Fibromyalgia has been in my life for about a year an a half, when I met someone I dearly love, and found out she had the disease. After observing her and researching both from books and from others with the same disease, let me share what I have learned. First, from a purely modern medicine non-holistic side, worse case to least, injections of a derivative of cayenne pepper can relive the pain sometimes, by killing the nerve endings, which seems quite drastic, until you consider how much pain the individual may be in. Also, injections of lidocaine can give temporarily relieve to the nerve endings. While some diagnostic tests are needed, once you are sure of the diagnosis, there is not need to continue with unending tests to confirm what already is known.
The drug Ultram or Tramadol works to help with the chemicals in the brain which have been altered by the disease, as well as the pain signals themselves. The anti-inflammatory Ibuprofen does not seem to be of much use for many with these symptoms.
Modern Medicine, as has been shown above, is married to the use of muscle relaxants, anti-depressants, and anti-seizure types of drugs, and in worse case to blocking or killing nerve endings. Most of the drugs used have horrendous side affects on the liver, and are not healthy for the immune system.
There are less toxic ways of dealing with the disease. Mix oil of Lavender, jojoba and olive oil, then rub onto painful areas. It is not clear if the oil of lavender mixture is doing the job or if it is simply the rubbing.
Lack of continuous sleep can make the condition worse. A very low does of melatonin can sometimes help with sleep. Sleep should be uninterrupted. Women are know to have less pain if they sleep in a completely dark room, or if that is not possible wear a sleep mask.St. Joan's wort tincture with a 25 - 30 drop dose is quite helpful in relaxing muscles. Tinctures of willow bark about 2 ml is also helpful.Valerian, skullcap, or St. Joan's wort tinctures, can help when the act of lying down to sleep is causing pain. Acupuncture can relieve some of the pain. Hot Ginger compresses on sore area may help. The ginger is simmered, after grating, in hot water for 15 minutes and then a cloth is used to soak up the mixture and apply to the sore area. Again what is not clear is if it is the ginger or if the same result would apply if only hot water was used.
Heat treatments, and massage with heated stones help relive pain, as cold massage can also at times, and at other times it appears alternating hot and cold. Chiropractic, according to study, seems to be of no real benefit. Deep tissue massage actually will increase the pain over time. Myofascial massage and massage with light strokes is more helpful. This kind of massage on a regular basis with a qualified therapist seems to be quite helpful.
The following gives pain relieve that last 12 hours or longer. Apply the heat of moxibustion to the sore areas until the heat is too much, the actual application is done by moving the heat over the area in spirals or by dipping down and up from the affected area. Moxibustion is acupuncture without the use of needles.
The eating of legumes, whole grains, leafy greens and nettle and oatstraw will give a good supply of magnesium which helps prevent muscles pain. Eating yogurt is also a good thing. Yogurt helps with immunity and the immune system. Comfrey leaf and stinging nettle, as an herbal infusion, in place of coffee, tea, and sodas, may be the single most effective treatment. While the caffeine in coffee and tea gives the illusion of helping, the long term result is a slow increase in pain. Calcium deficiency can cause Muscle pain even if you are not a sufferer of this disease. Caffeine, in any form, reduces dramatically the amount of calcium in the body.
This next item you will need to be careful with and follow closely the instructions, but if you do continue with it the results in the long term will be good. Do this only for three minutes a day and only very gradually by 30 second intervals increase this until you are doing 5 minutes four times a day. We are of course speaking of exercise, but not just any kind, very gentle types, such as walking, or Tai Chi. This is not to prevent pain, but to keep the muscles from further weakening which would cause more pain.
While hypnotherapy can give some control over the pain, many sufferers who have the disease have been harmed by abuse, and are very reluctant to lose any further control over their lives. Having bought into the popular notion that hypnotism is a lose of control to the will of the hypnotist, they must first overcome this powerful cultural and erroneous indoctrination they have bought into before they could ever use the therapy. Others with no such hang-ups will find it helpful. Learning meditation forms can also be helpful. A quite calm meditation music can be very helpful in clearing out the mind from worries and anxieties.
Homeopathic Arnica and homeopathic Rhus toxicodendron can reduce pain.
Belonging to a group and getting group support can be very helpful.
What I have listed above can be helpful, and are things I have both seen myself, and heard from others who have fybro. Most Fybromyaligia people have been told by modern medicine men when first approached that it is all in their heads. Modern medicine diagnosis is based on trigger points and soreness at certain of these points. Fibromyalgia can look like certain symptoms of early dementia, polymalgia, hypothyroidism, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, hepatitis C, lupus, and rheumatism. Because the symptoms are so variable, the correct diagnosis is both difficult and often erroneous. Chances are 50 percent that if you have Fibro, you will also have endometriosis, irritable bowel syndrome and headaches. Noises, bright lights, and strong orders will be offensive to most who suffer with this disease. No one knows what causes Fibromyalgia, nor is there a known cure. You are not alone, there are four million with this disease.
