Alternative medine treatments?

B Because of my promotion to Pharmacy Technician, I can no longer use cannabis as a treatment for my fibro symptoms. ( I have a Medical Marijuana Card). So I am seeking alternatives for treating the pain. I also have bipolar II disorder and take mood stablizers, neurontin, antidepressants, and other meds for anxiety. I do not use opiates nor do I want to. Adjusting diet, using acupuncture, massage, chiropractic. The depression is really bad and the cannabis really helped control that as well. I also have PTSD and anxiety, both of which are well managed by cannabis. Hoping to find something to control the pain while I stand most of an 8 hour work day. I don't want to become incapacitated by this. Thanks for your help.

Hi Patricia and welcome to the fibro forum!

Sherrine has great ideas as always. I also take magnesium, calcium, Vitamin D3, Robaxin (got this suggestion from Sherrine, too!), and Neurontin. For the Robaxin, I start with 1/2 a tablet and for the Neurontin, I request 100 mg capsules rather than 300 mg.

Heat has helped me a lot. Yesterday I had sinus pain in my face. I used steam (very,very carefully!) and also later applied a warm, wet washcloth to my face and did a gentle massage.

I also used a small microwavable 'bed buddy' and applied that to my face for a very short while--not long at all--a few seconds (btw, it heats rapidly in the microwave and can easily get too hot, so please be careful--just a short time is enough). I once read a suggestion for relieving facial sinus pain where it said to gently massage outside of both nostrils for about 30 seconds and I found that helped, too.

Well, that's all about sinus pain and as you know, we can hurt everywhere! Do you use any kind of cushioned inserts in your shoes? Those liners can help somewhat, as can soft arch supports, if you need them.

Is it your legs and/or back that bothers you the most? I (fairly) recently started using a few OTC topical creams: Smith's Amish Arthritis Cream, Magnilife Relaxing Leg Cream, and Freedom Night Time Relief for Sensitive Feet. I sometimes use basic muscle rub creams, but not often anymore, as I've had good luck with the other three creams I mentioned. I generally buy them from Starcrest as I like their prices.

I also make a mixture of a little Epsom salt and aloe gel in water and keep it in a spray bottle (there are "recipes" for magnesium spray online that could give exact proportions). I use that after a bath or shower on my feet and legs.
Just a caution: For any of these cream or Epsom salt mixture suggestions, start with just a small area to see if it works okay on your skin and there is no sensitivity, allergy, etc.. Everyone is different. And I would just do one at a time.

The Epsom salt can be drying, also. And I don't ever apply it in the shower--too slippery; I wait until I'm out.

Though you can't do this at work, a heating pad can feel fantastic! Maybe you could use that once you get home. I find it really limbers up stubborn, tight muscles. Gentle massage and stretching is good, too.

Hope this helps a little. Best wishes!

Hi Sherrine: I'm really glad you had suggested Robaxin, quite a while back. I was taking Flexeril, but it nearly put me to sleep--that was fine for nighttime, though, but not daytime! I do still take Flexeril at night occasionally.

I was a little leery about the Robaxin at first as it seemed to kick up my gastritis somewhat, but thankfully, it no longer seems to do that. I don't take it regularly (with my doctor's okay on that), but it's so much nicer to take that during the day than to take the Flexeril! A huge relief--and I can actually accomplish things without falling asleep.

Thanks again for cluing (or is it 'clueing'?) me in on it--much appreciated.