I have pain in my back and I am tired all the time. I also get sleep paralysis, any suggestions to cope better with this?

[Dylan]

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Hello Dylan, thank you for your message. I tried to look at your profile to get some information as to whether you've been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and also whether you have other conditions. It's difficult to reply to your question because there is no info given. If you could complete your profile please it would give us a clear picture of how you are. Many thanks.

I wonder have you discussed this with either your GP or Consultant? If you haven't been referred to a Rheumatologist before perhaps this is the best step to take first to get a diagnosis. As you are tired all the time, you may have CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), but this would need to be assessed and verified.

Sleep problems and sleep deprivation are common with Fibro and also with CFS. Sleep Paralysis is also quite common with both conditions. The most obvious suggestion would be to try to regulate your bedtimes, your sleep times and your wake times, this is a gradual process and one that tends to be taught at a CFS Clinic on a pacing programme.

Please see your Doctor or Consultant first to discuss your symptoms, hopefully that will put you on the right track to feeling less tired and having more constructive sleep. Best of luck. Please let us know how you get on. Take care Dylan!

[Dylan]

Hi. Thanks for the advice..

I've had high blood pressure for around 10 years and I'm borderline diabetic. I have worked in care settings for 20 years and this has involved a lot of manual handling of people in the past. I'm more management level these days.

I have seen my GP re the back pain etc and she just said it was fiborsitis, gave me pain killers and never offered me any more treatment or advice and she didn't even say what it is. All the information I have got I have had to research myself.

I saw a physio (privately) for a while but and he gave me good advice and I can manage the pain most of the time but do have to rake pain killers the odd day.

I haven't got CFC because I can manage to hold down a job and I don't think I would be able to do so without it.

I just find the pain, mixed with the tiredness and depression it brings on impacts largely on all the other parts of my life and I don't feel like "me" any more.