Fibromyalgia Support Group

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Muscles & Bones
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tension and clenching

bluesun
bluesun
does anyone else notice that they are really tense or clenching? even jaw clenching?

i've been noticing lately i'm really tense, especially around my hands, arms and shoulders. i'll catch myself clenching on to something really hard like the steering wheel, a bottle of water, or whatever i'm holding. one time at one of my docs appts, i was drinking my water bottle (the pop-top squirt kind) and suddenly my hand cracked it and went through the bottle, water went every where. i guess i was clenching it so hard it broke.
even when i'm trying to relax watch some tv i find my self clenching my arms and hands.

is this part of fibro? or do i just have stress built up?
do y'all have this problem?
what do some of you do about it?
i did some biofeedback therapy several years ago. i'm thinkin maybe i should pick that back up again?
deleted_user
deleted_user
I do that, and I have for a long time. I think it's part of the FMS. I hated traffic! I'd be this tehse ball of knots before I got there or back. I grind my teeth so bad that I wake my husband up, so I had to get a mouth guard. The muscle relaxers help a little... but you can't take them all the time! Deep breaths and lots of counting while breathing. It helps a little.
naturegirl65
naturegirl65
I do catch myself being really tense in the upper back and shoulder area, I am tight as a drum, my jaw too, I am often tense in my whole face. Lol. and consciously have to relax it. And like you said I could be just watching tv, not doing anything stressful and I am all keyed up and tense.

so yeah it maybe the fibro. Or it's an anxiety thing, I have GAD. I am not sure if people with Fibro are also more likely to have anxiety. and don't know whether clenching is necessarily a fibro symptom or just an anxiety symptom.

there are relaxation techniques that actually teach to clench the muscle for a few seconds and then release and to do it through all the muscle groups.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Yes! I do this, mostly in the small of my back and shoulders. Sometimes at night it's hard to sleep because I just cant relax.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I find myself clenching my jaw when I am driving too and from work it is rush our traffic from hell both coming and going.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I find that if I don't clench my jaw, I will scream in pain most of the time. I think my jaw muscles are the only ones that work!!! I have TMJ, and my jaw hurts really bad, but when I un-clench my jaw, I am not able to control my pain as well. I don't know why?

Sweet Dreams to everyone...and Gentle Hugs,
Eva
sunsetzzs
sunsetzzs
I am very tense and constantly clench my jaw. I often will realize when I am sitting, that I am holding my shoulders up (in a tense position) without even being aware of it. My doctor said that in my case it is caused by anxiety. I take Lorazapn for it, but I think the biofeedback would be worth trying. I am trying to find someone in my area that teaches this.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Yes, I do have t.m.j. which causes jaw clenching as fibro causes the pain points in the chin. I clench my hands too. The dentist made me a mouth splint which helps when I remember to use it. Have you learned about the fibromyalgia/thyroid dysfunction connection? The adrenal gland connection with fibro? Search if you wish your google browser these topics.
bluesun
bluesun
my dentist made me a night piece to wear for my jaw since i can't control it in my sleep.

and i do get my thyroid checked like 1-2x a yr since my mom has hypothyroidism.

i thought about maybe i should go back to taking muscle relaxers again. i used to be on robaxin. hm..... i'll have to check into that to see if it interferes with any of my meds.

does anyone get so tense they start cramping?? i get cramps in my hands and writs from it!