MistyMisty

Hi, here are a few at home things you might try.

This one may sound strange but other people on another message board are doing this:

Fill your bathtub with the hottest water you can tolerate. Add a cup of Epsom (spelling?) salts and two bottles of hydrogen peroxide about 32 oz. each. Add your favorite scent and hop in for a long soak just before bedtime. Many people say this helps somehow.

Make sure you are getting enough calcium and magnesium. I use Oscal Ultra and take it about an hour before bedtime. You need to have Boron in it to help metabolize the calcium. This one has Calcium, Vitamin D (also necessary for it to metabolize) Magnesium, Boron, Vitamin E, Zink, and copper. This helps to stop muscle twitches.

Find a soft rug and use it only as a mat for doing some mild Yoga type stretching exercises. (Bring it out, and folding it up when done gets you into the habit.) There is one that I do that helps move gas...get on your hands and knees, with your legs and arms as far apart as you can stand. Put head down towards the floor. Take a deep breath and exhale. Now contract your stomach and abdominal muscles. Repeat about five to seven times. Now relax and repeat several times.
I do this in the evening while watching TV. (Hopefully you can get down and up again to do this.) There are Yoga books at most Libraries) You can make copies of some pictures or print out simple stretching exercises from the Internet under Yoga. Don't even consider the contortion ones!

Another one that helps is to sit on the floor and put the left leg straight down and cross the other leg over it with the foot of right leg on the floor. You should be in a position where your hands are almost behind you with palms on the floor. Now gently twist from the waist to the left. Relax. Twist the opposite direction. Your head should be pointing in the oppositie direction of the twist. This should be done very gently. Now reverse the leg position. Doing this about 5 to 7 times is enough to relieve some of the tighness in the neck, back, and lumbar area. (Taking care of the entire spine with this one.) I hope this makes sense! If not, get a good book on mild Yoga stretching positions.

Another thing is to get a tube sock and fill it about 3/4 full of raw long grain white rice. Tie a knot at one end. This tube sock should not be 100% full or it won't heat well. Put it into the microwave for 2 to 4 minutes. (I have burned one, so be careful of the heat and time.)
Use this on your neck, lower back, or where ever you feel tight and sore. This creats it own moisture and feels so good. I use it on my neck after sitting in front of the computer!

I don't know what you take for pain meds or muscle relaxers. Be careful of Tylenol as it can damage the liver if you use it daily.

I am sorry to hear you have been diagnosed at such a young age. I waited a long time to take pain meds. I did try the non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs for two years and ended up with a bleeding ulcer. NSAID's really don't help that much with fibro. If you can get a prescription of Baclofen it is one that might give you some relief. (It works for some, not for others, as all drugs are trial and error.)

If possible take walks. It doesn't have to be fast but as you get used to it you will go further and faster. Running is not necessary to bring up your endorphins, your body's natural pain reliever! (I get about three hours of relief from that all over achyness after a nice long walk.)

Is there any place where you can do warm water stretching exercises? It is possible to make a deal with a local motel that has a heated swimming pool to go there several times a week. (Sometimes not allowed, sometimes very expensive. Having a doctor's prescription for this helps to "make a deal".) If there is any place with a heated pool in your area it is well worth looking into.)

Someone else might have some better ideas. I have addressed only a few. MistyMisty