: : since 1992, i have had chronic constant pain (lower back is worst), insomnia, food sticking in my esophagus causing chest pain for which i had to take nitro, extreme sensitivity to hot and cold temps, tingling of fingers, bleeding ulcers because i gave up eating and took motrin on an empty stomach, i could go on and on.
: : i had the same doctor for 23 years and he did a spinal mri, x-rays, bone marrow biopsies, thyroid aspiration for cystic goiter. the bottom line- he couldn't figure out what was wrong. he also didn't treat the pain after a while because he was worried about addiction.
: : my distant aunt (who i never see) had fibromyalgia, so i looked it up on the internet. when i saw that i had almost every symptom, i just cried.
: : i got my medical records and found another doctor. he put me on celebrex, flexeril, and elavil. that was the first time i can remember not being in agony.
: : that was 3 months ago, and now it's back. we increased the elavil to 50 mg at night but i still don't sleep. if i fall asleep, i wake up 10 to 15 times a night. i don't know what to do, i can't live like this any more. Please help. Every minute of every day (and night) i am exhausted and in pain. any suggestions? i can't believe i can not get a handle on this and i'm a nurse. alot of good that does me. thanks spag

: Pat,
: Unfortunately, drugs don't do much for fibromyalgia. They may give relief for a short time, and then they'll never work again -- even if you stop the drug and re-start it. The only thing that can give you consistent relief is a good muscle therapist or acupuncturist followed by a chiropractic adjustment. This advice was given to me by an academic physician several years ago. However, I had already discovered those therapies 15 years before he told me.

: Pain drugs should be reserved for emergency use. Drugs to help restore sleep may be beneficial.

BASICALLY I AGREE WITH CHERYL
ALTHOUGH I HAVEN'T FOUND ACUPUNCTURE ALL THAT HELPFUL WITH MOST FMS PATIENTS
ALSO CHIRO SEEMS TO HAVE AS MUCH CHANCE TO CAUSE A FLARE AS IT DOES RELIEF
HYPNOSIS AND MASSAGE APPEAR TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE THERAPIES FOR ACUTE RELIEF
A GRADUAL PROGRESSIVE AEROBIC EXERCISE IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS FOR ONGOING MANAGEMENT POSSIBLY BECAUSE IT HELPS RELEASE ENDORPHINS AND WILL HELP WITH SLEEP

AS FAR AS DRUGS, A GOOD THOUGHT FOR YOU IS A SHORT COURSE OF AMBIEN FOR SLEEP

EVEN GOOD DOCTORS WHO UNDERSTAND FIBROMYALGIA ARE VERY CONSERVATIVE WITH MEDS. I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH THIS AND FEEL THE DISEASE SHOULD BE TREATED AGGRESSIVELY CONSIDERING HOW DISABLING IT CAN BE AND HOW PROBLEMS CAN ESCALATE AND MULTIPLY MAKING MANAGEMENT MORE DIFFICULT IF A DOCTOR CHOSES TO SIT AROUND AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITHOUT DOING MUCH