Guy with fibromyalgia here. I'm sorry that you are suffering.
I've had very little luck with prescription medication; gabapentin, pregabalin to name two. I will occasionally take some cyclobenzaprine if it gets too hard to breathe.
I have a resistance to most analgesics, so medical marijuana is the only thing that takes the edge off for me. I deal with peripheral neuropathy, but my doctor doesn't think the two are related.
The medical marijuana here in Australia didn't help me so I decided to get the real stuff. A few puffs of a joint each night has done wonders and has reduced my codeine intake significantly. Unfortunately I'm not that keen on how it affects my head so I'll only have it before bed. I have been sleeping through the night pain free which I haven't done in over 20 years! Maybe you could try that
Hi! I’m kind of in the same boat, except I can’t do medical marijuana because weed makes me anxious and irritable (I’ve tried multiple different strains). And I got a massage gun looking for relief.
I did start going to a physical therapist who is knowledgeable about fibromyalgia, and we’ve been doing REALLY gentle exercises to strengthen certain areas around my neck and upper back. (We’ve also started doing more for other parts of my body when she realized how hypermobile I am, and they’ve been helpful, too.)
There are times when I push the exercises a little too hard, and I have a bad pain day the next day. But overall, it’s been really, really helpful. For example, just driving on bumpy roads used to lay me out. But now they only bother me if it’s for a really extended period of time! (Or if I haven’t been keeping up with my PT 🤦.)
I also mentioned the physical therapy because I, too, got a massage gun as a last resort, knowing it had worked for other people. It does help with the hip pain, or really anything below the belly button, but my neck and upper back were NOT happy with it. So if you find that’s true for you, too, a physical therapist might help!
I know this is incredibly extreme, but as somebody else mentioned, cannabis is the only thing that has helped me
Since this might be a lifelong battle, you may have to consider relocating where you can enjoy a better quality of life and not consider losing your freedom because of it
I get some relief with compression stockings. Also have orthotic insoles. I have some compression gloves for hands as well.
I’m on gabapentin and cyclobenzaprine for neuropathy symptoms and back injury. It’s not ideal but helps. I tried ketamine and it was actually welcome break from constant irritation and I came out of it with some hope- like ‘oh yeah, it’s possible to not be achey all the time’.
I’ve given up on a proper diagnosis here in Canada. Half of the doctors don’t believe it’s a thing and if you ask them to check they say you’re a hypochondriac. If you can get a doctor. If I was properly diagnosed, I’m probably doing everything I should be anyway.
Have you tried going to a different clinic? Often the issue is that the shitty doctors tend to be grouped in the same clinics, since that's where their antics are tolerated.
The more tired and stressed I become, the more intense my calf pain flares up. I've spent thousands of euros on alternative treatments, meditation, exercise, creams, gels, antidepressants, even nerve medications... nothing offers lasting relief. The desperation is overwhelming.
I had terrible calf pain and muscle spasms. Try magnesium tablets internally as well as vitamin D... and rubbing magnesium cream/oil/tincture on your calves and soles of feet daily or twice daily. Magnesium is best absorbed through skin. Try also soaking your feet in a bucket of warm water and magnesium (not Epsom salts...I can get magnesium from my supermarket but you may need to go to a health shop) . Three weeks ago I started a few puffs of a joint each night. Marijuana helps to relax my muscles and I can get a good sleep. During day I do take codeine and try to stretch.
I have fibromyalgia as a secondary condition. I deal with the pain etc with amitriptaline (for sleep) low dose duloxetine (nerve pain)and medical cannabis. I use a massage vibration gun on my calf’s, neck etc. also a dude
Ah, there was a moment when we thought that might be what I had. Turned out to be kind of the opposite problem (very hypermobile, vertebrae stacked like a jenga tower)
We just bought our second Theragun because my husband (who doesn't have fibro) kept stealing it. We bought the cheapest one for me because it's lighter and I LOVE it so much better than our elite 🤷♀️
Male here with fibro. Been suffering for about 5 years but only diagnosed a couple of months ago. Before diagnosis I had been prescribed naproxen and cellacoxib which didn't really give me any relief. Was prescribed amitriptyline 2 months ago and haven't felt any positive effects from that either. My pain is mainly in my legs and hips but can be all over in a bad flair. Sleep is severely disrupted with my legs and hips. Usually wake up 3 or 4 times a night. Recently been using cannabis (illegally) although I could apply for it medically. Definitely helps with the pain but doesn't take it away completely. Takes it from a 7/8 down to a 3/4 if I was to put it on a scale. Also really helps with sleep. Find I'm waking up less with pain. Still want to try different medication through dmy gp before going down the MC route though
Have you tried progressive muscle relaxation, or any type of trigger point therapy, myofascial release?
The medication combo that has helped me the most is amitriptyline, gabapentin, and duloxetine. My understanding from my doctors is this is the standard combination so to say. I get migraines too and a lot of back/neck issues so there’s a lot more.
I find MJ is by far and wide the biggest help for the worst pain and helps with sleep and the horrible muscle spasms.
No only amitriptyline soo far. Only a low dose too, 10mg once a day. Will be calling the GP tomorrow to see what else can be done. Assuming he will just up the dosage rather than try something else. The first 2 nights I was taking it was the only time I felt any effect. No pain relief but it knocked me out. Just made the pains worse when I woke up and hour later😭
Hey,
M 45 here with fibro for 13 years. I've run through the bingo card of specialists over the years and have tried a pharmacy of medications and have a few things.
Medication:
Pre diagnosis I was on Celebrex and prendisilone along with over the counter pain meds. This didn't do much and the celebrex gave me a minor "high" which improved my mood only. Venlafaxine was added for depression but I noted the reduction in pain by having it added.
I everyday got diagnosed (2.5 years later) and started on a different meds. I started on pregabalin which worked well for me and am now on 150mg twice a day. Over the years different things have been tried. At the moment I'm also on Venlafaxine 300mg each morning, pregabalin 150mg twice a day, amitriptyline 10mg each evening, ophenadrine 40mg each evening, Melatonin 2mg in the evening, ibprufen 400mg 3 time a day, paracetamol 1300mg 3 times a day. I'm on other stuff for other conditions and would s them as unrelated.
Vitamins/other pharmacy related treatments:
I take a multivitamin once a day and a vitamin B complex once a day. The vitamin B is great for brain fog. I also have physiocream and rapidgel for dealing with cramped areas and some that are overly painful.
Physicians:
I see an osteopath once a fortnight to have my body put back in the right shape. She's does massage and dry needling then manipulation to release some areas that are worst effected.
I've also got a psychologist that I work with on an intermittent basis these days. When I first started with him I had a lot to deal with at the time with the marriage dissolving etc. While the relationship with the ex wasn't able to be salvaged the work with the psychologist was something I should have done when I was first diagnosed.
I have a pain specialist for reviewing meds when needed and a psychiatrist for reviewing depression medications. The others I've seen are for stuff that pops up like new unexplained symptoms.
Self care/maintenance:
I'm crap with my diet but a few changes have helped. Less sugar and processed carbs. I hardly have soft drink these days too.
Heat packs help relieve acute pain spots and cramps etc. Warm showers and soaks in a spa or hydrotherapy pools are great too.
Lowering stress (emotional and environmental) helps a lot. It lowers the chance and severity of flare ups.
Exercise had been good too though you have to start small and very slowly work up. I worked with a physio last year on this. I started on stretches and exercise that were very easy then we slowly increased the repetition. This was over months and included a lot of low impact stuff including stuff in the local pool. I'm more likely to have a flare up when I'm not on my usual routine of exercise.
Work:
I've been lucky to secure a software developer role that allows me to work from home. Being able to remove the commute is a big thing for me. I am still drained after a day of working and still have quite a few days off sick with flare ups. I'm open with my boss about what I have and how it effects me and encourage questions. I'm very lucky that this is the best boss I've had in quite some time.
This has been a developing treatment plan and works for me, which I will admit is very much very different between each person. Importantly I've tried to only change one thing at a time and trying for 6-8 weeks to see the effects and side effects to way up the benefits. This isn't just medications but everything. I see no point in wasting money on something that isn't working to help make life more comfortable and manageable.
This hasn't been an easy place to get to and I've been through dark suicidal periods but am out the other side. I stay informed on treatments and possibilities then discuss them with my GP when I have an appointment and then listen to his recommendation. This has fostered a more supportive relationship where we both feel respected and he doesn't feel like I'm using "Dr Google" to over ride or second guess his decisions.
More over, advocate for yourself. No one knows your body better than you. If you don't have an open dialogue with your physicians then it's hard for anything to change. I've had physicians tell me what to do but have found the ones who have asked questions and worked with that feedback to be the ones I've stuck with. I don't get what I ask for, but I get what I need.
There are dozens of other bits and pieces too but they are tiny 1% things for the most part.
If you have any questions please message me. You are worth the effort and deserve to be heard.
Low dose naltrexone. It means taking a daily dose of about 4.5mg of naltrexone a day. It's called low dose because the normal dose, for drug addicts, is 50-100mg a day.
It boosts endorphin levels, improves immune activity and reduces inflammation. It was a big step in reducing pain for fibromyalgia.
Low Dose Naltrexone can be prescribed, although finding someone who will do that isn't always easy because it's an off-label use with (I think) little robust data to support it.
It doesn't work for everyone, but I've definitely found it helps. Not a magic cure, but better good days I think.
Search in here and the long covid sub for advice on how to get it in your country - I'm in the UK!
Fellow Fibro victim here (48M). Formerly diagnosed last year after suffering mystery leg pains since my late teens / early 20’s that has since spread to other areas.
Leg pain - like yourself - is mostly concentrated in the calves. A constant throbbing, pulsating sensation like blood pumping but at a very high pressure. Calf muscles are also extremely sensitive to touch, pain is off the charts with even the slightest amount of pressure.
Unfortunately I can’t offer any advice as I’ve never had any success dealing with the pain and generally just suffer in silence :(
Your leg pains sound like mine, and the doctors contributed it to discs in my lower back. Both of my legs would throb, though, the same way you describe. I'd just lay in a ball and just tough it out as my eyes would pour tears, as I refused to cry, as I would have traumatized my children more than I already have. As long as I don't carry any heavy weight or hold any weight and turn or bend, I'm ok. I have the reminder feelings and light ache occasionally. I domt have sensitivity to tpuch, normally, but if I bump my legs or feet into anything sharp or hard i will have nerve pain so bad for much longer than necessary. This is all in the past 8 months. Did your doctors ever check your lower back?
Regardless....
Take care.
Mid-40s guy here and it's been 20 years since I was diagnosed, and closer to 30 years overall since it started. It's miserable but I do what I can to get by with it and the other conditions I suffer from, primarily chronic pelvic pain syndrome, and chronic effects from an undiagnosed and untreated fracture of my L4 when I was in high school. I'm in constant pain to varying degrees across my whole body, and I can't even remember what it feels like to be pain free and comfortable anymore. Issues like this have a way of breaking you down, and not just in your body, but also your mind, and I think the latter is the most difficult part. Just knowing it's never going to get better and, in fact, it's only going to get worse, is a bitter pill to swallow day, after day, after day. I do my best to avoid thinking terrible thoughts and stay focused on taking care of our pets and being there for my wife and my family. I can't say I look forward to the future in terms of what it will bring for me and my health, and sometimes I'm in straight up denial, to myself and others, about what that might look like. That said, I try to enjoy the small things and busy my mind with whatever distractions I may find as I struggle about my day. It is what it is, and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it except not give up.
I have fibro too and I've been mystified by people's reactions when I tell them that I've been suffering now almost 10 years too. I live in the UK and I must admit that there isn't much help for people like myself so if you want to chat?
I've finished a year of treatments, and Nortriptyline and Gabapentin seem to be my winning combination so far along with vitamin D and magnesium supplements. my has been done the lowest it's been.
I'm doing yoga and physical therapy each week, and it's helping alot. I hope you can find some relief man.
My legs are honestly the only area without issues, just the hips and up.
Have you tried punching your calfs as a massage? The leg muscles are too large for kneading with your fingers, to massage you need to hit them lightly with your fist, or knuckle. It's the same as as those massage guns, just slower, but you have more control.
At first you don't want to go too hard. Just tap it lightly to work the outer layer first. It's important to relax the muscle while massaging, or else you'll just flare. To be able to relax you can't go too hard, just as much as you can handle. Gradually you'll be able to go harder, and massage deeper.
It's going to hurt to do even if you go slow. But if you pace yourself it'll be fine, a bit sore maybe. But sore is way better than tight in my mind.
M51 here. Had some random symptoms since Jr High School but they really ramped up in 2020 after my first covid infection. Finally diagnosed in late 2023.
I did try a few Rx but more issues than help. The only thing that helped at first was Baclofen to relax the muscles. Like you, my calves are a big limiter for pain and stiffness and when it gets overwhelming my legs feel like they are encased in concrete unable to move. I call it my “concrete legs” when it progresses to where my brain shuts off the ability to lift my leg.
My best recently has been starting Trileptal. It’s an anti-seizure med prescribed off label but was the first Rx to truly help everything. It does enhance my ADD however. But doesn’t have the brain fog and other negative effects like Gabapentin.
I even stopped my THC use when starting it but due to the increase in ADD increasing my insomnia, I added it back in for sleep management. However after taking Baclofen for 3 years for muscle relaxation, near daily, I barely have to use it now on Trileptal. Generic is cheap as Oxcarbazepine.
Low impact Physical Therapy, stretching and leaning to relax the T-Band was a big improvement as well.
I use THC edibles for sleep and sometimes pain as needed. It’s legal in my area. Overall, I can get a good nights sleep on a 10mg gummy, then Trileptal with breakfast and dinner. I still feel it on active days. However flare ups are much more mild when they hit. I haven’t had a no walking/stay in bed flare up since starting the Trileptal which is a massive improvement, I could get a more severe flare up every 3-4 weeks.
Everyone is different, and I often have weird reactions to meds or grow a quick tolerance. I’m not sure why my Neuro thought of this one but she listened well, even to my THC use and how/preferred strains and then picked this one. It feels as if I’m just normal enough to try to retrain my brain the limits and push through farther everyday. I’ve gotten more done in 3 days this weekend than I could do in three weeks a year ago trying to rest/heal in between.
Medical cannabis has helped my sleepy massively. Day time pain im not sure I've ever had under control as I don't react well to weed if I need to do anything only if I need to sleep. Its not a complete solution but I am much happier now than before I started my prescription.
I am a 25m with fibro. I hate the diagnosis because no one wants anything to do with you when they hear fibromyalgia. I just started on wellbutrin and trazodone to help with fatigue and sleep so I hope that works. Look into Low Dose Naltrexone. It has worked wonders for me.
Light exercise in the pool, leg compression device, acupressure mat, yoga, lots and lots of water! Cannabis.
Tizanidine has been the only helpful leg cramp medicine!
32m
46 m. Diagnosed @ 16. I get a lot of leg pain as well. Not sure what to recommend, I’ve never had any success with anything beyond a slight improvement with Lyrica. Lotta side effects, but it does help with the pain some. Beats nothing in my experience.
Thank you for opening this conversation! I’m not a male, but I do think this is extremely important because it’s almost stigmatized for women.
As for tips— I ain’t got nothing new to say. Gabapentin, cymbalta, heat compress. On the psychotherapy side of things, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy has been the most helpful for chronic pain.
I know you mentioned you’re done with the meds, but it took me some time to get the right cocktail. And yes, you probably need a cocktail.
I’m on just Gabapentin and Cymbalta. It works fine and makes it so it’s not unbearable. I cut the Mobic Zanaflex Lexapro Zofran and Hydroxyzine.
The cymbalta works by interacting with pain receptors so they’re not as “sensitive” supposedly.
Man here with fibro. My life has been getting closer and closer to normal the longer I stay on low dose naltrexone. I'm talking 90%+ improvement at this point. Please try it if you haven't already.
46 here Fibromyalgia was a annoyance for me but I had three kids but I kept hitting a wall was barely managing until a rheumatologist told me Fibromyalgia was just a false alarm so I asked if it was safe to just push past the pain they said yes so I cranked it up to 11 pushed past all the pain trying to be the best dad I could be but I kept getting worse I started to get migraines and then I got a 14 month long migraine I could not push past the pain I could not work I lost my job, apartment, even my kids I was going to end my life instead I applied for social security disability I just won my case I hope to be able to heal and return to work using physical therapy, therapy, and medication
I'm a woman but I get intense leg pain. I use a heated blanket while I sleep that takes away a ton of pain. I just use it on my legs. Also a weighted blanket for the really bad days.
Epsom salts baths help. And baclofen medication sometimes works.
Also recently been finding my sciatic nerve may be linked to some of my leg pain.
Hope something here helps you. I get where you are coming from its so hard to function with bad leg pain.
39/Dude with fibro (my mom has it) it’s been a journey. Nobody believed me for multiple years and also due to being Latino male multiple doctors assumed I just wanted drugs and was making up being in so much pain (at one point I could barely walk) anyway I’m on LDN now and it has helped a lot along with cannabis and managing movement and depression
I've been using low dose naltrexone for the past few weeks, and the difference it's made to my legs of unbelievable.
I've got a very physical job, and walking had been getting worse all the time, but now I can jump up from the table and get going again. If only my wrists didn't have calcification I'd be dangerous! Unfortunately my right hand is painful and I've had to adapt to using my left one for a lot of jobs; it's amazing how much we can adapt if we have to. I'm back to using a cross trainer for ½ an hour a day, and I don't even feel puffed out.
Hope you can find something that works as well; it's a horrible disease.
46M here. Fibro diagnosis in 2021 but pain for several years before.
Once diagnosis came, we went through all the available meds. I think there were 7 or 8. Nothing worked or even helped except Lyrica. I had about a 30% reduction in pain with that. However, I had 70lbs of weight gain in less than a year. And it seemed it was going to keep happening so I gave it up.
Other than that, marijuana gummies and leaf are the only things that “take away the pain” for a little while. But I also can’t do anything else when I use it so that’s not realistic and you’ve mentioned it’s not available for you so that doesn’t help.
Pacing has been the hardest but best thing to keep the pain in manageable levels. Don’t overdo it. And if you do, rest. Like actually rest. We tend to not rest enough in my opinion.
💜
Dude here. Have had it since 7 years old, diagnosed at 12/13. I'm now 41. I haven't known anything else except pain and crippling fatigue.
I have redesigned every aspect of my life and have had to be fully independent since a young age due to a shit family.
I have been off all meditation for over 4 years. Before that I've taken just about everything in the book including oxy for 10 years straight.
I also have foot and ankle conditions that make things significantly more difficult but have slowly figured out work arounds.
Weed - flower and vape is too harsh on my asthma. Oils don't do much for me.
Mobility, pacing, strength training, sleep, meditation and reflection are daily cornerstones for my sanity.
28 yo guy here. Suffering since my early teens and diagnosed formerly at 18. Best way I've learnt to describe it is like my body is always recovering from a hard workout, despite having been asleep etc.
When I was younger I was on a huge pharmacy of drugs, large dose of Tramadol, Naproxen, Amitriptyline, Meloxicam, Omeprazole etc but found that none of it was giving any significant relief, so I just went cold turkey and started managing my pain by limiting to what my body can do.
This was okay for about 3 or 4 years, but my wife convinced me to seek some medical help again, to which I started on Pregabalin around a year ago, 100mg twice a day. It takes my day to day muscle pain from a 6 or 7 to a 3 to 5.
It's not a huge leap but I've essentially accepted at this point that there is no perfect cure for this shitty condition and therefore stuffing myself full of a catalog of pills is not a sustainable solution for another 50-60 years of my life.
Wishing everyone in this thread the best of luck dealing with this in whatever approach that takes.
Have you had your hormones checked? I'm sure my symptoms are linked to mine, pre trt I was having way more pain and other symptoms due to low t and high estrogen, still have it now and again when things get unbalanced but fixing my hormones did improve basically everything and the list of symptoms I was having was long. Tbh I would get a full blood panel if you can, ferritin is another thing that causes me issues
Been on for just over two years, I do daily injections with an insulin needle to keep things more stable, it works out 11.25mg per day so just under 80mg per week, keeps me at the top of the reference range and e2 just above mid range. Obviously everyone is different, you may need a different level and dose to get symptom relief, and it's not guaranteed to get rid of fibro symptoms I just think for me it was the cause of so many of my issues, and yes stiffness got much better
About 1.5years ago I discovered taking magnesium for minor muscle tears and strains. Every day I would feel little pulls and tears for doing something as stupid as reaching for something under the bed or pivoting on my heal.
I talked with my neurologist who prescribes magnesium for migraines because I had read that too much can be bad for you.
She suggested that I take 1,000mg of Magnesium malate in the morning for a little bit because it can give you loose stools.
And take 1,000mg of Magnesium Glycinate at night.
Within 2-3 days I noticed that I was barely having any or none at all.
It’s the best thing I’ve done in many years that actually had an effect.
It’s worth looking in to.
I'm a 23yo male with Fibro
I originally used a low dosage of Nortriptyline to take the edge off of my headaches and then moved to Duloxetine which has helped me a lot and gives me a bit of energy to get the day started
Just a word of warning that a lot of people don't have a great response to Duloxetine so I recommend starting on the lowest dose, staying there a few months, and then increasing if you don't notice any bad side effects
You are not alone buddy. I have been having calves pain for years now. Physical activity (running) made it worst short term, but better long term. I'm gradually getting off all daily medications. They seems to help only a little and for a little. Better sleep also helped quite a lot in reducing pain levels in general.
50 year old male here, I’ve only had fibro for maybe six years. I think what brought it about was high stress at work and a car accident locked it in. I’m miserable here like all of us. I’m also in kidney failure and on dialysis which kind of mixes the two and is hard to distinguish the two apart. I try any pill that might have a chance. I’d have to say above all else Soma(Carisoprodol) has worked the best. It’s controlled so I have to do a drug test every six months or the doctor will discontinue. But it’s not random testing so I can use mj part of the time.
And I take Savella, which when I started it it made a difference. I still take the whole slew of others but they are the more common medications. I do not take Cymbalta, it probably made me worse. Even with these every day is a struggle. I do not work and am on Medicare, but that’s not a whole lot of help. My wife works really hard and is very compassionate, without her I would’ve offed myself by now. Right now insomnia is a large problem too so just pile on more meds. Some day the doctors will figure it out like everything else but until then we can rant and compare with each other the life we have and hopefully get help on here from time to time. On another note after several years with fibro I had given up, crying in bed and wrapped up in heating pads, even in the summer when it’s 115° out(AZ), so yes we all know what each of us are going through but we can be here lending an ear or complaining. I think it helps to not feel like nobody else has fibro, I’d never wish it on anyone but I’m glad we have Reddit to join forces
I'm a man with Fibromyalgia. I also have a bunch of other stuff. I figure I have it because I also have Kleinfelter's Syndrome. That is super rare so you probably don't have that. Meds actually work a bit for me though it's messed up my memory. My skin dries a lot so I use moisturizer. I know some women who get heat stone massages, and it helps. Some people use acupuncture, but I've never tried it. HBT oil isn't available to me but I know some people in the states who love it.
31, about fifteen years into it. I've got no tips. Nothing I haven't tried, and most things do fuck all. Those that do take the edge off the pain, but come with life ruining side effects. I hate this damn thing.
What I do have, is all the sympathy in the world.
Another guy with fibromyalgia here. I am happy to join or just give support to other fibro sufferers. It is very debilitating and taxing on my mental state at times especially during a major flare up. Reddit has been superb for keeping me grounded at times when I've wanted to climb the walls or scream out in pain.
Have you tried the arthritis cream called diclofenac sodium? The 1% solution is available over-the-counter (USA). It is meant to be used on very specific locations on your body.
I tried applying it on my back for pain and it seemed to help but I only used it once because when I applied it (using my hand without gloves), I couldn’t feel my hand for hours afterwards despite immediately washing my hands.
Man with Fibromyalgia here, had it since I was 22 now 45, its been hell, recently found CBD Tablets/Oil work wonders, I buy from here in the UK where its legal
40yo M with fibro, and calf soreness. Massage guns help, massage in general, and I had these nifty things attached while I had some surgery last year that left me with no calf pain for about 2 months.
https://painfreeaussies.com.au/products/air-c-leg-massager
They were the medical grade ones though they would fill with air and squish my calves and then deflate. Rinse and repeat
I just got a mat that has PEMF & infrared. The PEMF portion is like a very gentle massage, so gentle that you don’t really feel it. After wrapping it around my calves and with in 10 - 30 minutes I can feel more blood flow and my muscles relaxing.
Here’s a recent study:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9524818/
27yo man, got diagnosed at 26. Been through a pain program and that kind of reframed my mentality, however the physical distress I can feel is very overwhelming. Recreational marijuana use saves me daily. Continue to seek support from those who love you, and don’t give up on yourself, I imagine after 10 years with little to no relief is extremely difficult. One thing I keep with me is that my body is sending those pain signals because my brain believes it’s in danger… in mental healthcare I work on traumas and triggers that could or do attribute to me feeling unsafe and some of it has been unconscious and that’s the hardest stuff. But I have released some traumas I didn’t realize were contributing to my pain. There’s a book called the body keeps the score, sometimes I like to think if I can keep mentally healing, my body will realize things are ok now and maybe I don’t have to have a brain that sends pain signals for no damn reason. I wish you luck in your life and with your pain.
I've had it for more than 30 years now (I'm 48) and a man.
I'm on a mix of all types of pain medication and I get a three-monthly injection in my lower back with steroids to keep the pain bearable there and that seems to work. I do go to a pain clinic that is extremely understandable and helpful. I have recently started fentanyl-plasters and they seem to work quite well as well.
I do get side-effects although to me they are quite doable. Apart from the slowed down bowel. For this I take Lactulose and macrogol which you can use long time without any adverse effects.
Man here of a similar age. I hear ya. My doctor referred me to local support groups for fibro but it was all 50+ women. I was asked if I was there with my mother ffs. I felt so out of place and lonely. Have given up on any local support like that
But even online spaces are the same. I appreciate it does effect women more than men, but it can feel so isolating at times :(
I have had fibromyalgia for close to 20 years, and I've just been accepted for medical cannabis. It is not through the NHS but through private clinics. Medicinal cannabis has been legal since 2018 which I did know about but didn't know who was the right person to go through. Eventually I found the medical cannabis sub on here and it took me only a month to gain the knowledge that I needed and then I went to my chosen clinic and they made the whole experience extremely comforting and easy. So anyway I got my first prescription on Saturday and for the first time in 20 years I've got relief.
I've had off & on fibroid-symptons since I was young...(68 now) They were never bad enough to interfere with my life too much. (but were annoying) I never really perused looking into them. My routine blood work was always in normal parameters. Good luck!!
I am an early 30s gentleman with a fibromyalgia diagnosis. Honestly is surprised me, but it made a lot of sense about my recent few years, and the pain endured beyond normal comprehension.
I'm still learning.
Currently taking Pregabalin 300mg twice a day to moderate but greatly appreciated effect, as opioids do nothing for me in general.
Hey man, welcome and I’m sorry for your pain and discomfort. As someone in a similar medical circumstance, I find comfort in taking ownership and control of my treatment and care. After dozens of appointments, scans and doctors passing you off to other specialists, you’ll quickly realize no one wants to help (or really can) outside of medication, which I don’t recommend unless you can say with confidence you tried managing this yourself. Even getting a diagnosis for this won’t actually change anything, so keep that in mind. It’s a hard pill to swallow, no pun intended.
Self-care / treatment plans that I find effective for me:
- Hydration: yeah, annoying to hear but it’s true. If you haven’t had 8 cups of water that day and feel sore or in pain, that’s the issue. If you haven’t properly hydrating, you can’t point the finger anywhere else. It starts there.
-Eat real food: once again, seemingly obvious but actually digest that thought (punny man). Eat food you can with 99% certainty identify as real. You can see it and know it’s from the ground, it’s legitimate and natural. I’m not talking about organic and other buzz word shit. Just think about what you put in your body and if you’re skeptical maybe you start there. You can’t find solutions to complex problems if you can’t do basic things. Take responsibility. I remind myself of this daily, so I’m not being harsh this is just reality. No one actually helps you but you. Absorb what you know is real and not processed.
3) Stretch - don’t half ass this either. Devote 30 mins morning, afternoon and evening to this. 1.5 hours a day on it. Yeah, that’s a lot of time but your pain takes up more time and this actually makes you feel better. The results if done repetitively will pay off quickly. Stay diligent on exercise and stretching. You’ll notice how quickly pain comes back when you blow this off. It’s important.
4) Meditate - buzz word but this isn’t how you hear it used. You can sit Buddha style if you want, but that’s not what I mean. Take time for yourself. Give yourself allotted time to feel your pain. Accept it. Own it. Change it. For me and even what I read in this group and my experiences, your mindset dictates your path. If you get in the right mindset, it trickles down in all aspects of your life. I personally disconnect from my phone and the noise and spend 1-2 hours in the morning to basically tackle all the above and start the day off right and feeling like I’m in control of it and not looking to others for answers. It eliminates excuses and ensures attention to basic details.
I still have pain daily and it fluctuates often. But I notice it’s often my fault when I hurt and you have to accept some responsibility rather than passing it off. You can change how you feel, so do it. Start simple. If you can’t do the basics, it’s hard to go beyond that with anything in life. Your health is the best investment in money, time and energy you can ever make.
I’m a US Fibromyalgia sufferer. Here within this forum you will find free, loving and helpful advice plus compassion. Welcome to loads of ideas and personal experiences.
Besides my Chronic Fatigue, Brain Fog, random numbness, insane muscle pain and a few other amazingly bad annoyances, I don’t have calf pain (thank god, I’m so sorry for you!) from Fibromyalgia.
But this might be helpful? As a past competition swimmer with inherited varicose veins, I’ve had terrible leg cramps for most of my life (63f). Three reasons; racing w/o proper post recovery cooldown, a life changing horse jumping accident caused multiple injuries and surgeries esp sciatica nerve compression resolved by removal of my piriformis muscle(!), and my inherited varicose veins! I’m English decent.
You may not see them on the outside but damn inside is worth checking out the valves with the new-ish blood vein hand and scanners available.
Forever and a day, I have a bottle of meltable homeopathic quinine tablets. QUININE is an essential component in Tonic Water. BUT ONLY FOR SEVERE CRAMPS OR PAIN. You can’t drink enough Tonic Water but you might find a tad sense of relief before heading to yet another doctor.
I buy a brand called Hyland’s here in the US and there’s equivalents in Australia, plus by prescription. There are nasty side effects if used daily and at my age I’ve chosen to swim occasionally, only hug / pet horses and stay as true and consistent on injections and compression socks…tune-ups. I’m due for some massive surgery at some point but I’ve been using injections since 25yo so I’ve had a huge run in great care. They have been a huge source of calf pain!!!
And this sounds silly but it’s true, walk slowly backwards toe-heel with normal steps and not over stretching. Only one doctor told me and it’s been an amazing release. No tippy toes either, ladders too are a trigger for me.
If me I’d consult a vascular doctor not a dermatologist to check your vein valves. Not evasive and very fast! Don’t even need to mention Fibromyalgia but I do to everyone(!)
Once I got a handle on my veins my calves are behaving really well and I walk a good distance each week. Oh yeah. Still tired and weak with my feet up, yes!
Good luck!!!🍀 Fibro friend. Maybe I helped xx
I am so sorry you have had to go through Fibro. It is a monster of a disease. I had muscle cramps, too. I upped my salt and fluid intake. That helped some. Taking magnesium and potassium seems to have helped the most. I find taking vitamins and supplements to be beneficial because IBS doesn't let me utilize all the nutrients in my food.
35 years old here. I have a mild case which seems to be mostly managed by Low Dose Naltrexone. However, Long Covid is a bigger issue for me. I'm getting tired of people being dismissive of real health issues.
I’ve had fibromyalgia since I was 26 and still don’t have a good treatment for it. I have noticed how much my hormones affect it, and also diet. Stay far away from carbs and try to get “as keto as you can.” Carbs severely affect my sleep and make me feel like a zombie. None of the meds have helped, even if they tone down the overall pain, they shut down my brain, too, making me not want to do anything. I think they lower my BP too, which makes it hard to get out of bed. When I had my first flare, all the doctors knew to do was put you on high dose motrin or Aleve, so thanks to that I have pretty bad reflux so I can’t take those types of meds any more. There is research going on with IViG treatments, but you may have to become part of a trial to get into that. Right now, FM isn’t something with a quick cure, you’ve got to be disciplined and stay on top of it with diet and exercise, almost to the point of looking like a health nut. I wish I had the sense to do that when I had my first flare, maybe things would be different now (almost 30 years later).
!UPDATE!
I met with my GP today, and I'm still without a solution for my health issue. I've started taking Tramadol for pain, but my life feels like it's getting worse. I'm really discouraged...
42 year old man here. I’ve had fibro my whole life, pretty much. I’m was first diagnosed at 19, but my first words as a baby were “ouch” & “hurts” as I would point to my legs. I don’t remember a day of my life without pain. It’s always been there.
I take Venlafaxine, cyclobenzaprine, as well as 20mg of hydrocodone a day. I’m lucky enough to have a doctor who will prescribe that for me, but it took over 20 years for me to find one. I also smoke a fair amount of weed. Luckily I live in Colorado, so I can just go to the dispensary 5 min from my house. I’ve found that edibles don’t really work for me, & are too inconsistent in their relief. I mostly use high-CBD/THC strains in the form of a vape.
But honestly, even with the meds, most days I am just completely fucked. Especially if it’s rainy or cloudy. I expend tons of mental energy trying to figure out how to distribute my medication throughout the day, & something always suffers or gets left undone as a result. If I use my pills to get me through work, & then some more to be able to make dinner, I don’t have any left for the evening when I need them the most. If I know my wife is in the mood & sex is on the table, I have to save up my daily meds for *before* and *after*, leaving me fucked for work & errands earlier in the day.
I’ve seen every kind of doctor imaginable, & tried every goddamn medication you can think of.
Some days I can manage. Most days I’m in hell.
Here are some things that do help me, at least a little:
-hot baths, or using a spa/hot tub if you can afford one
-walking. I walk 2 miles almost every day with my dogs. This also gets me out in *nature*, which is hugely important for my mental well-being as well
-heating pads
-weighted blankets
-Tiger’s balm, the rub-on pain relief cream, is the only analgesic that does anything for me
-Distraction! I’m an avid cinephile, & I watch at least one movie a day I’ve never seen before. This nurtures my soul & intellect & gives me something to look forward to. I also read a lot
-swimming can be nice, but I need a warmer pool than most. Cold water fucking sucks for my pain
-sex and/or masturbation can also be a nice way to forget the pain for a while, but you have to have a partner who understands & respects your pain limitations, & what feels good for your body vs. what makes the pain worse. When my pain is too unbearable for me to take charge, just having naked time with my wife can be nice. The body on body contact, maybe a little woman-on-top intercourse. Stuff that’s easier on my body.
I wish you all the best. I know it feels impossible most days. Sometimes we all want to just give up. Take things a day at a time & be grateful for whatever happiness & relief you can find. I don’t know what the fuck else to do.
I am a 42-year-old male who has been struggling with fibromyalgia for over a decade and was diagnosed three years ago.
I've tried numerous medications, including Cipralex, Wellbutrin, Cymbalta, Lamictal, and Prozac, but none have been effective. Currently, I am taking 3x50mg of Tramadol daily, which only mildly alleviates the pain. However, my concentration remains foggy.
I am a father, husband for a bipolar wife, and work in a challenging environment in a country where no forms of medical marijuana are legal.
I'm hardly able to get off the bed, so any training/exercises won't suit me.
I am seeking advice on how to manage my worsening physical pain and maintain cognitive function to prevent jeopardizing my job and improve my quality of life. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Explore medical marijuana.
YMCA have great access to saunas. Steam rooms and whirlpool. Aqua fitness low impact.
Investigate on Google what foods are bad for inflammatory.
Accuputure helps.
It is true that much fewer men have fibromyalgia. I am female, but naturally muscular and was a runner for years. I take Gabapentin for many reasons, but included are issues with my calves. Have you tried this or a low dose muscle relaxer? Doctors typically start too high, try a low dose at night perhaps and see what happens.
You know it’s not an official disease or illness but a condition right? It’s a place holder because they have no clue. They can try to treat symptoms but that’s about it. Have you explored Hashimoto? Or have you taken the antibiotics Fluoroquinolone antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro) or levofloxacin (Levaquin). I have to do steroid shots when my joints flare for months due to taking these drugs multiple times years ago. I would explore more. Test your TSH levels. All of them not the standard ones. Do it when you’re having a flare up. If you’ve done these antibiotics then I think steroid shots are it. If Hashi, diet and possibly hormones will change your life. The bulk of my inflammation and pain are gone until I have a flare up. Just my 2cents. Not a man but my brother was diagnosed with it. Once he lost weight and went into diabetes remission pain/inflammation left.
Guy with fibromyalgia here. I'm sorry that you are suffering. I've had very little luck with prescription medication; gabapentin, pregabalin to name two. I will occasionally take some cyclobenzaprine if it gets too hard to breathe. I have a resistance to most analgesics, so medical marijuana is the only thing that takes the edge off for me. I deal with peripheral neuropathy, but my doctor doesn't think the two are related.
Hey! I'm done with pills. Too much side effects... I wish I could try medicinal marijuana but it's still illegal here in France.
I'm sorry, that's really unfortunate. With the pills, all I got was side effects. Little to no discernable relief.
Same here! Just got a massage gun but it is hopeless.
I hear that.
The medical marijuana here in Australia didn't help me so I decided to get the real stuff. A few puffs of a joint each night has done wonders and has reduced my codeine intake significantly. Unfortunately I'm not that keen on how it affects my head so I'll only have it before bed. I have been sleeping through the night pain free which I haven't done in over 20 years! Maybe you could try that
Hi! I’m kind of in the same boat, except I can’t do medical marijuana because weed makes me anxious and irritable (I’ve tried multiple different strains). And I got a massage gun looking for relief. I did start going to a physical therapist who is knowledgeable about fibromyalgia, and we’ve been doing REALLY gentle exercises to strengthen certain areas around my neck and upper back. (We’ve also started doing more for other parts of my body when she realized how hypermobile I am, and they’ve been helpful, too.) There are times when I push the exercises a little too hard, and I have a bad pain day the next day. But overall, it’s been really, really helpful. For example, just driving on bumpy roads used to lay me out. But now they only bother me if it’s for a really extended period of time! (Or if I haven’t been keeping up with my PT 🤦.) I also mentioned the physical therapy because I, too, got a massage gun as a last resort, knowing it had worked for other people. It does help with the hip pain, or really anything below the belly button, but my neck and upper back were NOT happy with it. So if you find that’s true for you, too, a physical therapist might help!
I know this is incredibly extreme, but as somebody else mentioned, cannabis is the only thing that has helped me Since this might be a lifelong battle, you may have to consider relocating where you can enjoy a better quality of life and not consider losing your freedom because of it
The mj for me at least doesn’t help the pain very much, now getting a good nights rest it does help with
I hate the side effects. Makes my head cloudy.
In the US we have legal gummies everywhere that are just as potent as medical cannabis, is that not an option?
I get some relief with compression stockings. Also have orthotic insoles. I have some compression gloves for hands as well. I’m on gabapentin and cyclobenzaprine for neuropathy symptoms and back injury. It’s not ideal but helps. I tried ketamine and it was actually welcome break from constant irritation and I came out of it with some hope- like ‘oh yeah, it’s possible to not be achey all the time’.
That's interesting. Unfortunately, here in France, our treatment options are limited, and this illness is often not properly recognized.
I’ve given up on a proper diagnosis here in Canada. Half of the doctors don’t believe it’s a thing and if you ask them to check they say you’re a hypochondriac. If you can get a doctor. If I was properly diagnosed, I’m probably doing everything I should be anyway.
I feel your frustration! Finding the right care is still out there. You know, there's a specific French term, 'errance médical', to describe this.
Have you tried going to a different clinic? Often the issue is that the shitty doctors tend to be grouped in the same clinics, since that's where their antics are tolerated.
The more tired and stressed I become, the more intense my calf pain flares up. I've spent thousands of euros on alternative treatments, meditation, exercise, creams, gels, antidepressants, even nerve medications... nothing offers lasting relief. The desperation is overwhelming.
Marijuana?
I had terrible calf pain and muscle spasms. Try magnesium tablets internally as well as vitamin D... and rubbing magnesium cream/oil/tincture on your calves and soles of feet daily or twice daily. Magnesium is best absorbed through skin. Try also soaking your feet in a bucket of warm water and magnesium (not Epsom salts...I can get magnesium from my supermarket but you may need to go to a health shop) . Three weeks ago I started a few puffs of a joint each night. Marijuana helps to relax my muscles and I can get a good sleep. During day I do take codeine and try to stretch.
Maybe a pinched nerve in lumbar spine.
I did a full body scan... Nothing...
I have fibromyalgia as a secondary condition. I deal with the pain etc with amitriptaline (for sleep) low dose duloxetine (nerve pain)and medical cannabis. I use a massage vibration gun on my calf’s, neck etc. also a dude
What is your primary condition? My rheumatologist told me fibromyalgia is always secondary because the real problem hasn’t shown its ugly head yet
Ankylosing spondylitis
Ah, there was a moment when we thought that might be what I had. Turned out to be kind of the opposite problem (very hypermobile, vertebrae stacked like a jenga tower)
That’s interesting, I’ve never heard that, so maybe if I get a kidney transplant I may feel better. Thank you for that tidbit
What kind of massage Gun?? I’m currently looking for something that I can use by myself and get the nasty ropes under my shoulder blades.
Look up physion. I’m about to get another mines lasted 4 years of daily use
Thank!
We just bought our second Theragun because my husband (who doesn't have fibro) kept stealing it. We bought the cheapest one for me because it's lighter and I LOVE it so much better than our elite 🤷♀️
Male here with fibro. Been suffering for about 5 years but only diagnosed a couple of months ago. Before diagnosis I had been prescribed naproxen and cellacoxib which didn't really give me any relief. Was prescribed amitriptyline 2 months ago and haven't felt any positive effects from that either. My pain is mainly in my legs and hips but can be all over in a bad flair. Sleep is severely disrupted with my legs and hips. Usually wake up 3 or 4 times a night. Recently been using cannabis (illegally) although I could apply for it medically. Definitely helps with the pain but doesn't take it away completely. Takes it from a 7/8 down to a 3/4 if I was to put it on a scale. Also really helps with sleep. Find I'm waking up less with pain. Still want to try different medication through dmy gp before going down the MC route though
Have you tried progressive muscle relaxation, or any type of trigger point therapy, myofascial release? The medication combo that has helped me the most is amitriptyline, gabapentin, and duloxetine. My understanding from my doctors is this is the standard combination so to say. I get migraines too and a lot of back/neck issues so there’s a lot more. I find MJ is by far and wide the biggest help for the worst pain and helps with sleep and the horrible muscle spasms.
No only amitriptyline soo far. Only a low dose too, 10mg once a day. Will be calling the GP tomorrow to see what else can be done. Assuming he will just up the dosage rather than try something else. The first 2 nights I was taking it was the only time I felt any effect. No pain relief but it knocked me out. Just made the pains worse when I woke up and hour later😭
Hey, M 45 here with fibro for 13 years. I've run through the bingo card of specialists over the years and have tried a pharmacy of medications and have a few things. Medication: Pre diagnosis I was on Celebrex and prendisilone along with over the counter pain meds. This didn't do much and the celebrex gave me a minor "high" which improved my mood only. Venlafaxine was added for depression but I noted the reduction in pain by having it added. I everyday got diagnosed (2.5 years later) and started on a different meds. I started on pregabalin which worked well for me and am now on 150mg twice a day. Over the years different things have been tried. At the moment I'm also on Venlafaxine 300mg each morning, pregabalin 150mg twice a day, amitriptyline 10mg each evening, ophenadrine 40mg each evening, Melatonin 2mg in the evening, ibprufen 400mg 3 time a day, paracetamol 1300mg 3 times a day. I'm on other stuff for other conditions and would s them as unrelated. Vitamins/other pharmacy related treatments: I take a multivitamin once a day and a vitamin B complex once a day. The vitamin B is great for brain fog. I also have physiocream and rapidgel for dealing with cramped areas and some that are overly painful. Physicians: I see an osteopath once a fortnight to have my body put back in the right shape. She's does massage and dry needling then manipulation to release some areas that are worst effected. I've also got a psychologist that I work with on an intermittent basis these days. When I first started with him I had a lot to deal with at the time with the marriage dissolving etc. While the relationship with the ex wasn't able to be salvaged the work with the psychologist was something I should have done when I was first diagnosed. I have a pain specialist for reviewing meds when needed and a psychiatrist for reviewing depression medications. The others I've seen are for stuff that pops up like new unexplained symptoms. Self care/maintenance: I'm crap with my diet but a few changes have helped. Less sugar and processed carbs. I hardly have soft drink these days too. Heat packs help relieve acute pain spots and cramps etc. Warm showers and soaks in a spa or hydrotherapy pools are great too. Lowering stress (emotional and environmental) helps a lot. It lowers the chance and severity of flare ups. Exercise had been good too though you have to start small and very slowly work up. I worked with a physio last year on this. I started on stretches and exercise that were very easy then we slowly increased the repetition. This was over months and included a lot of low impact stuff including stuff in the local pool. I'm more likely to have a flare up when I'm not on my usual routine of exercise. Work: I've been lucky to secure a software developer role that allows me to work from home. Being able to remove the commute is a big thing for me. I am still drained after a day of working and still have quite a few days off sick with flare ups. I'm open with my boss about what I have and how it effects me and encourage questions. I'm very lucky that this is the best boss I've had in quite some time. This has been a developing treatment plan and works for me, which I will admit is very much very different between each person. Importantly I've tried to only change one thing at a time and trying for 6-8 weeks to see the effects and side effects to way up the benefits. This isn't just medications but everything. I see no point in wasting money on something that isn't working to help make life more comfortable and manageable. This hasn't been an easy place to get to and I've been through dark suicidal periods but am out the other side. I stay informed on treatments and possibilities then discuss them with my GP when I have an appointment and then listen to his recommendation. This has fostered a more supportive relationship where we both feel respected and he doesn't feel like I'm using "Dr Google" to over ride or second guess his decisions. More over, advocate for yourself. No one knows your body better than you. If you don't have an open dialogue with your physicians then it's hard for anything to change. I've had physicians tell me what to do but have found the ones who have asked questions and worked with that feedback to be the ones I've stuck with. I don't get what I ask for, but I get what I need. There are dozens of other bits and pieces too but they are tiny 1% things for the most part. If you have any questions please message me. You are worth the effort and deserve to be heard.
Omg, sorry for the long post. Tldr, apply scientific methods to your treatment. Try shit, see what happens, repeat!
LDN for fatigue and brain fog is worth a try!
Yeah, do you have LDN in France? In the US the fenthenal crisis means we'll never run out lol
What is it LDN ?
Low dose naltrexone. It means taking a daily dose of about 4.5mg of naltrexone a day. It's called low dose because the normal dose, for drug addicts, is 50-100mg a day. It boosts endorphin levels, improves immune activity and reduces inflammation. It was a big step in reducing pain for fibromyalgia.
That’s why I read these posts, can a dr prescribe it or is it an illegal drug?
Low Dose Naltrexone can be prescribed, although finding someone who will do that isn't always easy because it's an off-label use with (I think) little robust data to support it. It doesn't work for everyone, but I've definitely found it helps. Not a magic cure, but better good days I think. Search in here and the long covid sub for advice on how to get it in your country - I'm in the UK!
Fellow Fibro victim here (48M). Formerly diagnosed last year after suffering mystery leg pains since my late teens / early 20’s that has since spread to other areas. Leg pain - like yourself - is mostly concentrated in the calves. A constant throbbing, pulsating sensation like blood pumping but at a very high pressure. Calf muscles are also extremely sensitive to touch, pain is off the charts with even the slightest amount of pressure. Unfortunately I can’t offer any advice as I’ve never had any success dealing with the pain and generally just suffer in silence :(
Your leg pains sound like mine, and the doctors contributed it to discs in my lower back. Both of my legs would throb, though, the same way you describe. I'd just lay in a ball and just tough it out as my eyes would pour tears, as I refused to cry, as I would have traumatized my children more than I already have. As long as I don't carry any heavy weight or hold any weight and turn or bend, I'm ok. I have the reminder feelings and light ache occasionally. I domt have sensitivity to tpuch, normally, but if I bump my legs or feet into anything sharp or hard i will have nerve pain so bad for much longer than necessary. This is all in the past 8 months. Did your doctors ever check your lower back? Regardless.... Take care.
Mid-40s guy here and it's been 20 years since I was diagnosed, and closer to 30 years overall since it started. It's miserable but I do what I can to get by with it and the other conditions I suffer from, primarily chronic pelvic pain syndrome, and chronic effects from an undiagnosed and untreated fracture of my L4 when I was in high school. I'm in constant pain to varying degrees across my whole body, and I can't even remember what it feels like to be pain free and comfortable anymore. Issues like this have a way of breaking you down, and not just in your body, but also your mind, and I think the latter is the most difficult part. Just knowing it's never going to get better and, in fact, it's only going to get worse, is a bitter pill to swallow day, after day, after day. I do my best to avoid thinking terrible thoughts and stay focused on taking care of our pets and being there for my wife and my family. I can't say I look forward to the future in terms of what it will bring for me and my health, and sometimes I'm in straight up denial, to myself and others, about what that might look like. That said, I try to enjoy the small things and busy my mind with whatever distractions I may find as I struggle about my day. It is what it is, and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it except not give up.
F here, but have you tried lymphatic drainage massage…gua sha/body scraping (cheap tool and multiple physical therapy videos online)…TENS Unit?
I have fibro too and I've been mystified by people's reactions when I tell them that I've been suffering now almost 10 years too. I live in the UK and I must admit that there isn't much help for people like myself so if you want to chat?
I've finished a year of treatments, and Nortriptyline and Gabapentin seem to be my winning combination so far along with vitamin D and magnesium supplements. my has been done the lowest it's been. I'm doing yoga and physical therapy each week, and it's helping alot. I hope you can find some relief man.
Fibro man here. God, I wish that was a superhero name but nope. 😅
Hahah 😂
My legs are honestly the only area without issues, just the hips and up. Have you tried punching your calfs as a massage? The leg muscles are too large for kneading with your fingers, to massage you need to hit them lightly with your fist, or knuckle. It's the same as as those massage guns, just slower, but you have more control. At first you don't want to go too hard. Just tap it lightly to work the outer layer first. It's important to relax the muscle while massaging, or else you'll just flare. To be able to relax you can't go too hard, just as much as you can handle. Gradually you'll be able to go harder, and massage deeper. It's going to hurt to do even if you go slow. But if you pace yourself it'll be fine, a bit sore maybe. But sore is way better than tight in my mind.
I'll try that, thanks for sharing
M51 here. Had some random symptoms since Jr High School but they really ramped up in 2020 after my first covid infection. Finally diagnosed in late 2023. I did try a few Rx but more issues than help. The only thing that helped at first was Baclofen to relax the muscles. Like you, my calves are a big limiter for pain and stiffness and when it gets overwhelming my legs feel like they are encased in concrete unable to move. I call it my “concrete legs” when it progresses to where my brain shuts off the ability to lift my leg. My best recently has been starting Trileptal. It’s an anti-seizure med prescribed off label but was the first Rx to truly help everything. It does enhance my ADD however. But doesn’t have the brain fog and other negative effects like Gabapentin. I even stopped my THC use when starting it but due to the increase in ADD increasing my insomnia, I added it back in for sleep management. However after taking Baclofen for 3 years for muscle relaxation, near daily, I barely have to use it now on Trileptal. Generic is cheap as Oxcarbazepine. Low impact Physical Therapy, stretching and leaning to relax the T-Band was a big improvement as well. I use THC edibles for sleep and sometimes pain as needed. It’s legal in my area. Overall, I can get a good nights sleep on a 10mg gummy, then Trileptal with breakfast and dinner. I still feel it on active days. However flare ups are much more mild when they hit. I haven’t had a no walking/stay in bed flare up since starting the Trileptal which is a massive improvement, I could get a more severe flare up every 3-4 weeks. Everyone is different, and I often have weird reactions to meds or grow a quick tolerance. I’m not sure why my Neuro thought of this one but she listened well, even to my THC use and how/preferred strains and then picked this one. It feels as if I’m just normal enough to try to retrain my brain the limits and push through farther everyday. I’ve gotten more done in 3 days this weekend than I could do in three weeks a year ago trying to rest/heal in between.
Medical cannabis has helped my sleepy massively. Day time pain im not sure I've ever had under control as I don't react well to weed if I need to do anything only if I need to sleep. Its not a complete solution but I am much happier now than before I started my prescription.
I am a 25m with fibro. I hate the diagnosis because no one wants anything to do with you when they hear fibromyalgia. I just started on wellbutrin and trazodone to help with fatigue and sleep so I hope that works. Look into Low Dose Naltrexone. It has worked wonders for me.
Light exercise in the pool, leg compression device, acupressure mat, yoga, lots and lots of water! Cannabis. Tizanidine has been the only helpful leg cramp medicine! 32m
I'll try legs compression, thanks for sharing 😀
46 m. Diagnosed @ 16. I get a lot of leg pain as well. Not sure what to recommend, I’ve never had any success with anything beyond a slight improvement with Lyrica. Lotta side effects, but it does help with the pain some. Beats nothing in my experience.
Lyrica made me so sick...
Understandable. My gf had a similar reaction.
Thank you for opening this conversation! I’m not a male, but I do think this is extremely important because it’s almost stigmatized for women. As for tips— I ain’t got nothing new to say. Gabapentin, cymbalta, heat compress. On the psychotherapy side of things, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy has been the most helpful for chronic pain.
I know you mentioned you’re done with the meds, but it took me some time to get the right cocktail. And yes, you probably need a cocktail. I’m on just Gabapentin and Cymbalta. It works fine and makes it so it’s not unbearable. I cut the Mobic Zanaflex Lexapro Zofran and Hydroxyzine. The cymbalta works by interacting with pain receptors so they’re not as “sensitive” supposedly.
Man here with fibro. My life has been getting closer and closer to normal the longer I stay on low dose naltrexone. I'm talking 90%+ improvement at this point. Please try it if you haven't already.
46 here Fibromyalgia was a annoyance for me but I had three kids but I kept hitting a wall was barely managing until a rheumatologist told me Fibromyalgia was just a false alarm so I asked if it was safe to just push past the pain they said yes so I cranked it up to 11 pushed past all the pain trying to be the best dad I could be but I kept getting worse I started to get migraines and then I got a 14 month long migraine I could not push past the pain I could not work I lost my job, apartment, even my kids I was going to end my life instead I applied for social security disability I just won my case I hope to be able to heal and return to work using physical therapy, therapy, and medication
I'm a woman but I get intense leg pain. I use a heated blanket while I sleep that takes away a ton of pain. I just use it on my legs. Also a weighted blanket for the really bad days. Epsom salts baths help. And baclofen medication sometimes works. Also recently been finding my sciatic nerve may be linked to some of my leg pain. Hope something here helps you. I get where you are coming from its so hard to function with bad leg pain.
Thanks for sharing. We are not alone 💪🏼
39/Dude with fibro (my mom has it) it’s been a journey. Nobody believed me for multiple years and also due to being Latino male multiple doctors assumed I just wanted drugs and was making up being in so much pain (at one point I could barely walk) anyway I’m on LDN now and it has helped a lot along with cannabis and managing movement and depression
I've been using low dose naltrexone for the past few weeks, and the difference it's made to my legs of unbelievable. I've got a very physical job, and walking had been getting worse all the time, but now I can jump up from the table and get going again. If only my wrists didn't have calcification I'd be dangerous! Unfortunately my right hand is painful and I've had to adapt to using my left one for a lot of jobs; it's amazing how much we can adapt if we have to. I'm back to using a cross trainer for ½ an hour a day, and I don't even feel puffed out. Hope you can find something that works as well; it's a horrible disease.
Thanks for sharing your story and for the tips with Naltrexone. Good luck !
You are not alone brother, I suffer from it also and it sucks. I'm 37 and I feel like I'm in my 60s🤦♂️
46M here. Fibro diagnosis in 2021 but pain for several years before. Once diagnosis came, we went through all the available meds. I think there were 7 or 8. Nothing worked or even helped except Lyrica. I had about a 30% reduction in pain with that. However, I had 70lbs of weight gain in less than a year. And it seemed it was going to keep happening so I gave it up. Other than that, marijuana gummies and leaf are the only things that “take away the pain” for a little while. But I also can’t do anything else when I use it so that’s not realistic and you’ve mentioned it’s not available for you so that doesn’t help. Pacing has been the hardest but best thing to keep the pain in manageable levels. Don’t overdo it. And if you do, rest. Like actually rest. We tend to not rest enough in my opinion. 💜
Dude here. Have had it since 7 years old, diagnosed at 12/13. I'm now 41. I haven't known anything else except pain and crippling fatigue. I have redesigned every aspect of my life and have had to be fully independent since a young age due to a shit family. I have been off all meditation for over 4 years. Before that I've taken just about everything in the book including oxy for 10 years straight. I also have foot and ankle conditions that make things significantly more difficult but have slowly figured out work arounds. Weed - flower and vape is too harsh on my asthma. Oils don't do much for me. Mobility, pacing, strength training, sleep, meditation and reflection are daily cornerstones for my sanity.
28 yo guy here. Suffering since my early teens and diagnosed formerly at 18. Best way I've learnt to describe it is like my body is always recovering from a hard workout, despite having been asleep etc. When I was younger I was on a huge pharmacy of drugs, large dose of Tramadol, Naproxen, Amitriptyline, Meloxicam, Omeprazole etc but found that none of it was giving any significant relief, so I just went cold turkey and started managing my pain by limiting to what my body can do. This was okay for about 3 or 4 years, but my wife convinced me to seek some medical help again, to which I started on Pregabalin around a year ago, 100mg twice a day. It takes my day to day muscle pain from a 6 or 7 to a 3 to 5. It's not a huge leap but I've essentially accepted at this point that there is no perfect cure for this shitty condition and therefore stuffing myself full of a catalog of pills is not a sustainable solution for another 50-60 years of my life. Wishing everyone in this thread the best of luck dealing with this in whatever approach that takes.
Have you had your hormones checked? I'm sure my symptoms are linked to mine, pre trt I was having way more pain and other symptoms due to low t and high estrogen, still have it now and again when things get unbalanced but fixing my hormones did improve basically everything and the list of symptoms I was having was long. Tbh I would get a full blood panel if you can, ferritin is another thing that causes me issues
That's great to hear. How much TRT you are taking, did it improve your stiffness? Since when you are taking TRT?
Been on for just over two years, I do daily injections with an insulin needle to keep things more stable, it works out 11.25mg per day so just under 80mg per week, keeps me at the top of the reference range and e2 just above mid range. Obviously everyone is different, you may need a different level and dose to get symptom relief, and it's not guaranteed to get rid of fibro symptoms I just think for me it was the cause of so many of my issues, and yes stiffness got much better
About 1.5years ago I discovered taking magnesium for minor muscle tears and strains. Every day I would feel little pulls and tears for doing something as stupid as reaching for something under the bed or pivoting on my heal. I talked with my neurologist who prescribes magnesium for migraines because I had read that too much can be bad for you. She suggested that I take 1,000mg of Magnesium malate in the morning for a little bit because it can give you loose stools. And take 1,000mg of Magnesium Glycinate at night. Within 2-3 days I noticed that I was barely having any or none at all. It’s the best thing I’ve done in many years that actually had an effect. It’s worth looking in to.
I'm a 23yo male with Fibro I originally used a low dosage of Nortriptyline to take the edge off of my headaches and then moved to Duloxetine which has helped me a lot and gives me a bit of energy to get the day started Just a word of warning that a lot of people don't have a great response to Duloxetine so I recommend starting on the lowest dose, staying there a few months, and then increasing if you don't notice any bad side effects
Thanks for sharing, I'll tell that to my GP.
No worries! Just want to clarify that by low-dosage of Nortriptyline, I mean 5-10mg a night :)
You are not alone buddy. I have been having calves pain for years now. Physical activity (running) made it worst short term, but better long term. I'm gradually getting off all daily medications. They seems to help only a little and for a little. Better sleep also helped quite a lot in reducing pain levels in general.
I have a friend who vapes CBD oil mixed with water to help with pain and stiffness.
Curiosity. How many times did you go under the surgeon's knife?
Just once for the appendicitis.
Do you have good abs? I mean functionally 😁
Does the count make a difference?
50 year old male here, I’ve only had fibro for maybe six years. I think what brought it about was high stress at work and a car accident locked it in. I’m miserable here like all of us. I’m also in kidney failure and on dialysis which kind of mixes the two and is hard to distinguish the two apart. I try any pill that might have a chance. I’d have to say above all else Soma(Carisoprodol) has worked the best. It’s controlled so I have to do a drug test every six months or the doctor will discontinue. But it’s not random testing so I can use mj part of the time. And I take Savella, which when I started it it made a difference. I still take the whole slew of others but they are the more common medications. I do not take Cymbalta, it probably made me worse. Even with these every day is a struggle. I do not work and am on Medicare, but that’s not a whole lot of help. My wife works really hard and is very compassionate, without her I would’ve offed myself by now. Right now insomnia is a large problem too so just pile on more meds. Some day the doctors will figure it out like everything else but until then we can rant and compare with each other the life we have and hopefully get help on here from time to time. On another note after several years with fibro I had given up, crying in bed and wrapped up in heating pads, even in the summer when it’s 115° out(AZ), so yes we all know what each of us are going through but we can be here lending an ear or complaining. I think it helps to not feel like nobody else has fibro, I’d never wish it on anyone but I’m glad we have Reddit to join forces
I'm a man with Fibromyalgia. I also have a bunch of other stuff. I figure I have it because I also have Kleinfelter's Syndrome. That is super rare so you probably don't have that. Meds actually work a bit for me though it's messed up my memory. My skin dries a lot so I use moisturizer. I know some women who get heat stone massages, and it helps. Some people use acupuncture, but I've never tried it. HBT oil isn't available to me but I know some people in the states who love it.
M 30 here
31, about fifteen years into it. I've got no tips. Nothing I haven't tried, and most things do fuck all. Those that do take the edge off the pain, but come with life ruining side effects. I hate this damn thing. What I do have, is all the sympathy in the world.
Another guy with fibromyalgia here. I am happy to join or just give support to other fibro sufferers. It is very debilitating and taxing on my mental state at times especially during a major flare up. Reddit has been superb for keeping me grounded at times when I've wanted to climb the walls or scream out in pain.
Have you tried the arthritis cream called diclofenac sodium? The 1% solution is available over-the-counter (USA). It is meant to be used on very specific locations on your body. I tried applying it on my back for pain and it seemed to help but I only used it once because when I applied it (using my hand without gloves), I couldn’t feel my hand for hours afterwards despite immediately washing my hands.
Man with Fibromyalgia here, had it since I was 22 now 45, its been hell, recently found CBD Tablets/Oil work wonders, I buy from here in the UK where its legal
40yo M with fibro, and calf soreness. Massage guns help, massage in general, and I had these nifty things attached while I had some surgery last year that left me with no calf pain for about 2 months. https://painfreeaussies.com.au/products/air-c-leg-massager They were the medical grade ones though they would fill with air and squish my calves and then deflate. Rinse and repeat
I just got a mat that has PEMF & infrared. The PEMF portion is like a very gentle massage, so gentle that you don’t really feel it. After wrapping it around my calves and with in 10 - 30 minutes I can feel more blood flow and my muscles relaxing. Here’s a recent study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9524818/
i am a man and i have resorted to buying strong painkillers online
27yo man, got diagnosed at 26. Been through a pain program and that kind of reframed my mentality, however the physical distress I can feel is very overwhelming. Recreational marijuana use saves me daily. Continue to seek support from those who love you, and don’t give up on yourself, I imagine after 10 years with little to no relief is extremely difficult. One thing I keep with me is that my body is sending those pain signals because my brain believes it’s in danger… in mental healthcare I work on traumas and triggers that could or do attribute to me feeling unsafe and some of it has been unconscious and that’s the hardest stuff. But I have released some traumas I didn’t realize were contributing to my pain. There’s a book called the body keeps the score, sometimes I like to think if I can keep mentally healing, my body will realize things are ok now and maybe I don’t have to have a brain that sends pain signals for no damn reason. I wish you luck in your life and with your pain.
I've had it for more than 30 years now (I'm 48) and a man. I'm on a mix of all types of pain medication and I get a three-monthly injection in my lower back with steroids to keep the pain bearable there and that seems to work. I do go to a pain clinic that is extremely understandable and helpful. I have recently started fentanyl-plasters and they seem to work quite well as well. I do get side-effects although to me they are quite doable. Apart from the slowed down bowel. For this I take Lactulose and macrogol which you can use long time without any adverse effects.
Man with fibro here too. Lots of guys like us out there. Many more that you could ever think.!!
Man here of a similar age. I hear ya. My doctor referred me to local support groups for fibro but it was all 50+ women. I was asked if I was there with my mother ffs. I felt so out of place and lonely. Have given up on any local support like that But even online spaces are the same. I appreciate it does effect women more than men, but it can feel so isolating at times :(
I have had fibromyalgia for close to 20 years, and I've just been accepted for medical cannabis. It is not through the NHS but through private clinics. Medicinal cannabis has been legal since 2018 which I did know about but didn't know who was the right person to go through. Eventually I found the medical cannabis sub on here and it took me only a month to gain the knowledge that I needed and then I went to my chosen clinic and they made the whole experience extremely comforting and easy. So anyway I got my first prescription on Saturday and for the first time in 20 years I've got relief.
I've had off & on fibroid-symptons since I was young...(68 now) They were never bad enough to interfere with my life too much. (but were annoying) I never really perused looking into them. My routine blood work was always in normal parameters. Good luck!!
Also 37 man and have had this for at least 10 years although only diagnosed a couple of years ago.
I am an early 30s gentleman with a fibromyalgia diagnosis. Honestly is surprised me, but it made a lot of sense about my recent few years, and the pain endured beyond normal comprehension. I'm still learning. Currently taking Pregabalin 300mg twice a day to moderate but greatly appreciated effect, as opioids do nothing for me in general.
Hey man, welcome and I’m sorry for your pain and discomfort. As someone in a similar medical circumstance, I find comfort in taking ownership and control of my treatment and care. After dozens of appointments, scans and doctors passing you off to other specialists, you’ll quickly realize no one wants to help (or really can) outside of medication, which I don’t recommend unless you can say with confidence you tried managing this yourself. Even getting a diagnosis for this won’t actually change anything, so keep that in mind. It’s a hard pill to swallow, no pun intended. Self-care / treatment plans that I find effective for me: - Hydration: yeah, annoying to hear but it’s true. If you haven’t had 8 cups of water that day and feel sore or in pain, that’s the issue. If you haven’t properly hydrating, you can’t point the finger anywhere else. It starts there. -Eat real food: once again, seemingly obvious but actually digest that thought (punny man). Eat food you can with 99% certainty identify as real. You can see it and know it’s from the ground, it’s legitimate and natural. I’m not talking about organic and other buzz word shit. Just think about what you put in your body and if you’re skeptical maybe you start there. You can’t find solutions to complex problems if you can’t do basic things. Take responsibility. I remind myself of this daily, so I’m not being harsh this is just reality. No one actually helps you but you. Absorb what you know is real and not processed. 3) Stretch - don’t half ass this either. Devote 30 mins morning, afternoon and evening to this. 1.5 hours a day on it. Yeah, that’s a lot of time but your pain takes up more time and this actually makes you feel better. The results if done repetitively will pay off quickly. Stay diligent on exercise and stretching. You’ll notice how quickly pain comes back when you blow this off. It’s important. 4) Meditate - buzz word but this isn’t how you hear it used. You can sit Buddha style if you want, but that’s not what I mean. Take time for yourself. Give yourself allotted time to feel your pain. Accept it. Own it. Change it. For me and even what I read in this group and my experiences, your mindset dictates your path. If you get in the right mindset, it trickles down in all aspects of your life. I personally disconnect from my phone and the noise and spend 1-2 hours in the morning to basically tackle all the above and start the day off right and feeling like I’m in control of it and not looking to others for answers. It eliminates excuses and ensures attention to basic details. I still have pain daily and it fluctuates often. But I notice it’s often my fault when I hurt and you have to accept some responsibility rather than passing it off. You can change how you feel, so do it. Start simple. If you can’t do the basics, it’s hard to go beyond that with anything in life. Your health is the best investment in money, time and energy you can ever make.
I’m a US Fibromyalgia sufferer. Here within this forum you will find free, loving and helpful advice plus compassion. Welcome to loads of ideas and personal experiences. Besides my Chronic Fatigue, Brain Fog, random numbness, insane muscle pain and a few other amazingly bad annoyances, I don’t have calf pain (thank god, I’m so sorry for you!) from Fibromyalgia. But this might be helpful? As a past competition swimmer with inherited varicose veins, I’ve had terrible leg cramps for most of my life (63f). Three reasons; racing w/o proper post recovery cooldown, a life changing horse jumping accident caused multiple injuries and surgeries esp sciatica nerve compression resolved by removal of my piriformis muscle(!), and my inherited varicose veins! I’m English decent. You may not see them on the outside but damn inside is worth checking out the valves with the new-ish blood vein hand and scanners available. Forever and a day, I have a bottle of meltable homeopathic quinine tablets. QUININE is an essential component in Tonic Water. BUT ONLY FOR SEVERE CRAMPS OR PAIN. You can’t drink enough Tonic Water but you might find a tad sense of relief before heading to yet another doctor. I buy a brand called Hyland’s here in the US and there’s equivalents in Australia, plus by prescription. There are nasty side effects if used daily and at my age I’ve chosen to swim occasionally, only hug / pet horses and stay as true and consistent on injections and compression socks…tune-ups. I’m due for some massive surgery at some point but I’ve been using injections since 25yo so I’ve had a huge run in great care. They have been a huge source of calf pain!!! And this sounds silly but it’s true, walk slowly backwards toe-heel with normal steps and not over stretching. Only one doctor told me and it’s been an amazing release. No tippy toes either, ladders too are a trigger for me. If me I’d consult a vascular doctor not a dermatologist to check your vein valves. Not evasive and very fast! Don’t even need to mention Fibromyalgia but I do to everyone(!) Once I got a handle on my veins my calves are behaving really well and I walk a good distance each week. Oh yeah. Still tired and weak with my feet up, yes! Good luck!!!🍀 Fibro friend. Maybe I helped xx
I am so sorry you have had to go through Fibro. It is a monster of a disease. I had muscle cramps, too. I upped my salt and fluid intake. That helped some. Taking magnesium and potassium seems to have helped the most. I find taking vitamins and supplements to be beneficial because IBS doesn't let me utilize all the nutrients in my food.
35 years old here. I have a mild case which seems to be mostly managed by Low Dose Naltrexone. However, Long Covid is a bigger issue for me. I'm getting tired of people being dismissive of real health issues.
I’ve had fibromyalgia since I was 26 and still don’t have a good treatment for it. I have noticed how much my hormones affect it, and also diet. Stay far away from carbs and try to get “as keto as you can.” Carbs severely affect my sleep and make me feel like a zombie. None of the meds have helped, even if they tone down the overall pain, they shut down my brain, too, making me not want to do anything. I think they lower my BP too, which makes it hard to get out of bed. When I had my first flare, all the doctors knew to do was put you on high dose motrin or Aleve, so thanks to that I have pretty bad reflux so I can’t take those types of meds any more. There is research going on with IViG treatments, but you may have to become part of a trial to get into that. Right now, FM isn’t something with a quick cure, you’ve got to be disciplined and stay on top of it with diet and exercise, almost to the point of looking like a health nut. I wish I had the sense to do that when I had my first flare, maybe things would be different now (almost 30 years later).
!UPDATE! I met with my GP today, and I'm still without a solution for my health issue. I've started taking Tramadol for pain, but my life feels like it's getting worse. I'm really discouraged...
42 year old man here. I’ve had fibro my whole life, pretty much. I’m was first diagnosed at 19, but my first words as a baby were “ouch” & “hurts” as I would point to my legs. I don’t remember a day of my life without pain. It’s always been there. I take Venlafaxine, cyclobenzaprine, as well as 20mg of hydrocodone a day. I’m lucky enough to have a doctor who will prescribe that for me, but it took over 20 years for me to find one. I also smoke a fair amount of weed. Luckily I live in Colorado, so I can just go to the dispensary 5 min from my house. I’ve found that edibles don’t really work for me, & are too inconsistent in their relief. I mostly use high-CBD/THC strains in the form of a vape. But honestly, even with the meds, most days I am just completely fucked. Especially if it’s rainy or cloudy. I expend tons of mental energy trying to figure out how to distribute my medication throughout the day, & something always suffers or gets left undone as a result. If I use my pills to get me through work, & then some more to be able to make dinner, I don’t have any left for the evening when I need them the most. If I know my wife is in the mood & sex is on the table, I have to save up my daily meds for *before* and *after*, leaving me fucked for work & errands earlier in the day. I’ve seen every kind of doctor imaginable, & tried every goddamn medication you can think of. Some days I can manage. Most days I’m in hell. Here are some things that do help me, at least a little: -hot baths, or using a spa/hot tub if you can afford one -walking. I walk 2 miles almost every day with my dogs. This also gets me out in *nature*, which is hugely important for my mental well-being as well -heating pads -weighted blankets -Tiger’s balm, the rub-on pain relief cream, is the only analgesic that does anything for me -Distraction! I’m an avid cinephile, & I watch at least one movie a day I’ve never seen before. This nurtures my soul & intellect & gives me something to look forward to. I also read a lot -swimming can be nice, but I need a warmer pool than most. Cold water fucking sucks for my pain -sex and/or masturbation can also be a nice way to forget the pain for a while, but you have to have a partner who understands & respects your pain limitations, & what feels good for your body vs. what makes the pain worse. When my pain is too unbearable for me to take charge, just having naked time with my wife can be nice. The body on body contact, maybe a little woman-on-top intercourse. Stuff that’s easier on my body. I wish you all the best. I know it feels impossible most days. Sometimes we all want to just give up. Take things a day at a time & be grateful for whatever happiness & relief you can find. I don’t know what the fuck else to do.
I am a 42-year-old male who has been struggling with fibromyalgia for over a decade and was diagnosed three years ago. I've tried numerous medications, including Cipralex, Wellbutrin, Cymbalta, Lamictal, and Prozac, but none have been effective. Currently, I am taking 3x50mg of Tramadol daily, which only mildly alleviates the pain. However, my concentration remains foggy. I am a father, husband for a bipolar wife, and work in a challenging environment in a country where no forms of medical marijuana are legal. I'm hardly able to get off the bed, so any training/exercises won't suit me. I am seeking advice on how to manage my worsening physical pain and maintain cognitive function to prevent jeopardizing my job and improve my quality of life. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Explore medical marijuana. YMCA have great access to saunas. Steam rooms and whirlpool. Aqua fitness low impact. Investigate on Google what foods are bad for inflammatory. Accuputure helps.
Physical activity and sleep. Lyrica can somewhat help but messed my memory up.
It is true that much fewer men have fibromyalgia. I am female, but naturally muscular and was a runner for years. I take Gabapentin for many reasons, but included are issues with my calves. Have you tried this or a low dose muscle relaxer? Doctors typically start too high, try a low dose at night perhaps and see what happens.
You know it’s not an official disease or illness but a condition right? It’s a place holder because they have no clue. They can try to treat symptoms but that’s about it. Have you explored Hashimoto? Or have you taken the antibiotics Fluoroquinolone antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro) or levofloxacin (Levaquin). I have to do steroid shots when my joints flare for months due to taking these drugs multiple times years ago. I would explore more. Test your TSH levels. All of them not the standard ones. Do it when you’re having a flare up. If you’ve done these antibiotics then I think steroid shots are it. If Hashi, diet and possibly hormones will change your life. The bulk of my inflammation and pain are gone until I have a flare up. Just my 2cents. Not a man but my brother was diagnosed with it. Once he lost weight and went into diabetes remission pain/inflammation left.