Fish Oil and Fibromyalgia/Arthritis/Chronic Pain

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cath Lab, Cardiology,Neuro.

hi everyone!

i haven't been on here in a while but i am a cna/medical assistant with a hx of back problems dating back to a 1999 car accident, then another in 2000, then a fall on the ice in 2007. i was diagnosed with mild degenerative disc disease at the age of 19. now i am pushing 30 and i have had chronic pain for some time. my therapist did research on the powers of fish oil for people like me, and i have to say either trader joe's moleculary distilled omega-3 fatty acids (odorless!) 1200 mg or nature's bounty 1200 mg is the best so far. i started with 1 times a day, then bid, then tid, now qid (i now take 2 in the am, 2 in the pm). i have to say what a big difference! i am no longer stiff and swollen, i do have pain but not as crippling! has anyone else had fish oil or other supplements for chronic pain/arthritis isssues?

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Yes, I take 2400 mg. fish oil daily and I think it's made my arthritis better....... but I KNOW it's done wonders for my triglycerides! Those dropped from 516 to 313 in the first three months after I started taking them; the pills also decreased my total cholesterol and upped my HDLs.

I do think it's helped the joint stiffness and pain, though. I have severe arthritis in my left hand, my spine, both hips, both knees, and my right ankle, but this winter I've barely taken any APAP or ibuprofen, and I used to gobble 'em like candy. I'm not doing anything differently, although I am down quite a few pounds from where I was last winter.

Interesting discussion....hope to see more responses.

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For some time, I had leg pain that was diagnosed as peripheral neuropathy. It got a lot better when I took rx vitamin D gel caps, to correct a documented deficiency. Now I am within therapeutic range, but continue to take vitamin D liquid several times a week. My legs feel great!

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Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.

Thanks for sharing this. I may have to give it a try.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cath Lab, Cardiology,Neuro.

fish oil has also been proven to lower bad cholesterol, which i am trying to get my 68 year old father on since he had a cabg in 2008 and the dr wants his ldl to go down so he wont have to face surgery again. he took it in the early stages of psoriatic arthritis, and then he was put on methtrexate and enbrel. he too will say fish oil helps with the aches and pains. another remedy is to move out of chilly new england! (too expensive!)

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I want you guys with fibro to go on dr oz web site he has a link there to a doc that has a awesome site with tons of info but also D3 Im taking 2000ius in am and pm it has helped alot also the fishoil 2000 am and pm Please people don't take that new savella it has bad side effects of nausea an vomiting not worth it better to try effexor er for pain and fibro. love you guys hope you feel better.

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Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.

Sadly, fish oil didn't make any difference in my pain. :crying2:

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Specializes in LTC.
I want you guys with fibro to go on dr oz web site he has a link there to a doc that has a awesome site with tons of info but also D3 Im taking 2000ius in am and pm it has helped alot also the fishoil 2000 am and pm Please people don't take that new savella it has bad side effects of nausea an vomiting not worth it better to try effexor er for pain and fibro. love you guys hope you feel better.

I love Dr. Oz. Wish all docs were like him! :) He also recommends ribose supplements for increased energy.

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Specializes in Family medicine, cardiology, hematology.

I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease a couple of years ago along with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I took fish oil for my triglycerides; it didn't seem to help my arthritis (have had knee surgery in there, too).

During all my lab work, I had an abnormal ANA. I put off pursuing that until I got the Lyme under control. This last year, I could barely make it through an 8 hour day at the medical office where I worked because of all the severe joint and muscle pains, so I went to the rheumatologist to f/u on the messed-up ANA. We were able to r/o mixed connective tissue disease, yeah! However, he told me I had fibromyalgia.

I was already taking gabapentin, flexeril, and lortab for the Lyme/CFS. He added Cymbalta. Within a week, I had completely quit the lortab and all the Advil I was having to take to make it through a day of work.

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If you want Omega 3's without the odor, expense, and possible contaminants of fish, then check out flax oil. But there is a big debate though about how much additional supplementation we really need of fatty acids, for people already eating a balanced diet.

I have not found any clinical proof that fish oil is an proven tx for fibro or arthritis. If you have that info, can you post it so I can read it? thanks!

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Specializes in PACU, CARDIAC ICU, TRAUMA, SICU, LTC.

Omega 3 fish oil has been documented to help with depression....

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Specializes in Holistic and Aesthetic Medicine.

Flax oil may be helpful but I have not seen the same results for pain as I have seen with fish oil. Flax is very perishable and is often rancid when taken as capsules. It also takes a much larger dose of flax than fish oil. When I've used flax oil with people who have pain, typically, I recommend 1-2 Tablespoons (= to 15-30 capsules) in cottage cheese or yogurt. (The sulfur containing amino acids help with transport) I like the taste of Barlean's flax oil. You are also relying on the body to convert the fats found in flax to the type found in fish (think of it as taking a prodrug versus the actual active ingredient). People with fibro so often have metabolic difficulties. I'd go with fish for a consistent therapeutic effect and add some ground flax seed into the diet to supplement.

For fish oil, look at the amount of EPA + DHA in the capsules. Many capsules are 1gm but may have only 300mg of omega 3. Others are 1gm with 950mg of omega-3. I look for one that is at least 600mg of omega 3/capsule. The preferred sources are anchovie, sardine, mackerel, herring, or halibut. The simplist (but NOT tastiest) way to get all the fish oil one needs and get the A and D would be a spoon full of cod liver oil. Carlson has some that are more effectively flavored than other brands. If you use a capsule, pierce it and taste the oil. It should taste fresh. If it has a sharp taste, it may have not been stored properly.

If you have trouble taking a fish oil due to burping, take one that's enteric coated or freeze the capsules and take it frozen.

For good info on fibro, check out the life extension foundation's website at http://www.lef.org/protocols/immune_connective_joint/fibromyalgia_01.htm

The info is good, but they are trying to sell their own products.

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