[Fibromyalgia]

The thing about fibromyalgia is not only there is no cure; there is no standard of medical treatment. Medication that works for one person may not work for another. There is no standard of laboratory test to prove or disprove that a person has it. There is no magic pill to take away the pain. The only thing a person can do is try to see a rheumatologist for management. I say management because I have had several rheumatologists to tell me that they cannot do anything for me except monitor my condition to see if and when I may need surgery. They have also told me that I will most likely not need surgery because my pain is in my muscles, nerves, and tendons. Fibromyalgia is a bear to deal with. It is very frustrating and depressing knowing that you are very limited in the things that you can do and there is nothing you can do about it. Keep in mind that fibromyalgia is a cluster of symptoms from; Fatigue, IBS, Migraines, Sleep Disorder, trigger point pain, numbness and tingling in your extremities and other conditions that will just irritate you. Most doctors' will try to treat the separate symptoms but all that does is put medication in your body that seems not to work but if you don't take the medication you feel worst. I hope you find some help but unfortunately I have not.

I've been suffering from fibromyalgia (SC 70%) for the past 7 years or so. It is very widespread and there are always pressure points at so many various places throughout my body. It ranges anywhere from very sharp pains that dissipate after a minute to dull, throbbing to waves of aches that roll up from my ankles to my back. I suffer dyssomnia (repeated interrupted sleep from aches), chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic flu-like symptoms, headaches, malaise, fibro-fog, and flattened effect. Along with that I suffer from chronic lower-back, hip, knee (bilateral), ankle (bilateral), shoulder and neck pain, neuropathy, and arthritis from injuries I sustained while in the Infantry Mortars.

From the research I had done over the years, Gulf-War syndrome/fibromyalgia syndrome has been thought to be attributed to experimental flu-shots they had been inoculating the troops with in preparation for deployment to the Middle-East. I actually served 2 one-year long tours on the DMZ in Korea and never actually went to combat. However, we were prepared for rapid-deployment at that time in '91, meaning we all had our shots and we were ready to go. The suspected toxic chemical thought to be responsible was "Squalene MF59".

I had taken opiate-based pain meds for years but I decided to stop due to how destructive they had become to every part of my life. I started taking Tramadol, Gabapentin, and some other non-opiate pain meds but nothing was really strong enough.

What I did find, however, is that medical marijuana has the biggest impact on my fibromyalgia and the other symptoms I suffer from. It doesn't relieve all the pain, but in combination with my other VA meds, it allows me to be much more mobile.

I wouldn't say it is as much of a pain reliever as it is a very powerful anti-inflammatory...which inadvertently reduces pain through the reduction of inflammation of the joints and muscles.

Hope that helps