With the majority of my diagnoses, there isn’t a clear-cut treatment. For today’s post I’m going to stick to talking about fibromyalgia because, for me, it is the hardest to treat.
When I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia the only treatment that was covered by my insurance was an old antidepressant that had been shown to help a very small percentage of people diagnosed with fibromyalgia. It also had an almost guaranteed side effect of weight gain. My weight already yoyo’s a lot, so I opted not to take it.
Other common recommendations include yoga, pilates, chiropractor, acupuncture, and massage therapy- none of which my insurance covered. I found a chiropractor that had a subscription-like service, so I would pay a monthly fee and get 5 visits a month. When I started chiropractic care I needed at least 5 visits a month. I’ve been going consistently for 7 years now and only need 1 maybe 2 adjustments a month. I’d love more than that, but that is what keeps all my pain to a manageable level, and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
Thanks to YouTube I have been able to do yoga without it costing anything. I do have to be careful to emphasize muscle engagement over flexibility or I start stretching ligaments instead of muscles, which is a common problem for people with hypermobility.
I’ve tried acupuncture but didn’t see enough benefits for the cost. The acupuncturist was recommending 2-3 sessions a week. Without insurance, it was $95 per session. That adds up fast. My current insurance is only $20 per session, but insurance only covers 10 sessions, so that’s not very helpful, and it still adds up fast. On a similar note massages are amazing, but only last a day or two. They are a special treat for me.
Herbs and oils are another rabbit hole that I’ve ventured down. Some stuff works for me and some stuff doesn’t. But it all costs money. If you were to try every suggestion for every symptom you could end up taking handfuls and handfuls of supplements every day. Dr. Aviva Romm’s literature has been a great resource in helping me sift through all the information on natural remedies.
I’ve also done blood work and hair analysis to look into nutritional deficiencies. I have found the information helpful and some of the suggestions that come from the analysis helpful. For instance, I’m consistently low on magnesium and calcium. If I supplement with those I notice a difference in how much pain I’m in and my ability to sleep. One blood work analysis I did also came with a suggested 6-month shot, supplement, and nutrition plan for the lovely price of $5,000. Once again that is a lot of money for a single-income family to justify something that might help, and if it does help will most likely continue indefinitely to see consistent long term results.
None of the treatments are one and done. They all require maintenance. Also, fibromyalgia is not life-threatening, just lifestyle-threatening. It is a hard balancing game to keep me functioning while still allowing everyone else in the family to have their medical needs and extra activities taken care of. I feel like after almost 10 years I’m getting better at sticking with what is working and not trying every new idea that piques my interest. I’m not perfect, and will still occasionally chase the cure. When no cure is found, I then wish for unlimited funds to cover all the treatments. A game my husband and I sometimes play is “if you were insanely wealthy what luxury would you insist on?” The luxury I would insist on is a chiropractor and massage therapist on staff available for daily adjustments and massages. For now, I’ll just have to continue playing the money game.
Here is a link to Aviva Romm’s website
I am not a medical professional and cannot give medical advice. This is my experience.
Emotional Support Sisters 
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