Do natural remedies help??

[Debradee8]

Hi I have recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia after a year of tests, steroid injections and referrals and counselling after a GP told me that I was in pain because I was depressed!! I have been taking 20mg of amitripyline a day but still in constant pain - I've been told to go to 30mg but can't risk the side effects as I've just started a new job that I need to be 'switched on' for - are there any natural remedies that might help??

[naturalnikki]

Yes, there are natural remedies that help. We are all different and get relieve from different things.

Apple Cider Vinegar with mother drinks with lemon and raw honey and water. This has helped me far greater than i would have expected. It keeps me from getting too bad, keeps me functional.

Magnesium chloride oil diluted with distilled water helps take the edge off the pain.

Juicing fresh fruits and vegetables has really helped energy levels and also helps achiness and really lots of issues.

Spirulina tablets and Wheatgrass tablets they both help a little with achiness and energy.

Stretching and foam rolling and range of motion exercises. All three are different but help relieve tension and ease muscle pain.

Balancing movement (work/exercise) and resting.

Fish oil helps with memory.

Nurturing and healing muscle issues had really helped my pain levels diminish.

I can't think of anything else right now.

Please if you decide to give something a try give it 3-4 weeks at least to show its work.

I hope you find something to help.

Take care ×××

[Debradee8 in reply to naturalnikki]

Thank you that's really helpful, will try one at a time and see if they help xx

[madametobacco49]

Hello Debra--well it sure took time for you to get answers--Did they even talk about tender points--before that year was up> Im sorry you had to go thru that!! Amitriipyline is one of the early anti depressant(at least 40 yrs old) before ssri's--Sometimes to keep certain pills on market when they have lost there popularity for which originally designed they come up with new uses--so again they are saying indirectly the condition is due to depression-and maybe they do help some people Perhaps there are other things as NN said but I haven't gotten lucky-I know of nothing really that helps me but sleep and being in a heated pool--I take a muscle relaxer at night to sleep and something for restless legs--You must learn to pace yourself--(don't look at me--Im a poor example) What we do is have a good day and sort of forget we even have it and just kick butt trying to catch up--The next day it is OMG now I remember--I have fibro and then you are truly a bundle of pain--I don't know what the answer is--I think you must have a daily routine and try not to vary from it ie the hours you keep,exercise,diet ,rest periods etc--I know repetitious movements kill me with exercise--arms over my head kill me--sometimes just being alive kills me and my skin hurts to the softest touch--The jury is out on what this phenomena is--brain or muscle and tendon-I think it is the receptors in brain get turned up from something and the smallest pain becomes huge=Fibro-mites are wandering around in the same huge room-some stumbling,some crying,some praying,waiting for answers.Do the best you can for you..Share what you learn and pace,pace,pace yourself --(even on good days)I have had remissions that have lasted weeks--which to me is slight aching instead of killer stuff--and Ive had weeks where every morning starts with a big why? cry to God----Crying does help some because you get so anxious and wound up it makes it all worse--so let yourself cry if you need too--I have other condtions all potentially more dangerous but can honestly say this one is the bain of my existence and keeps me from doing things I need to do to help get better from the others--Cherish the good times and when you suffer remember the good will come again--If nothing else fibro humbles one and makes you more sympathetic towards all sick and downtrodden on planet-=-Perhaps there is a reason--I have my own belief system about it--and you will find you own and a way to live with it--Try to buck up in situations where you have to--be a warrior--and do your best--Our day will come--It just isn't today- Many Hugs,MmeT

[Debradee8 in reply to madametobacco49]

Thank you. To be honest it's nice to know I'm not alone in feeling all this! I have a demanding job but I love it and I'm determined this is the one thing that fibromyalgia is not going to take away from me! I've given up the gym, walking my dogs, even shopping with my sister is limited! I think the hardest thing is trying to make people understand when I'm having a bad day what an effort it is to put the washing on or get the dinner cooked! And that I'm not just being lazy! I tried to explain to the doctor that the reason I'm depressed is because I'm in pain all the time and asked about fibro but was told that the doctors don't believe in it!! Thought I was going mad for a while! Xx

[hebden in reply to Debradee8]

Doctors (in my experience) seem to want to put it all back onto the sufferer so they don't have to look any further and they can dish out antidepressants. Ive been offered them so many times Ive lost count. I have found since I was diagnosed 3 years ago that you must find what works best for you. Do this with the help from this forum and the lovely people here who know what you are going through because they are too. Pacing yourself is hard because as others have said a good day tends to be a "get it all done day" but then "suffer for ages after". I guess I was lucky (if thats the right word) in diagnosis because the gp I used to have knew straight away what it was and sent me to rheumatology for proper diagnosis. I had a nightmare with rheumatologist but thats another story. Take care hugs Joolz.x

[hebden in reply to madametobacco49]

Wow MmeT. Such lovely things you've said in your reply to Debradee8. You have said what I can never find words for. bless you. Joolz.x

[madametobacco49]

Hi again Deb--I did a post on that--people thinking you aren't sick--They get confused because all they have is their own frame of reference--and they see you when you are functioning--I mean how can they get it--we don't half the time--Try not to personalize it to much--It goes with chronic illness--I remember my mother being dxed with fibro30 years ago--Noone bought it--I don't know how she found a dr to dx her--She told me she had a muscle and tendon disease --That was the original belief system (not brain)--Even I thought she was full of it--(I feel so bad now) Fast forward--I have it and so does one of 3 daughters and I think maybe a 2nd one too--except hers presents with just IBS and migraines and tiredness..Try not to give up the things you love--modify them--It sounds like you are working on that--Where there is a will there is a way--Just get lots of rest--Listen to your body--Lay down when you can and need too=--Everything waits be it housework or a bath--Take care of what has to be done and take care of you--I don't know where you work but if you have a human resource dept and it gets to much talk to them--Odds are if you value your job you are valued to and they will work with you--If you are your own boss all the better--Pace,rest,pace,rest--sleep,sleep,sleep--Do not try to talk yourself out of feeling like crap or beat yourself up because people doubt you are sick or how sick--OMG I used to get so much crap because I couldn't make it to functions etc--they thought it was an excuse to get out of things--Just be prepared--It is a hard thing to uinderstand--a secret ,devious illness that certainly hides itself even when we feel like we are going to break in half--Strange isn't it?? One wonders how something can make your whole body ache like you took a beating and turns your brain to mush--Work some crosswords and play some games on here to stay sharp--anything to do with having tio think and analyze some will help keep you sharp-Most of all--this is not your fault--you are not defective-you are alive and beautiful--We are sensitives and special--Love,MmeT

[Debradee8 in reply to madametobacco49]

Thank you ❤️

[madametobacco49]

your very welcome

[TheAuthor]

Hi Debradee8

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? Welcome to the forum and it is wonderful to make your acquaintance. I have pasted for you below a link to our mother site, FMA UK which hosts loads of useful Fibro information:

fmauk.org/

I personally use a TENS Machine when my pain gets too much for me, and I find it does help take the edge off for me. There is an alternative to Amitriptyline called Nortriptyline that has less side effects that you could discuss with your doctor?

I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck and please take care of yourself my friend.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[Bemoresquirrel]

Hi Debradee8, I find magnesium maleate oil rubbed into sore muscles, then left for a while and wiped off with a baby wipe, takes the edge off the pain when muscles are really tight. Heat pads really help too (I use mine year round and right through the summer) and I get some relief from my TENS machine. Gentle basic yoga exercises help, pacing yourself and keep moving in whatever way you can. Fibro fog has set in and I can't think of anymore. 😄

Gentle hugs x

[Debradee8 in reply to Bemoresquirrel]

Thank you been a bad couple of days! Definitely going to look into the tens option tonight and yoga sounds like an option too! X

[Bemoresquirrel in reply to Debradee8]

I think anything is worth a try when you having a bad time. I use a cordless TENS machine, the little machine part sits in the centre of the pad, it works well and came from that huge on line seller that begins with A and ends in M! Take care, x