If there is anyone who knows a good bit about your personal health problem, Balancing My Life with Fibromyalgia, it’s has to be my interview guest today for the Health Matters Show, Dr. Charles Lapp. He is a Fibromyalgia and CFS specialist doctor and director of the Hunter Hopkins Center in Charlotte, NC.

I’ve interviewed him several times and known him for more than twenty years. Today I have a video for you which includes part of today’s tip #4, which I’ll sum up as, “Know what you’re using for pain, sleep and anxiety control. You need good tools that work.”

Without any exception that I know of, people classed as having Fibromyalgia endure problems with central nervous system dysfunctions, such as pain, insomnia, anxiety and fatigue. Watch the video and hear Dr. Lapp discuss these problems, particularly addressing Fibromyalgia pain and the drugs which he uses to control pain and sleep issues in his patients.

Other products (besides the ones he talked about- Lyrica, Cymbalta, Savella and Xyrem) that are used for Fibromyalgia pain and symptom control include the ever popular Ultram, Neurontin, Xanax and Klonopin, plus plenty of muscle relaxers such as Skelaxin, Flexeril and Zanaflex. Of course, let’s not forget narcotic pain relieving drugs, pain shots, nerve blocks and pain patches. You won’t hear doctors recommending narcotic drugs because they don’t tend to work very well, but they have become an accepted part of the culture with so many, many patients living their lives in extreme pain 24/7.

I am happy to bring you this video with Dr. Charles Lapp telling you about the prescription drugs that he uses in his medical practice. If you have experience with these Fibromyalgia pain drugs or other drugs, I urge you to leave your comments below. Balancing My Life with Fibromyalgia- Video Tip #4 may be an important video, but it’s by no means the last word in how each person can survive this horrible illness or figure out how to get well.

Thanks so much to Dr. Charles Lapp and each of you for joining me today!

Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show

The man screaming in this picture is typical of someone suffering with Fibromyalgia pain and he’s in need of considerable pain relief. He looks almost out of his mind with suffering, doesn’t he?

Well, consider the fact that we regularly put people in prison for committing a crime– like severely injuring someone else. How does that scenario apply to us?

With the degree of Fibromyalgia pain we’re talking about today, maybe Fibromyalgia should be considered a criminal act.

Certainly, the general public has no reason to tolerate such neglect or foul play as allowing the medical establishment to turn a jaundiced eye away from their care. Today, however, we’re talking about you, we, us specifically, Fibromyalgia chronic pain patients. Why should you and all of the other people within the Fibromyalgia population not be treated with consideration and care or be provided adequate pain relief? You need it. You deserve it. You’re not second-classed citizens.

Consider the fact that most doctor visits today happen because the patient is either experiencing pain or fatigue. Millions of healthcare dollars are spent. Billions in lost wages are being thrown away because people in pain are not getting the relief that they need. Fix that, new healthcare bill!

If you have Fibromyalgia, you may be tempted to strike out and resort to asking an authority figure to do whatever is necessary to stop the pain you’re feeling. You want someone to bring your pain to an end!

No, your pain (no matter how severe) is not technically a criminal act, but you feel like you are being singled out and personally attacked by someone– somewhere!

What kind of pain are you feeling?

• Pains that are stabbing, as if someone is repeatedly stabbing you with a knife. That type of pain can be tough to deal with because each individual pain is a shock to your system. That makes relaxing almost impossible. That means your body doesn’t produce the biochemicals that it needs for repairing what’s wrong with you. Instead, it produces an abundance of Substance P and you don’t want that.
• Pains that are searing and burning. They can get on your nerves and make you feel hyper, wanting to lash out at those around you. And with a searing, burning pain, your doctor may advise you that there is little to relieve that type of pain except for taking a prescription drug like Neurontin (Gabapentin), Savella or others. (*Before you begin a drug regimen, I urge you to check out this website in the search box on the right for further information and warnings about taking such drugs. The side effects can be dangerous.
• Pains that throb and never give you a break. Throbbing pains often stay with you, ultimately getting on your very last nerve. They eat up your daily supply of energy. Plus, they ramp up your body’s cortisol response level, making it impossible for you to calm down. Often with throbbing pains, you end up feeling flustered and panicky.
• The dull pains that take the fun out of life and make you want to retreat to the couch or your bed. That steal your joy and, to some degree, your hope. Dull pains make you feel and act dull.
• Pain that is so overwhelming in its severe intensity that you feel nothing but absolute panic and dread. You’re not sure you can or will survive another moment, hour or day. And, for some with depression, you’re not even sure if you want to live! Now, that’s dangerous. You must get a handle on this type of pain.

Pain is not a good bedfellow nor even a tolerable life companion. When you have Fibromyalgia or some other chronic pain condition, you need pain relief and help right away so that you can figure out how to begin the process of reversing your pain and getting well.

Dear One, there is still hope that you can do that. May you find that relief today and pick up the mantle of good health again. I’m always here to help in any way, if I can.

PS… for now, sign up for my new “Learn How to Heal Yourself” Membership course. The information I provide even includes conquering your pain! Find the sign up box in the top right, underneath the video. Depending on whether you read this within in the next few days or later, the doors will open and you’ll get all the information. (If you can’t wait and you want to know a bit more right now, check out Learn How to Heal.

Thanks so much. Let’s work on conquering your Fibromyalgia pain together.

Cinda Crawford
Host of the Health Matters Show and creator of “Learn How to Heal”