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Does anyone else have problems with more chronic pain trouble during the withdrawal process? I have Fibromyalgia and I’ve noticed a lot of pain during the past 5 days of my quit, my first five days. Hoping it’s just a symptom of the withdrawal that will go away soon. I’m quite sure smoking never helped ease my pain.
Oh WOW, Thank YOU Thomas!!!
Hi Laura!!
I also have Fibromyalgia and I can honestly say that YES I believe that for some reason it increased my chronic pain as well. It's also winter here in NY which doesn't help, so it's confusing.. but I felt the same way and still do for that matter. At first I thought it was because I was moving so much to stay a busy bee, than I thought it was because I was body clenthing ( if that's such a thing) because I was fighting the craves... Also the mind plays a HUGE part of it. I honestly don't know and I am hoping someone else can help with this question. In any case, you're not alone.
I do believe this... Quitting smoking is always healthier so I have to believe this will only be temporary.
I have chronic pain and I convinced myself for a long time that if I could get the pain under control, I would be able to quit smoking, I honestly believed that. When I quit, I didn't have the distraction of smoking, I didn't take those few minutes to just sit and breathe. Those were the times when I failed. Once I paid really close attention to what was happening with the pain when I smoked, I realized that any pain relief that I got was inconsequential and didn't last through the cigarette. When I quit smoking, my hands hurt more...for a while. I attribute that to the fact that there was better circulation...it didn't last. As our circulation improves, our bodies have to adjust, it's BETTER, not worse. I am able to work out regularly and my energy level is higher most days. Nothing is going to take ALL of the pain away, but there are healthy things we can do to take care of ourselves and we will be rewarded with better health in all parts of our lives. The beginning of being smoke free is the hardest....it DOES get easier.
Ellen
Deb-EX & elvan Thank you all for your help. I can survive increased pain so long as I know it’s temporary. Had a feeling it probably was. Thomas3.20.2010 thanks for link letting me know for certain that smoking - not quitting - made fibromylagia worse.
Just like elvan - Ellen said, it's my hands that feel the worst pain increase. There are days were typing is just not an option, it makes so much sense about the smoking though and if you think about it - it's so true. We looked at that cigarette as a way to just sit and breath through it. It did nothing and I do believe it only made our Fibro. worse.. this was one of my main reason for quitting. Hang in there!!!
Halfway thru the 7th day, I’m feeling less pain, thank goodness. Let’s hope it stays quiet.
Hi Laura! I've been having a rough week myself... This Fibro. just comes and goes as it pleases, with NO warnings at all. I am so happy to see you're hanging in there and feeling better!!! Congratulations on 7 days - I believe you officially made it through HELL WEEK!!!
I hope all stays quiet for you, reach out and holler if it doesn't!!!
Thanks Deb-EX — yep - today is my 7th day. After 10pm, I’ll begin my 2nd week as a non smoker! Hope not my second week of increased pain, but I know it would not make it better to smoke again! That much I’m positive of!
Geese, I do not have Fibro but I sure can relate to the hand pain. I have osteoarthritis and hands are bad...fingers...there are days I can't do much of anything with them and when I quit smoking it seemed it was more pronounced. I also have MS but don't think its related to that
Congrats on your quit and I am glad the pain has lessened. I will say hold on tight to your quit as well. I initially quit Oct 17th, but dumb me I fell to the temptation on Oct 30th and had a few, but quit again that evening and reset my quit day to the 31st. I have Multiple Sclerosis, I could blame it on the stress, but I know smoking even for those few hours did increase my pain levels for the first few days of my final quit.
Being 2-3 months quit now, I will say for me the daily pain I live with has lessened, but when the pain spikes I actually use the same tools I used to distract myself when craving the nicotine/habit. Does not always work, but for me it does help a touch to try and distract myself during the "high pain" periods.
Best of luck on your continued quit.
Tabbie
Tabbiekat the pain came back stronger than ever this evening, but I’m still not giving up my quit. No way I went thru hell week for nothing! Thanks to the support of the great people of this site, and knowing I’m not alone, you’re all here supporting me, and I’m here to support all of you as well! Here’s to getting the NicoDemon off our back, then maybe we can get to work on lessening our pain somehow!
Don't give up!! We both know pain and we both know that it will not be better with a cigarette! I've been playing that mind game over and over in my head for 2 days now. I am smoke free 60 days tomorrow - I never want to start this over! I hate Fibromyalgia and I hate the havoc it causes to our body, mind and souls! But I also know that smoking a cigarette is not going to change anything... I have to believe that over time, it will help our bodies heal... Thats what I hang on to!
I hope you rest tonight and feel better in the morning!!
I know my brain likes to make up a new path. Like a cigarette would ease the pain, but it hasn’t been that long since I smoked — I know cigarettes are no pain killer. And worse, I do believe they make Fibromyalgia even worse! So that demon is not going to win the fight with me.
Yep...forever.
Great advice !!! Hot showers are my saving grace and a great tool to lessen that pain spike... Especially before going to bed!
"Positive emotion can be helpful in coping with pain is counterintuitive and may seem to place the burden on the individual to simply ‘think positively’ to fix their chronic pain. To be sure, positive emotion is not a cure-all that will magically make the pain disappear. But consciously focusing on ways to bring more positive emotion into your life, even in the face of ongoing stress and pain, is one modest step toward coping better with pain."
I dont know it can't hurt to try.
many abundant blessings sent your way ~~ <3
~ Kim
I can only imagine how challenging it seems that your symptoms are increasing but I want to reassure you that it's the Addiction which is causing your current pain. It will get better and in a short while you'll feel much better!
Cigarette Smoking and Fibromyalgia Symptoms