Wow, I am so sorry that you all are struggling so much. I have been in those places of despair because either doctors don't understand and just want to shove you out the door to go see someone else, or they just want to shove some kind of pill down your throat to "make it all go away." Alot of people think all of of our "complaints" are all in our heads. I truly understand! I struggled, too, for way too many years. I have fought this disease for almost 30 years - so I can honestly say that I have been to hell and back again with this vile disease. I've dealt with many of the most uninformed doctors and unwilling to learn doctors, many judgemental doctors,
and tried almost every medication that is out there to try to stop the pain and all the other miserable junk that comes along with fibro - fibro fog, sadness, etc. I've dealt with family members who can't and won't understand that I am not faking this. And I managed to work full- time ( 10-12 hour days teaching in a private boarding school setting) for 25 years before my body just gave out. But finally when my body quit on me in 2013, and I was hospitalized for 4 months, I was blessed. It took nearly dying for me to find a team of doctors who truly understand what I am struggling with, and now I feel like I've been given a miracle that I want to share with all of you so you might want to consider looking for these kinds of doctors to help you.
I now have the following specialists who are working together as a team ( they actually talk to each other about how best to treat me!!) I have a dermatologist, a pain management team, a rheumatologist, an endocrinologist, a gastroenterologist, an immunologist/allergist,an opthamologist, and a physical therapy team. I don't take any pain meds. I only take gabapentin ( but I take more than the standard dose each day), and I take meds for narcolepsy and hypothyrodism.
Am I in pain? Constant! It varies from about level 5 to level 8-9. Most days I can't stand to even have shoes on. I often can't stand to wear anything but a loose robe because clothes hurt. I have to shift positions often. Sitting hurts. Standing is worse. I am homebound. I don't see anyone but my husband and doctors for weeks because my immune system is so compromised. Life is very, very hard. So I do understand what you all are experiencing.
I have learned biofeedback techniques to help me deal with the pain, and sometimes I distract myself by using my computer or trying to escape into TV - but mostly I rely on prayer. God has gotten me through everything!
I am just saying, please don't give up! No matter how lousy you feel now, please know that there is hope! Try looking for the kinds of doctors I suggested. There are specialists who understand. And there are people like us on this team who will "listen" and support you.
Blessings and Hugs.
Keri

I use to have a lot of foot pain and here's what I've done to help...try to wear shoes all the time, even in the house, this will give your feet support, I like to wear sandals and berkenstock sandals are the best and they have a variety of styles now; wear shoes with good insole support or go to a podiatrist to get good orthotics; soak feet in epsom salt when you can; roll your arch on a bottle of frozen water, it helps stretch the mucsles and relieves inflammation; before you get out of bed or get up from sitting for a long time stretch your feet, do ankle circles, point and flex toes, etc.

Hi @A MyFibroTeam Member, I had someone tell me that for this type of pain they did Epson salt baths /soaks and said it helped quite a bit. I haven't personally tried it yet. Seems like I'm lucky to just get through the day between all my ailments, not just Fibro, and living with and caring for my mom with dementia by myself! I'm so depressed most of the time, I have a hard time motivating to do anything for myself! ! Although I'm an RN, I'm on permanent disability and it's truly a real difficult situation to try to be a caretaker, when I can't even make all the appts I Should, just to try to get help for things that were on my original disability and I've been on it since 2011! Besides Fibro I had failed back surgery, osteoarthritis, bursitis & my teeth are literally rotting out of my mouth I need so much dental work, yet trying to get an appointment I can keep and dealing with all the daily pain, I've gotten to the point I am just starting to give up on taking care of myself! It's really hard doing this alone. I have a sibling who supposedly moved back to Michigan in order to spend more time with my mom and "to help me out because she knows how hard it is for me being a sole caretaker "! That's a joke! What she considers helping, is being her usual control freak self and not only from visit 2,trying to change many things I've been doing the same way for over 3 yrs, my mom's 23 hospital admissions and even telling me I have to change stupid things like even cleaning products I use, to her and the oldest brother calling the STATE ELDERLY PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND SAYING I'M NOT CARING FOR MY MOM PROPERLY! !!! I'm going through such a depression, not sure how much longer I can take this so called help??!! Of course the state came and practically laughed at the allegations they made as my mom said over and again how well I take care of her, but then, yesterday, 2 days after the investigation was done, worker from the state said CASE CLOSED! , my ex sister comes over and tries talking to me as if nothing ever happened! I'm sorry for getting off track and venting, but I know a lot of my pain issues and other physical issues are worse with emotional and physical stress.
Well, just hope maybe you could try the Epson salt soak and see if it helps? Can't hurt at this point, as long as you don't have any open sores, cuts on your feet currently. Good luck and have a blessed day! Gentle hugs, Regards, Barb / BCRN

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A MyFibro...

I found my foot pain was a vitamin d deficiency. After large doses of vitamin d mine went away. I now know when my levels dip because I get stabbing pain in my feet!

I definitely agree the doctors should be doing more ..We should have specialists in fibromyalgia not a family doctor...i went to see one doctor and she said oh I don't deal with fibromyalgia so u need to come back and book with another doct!!?? And all this time we are in pain and suffering it's just not fair!
I know what you mean about wanting your old life back, I feel exactly the same and I think it's hard to accept that it may never be like that again....i find that very depressing..i was thinking just this morning how I would give anything to wake up and feel 'normal' with no pain...and again I'm like a recluse too...if it wasn't for looking after my mom and the school run I probably wouldn't leave the house..and then even the school run makes my anxiety flare up...just from knowing that at some point in the day my body is going to crash and burn out xx