Welcome to the group but very sorry you have fibro! My mom calls it *the F word* SHe has it as well. I am 32 and have been on a cane since 28. I have had fibro and other severe back issues since 18 when i was in a car accident. I have not worked since i was 20 and fired because of my restrictions with lifting etc and i have severe depression and PTSD (was raped at 20 etc). I tried to get SSI at 20 and fought for 4 years never getting it, at 24 i got married and at 26 i became his 24/7 full time care giver after his car accidnet. He became quadleplegic with severe brain injuries etc. I finally got some help becuase i struggled transfering him even with a sit to stand lift. But i did not want him living his last days in a hospital. Taking care of him till he died 19 months after his car accidnet when i was 28, i put my health on hold and ignored my pain. By the time he died my body was giving out, i keep ending up in the hosptial since then 3 times just since december now. Driving to where i was buring him, in teh town i live now was a 4 1/2 hour drive but took 8 becasue of michigan roads in teh winter, my mom had to help m e in and out ofr the car and on and off chairs, my pain was taking over my body from all the stress etc. I have not been teh same since. I am on strong pain meds, oxycodone pretty much daily just to get out of bed and stil have to lay down every 2 to 3 hours drs orders. I am telling you all this because one of the worst things for fibro is stress and over doing it, i made my health and pain worse by ignoring it for so long. Please reach out to us and your support and doctors anytime you need too! It sucks being young and struggling so much i know! If you need to chat feel free to send me a message as well! Sending you hugs if thats ok

Welcome to the group! I have a cane, two walkers and a wheelchair. My revolving fashion statement - lol. I have underlying health issues. I've been disabled since 2009 and receive SSDI. We have members that work full time, have kids and just about every other variation that you can think of on this board.

Do you have a copy of "Fibromyalgia for Dummies." This is our go to book on this board. You can purchase it online at Amazon. It is a good educational tool for family and friends too. We highly recommend this book which will give you a comprehensive overview of this complex illness.

Join us on daily check in hosted by our resident brainiac Leo. She starts the day for us with interesting trivia, funny stories and keen insight on what ails us. Just look for the Puma avatar and the day of the week in the heading. ( I happened to pinch hit for Leo this morning as she is looking after her Mom at the moment.)

This is a very active group with a wide range of interests and geographic locations. I hope that you find the support that you need here. You are not alone.

My back goes out alot so i have a cane, and folding stool i can slip in my bag in case i get caught in one of those darn store lines. I also got one of those walkers with the seat and storage pouch on it..great invention! For me the cane makes ms hurt more because of putting sll my weight on one side of my body..but that is prob just me and that my upper body, hand, shoulder, arm up onto my neck is all part of my problem. The walker allows me to distribute my weight equally. Best of luck to you!

Oh my! The idea of a cane makes me feel distressed, but I have one--just in case. My adult daughter and her family want to go on a vacation with my husband and I next year. But she wanted to go to a theme park!! I finally confessed to her that there was no way I was going to a theme park. I would have no fun. There were other things we could do as a family, that didn't involve me trying to walk and stand for long periods. I also have neurocardiogenic syncope and it would be activated with hot weather and standing, as well. I don't think there is anything wrong with using a cane or wheel chair. But I worry what other people think about me because you can't see what is wrong with me...ugh. Maybe it's vanity? I hope not. And that shouldn't matter when there are no other options. I'd rather live a happy life with a cane, than to not be able to get around. Blessings to you. I hope this makes sense.

I have a cane and a walker. I have had to use a wheelchair a few times. I quit working in 2009 when I was to the point that I would have to have other employees help me in my car to go home and then would just lay back and cry from the severe pain.
This is the group to be in as we are a great big family that cares and supports each other like none other that I have ever seen. We laugh cry and laugh some more. The topics can be everyday or off the wall but there is always something to talk about. We each have challenges that will be lifelong so we make the best of it. I hope you will join in on the daily check in.

I was just recently diagnosed a few months ago. I've been struggling with severe pain for about 7 years now though, but doctors didn't want to throw the "F" word out there until they were sure lol. I had quit my long term desk job 9 months ago because of the stress (which was making my problems a lot worse), and went to a job working on my feet. That was impossible. Even cutting back to part time I would be going straight home to lay down with heat packs, and wouldn't get up until 30 minutes before work or at all on days off (didn't end up eating most days). I finally got a desk job again a few months ago. The pain is so much better without all the stress and standing/walking/lifting. Unfortunately I've gotten very weak to the point where I can't close a stapler with one hand anymore, but fortunately I still don't need a walker or cane. On my bad days I can't get out of bed though still. I'm only 23 so I hope there are better treatments out there within my lifetime so I can live a normal life. This group is amazing, I only have two people in my life I can talk about my condition with. The rest don't believe me or don't care to try to understand. And I didn't want to continuously talk their ears off so I found this place after a few weeks of rigourous internet digging. Everyone is super helpful and welcoming, I hope you find it as encouraging as I do. Sometimes we just need to hear from people who go through the same things

Thanks everyone, I'm so happy to finally be in a place where people understand my pain. Hugs to you all