Hi MeMe. I have gotten good control of my fibromyalgia on most days, except for the dreaded flares! I have been in a pain flare since Thursday night. I pray it ends soon. I have been under my heated blanket all day.

I use an integrative medical doctor, and have improved greatly since using her. I take a lot of natural supplements and herbs under her supervision. I follow the program in Dr. Elderberg's book called: Healing Fibromyalgia. I highly recommend his book!

Besides my supplements, I do aqua therapy 3-4 x a week in a heated pool. I take 2-3 hot showers or baths a day and use a hot tub several times a week. I also sleep with a heated blanket. Heat really helps to ease the pain for me.

I also use several topical rub on creams. My doctor had a cream made especially for me from a compounding pharmacy that contains: ketamine, gabbapentin, lidocaine etc. It helps to numb the pain.

I also follow a gluten free diet and try to stay away from sugar. I use Stevia as a replacement for white sugar.

I get massages every week. The massages help to increase blood flow to muscles. Fortunately my massages are covered under the chiropractic part of my health insurance.

I also use meditation. I have several apps on my phone and have a CD called Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue by healthjourneys. It really helps with relaxation techniques.

I also use essential oils and hot Epsom Salt baths. My favorite oils are lavender, peppermint, and wintergreen. I put a few drops into my bath and put the lavender drops on my pillow.

Medicinal marijuana also works well for fibro pain. There are various drops for teas or juice and rub on creams. If you live in a medical marijauna state, you may want to give it a try.

My life has been altered dramatically from this condition as well. I have to do a multitude of things to manage this condition, but it must be done! Best Wishes to you and feel free to message me any time.

I am not proofing this post, so forgive me in advance for any typos.

Yoga has been my life-safer. It helps me prevent flare-ups and seems to reduce the severity of the ones I do still get. I started with general stretching and have been slowly able to progress to what I do now: hot power yoga. The heat is so wonderful, makes my muscles feel great and I sweat out all the nasty toxins in my body.

Hi Cocoa1,

I would love to do aqua therapy but I work full-time and I commute to work so by the time I get home, it's time to put on dinner. I forgot that I do have a gel for my joints called Voltaren Gel. I do hot showers at night when my back is in really bad pain. When I get out of the shower I put on a baby lotion with chamomile and lavender it really soothes me. I will have to get the book you recommended. I will just about try anything to try and get some relief. I have been in a lot of pain today we had lots of rain today. I do have lavender scented Epsom salt that I put in the bath, but the oil is a good idea. I was taking supplements but sometimes it's to many pills a day along with my regular medications. Thanks for the tips!

Dear Kimbopop22,

I do yoga also, but some of the poses are to much pain for me. My fibro affects my knees and ankles A LOT. I do go walking if not everyday I go every other day. Walking also causes me to wake up in the middle of the night in lots of pain. But I continue to push through. I think what helps me the most is I remain optimistic. I won't let this disorder get the best of me if I can help it. I do get depressed some day because it has affected my life so much. But the depression makes me push harder. Is there a certain yoga that you do? Maybe I can find a video that will help me better. Thanks for the advice.

You are welcome Meme. Is there any way you can get to the pool on the weekends? Even if you can get in twice a week it would be helpful for you, but you have to take it VERY slow. I started by walking in the pool for 5 minutes and a time, followed by a soak in the hot tub. I slowly increased my time over a period of months. Now, I walk for ten and jog for 30. I also had a physical therapist teach me a routine in the water that I do as well.

Hi MeMe,

I started with general hatha yoga tapes that I did at home. Teaches you basic poses. Then I progressed to hot power vinyasa yoga. The room is heated to 95-98F. Classes are 1 hour long, focused on presence and breathing and just being where you're at. Focus on breathing in and out deeply through the nose to guide you through each pose. If I'm in a flare-up the classes are too intense for me to manage, but regularly, they are amazing! Just the mindset that comes with the practice of yoga is wonderful in and of itself. It has really taught me to accept who I am and where I am at. I have good days of practice and bad days. But I come to my mat with less judgment of myself, no expectations, just to breathe and take care of me. Google "hot power yoga" in your area to find a studio. But again, I recommend hatha yoga or another gentler form to start.

Meme, that is ag reat way to go!!! That is a lot of how I got FM under control---sans any meds back in the best days---and I have nothing to add but a thumbs up:-)

Hi i'm Peppermint, I've been dealing with fibromyalgia since 2009. I'm sure something was going on before that when my right leg started going numb at work. I'd just drag it along bringing my patients back to to the the operating room. Soon after I had a stroke, while I was working & the Doctors gave me my walking papers after 26 years. By then they diagnosed me and sent me to a pain clinic, and pool therapy. The 1st clinic did these back sugeries placing tools to help control T ips cream that MeMe was talking about, my doctor ordered it for me, she uses it and loves it ,It just didn't help me much. I also have meditation tapes for my chronic pain, two were written by my pain doctor. I had a hypnotyst once for a pain psychologist, now that was the bees knees and living in heaven. God Bless ya all Be kind to yourself.'

Hi MeMe! I take generic Zanaflex, and topomax. I am also on Celebrex for arthritis, and trying Gabitril, but not sure how much it is helping. I can't tolerate pain meds, either, and blew through Cymbalta, Lyrica, gabapentin/neurontin. Topomax is really the only thing that helps me and it was discovered accidentally, as I was taking it for migraine prevention. Vitamin D and B12, also!

I do light yoga, and massage helps when I can afford it. I miss aqua therapy! An electric blanket is wonderful, because I get awful muscle spasms when I get chilled or when I overwork. I am getting back into my art journaling...it's therapy for me. I really miss working. I was a HS teacher, and the brain fog, insomnia, weakness and pain made it impossible for me to continue after last school year.

Hi Meme
Great posts. Wonderful stuff.
I listen to soothing music too, sound therapy, music therapy, I light incense or heated oils. Aromatherapy. Anything to relax. I attempt meditation. Lol can't do the long stints but 5, 10 minutes I do.
Epsom salt baths with lavender essential oil. And so on.
It all helps to take the edge off, manage. It's not enough but it's something.

Have you tried self hypnosis or EFT?
There are videos on YouTube with both of those for pain relief/management.
You may want to add those to your regime. I find them helpful.

Here's some of the things I do:

Added B12, vitamin D, calcium, magnesium
Get lidocaine injections to deaden nerve pain
Mix my own lidocaine powder and lotion into a paste and use that on sore spots.
Bought a 64+ hot tub with a "fireman's hose" jet
Bought a full memory foam bed
Use 450+ threadcount sheets and blankets
Try new topical creams such as Norwex's Rescue Remedy, Gardener's Dream Cream (love this one), That Stuff For Pain spray, Fibromyalgia24, and Voltaren
Take 1,500 to 2,000 mgs of Tylenol Arthritis or Night (3 pills), mixed with Advil (1 pill).
Take 10 mgs Melatonin along with a large glass of water at night.
Try to cook meals made with organic or local produce and meats
Use raw, organic stevia instead of any artificial sugars.
Avoid anything with formaldehyde, perfumes, strong odors, dyes, chemicals, etc. Chemical intolerant.
Get massages and reflexology done as much as I can afford
Get Lymphatic drainage massage and do osteo techniques (newest).
Aromatherapy (going to try this next, waiting for a book to order).
Never give up trying new things (always).
Meditation and deep breathing (new)
Hobbies: Enter contests (won lots including a car), Sing, scrapbook, renovate, go for walks, play on the computer, work part time - enjoy life and spending time with family, especially the granddaughter.