I understand your pain. The problem is that a lot of doctors still don't truly believe in fibro. I hope you find some relief through the pain clinic. Are you on any medications at all?

I understand what it is like to go through all of this. I used to be super woman. I could function on three hours of sleep, get tons of cleaning done, go to work, hang out with friends, and everything. I wasn't yet a mom. I am now. Actually, my rheumy told me that I had been born with fibro but that the birth of my son kicked it into overdrive. I want to be able to work, but I can barely keep up with my housework and taking care of a three year old. I, too, am dealing with the difficulites of social security. I don't have enough work credits for disability, but I do qualify for SSI should they choose to approve me instead of being buttheads.

Anyways. I have pretty much all of your symptoms.

I find that one thing that helps is taking a relaxing hot bath. The hot water does wonders to relieve tension in your muscles. Also, I would suggest getting a Bed Buddy. They are AWESOME! Let us know what they say at the pain clinic. I really hope you find some help there. If not, you may have to do some doctor shopping. It's never fun, but you have to do what is best for you. Best of luck to you.

HI and welcome simplistic. 

I'm not on any of the meds you are on so I can't reply there.

I do think it is interesting how very active most of were before the fibro unleashed on us.  I ran my own childcare business for 14 years, raised 3 kids, was vice president of the pta, volunteered at the kids school, walked 5 miles a day and worked out every night..... Now I'm lucky to be able to remember if I fed the dog this a/m without going back out to look.  I make myself notes on little things, set myself into a regular routine every single day which helps me to remember the things I needed to get done for the day. 

I still work 40 hours a week out of pure necessity and determination.  (I'm determined to work another 3 years to pay off our debt... We'll see if my body is co-operative) I'm lucky to work where my bosses and coworkers work with me on things I can't do, trading off for things I can do.  I try not to get aggravated too much over the fact that on my off time there are days I am proud of myself if I get the floors swept.  Learning to pace myself on getting things done definetely helps.  I'm not on here for days at a time because by the time my day is done, even getting on the computer is just too much.

I can relate to your frustration.

best wishes

Grace

Like Jeannie, I take malic acid/magnesium supplements and these help me a lot.  Actually, Jeannie was the one that introduced these to me and we tell other members about this.  They don't help everyone but they sure have helped a lot of people.  I also was deficient in vitamin D3, as most people are these days because of sunscreen and fear of the sun, so that was causing me more pain and fatigue, too.  I now take 5,500 IU a day, under my doctor's instructions.

Gentle exercise is wonderful for fibro.  I start my morning by walking my dog at least a mile.  I don't feel like it when heading out the door but I feel better, less stiff and I have less fatigue by the time I get home.  I also swim as an exercise.  You have to keep moving with fibro.  I do get gentle massages, too.  These really help me but you need to make sure you have a massage therapist that deals with people that have fibro.  Some can be to "rough" and that is bad news!

Moist heat feels great on the muscles.  Many have Bed Buddies.  You can get these at Walgreen's and other places or you can make one by taking a tube sock, filling it 2/3's full of raw long grain rice, and tying a knot at the end.  Pop this in the microwave and it gives off moist heat due to the moisture in the rice.

You do sound frustrated with your doctor.  But, the doctors don't know what is causing this so their hands are tied.  It sounds like he has tried.  My symptoms have gotten a little worse since I was first diagnosed but I'm also 23 years older, too.  You do get more aches and pains in general life as you age.  I'm 63 years old.  I, too, have the neck, shoulder, and back pain.  My hip will hurt, feet, ankles, my fingers pop when opening my hand, I get the "hot flashes" and I'm waaayyy past menopause, and the list goes on.  I walk with a cane when I get up at night because of the pain and stiffness.  I don't want to fall.  I do have to deal with Crohn's disease like Jeannie's daughter and an ostomy with a huge inoperable hernia that puts more stress on my back and gives me abdominal pain due to adhesions every day.  And the list goes on.  But, you know what?  I have a great life!  Once I found what helps me control the pain, I have lived a full and enjoyable life in spite of this illness and my other health issues. 

You will have a good live too.  Right now the pain is controlling  you...you said that in your post.  You have to become in control.  You will have to try various things to see what works for you because what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another with this crazy illness.  But be persistant.  Also, you can do what you did before fibro but not in the same time frame.  You need to learn how to pace yourself.  For example, I'm having my family for Thanksgiving and can't do everything at the last minute like I used to do so I just finished scrubbing my kitchen floor but I used an automatic floor scrubber.  I can't get on my hands and knees anymore.  I scrubbed the master bath floor the other day.  I break up the housework in segments.  Of course, the week of Thanksgiving I will have to mop all the tile floors, which I'm not looking forward to because that causes pain, but at least I don't have to scrub it.  Now, I'm done with manual labor for the rest of the day.  That was plenty.  I'll still do little things and cook my meals but no more strenuous stuff.  I have more floor scrubbing I need to do but I will wait a few more days and then do it.  Pacing.  It really helps a lot.

Be sure to check our Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum.  There are links to good info about fibro and you will learn a lot.  There are links about malic acid/magnesium supplements and vitamin D3 and how they work in the body and you will also find a like with gentle stretching exercises that really do help.  Reading posts help too because there is a world of information in them, also.

I'm happy to meet you and am looking forward to getting to know you better.  I hope to hear more from you soon.

Sherrine