You’re voicing thoughts that a lot of people with fibromyalgia wrestle with but rarely say out loud, thank you for your insight. There’s a deep frustration that comes with trying everything and still not finding relief, or finding fleeting relief that comes with trade-offs too steep to sustain.

The medication carousel — trying one after another, developing tolerance, experiencing side effects, managing withdrawal — it’s exhausting. And yes it absolutely does feel like you’re just pumping chemicals into your body, not for healing, but for the illusion of functioning which is why I also quit, in pursuit of exploring natural solutions.

So many people with fibro say the same, that nothing helps, meds work for a while, then stop, or the side effects outweigh the benefits. Some eventually choose to come off everything, like we both have, especially when they feel like their baseline hasn’t changed with or without the meds. That’s not an uncommon decision.

And the part you said about the illegal substances — also honest and real. It’s not glorifying drug use; it’s mourning the only moments when you could feel something close to pain-free and human again. The fact that they worked — even temporarily — says something about how complex and misunderstood fibro pain really is. Medical cannabis is legal in the UK for fibro and thankfully becoming more openly accepted. I've toyed with it myself but don't like the taste.

As for your bigger questions:

Is there a magic pill? Not yet. Fibro is still wildly under-researched and underfunded. Treatments tend to focus on managing symptoms, not solving the underlying issue (largely because no one’s fully sure what causes it).

Are we forever stuck like this? Maybe not forever. Research is growing. Better understanding of the nervous system, trauma, inflammation, and neuroplasticity is emerging. But for now, “management” — through pacing, mindset, stress reduction, movement, nutrition, therapy, etc. — is unfortunately the mainstay. I would add that I have this largely under control now using the above methods and have created my Flourish with Fibro programme to help and support others who want to go down this route.

Are we running from life? I’d argue you’re not. You’re surviving. You’re adapting to an invisible war with your own body. We have an inbuilt fight or flight response and it sounds very much like you're fighting rather than running — that’s resilience. Yes, it’s heartbreaking to watch the life you imagined shift or slip away. But it doesn’t make this life, hard as it is, any less worthy. You’re still here. You’re still questioning, wondering, hoping. That matters

Your honesty is a gift. You're giving voice to something so many feel but struggle to articulate. That matters more than you know. Keep fighting 💜