For years I have been having very odd symptoms. I have arthritis type pain in my knees especially when the weather changes. Have chronic back pain through the shoulders up through my neck. I get dizziness, nausea nda vomiting. I am extremly sensitive to smells. My arms go numb and tingle. I have an overwhelming sense to sleep. Everyday is battle just to get out of bed to do anything. I get alot of charlie horses, muscle twitches in my calfs and arms. I also feel like I am in a constant fog. I also experience a burning sensation on my skin but no rash or irritation is visible. I have had MRI's of my head and spine, blood work and just about every test you can think of. They are all normal. I am now scheduled to see a rheumatologist on Monday to see what they have to say. However when the appt was made the woman stated they dont treat fibromyalgia but could diagnosis it. So if i do indeed have it what are my treatment options and what kind of Dr do I see?

Hi MamaLisa,

The Rheumie doc can help rule out copycat autoimmune diseases that resemble fibro. That's impt., because fibro is a diagnosis of excluding other possible causes for tender points, muscle pain, and fatigue.

Some people on this board have had help from their Rheumie doc. Others see neurologists, or pain specialists. Some work with GPs, others with internal med specialists. I am currently working with a naturopath after having burned out on MDs, and I think there might be a few other folks who have had that experience.

Hang aroung this board & you will learn there is no one treatment that is universally helpful for fibro. Try this treatment, try that one, see what helps.

Are you the same person who recently posted on the Autism board? I must remark that in all the yrs. I've spent at local autism support groups, I've been amazed at the high frequency of fibro & autoimmune diseases like lupus among Moms of kids on the spectrum. It could be the stress, but I wouldn't be surprised if researchers find that there's a connection -- perhaps a compromised ability of the body to eliminate toxic stuff -- that connects fibro Moms & their Autistic kids. If I got the wrong person, please forgive that last remark.

Best wishes.

Yes its me,lol. Our family is the one with all the issues :) Just wait in the morning it will be somthing new, lol. I am 26 and already going grey!

For years I have been having very odd symptoms. I have arthritis type pain in my knees especially when the weather changes. Have chronic back pain through the shoulders up through my neck. I get dizziness, nausea nda vomiting. I am extremly sensitive to smells. My arms go numb and tingle. I have an overwhelming sense to sleep. Everyday is battle just to get out of bed to do anything. I get alot of charlie horses, muscle twitches in my calfs and arms. I also feel like I am in a constant fog. I also experience a burning sensation on my skin but no rash or irritation is visible. I have had MRI's of my head and spine, blood work and just about every test you can think of. They are all normal. I am now scheduled to see a rheumatologist on Monday to see what they have to say. However when the appt was made the woman stated they dont treat fibromyalgia but could diagnosis it. So if i do indeed have it what are my treatment options and what kind of Dr do I see?


I to have fibromyalgia for 14 years and was just diagnosed 2 months ago with TOS.All of you're symtems and things you have said sound like they could be either i have all of those symptoms plus sore muscles around heart and sore breast bones.You need to see a neurologist to discuss TOS and talk to your doctor about fibromyalgia,i was diagnosed through a psyiotherapist,and no it is a very hard thing to diagnose but they seem to be finding it easier lately to actually diagnose fibromyalgia now that it is more commonly known.Write if you have any more questions and i will try and help you!!!

I am not sure about TOS. I had EMG studies and they all came back normal. Would that be the case in TOS? Thanks for the input!

MamaLisa,

Hope you don't feel I'm picking on you. We've got it all in our fam, too.

I know you say you've had all the bloodwork done, but premature greying can be a symptom of thyroid disorder. The vast majority of docs in America simply screen thyroid w/the TSH test, which is not always helpful in fibro as hypothalamic/pituitary malfunction is not uncommon, and TSH is a pit messenger. Endocrine glitches IMO can predispose one to fibro, and when they are attended to, fibro symptoms are often reduced.

Go back through your hard copies of test results from the docs (never just take their word, or a nurses' phone call as true 'results'), and see if your levels of free thyroid hormones & thyroid antibodies were tested. The frees are abbreviated Free T3, Free T4, and antibodies TPO & TG. If both of your frees were in the upper 1/3 of the ref range, and your antibodies neg., then you're OK.

Can somebody tell me what TOS stands for?

Best wishes.

For what it is worth here is my thots on Fibro and drs. and meds. I have had problems for over 30yrs. At that time fibro not known like now. Very beginning I had a great rheumie and he called it fibrositis which is what they knew it as then also RA. I had the most weird things to happen as you described. Dr. I had was great to see me thru it. I have taken all sorts of meds. including gold injections and not long ago Methotrexate Remicade, and Enberol. THEN...to add to it all I was diagnosed with lung infec.almost 2 yrs ago so had to go off all those things and on only Mobic which I don't see helps much. I find that just doing the pain meds help as much as anything can. Since diagnosed with lung problems I worry more about it I find then the fibro and RA. Thru out the years I tried all the things like natural and remedies. None helped. When I get overly tired then the pain is horrendous. As to husband thinking you're crazy. Try to get him to read up on fibro and or go to support groups. They are really helpful. Find a good dr. I see a rheumy hat is good. The first one I saw tho was my favorite. He was GREAT! Hope you find some help from a good dr.