Fibromyalgia & Clothes - These Things Hurt!
Do your clothes make you hurt? Mine do! Bras, waistbands, even the tie on my old bathrobe -- anything that puts pressure on my chest or abdomen can at times set off either burning or intense, stabbing pains.
I've tailored my entire wardrobe to accommodate this particular symptom, but I've never read a word about it anywhere. Wondering if I was crazy or if it was a common thing among those of us with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), I asked about it in the forum. Turns out, I'm not crazy! (OK, at least not about this.) A lot of people posted that they have the same problem and thought they were the only one. One woman described the pain as feeling like a "terrible sunburn." Clothes can cause pain all over, on your tender points and on areas that are numb or tingly.
I thought it was high time this topic was addressed, since clothing is generally something we have to deal with on a daily basis. With the help of those wonderful forum folks, I've put together some fibro-tested tips. Click here to read the article.
Comments
I’ve had the same problem with bras, waistbands, etc. I thought it was just me and not my Fibromyalgia, until I talked to my doctor and she said that it’s common.
OMG!!! My doctor wasn’t as knowledgable! I’ve spent years choosing clothes that don’t constrict my waistline!!! Thanks for shining a flashlight in here! lolol
The feel of socks,the little pimple things and the stiching at the toes hurt.So I wear my socks turned inside out. Also I can’t take the feel of sweatpants and shirts after a few washings ( again the little pimples !) so I wear them inside out. They are very comfortable that way (of course to just stay home in )I don’t wear the sweats in public.
I am only 23, been suffering for almost 10 years, and the moment I get home from being out anywhere, my bra and anything else, sleeves with cuffs, workout shirts, tank tops with built in bras or anything else on my neck, shoulders, chest or wrists must come off immediatly. I’m so glad other people are also realizing this as a major problem. I am always so uncomfortable throughout my day and just don’t know how to make other’s understand my need for me changing my clothing constantly!
So glad to see this article! I NEVER wear a bra unless i absolutely have to and family hasn’t understood it’s because it HURTS. Spread the word, gals…and wear whatever helps!
Me too! I have to buy underwear that has the elastic completely covered with cotton cloth. Exposed elastic hurts and sometimes I will even get a skin reaction. Forget bras, I rip them off as soon as I get home and I try to buy clothes that don’t require a bra. Thank goodness I am an A-B size.
I buy a lot of clothes at the thrift store because they are already worn and softened!
Oh, and my sheets HAVE to be 400 thread count or better- anything less itches and feels uncomfortable.
Oh! Thank you a thousand times over! I have been burning around my ribcage for years and have had EVERY test known thinking it was pancreas or kidneys or ??? but after every test the Dr’s all came back with it’s only your Fibro.ONLY?????? This is misery in it’s most wicked form because even our clothes hurts us. I only get dressed if I HAVE to go out, otherwise it’s loose fitting nightgowns and lightweight housecoats. I can’t stand shoes on my feet either. I need to wear compression socks but can’t stand the pain of getting them on and after I do, five min. later they come off. What is this stuff that can make life a living hell? I am so glad to read that others are having problems with their clothing and I will try some of the things they have suggested, anything to relieve this burning hot plate that I have around my rib-cage and stomach!
I too have sensivity but it a different area.
It is my tailbone area and a bit lower. Suffered badly for over a yr. until I figured out it came from the seam in my jeans. I quit wearing jeans and also bought a cushion with a V cut out for the tailbone area. It still took about a yr to stop hurting.
It’s such a relief to find out that I’m not completely nuts! LOL!! I never even thought that my fibro could be the reason that I feel the overwhelming need to whip off my bra, shoes, any kind of fitted shirt, as soon as I walk in the door! It used to be my jeans as well, but I’ve lost over 90 pounds and I think that’s a big reason that I now feel comfortable wearing jeans all the time. Thanks so much for bringing this topic up!
Has anyone ever heard of Dr. St. Amand and his “guaifenesin protocol for FM? Have you ever been “mapped” for FM diagnosis?
Has anyone ever heard of Dr. St. Amand and his “guaifenesin protocol”? Have you ever been “mapped” for FM diagnosis?
My husband get upset because I never get dressed, but I can only handle my clothes for about 2 hours then I hurt so bad. After wearing a bra or pants with a tighter waist, I can’t sleep at night. I love my jammies and my sweatpants because they are loose fitting. I am glad I work at home because I don’t think I could handle getting dressed for a job daily. I am so glad it isn’t just me. Can someone call my husband? LOL
I have Fibromyalgia and lately it hasn’t been hurting as much as having ANY fabric touch my skin itches like crazy. As far as the sheets go, I work in bedding. I will tell you that thread counts can be tricky. You want to make sure you have a SINGLE ply thread count. What a lot of place do it twist 2-3 threads together and ta da – double or triple the actual thread count with out the higher quailty feel. Also, if you’re looking for a softer feel – aloe washed sheets are key and cotton sateen (they get softer as you wash them)
The Bra, Yes, Must come off!! I gave up wearing underwear as too many layers bothered me.First thing after 9 hours at work.
Water at one point really bothered me. I would tell my husband Once I was in there, it wasn’t bad. When he met me I showered morning to wake me & nite to sleep.
I never gave up the at least once a day. I work among many teaching educated people, don’t think they would of apreciated otherwise! hee. It just felt like an “Invasion” on my skin. Sound really weird?
It did eventually stop, thank you God.
I’ve been having similar issues lately – my clothing hurts my skin like I’ve been sunburnt and they also leave bright red imprints into my skin. I can’t wear my jean because it feels like someone rubbing sandpaper across my skin and when I take them off, I have every seam, crease, etc imprinted into my skin in bright red. pantyhose drive me crazy, my bra, everything. I’ve only had this for a couple of months and I’m getting so depressed about it. I don’t know if it’s fibro because I haven’t had that diagnosed but I’ll mention to my doctor and see what she thinks.
I found a bra that Just my Size has out. All t shirt type cotton. No under wires. It helps. It’s the ONLY one so far.
Does anyone know of a “pain free” clothing line? I kid you not there have been so many day’s that I can’t leave the house because my clothing hurts too much. I become a mental case from this issue at times. Trapped in frumpy land, consumed with pajama bottoms and giant cotton tee shirts. I even had a breast reduction due to the pain of a bra. I feel isolated by this drama.
I too suffer from FMS and my pain is not so much a burning but that horrible, bone-deep ache that radiates all up my neck and across my shoulders. I dread wearing bras and even buy them too big so they don’t hurt quite as much (which also kindof defeats the purpose of a bra)! Any type of shoulder strap bothers me horribly and can make getting through the day difficult. As soon as I am home, the bra comes off and the sweats go on! Luckily, I have a small chest and spend most of the summer without a bra on–yah!
I am 24 I just found out that I am not the only one to have this problem. I thought I was crazy and was the only one to have this problem. I now had it for 2-3 years can’t wear tight cloth it makes me have pain. Can’t wear anything with elastic in it, socks omg I never find right ones with no elastic, either too stretch or elastic and those diabetic ones still have elastic or stretch and rip fast, and for pants so weird when I stand need to make them tighter but when I sit need to adjust the belt so annoying. Most cloth now days made so skinny and it hurts.
Looks like woman have this problem more? Yeah tell me do they have pain free cloth? If so many have this problem why don’t they make pain free cloth?
I have alot of clothing sensitivity, I have found that wearing a bra is now impossible, but I can’t go out of the house without, so I have started wearing seamless shapewear with large built in cups. This prevents having a band around my chest where the pain is excruciating. I have also found that underwear with high waistbands help get the pressure from around my belly. When I wear socks, I choose diabetic seamless socks and when I am swollen I wear compression stockings that help alleviate the edema. My shirts all have v-necks or I feel like I am choking. I can’t wear anything to bed at all, and my sheets must be high quality, pill free and washed regularly as a grain of sand will be felt all night long and keep me awake. Also, the sheets and blankets must be tucked in just right and wrinkle free.