From Spring 2015 Forum

A few hints of how to help fibromyalgia (FM) that is the pain component that is often surmised to accompany CFIDS/ME and is felt to be comorbid with many different diseases. To avoid the early contractions that often result in more pain, “keeping your elbows glued to your waist” was one suggestion while another was to “save your back” by trying to avoid any lifting, standing for a long time, arching your back or bending forward. It suggested using a pillow between your legs when lying on your side to help your back and sacroiliac. A third suggestion given was to “use extra props” around your dwelling such as sitting in a straight-backed chair and leaning against something when you must stand. A fourth suggestion was to “move it!” That meant to not maintain one position for too long even when sitting down. The last suggestion was to “arise correctly” when you’re getting out of bed. That meant to never do that quickly but to first turn on your side and then bend your legs to get your knees over the edge, and then use your arms to sit up and swing your legs off the bed or sofa.

There have been several studies published on cannabis being a healing factor in fibromyalgia. One, from 2004, found therapeutic benefits from cannabis shown in migraines, irritable bowel and other conditions including FM (Neuro Endocrinol Lett). Another from 2011 that was published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (Plos One), reported on just two hours of cannabis use had patients reporting significant reduction in their pain. A third study (Natl Pain Fdtn) showed that marijuana was more effective than any prescription drugs that were approved by our FDA for FM. This study was published just last year. Sixty-two percent found that cannabis helped significantly while only ten percent found help from Lyrica or Savella and only eight percent were helped by Cymbalta. With such a difference showing significant responses by FM patients, this choice is denied in nearly one-half of the United States. The latest to approve it for medicinal use was Alaska as well as the District of Columbia (D.C.).