General Chat

In the continuing spirit of our Moanathon.... I take diclofenac and co-codamol, but both upset my IBS! So it's either muscle pain or endless trips to the loo! Have got my first rheumatologist appointment mid-June, so hope I can get some real help then. Can anyone with fibromyalgia tell me what to expect on my first visit? Re the scholl massage pad. Funny question but does it vibrate? I hate vibrating cushions, but if it's more relaxing than that, I'd like to try it. I find Volugel very good for muscle pain, but don't use it with diclofenac (voltarol) as it's the same drug. Had osteopathy tonight so hoping I'll feel fitter tomorrow! Hopefully the bank holiday weekend will help us all unwind a bit!

Sorry Bob sometimes we women forget that men suffer as well!!!Must say this message board chat thing, helps me!!,in just a few days i have taken less painkillers.Can another person have a baby tomorrow??????only jokinghelenx

So far it's just ladies on this thread. Some men suffer too, in various degrees. I have AS (Ankolysing Spondylitis) which means I have a lot of back pains. sometimes I take diclofenac (an ibuprofin variant, i think), sometimes I just grin and bear it. I agree with a lot of what has already been said: it helps just to let off steam now and again, and then carry on as usual !

Good luck to you jean if exercise bike works for you. It seems to keep the pain away and gives you exercise at same time!!!Helenx

Hi Mandy,Lovely day here in nottingham. At the start, was not sure about this thread,did any one want reming about there pain,but l was wrong its seems a good idea!!!, to let off steam, and realise that we are not alone in whatever we suffer from, so keep it going love helenx

Hi Helen Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you on this thread, have had v busy few days. So interesting to read all the replies, so many of us in similar positions. I was given amitryptilene for the fibromyalgia, which seemed to be okay, but now I have a different one having progressed to ME - lol, you have to lol sometimes don't you?! When my friend died, I felt so guilty about having this when she had much worse, but my mum reassured me by reminding me that none of us can pick and choose what illness we might have. Just because our stuff isn't life-threatening doesn't mean it's any easier to bear some days. I have a very supportive and understanding GP and family, so I hope you have these things too, as they do help a lot. It would be a very good idea to have a pain-a-moan-a-thon thread for us to share :))) We'll have to make sure we keep this thread going! Take care Helen, love Mandy x

hi julie i have been bad since feb 2002, i was referred to a pain specialist at the hospital, i have tried a tens machine it didn't work for me, but alot of people do have success with them.you can hire them from boots or mothercare but there only about £35.00 to buy I take an anti depressant amitryptaline, its also helps with pain at night only a small dose 50mg.its not addictive. you can't take ibuprofen long term as they cause ulcers, mines been changed. to celebrex. amongst other pain killers. but i have also started glucosamine sulphate 500mg chemist or drs do them they are herbal fish extract it takes about 6 wks to start working but my arthritus in my knees seems to be a bit better, i have also started eating alot of fish. i hope some of this helps you fell free to contact me direct anytime sandra ps today is a bad pain day, so swearing under my breath sugar sugar sugar!!!!!!!

glad im not alone, i have been to a reumatologist, about pains in back and neck, sown my arms and in left hand, he did xrays, they were normal, no sign of athritus he said, do excersise,he said tone your body and it will strengthen muscle, after continuing to put up with the pain it then started in my chest, my hubbys sick of me saying it hurts. the doctor sent me for a check up with a specialist who said its coming from your neck and affecting the muscle in your chest. I continued to take ibuprophen and then started to take paracetamol with it as i had developed serious headaches with the back pain, last one i had 11 days of pain like i just wanted to cry. my doctor sent me to a neurologist last month, guess wot, its coming from my neck, no xrays, just symptom description says muscle spasm in neck causes pain in head. suggests i go to physio, and take up fitness. I have taken up running, problem is its now affecting my ankles and i have trouble walking without pain,. I tried to cut down on painkillers as my speech was slow and a little confusing to others ( it made sense in my head) lol. my vision is blurry, i suppose thats to do with my neck too. If i was a car i would be scrap i think. I think vet could probably diagnose a cure, hes helped my dog in the past, maybe ill call and ask. my doctor didnt want to refer me to physio, he wanted to put me straight on anti depressants mentioned earyier in thread page one.

Hi Marcie and Mandy, I too have FM, aso does my new GC friend Sue. It's a pain in the neck, so to speak! We should have a group moan-a-thon sometime! I can relate to everyone on here--being in constant pain is incredibly debilitating. I burst into tears this morning just cos I was fed up of the constant throbbing pain in my legs, neck and chest. I would have loved just ten minutes break from it! Then again, I know there are worse things to have. I was telling Sue earlier that I met a lady the other day who has been told she is going to die of cancer. She waited years to have a child and was diagnosed when her baby was less than a year old, and now won't see her grow up. Put my problems in persective.

Hi Marcie in Bucks, Just had to tell you that my husband was diagnosed 8 months ago with fibromyalgia. The rheumatologist told him that it could take at least a year before he is better. At first he couldn't even dress himself. He had lots of pain in hands, arms, legs etc. Anyway he was put on Prednison - 2 tablets a day. He also took paracetamol - several a day. The first thing he did on waking was take a couple of paracetamol tablets and then the Prednison. He found the paracetamol worked quicker than the Prednison. On his last visit to the rheumatologist he was told he could reduce his tablets, so he now has 1-1/2 tablets a day. He now has almost no pain at all. Mind you I don't know what it would be like if he stopped the tablets altogether, but of course he's not going to do that. He did find Ibuprofen better than Paracetamol but because he is on blood-thinning tablets he is not allowed to take these anymore.

hi helen you are right about the drugs, it feels as if i,m in a haze sometimes, although it does mean things go over my head abit.( stress free) there are many more people with terrible pain and illness, i,m just grateful marcie x

Thank you sheila, and sandra that advice you both give is better than a million pounds {l have never had a million pounds}. sheila you hit the nail on the head,people cannot see you in pain!!, Thanks for message Helenx

Hi Helen you can grumble as much as you want, we all know how you feel, and pain is not nice for anyone, whether its a toothache, headache or a constant ache, i still think heartache is worse. I try to avoid talking about my condition, but when others are suffering and think there alone, its nice to know that your not. Anytime you fell dreadful, plant a message or you can e mail me, have a lovely day sandra

Hi, I have psoratic arthritis which effects alot of my joints but particularly my hands. My sister had a tumor on her base of her spine, when they removed it left her with nerve damage mainly in one of her legs. She is now officially disabled. We actually have a good laugh about it at times (well you have to don't you!) We share jobs like gardening,diy and moving stuff what she cant do I can and when one of us is having a bad day we share the kids too. When my mum was in a wheelchair (she had motor nurone) we both pushed the wheelchair at the same time giggling while we found a part to use that didnt hurt too much, which even got my poor old mum laughing! The trouble with constant pain is you cant see it and people dont know you still have it, or they forget. There are a lot of us out there....you are not alone Sheila x

hi Marcie, just reading about fibromyalgia very interesting. l also have amitriptyline some times they make me feel very loopy/batty at times. keeping busy is the best thing,agree?.Sorry l did not mean to make this all sound so morbid.Helenx

hi i have fibromyalgia, had for about 20 years, the doctor said he did,nt know any older people with it, would be very interested to know if it ever does clear up, have to take amitripolene ( sorry spelling dreadful ) it,s a mild anti depressant that calms the nerve endings, which it does most of the time, but i have no stamina, would be very interested in learning what others do, crikey this is turning into doctors question time lol marcie x

Morning sandra,Sorry,lshould not complain,you have more right than me to grumble.But just for a short time {sunday}, l thought l was the only one! l better go back to bed ,not allowed up before 10 seems to give me a better day. Thanks again Helenx

Hi Helen i hope you are having a good day today, i suffer from spondylosis of the spine and neck, and my spine is crumbling, i also have arthritus in my knees,neck and arm ,and i get my arm going dead on me for know reason, no warning just get the pins and needles when its coming back to life. i take various drugs to keep me going like others, but it never takes away the pain, it is there 24/7 though i do have good days, when the tears are at bay. I tried a tens machine but it didn't work for me, and i had bi-lateral spinal injections, 14 of them, and that didn't work either. mt mum and sister have both had discs removed, my siser a fortnight ago, and she is not doing to well at the moment. Your not alone, and if you ever need to talk just let us all know, your not alone, i try very hard to be positive and not to whinge, but on occasions i do, there are times you need to have a whinge. i always think i'm lucky not to be worse off, as others are. i hope you have a good day, its a beautiful morning here.# sandra

in time they just in crease the pain killers.on bad days l just have a cream cake {large one}Good night everyone Helenx

Sorry l did not mean to send 3 messages not sure what happened there???helen