Hi everyone,
I was just wondering, aside from the obvious (warm bath and hot water bottle), are there any other things that help you on a day to day basis as well as medication? Perhaps alternative therapies, lotions & potions or maybe diets?
Thanks for your comments x
I doesn't relieve any symptoms, but I find that having vanilla candles lit in my room while I rest help me relax and feel happier. Of course, if you might fall asleep with lit candles make sure someone else is there to put them out. My ever-vigilant partner extinguishes them if I drift off, but usually I just like to watch the flames in the pretty blue candle holders I have. I find that Wilko are great for scented candles - not too overpowering, just pleasant.
Keep the stress monster at bay, when things arise if I can deal with it I do so, if I can't I forget it or seek help. Never let stress get to you. I also practice mindfulness meditation to clear my mind of the constant chatter that can leave us sleepless we all have enough to deal with trying to rest when in pain. I have tried most of the so called healing diets and found them to be of no use to me at all. It is worth keeping a food diary for a while to see if symptoms worsen with certain foods. Best wishes. Lou x
vanilla candles from Ikea are really fantastic 
Vanilla is nice but leaves me craving ice cream.
I love anything lavender scented. 
Hi magnetta,
My preferences over the hot water bottle are the herbal/seed filled wraps that are made in different sizes and shapes and heat up in the microwave.
Like others, I think candles are yummy for the restful atmosphere. I also essential oils. When I want to sleep or chill, I like chomomile and/or lavendar. If I feel a cold or some immune system deficiency coming, I take herbal extracts and use lemon and chamomile oils - breathing them in, putting directly on skin, using in an "oil burner" made specifically for essential oils.
I have been planning to restart a gentle regimen of yoga. I used to do it, but stopped when my knees and carpal tunnel syndrome worsened. But it was relaxing and the stretching was very good. So an altered routine without the stressful poses might work. Others have done water aerobices (pacing themselves) and swear by it.
Yoga realy help to relax and its helpse to sleep xx
I must admit my hot water bottle is my best friend!
I've found a great cream called pernaton gel, it's derived from green muscles. It leaves the sore bits really cold and tingly but definitely dampens the pain. I use it before I go to work.
The hydrotherapy pool is great. Let's me exercise and stretch all those joints and muscles in the lovely warm water.
I use a tens machine when things are bad, esp before bed. Massage once a moth is expensive but I've found someone who follows my instruction and changes the pressure as tolerated.
Trying to relax is tough but music helps me. Upbeat tunes to boost my mood my G.P recommends! I'm starting CBT therapy too so mabey that'll help, I'm a bit nervous but I'll try anything if there's a chance of improvement.
Don't know if I'm answering the question correctly. But I find having a hug helps me, my hubby is lovely and warm, so try to nick some of his warmth with a sly cuddle. A hug from my grandson who is five. Comes bounding in from school(he lives next door with my daughter.........how lucky am I ?), he is always so happy and bouncy and funny, his cuddles lift my spirits, however yucky I am feel. So I would say hugs and cuddles, they make me feel happy and loved, that's got to be good right?
Hope you are all feeling as well as you ca (((Hugs to you all))))
Hi magnetta
I use my TENS Machine on a daily basis and I find it a massive help! I genuinely hope that you can find something that helps you?
Take care
Ken x
Massage (research shows people with fibro reduce analgesia by on average 37% with a weekly massage. I studied it in a course and I have a long warm bath followed by a self-massage (read the book by Denise Wichelow-Brown on massage and it has a chapter on how to do it). I also do trigger point massage, using the book by Clare Davies - Trigger Point Therapy Workbook. I do stretch exercises daily, yoga every week - most yoga teachers are really wise and if you talk to them about your problems they will set you exercises that are within your limitations. I use a face frame for face pain, one little one for day time and a bigger one for the night time, I take a low acid diet for my bladder which mostly means leaving out tea, coffee, fruit juice and artificial sweeteners and flavourings and being careful with citrus, tomatoes and pickles, I use activated charcoal tablets for bowel symptoms, I did a course on Alexander Technique to improve my posture (highly recommended, I did an online course as it was much cheaper than going to a therapist, really helped), I use cold packs (useful for vulval pain and face pain/headaches) and hot packs or hot water bottles everywhere else for pain, I have a memory foam mattress, I meditate which I really recommend, I use an audiobook at night which really helps the nights along and means I am not stressed by not sleeping, a little rest in the middle of the day helps. Love and gentle hugs are important too, sending them to you.
Hi ya
it's so interesting to hear about what helps you all but what is a face frame and where did you get it? I've had face pain for over ten years and never heard of it before?!
Wishing you all a peaceful restorative nights sleep x
I had a face frame made by a specialist dentist. The face pain is often caused by Temporo-Mandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ) which is very common with fibromites. If you can make the muscles of your face relax and also stop any teeth grinding the pain just disappears. Mine cost me about £300 each but I know that they do them for free at Bristol Dental Hospital, so maybe they do at other dental hospitals for NHS patients. It really works like magic - I have recommended it to a number of people on this site, and some people have had a face frame made and come back to me to say it worked for them too. Hope it works for you. Love and hugs x
Hi Judith. Thanks for letting me know. I too have been dx with TMK disfunction syndrome and seen about 8 specialists over the years including some at Eastman Dental Hospital in London but no one ever mentioned a face frame!! I've had operations, epidurals, spinal blocks, steroid injections, been pumped full of chemicals and exhausted treatment at pain clinics twice!! I am now 3 years into orthodontic treatment so will ask her about it.
Yet again this forum and the lovely people on it like you have taught me something new.
Xxxx
I can't believe that no-one has offered you a device to wear over your teeth for TMJ. My dentist recommended me to a specialist dentist immediately and I had one made within a few days, so I thought it happened to everyone who sought help. I think it is called a bite guard. The smallest ones just fit over the two front top or bottom teeth and they are in clear material and virtually unnoticeable, so you can wear them all the time except when you eat. To protect against tooth grinding I wear a bigger one at night that stops my jaw from moving from side to side - I never sleep without it. I can't recommend the frames highly enough, it is like magic - even if I have a headache, I just pop a frame in and first of all the pain moves to my teeth, and within 5 minutes no pain at all in my face, jaw, head, teeth. Bliss!! Love and hugs x
Wow! Thanks for all of your replies. It will be fun trying all these things out!
Sounds a bit strange but I use an exercise ball (inflatable thingy) to sit on when I have certain pain as gently moving on it stretches my muscles. It is super comfortable and use it whilst I am watching TV x
Hi Magnetta, i have a big pink exercise ball and also use it to sit on as well as exercise ! I bought it after trying one in hospital. I have very painful cocyx so is a relief. I use frankinscense essential oil to relax and basil and lavender for pain. For breakfast i juice fresh fruit and veg and changed to wholemeal bread, i avoid white bread, white sugar, white flour, all of this has improved my ibs. Hope this is useful,
Hi Shazzy, I also have coccygeal pain and IBS. My doctor recommended the FODMAP to me for IBS. It is quite complicated so I haven tried it yet, but it is meant to be amazing, if you have more willpower than me it might be a try! Thank you for the tips, hope you are having a nice evening x
Thanks will check it out
Hi im new to this site and have been reading all thats being said , I saw an advert for actipatches and thought I would try it , , I've been using it for two months now 24/7 and have noticed it has calmed the pain down it hasn't taken it away but it's certainly better , I just wondered if anyone else has tried it.
Rolling on a tennis ball, it softens the muscle.It also helps find where the pain is radiating from.
Hot water bottles, bliss. I swear my ever patient hubby could fill them for me in his sleep.
If driving is painful I keep a tennis ball in the car, put it behind me, I can usualy find the spot, I get strange looks when it rolls out with me when I get out.
Good Luck.
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