Hi,

I am 26 years old who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia like 5 or 6 years ago by a ortpedic doctor. And about 2 years ago I was diagnosed by hashimoto's thyroidism (hypothyroid). I wanted to ask all of you a question I am not quite sure if i really do have fibromyalgia or not... Is it true you are unable to sleep properly at night in this disease but I am always sleepy. The other question is I have my most pain in my shoulders and where my arm/shoulder bones in the back meet the muscles between the area it is very painful and always tender and hurting. In that area I have alot of knots which cause my pain. Do people who have fibromyalgia also have alot of knots or not? Are all of you tired all the time? I know I am tired due to my thyroid problem as well but I think this pain is making me much more tired. I just cant get rid of this pain and it gives me bad headaches due to my shoulder pain. I dont want to start any medications for fibro. as I am not quite sure if i really have it and I am really scared of gaining weight with them as well as other side affects. I also dont want to take too many medications because I feel I am too young and if I start strong medications it will make my body weaker. I have started doing some weights for my shoulder and arm area but it is making it more tense and hurts more now adays. maybe after few months it might get okay ...i really hope so. I hate this pain. Any pain is so unbearable. The only way I get alittle relief from my pain is by getting my husband to massage that area. Even after he is done the pain never goes away.

Thanks for listening, really appreciate it.

Hi... I am also hypothyroid and also have fibromyalgia, but the pain you describe is myofascial pain which causes painful knots in the shoulders. People who are hypothyroid are prone to this type of pain.

Don't do weight bearing exercise right now - it will make it worse. But do this - find a massage therapist who does myofascial release. It helps. Sometimes the massage is very painful but it takes time to get rid of those knots that took years to develop. You may also want to find a chiropractor. The massage therapist and chiropractor are how I stay off of pain medications.

If you are still very tired, I bet you are undermedicated with your thyroid medicine. When your medication is optimized you won't be so tired, you will sleep better, think better, and the muscle pain won't be so bad. Why don't you visit the Thyroid board on this forum? I am there a lot and it has great tips and advice.

Thanks for your response, I really appreciate it. Can you please tell me how I should find a massage therapist who specializes in myofascial release. Thanks.

Well - I wish I could help you there - I found mine by accident. But you may want to try asking a chiropractor.
And try some local massage schools, perhaps they can give you a referral to one of their graduates.

Since you are in a lot of pain, mention the fibro to the MT, they will know to be more gentle with you.

I have also been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and recently put on Armour Thyroid I am only on 1 grain right now and the interal medicin specialist I went to said it would take time to get rid of the myofacial pain that I am experiancing..I go to a Chiropractor 3 times a week and am getting MST (muscle stimulation therapy) He doesn't seem to think that I have all the symptoms of Fibro, but I know how you feel and am looking for the same kinda trigger point therapy..So I thank you as well sara for your helpful bit of information...Some days the pain is so bad I can't focus on anything else but it...

You could have chronic fatigue syndrome. Look into that.

HollyInMissouri, where exactly are you expericing the most pain? I know this pain is horrible. You are already always tired from the hypo thyroid and this just wears you out. Now a days I am experiencing alot of headaches due to the shoulder pain. I feel my knots have gotten worse in few weeks due to the weights I started doing. Sara was right and I wont be doing that until I get okay.

jonquill, how do you know if you have chronic fatigue syndrome? Are there some special symptoms in this syndrome? or they are just like having hypothyroid?

According to the 1994 CDC case definition, a diagnosis of CFS requires incapacitating fatigue that is unexplained, lasts at least 6 months, and is not improved by rest. The fatigue must be accompanied by a minimum of 4 of the following:

* Impairment of short-term memory and concentration
* Muscle pain
* Multi-joint pain
* Unrefreshing sleep
* Headaches of a new type, pattern, or severity
* Sore throat
* Tender lymph nodes
* Post-exertional malaise (fatigue lasting more than 24 hours after exertion)

Diagnosing CFS is very difficult. There is no conclusive test for CFS, so doctors must rely on their experience and intuition. Once a doctor suspects CFS in a patient who meets the general diagnostic criteria, the doctor must successively eliminate all other potential testable causes of their set of symptoms. CFS, therefore, is what is called an exclusionary diagnosis.

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source: wik.ipedia

I agree CFS could be a culprit but hypothyroidism explains the fatigue and muscle pain and sleep problems, and memory issues.

Try to get your thyroid optimized. It is a game of experimentation but there was a time when I felt good and I felt smart again ... not one of those times right now, but I know it can be done.

All this stuff can be hard to sort through...

Anju20 My pain in in my shoulders, neck, back, and chest...They are very bad and are emotionally wearing me thin..I was in the E.R. again last night again told me to go home and alternate heat and cold to help the pain take tylenol..It's all very stressfull but I know I can and will beat it...Forgot to mention that I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis so that is alot of my problems

I can understand what you are going through! In reality any form of pain is very stressful, but if you have that pain all the time and is alot then its very difficult to deal with it. The only thing that kind of helps me deal with this is getting massage from my husband. There are massaging chairs, and massagers that you can hold and do yourself. this really helps me out. Maybe you might want to try this out. It could help relieve some of your pain, but it wont get rid of it. Even to feel a relief of pain just for few minutes makes you feel sooooo good! I wish you luck and hope you feel better soon.

I have found a massage therapist that does release treatments I have been told to go to her 2 times a week for 8 weeks costly but might be worth it