Fibromyalgia Information and Advice

[Al Hakim]

I am a bit skeptical about the effects of magnesium baths - but if it helps in single cases, the better. Perhaps the fact of being submersed in water is the beneficial agent. Magnesium is - without an doubts - an essential mineral. Blood levels, however, do often not correspond to the concentrations within the cells. That means that blood tests on magnesium produce values that do not mean anything. On the other hand, magnesium supplements are often successfull used in muscular spasms and cramps. Overdosed it can cause diarrhea., flushes and cardiovascular trouble. To strengthen bones I recommend vitamin D plus calcium.

I wish you a full recovery

Al Hakim

[Lily]

I feel this is certainly the case with cancer. humankind just can't keep dumping pollutants into the environment without it coming back on us. Mankind is part of nature, not separated from it. Soil nature and you soil yourself.

Couldn't agree more... has, of course, nothing at all to do with the fact that we are getting older and not dying from infectious disease anymore.

[Bailey]

Nice sharing.
I started Magnesium therapy on the 7th of November.
I went to the doctor on the 15th. He was amazed and decided
he'd go back and research magnesium again. He had recommended it,
but was amazed at how much it affected.

[andromeda]

I am new to this board and a long-term fibromyalgia sufferer. The illness itself has brought many blessings to my life in the way of compassion towards others and finding creating ways to cope with what others consider "normal" and for me can be a difficult hill to climb

Saying that there are things that have helped me greatly

1) Giving up gluten because it is an inflammatory food and regretfully mostly "improved" with synthetic iron which is a big allergen http://www.everydayhealth.com/blogs/fib ... yalgia-sym

2) Drinking raw cocoa without the sugar or milk because has many nutrients and particularly magnesium in a form easy to assimilate http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Raw-Cacao ... id=4809314

3) Taking myrtle water (can be tea too) but please ask a herbalist before you take it http://www.raysahelian.com/myrtle.html

4) Eating a conscious diet of organic and free range foods

5) Having a good sense of humor and learning how to laugh at myself and my silliness when I can not remember words in the middle of a conversation or when I have to go up and down the stairs and wonder for several minutes what was I supposed to be doing

I am much better and yes I do have a set back from time to time but life is now bearable

On my quest to recovery I have tried all that is out there but the best results have always come from natural sources

[Brigit Le Fay]

Greetings Julia,

I've been offline for many moons and only just now saw your last post. I hope the book helps. I have some more ideas for you too. I think a PM from you awaits... I'll check ASAP. It's always a pleasure to communicate with you.

Sending you the Brightest of Blessings for Healing.

Brigit

[deepwater]

I just learned that high prescribed dosages of vitamin B12 can produce myalgia symptoms

[bala]

I have had FM for 6 years and its always helpful to find other people with it. Now my question, does the mix of drugs block anything for you energetically? I sometimes feel as if my energy is dampened by meds and that makes me feel unable to tune into a visualisation; yet I can tune out the pain enough to continue working full time. odd that. Does anyone else find work a real burden as no one get FM - you look ok so you are ok? Any sharing on whatever level is always helpful..looking forward to sharing with you all

[deepwater]

I don't think anyone with FM taking any kind of drug will feel whole,,Weather natural or man made we are introducing something unnatural into our bodies to achieve an unnatural reaction or a loss of feeling pain,,Pain is natural as is pleasure and we almost all prefer one over the other,,Your mind is a most powerful organ and you can achieve some reduction in pain using that power along with quiet places gentle massage will help
You will never be free of drugs but you are free to choose when you use them

[EmilyRaven]

I don't think anyone with FM taking any kind of drug will feel whole,,Weather natural or man made we are introducing something unnatural into our bodies to achieve an unnatural reaction or a loss of feeling pain,,Pain is natural as is pleasure and we almost all prefer one over the other,,Your mind is a most powerful organ and you can achieve some reduction in pain using that power along with quiet places gentle massage will help
You will never be free of drugs but you are free to choose when you use them

Deepwater, I agree that there are levels of pain that can be managed through other means. In fact, I spend several hours of EVERY day using yoga, pilates band stretching, hot/cold showers, ice packs, a heating blanket, and light massage as tolerable to deal with pain. That said, there are negative long term effects on the body from pain and not everyone can work from home, as I do, and thus manage pain this way.

Pain is not a state of mind, it is a physical, chemical state that is reflected in the amount of things like Substance P found in the spinal fluid. Being in constant pain alters the body and the brain.

There are vast changes that occur in the brain over time with chronic pain which include:

In addition to the changes in gray matter, the constant nerve activity and firing of these nerves also causes the nerves involved in communication to rewire in ways that are very different than in a normal brain. These nerve cells are the brain’s white matter or “cabling” and they tend to form more complex wiring patterns for chronic pain sufferers. In particular, they form more links between the parts of the brain that process pain, stress and emotions.

Read more about this study, from 2008 at http://wellescent.com/health_blog/the-damaging-effects-of-chronic-pain-on-the-brain

So it is important, as you say to choose times to take pain medications and to develop an array of resources to manage chronic pain. It changes and varies so widely. If we are experiencing chronic pain it's important to develop strategies to find out our base line of tolerance and manage it from there.

Finally, to the point of whether or not we will feel whole on a drug. Yes. We can and that's where the interesting study of the brain and plants comes into play. Our brain has receptors for different compounds like opioids, which are derived from plants. Although their synthetic form is made in a lab, it is based on the same principles. I try to use Passionflower, then aspirin and then move up depending on a pain day. I still feel whole, as whole as I feel when in pain because even when I'm in pain my brain is being flooded with too many chemicals; even if they are made in my body, they are not my natural state. That wholeness comes from something else, however, and that's where, I think, our spirituality comes into play as a great resource to keep everything centered and together.

Thanks to a genetic autoimmune disease, I've been on the path of chronic pain for over four and a half years. It's taught me a lot and I've worked gently to find ways to care for myself and manage the pain. It takes time, but I hope anyone in chronic pain can find a place inside of themselves to manage.

Many Blessings.