Fibromyalgia Support Group
You're not alone in your pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be difficult to diagnose and manage. If you're trying to cope with pain throughout your body, sleep problems, general fatigue, or other common fibromyalgia symptoms, you're in the right place. The community is here for you to talk about therapies and share your challenges.
Has anyone tried using TENS units to help with fibromyalgia muscle pain? What were the results for you? I am looking for some alternative treatments other than putting my child on addictive meds. As it stands he is taking flexeril up to 4 times a day. I am not happy about that but it helps with the pain.
Do lots of research - look for articles by Maureen Carling. She was a hospice nurse whose patients lived incredibly much longer than others here in the US. Why? Because she wasn't afraid to push for incredibly high doses of pain medication and titrate them down to appropriate levels. As things went, her patients, eventually, once their pain was controlled, needed significantly smaller doses of medication to control their pain.
Alternative treatments should be tried consistently and given the ability to work before being dismissed.
TENS, massage, acupuncture, acupressure, water therapy, heat, cold, passive movement, guided imagery and other relaxation therapies, UV, vitamins and minerals, diet changes, herbal therapies, meditation... all of these can be helpful dependent ton the individual and their predisposition to any or all of those listed above and so many others.....
I cannot understand what it is like to have a child with this pain, only what it is like as an adult. As a parent, I understand the fear that your child will become addicted to these drugs - some of them are very heavy duty. I urge you to try alternative therapies - find what works best for him - and to research addiction and pain medications..... managing his pain is obviously your first priority.
Prayers to you and your son.....
flexiril will make you gain weight & already in pain & limited movement you don't need extra weight!
When I was in Nursing School I was privileged to take a three day seminar from Mrs. Carling - she taught so much about pain management, medication and addiction that I am something of a Soap Box Preacher when it comes to controlling pain.
I truly do empathize with your situation, but I am, due to my personal circumstance in the area of pain, firmly on the side of doing what works for your son.
He is your son, and as his parent you must do that which you feel is right. Please read the studies on pain, please utilize a good and experienced holistic approach to pain management. this disease is different for everyone - what works for one may or may not work for another. I can only encourage you to try everything and stick with what works.
Blessings.