1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Can CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) help?

Posted , 8 users are following.

anne90395
anne90395

Hello,

Just thought I'd put this out there, to hear other peoples experiences.

My Doctor wants me to try CBT before he puts me on any other medication.

I take 50mg of Amitryptilene, helps with the sleep, but not so much the pain.

Have you tried this? Has it helped?

Thanks, Anne

0 likes, 22 replies

22 Replies

Prev
  • Tigger_the_Wing
    Tigger_the_Wing anne90395

    Posted

    I have found Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to be quite helpful; like you, I tend to react badly to medications (amitriptyline was one of the worst, to be honest) and have had to cope with multiple disorders with minimal pain relief. This year, my liver became very sick and I was forced to give up nearly all the few medications I was on for the pain (migraleve, diclofenac and prednisone) and I had to cut down my BuTrans from 15µg/hour to 10µg/hr. Luckily, it worked, and my liver is healing itself nicely.

    So CBT is pretty much all I have at the moment. It helps me to keep going when all I want to do is curl up in a corner and cry. I'm still able to get out once or twice a week. I use distraction to help cope with the worst of the pain, and diclofenac gel for the most painful joints when distraction isn't enough. It's great that amitriptyline is helping with your sleep, as I find getting adequate sleep makes an enormous difference to my functioning the following day.

    Best wishes!

    • anne90395
      anne90395 Tigger_the_Wing

      Posted

      Hello,

      Thanx for your message. Positive about CBT, good to hear that. Sounds just like me at times, I just want to curl up in a corner and cry. Is this really my life!

      Take care, Anne

  • Ech1ck
    Ech1ck anne90395

    Posted

    Hi there

    I definetely CBT works and I have practised and had a CBT coach for 2 years. I have not seen my coach since my diagnosis in the Spring. My only concern is that is your G.P supportive from every aspect of alternative health and not because they feel as many others do, that it is in the mind rather than an actual illness.

    All the best

    E

    • anne90395
      anne90395 Ech1ck

      Posted

      Hi,

      Thanx for taking the time to reply. Good to hear that CBT can work, you're the first person that has said this! I suspect that a lot of people still think this is in the mind, but there is so much research out there now, and I do point my friends and relations in that direction.

      Take care, Anne x

    • Ech1ck
      Ech1ck anne90395

      Posted

      Always happy to help and share experiences for proactive health :-)
Back to top
Prev

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.