Fibromyalgia Support Group

I've been under a lot of stress lately. (my daughter needs brain surgery again~I find out on the 7th when) There are other stressors, too. I hurt so bad and have been told that stress makes fibro worse. Anyone else experience the same thing?

Being sensitive meds what is one to do? I feel like I need a massage, but I've done that before and ended up feeling worse. Any advice?!

One thing about massage is you need to find a good massage therapist, one that knows how to massage for fibromyalgia patients. There are definitely some out there. Also, you have to go multiple times. If you have knots in your muscles, working them out will cause pain because they have been worked well, but I've found that the more regular my massages (I was going once a week for a while), the less pain that was caused. It ended up just being the most relaxing way to spend an hour.

Water therapy, hot tubs. Those are both great. I have a hard time exercising because of many health problems, and have had a lot of luck with water aerobics and hot tubs. One thing that I was introduced to is the option of exercise equipment that is out there for hot tubs and pools. Just make sure that the water in the pool/tub is warm enough, or your muscles could spasm. It's definitely better when the water is warm!!

I definitely find that I go into a flare when I am very stressed. It's not fun.

Good luck with your search, and finding ways to battle this pain. Good luck with your daughter as well, I'll be thinking about you.

oh the massage therapy is great. that is my one treat for me. a good massage benefits will last about a week for me. It is expensive but for me it's better than drugs. I used to have a whirl pool tub and loved it. I would love to get a hot tub one day. and excerise equipment for a hot tub is a wonderful idea. I have never thought about that. I tried a water arobics class once but the tub was always too cool.

the stress is a big problem with most of us I think. I hope your daughters surgery goes good. You might want to consider seeing a counselor to help you deal with all the stress your going through. when it's your childs health your worried about it's worse than anything.

I tried deep tissue therapy one time but... it was a good looking young guy and he didn't accept insurance so I didn't go back. The pain keeps bringing me down to crying. I can barely tell anyone that I have FM without crying anymore. I am so pathetic.

When I tell a massage therapist that I have Fibromyalgia they tell me that they can only do a soft tissue massage not a deep tissue. Stress definetly brings on more pain with me. I hope things get better for you and your family.

Post edited by: Barbkubacki, at: 07/05/2008 16:06

I hope everything goes well for your daughter. Please post and let us know about the surgery. Stress definitely aggrevates fibro. When there are issues that you cannot change, the only thing you can do is try relaxation techniques. Many have been noted above. Sometimes I just fill a tub with warm water and light some candles. When I get out I put on my favorite cream and put on my favorite PJ's. It doesn't really cost anything and it helps.

Stress is a HUGE trigger for fibro pain. I'm sorry to hear about your daughter. If you want to give me a name I can pray for you by (it doesn't even have to be your real name, it's just easier for me to pray when I have a name to pray for), I will pray for you and your daughter.

I really enjoyed the arthritis water exercise class. You might try acupuncture or acupressure, but I've never tried either, so I can't tell you how well they work. I know they do help some people with fibro pain, though.

I did a whole series on natural ways to relieve fibro pain at: www.painrelief101.com - it's one of the companies I blog for.

Being stressed out brings on alot of pain for me. I went to a physical Therapist for about four weeks but each time I came home I was in more pain, I even did the exercises he told me to do, but it still brought on more pain. Im so sorry to hear about your daughter sending prayers her way and yours to. Cinn...

Looks like we all agree that stress is not a good mix with FMS.

I dont know what to tell you, I have a hard time dealing with the stress in my life. I wish I had answers for you.

dragonfly

I go to yoga once a week when I can...I am so relaxed by the end of the session that I can barely stand up. Our instructor ends the class with 10 minutes of deep meditation/progressive relaxation. For some reason when I am in that environment and guided by an instructor, I can totally relax, but have trouble doing it at home. I guess it must be all of the distractions, plus, everywhere I turn in my house, I see something that "needs done" and it stresses me out. Getting out in nature helps if you are able to do that. I am lucky to live near a wonderful national park and great metro park system.

Also, I try to heed the advice in "Desiderata," that writing that was so big in the 70's (guess I am just an old hippie chick!). It went something like, "avoid loud and aggressive persons, for they are vexations to the spirit..."

Truer words were never spoken, especially if you have fibro!

I try to avoid the deliberate manufacture of misery caused by surrounding myself with people who easily trigger emotional unrest or anger, and involving myself in their drama. Maybe my life is not as "exciting" as it once was, but this kind of excitement I can live without. Life is too short and fibro too tough of a foe to allow myself to be sucked down into that vortex of dysfunction.

Post edited by: hipmama42, at: 07/06/2008 02:07