day and goiing to enroll for next beginners class. In the meantime I walk where possible but a big day out puts me so behind for days due to exhaustion and pain in hips and neck,legs arms etc from driving and walking.
Thankyou everyone who has responded to this.
Rosie also try Lavender Oil it helps.

Kristen - posted on 01/22/2010

Fibro is different for each person, so it's hard to say for sure what will help. However, I have both fibro & osteoarthritis & I must tell you all that for me personally, magnesium, 6,000 mgs per day of fish oil & Vitamin D have decreased my pain more than the anti depressants & all the other drugs I've tried. Also, daily epsom salt soaks. BIG help! The epsom salt pulls toxins out of your body & absorb some magnesium that way too. Lastly, this one is the hardest, with fibro, you have to MOVE ALL the muscles, yoga, walking, ANYTHING will help, but you have to start REALLY slow, almost pathetically so. But you can work your way up. ANYONE feel free to let me know if you'd like more info or have any questions. I manage my pain without ANY drugs from the pharmacy and find it to be more effective than when I had an arsenal of meds to choose from in my cabinet.

I wish you all the best of luck, stay positive, talk to a professional.

Rosie - posted on 01/21/2010

Today I can just barely walk and I cannot raise my arms, my legs are in terrible pain, I am ready to call it quits for I cannot win this battle. I am not strong enough.

Joellen - posted on 01/21/2010

Shelly, I can relate to the oa but not the Fibro. I have arthritis in my left knee due to an injury. I take fish oil and glucosimine (spelling)/conjointin. I have been working out about three days per week to help with knee pain. Perhaps some Physical Therapy might help out?

Joellen

Rosie - posted on 01/18/2010

I have both and it makes it difficult everyday to do the simpliest things.

Christine - posted on 11/09/2009

i seem to get mild muscle cramps in my calves, and in my neck and upper back----this is new for me just in the last year. is this a common thing for fibromyalgia?

Shelly - posted on 11/08/2009

Thanks Christine wish i could find some research on other drugs. I can't though if you know any for herre in Australia would be most grateful. I live with the pain most days I don't even take the pain killers except when it is beyond normal coping. Which is about 2 or 3 nights a week but then some weeks it is all week. My worst problem lately is a permanent cramp in the left foot and calf muscle now that one is driving me nuts.

Christine - posted on 11/08/2009

can you take them some of the research on using other meds and maybe get them to prescribe something else. if i had to deal with the pain i feel when my meds start to wear off all the time, i think i would be suicidal!