Hello my friends - what a relief to find this site - I'm new to this forum stuff, having been raised via the blackboard and chalk method; it's a good feeling to be here (Well you know what I mean!!) and know there are folks who care.
I was wondering if there is anyone who could help or advise me and I apologise in advance for repeating a load of stuff you may of already heard; I will try not to waffle too much but need to give some background info my 'case' as it were. My problem is that I am unconvinced that I have fibro (I recognise that I don't want to have it, but equally need to find out what's going on so that I can act positively if I do)

May 2004 - car crash resulting in broken ribs.
June 2004 - menopause started (Bummer! I was only 46 which I thought a tad early to start!!) I was given HRT to stop hot flushes which I am still on (please bear with me- I know this has nothing to do with the fibro but this is when I started feeling crap!)
Anyho! About a year ago,I woke up with a sore neck;I have had physio etc for a few weeks and blood tests to no avail. I also had X-ray on my upper back/neck which showed some degeneration (wear and tear). The pain continued (bad in morning plus nausea) and after seeing a consultant at the local hospital he suggested I may have fibro. Since then I now have pain in my lower back as well and feel like s**t (sorry Mods, but these guys will know what I mean!!) first thing in the morning. I also feel really dopey most of the time.
In my case, the pain is all in my back and I just feel unwell a lot of the time, but I don't really have any other sore points. My legs really, really hurt (muscular) when I climb stairs- and I was a fit and active kennelmaid before all of this.
I again apologise for this initial long thread as I am not a hypochondriac and just want to get on with my life - like all of us no doubt; I expected to feel like this in twenty years time maybe but at fourty eight it's a bit depressing!!
Please help and thank you in anticipation.
XXXXXXXXXXXX

May 2004 - car crash resulting in broken ribs.
June 2004 - menopause started (Bummer! I was only 46 which I thought a tad early to start!!) I was given HRT to stop hot flushes ...still on ... this is when I started feeling crap!
X-ray on my upper back/neck which showed some degeneration (wear and tear). ... now have pain in my lower back as well ... the pain is all in my back and I just feel unwell a lot of the time, but I don't really have any other sore points. My legs really, really hurt (muscular) when I climb stairs- and I was a fit and active kennelmaid before all of this.

Hi Loonylass,

Well, you have a history here that may contribute to the sort of thing that's called fibro ... OR, it could be a history that stands on its own, in terms of the pain you're experiencing.

Here in the USA fibro is "defined" by tender points in all 4 quadrants, along with fatigue, joint & muscle pain. However, not all docs stick to that definition, since fibromyalgia is pretty much dxd by "if we don't really know what else it could be, it's fibro." Has been called a garbage-can DX, which I know offends some, but IMO is a pretty accurate description of how some folks are treated once they get the label.

In the UK, in particular, there seems to be a bit of a flurry between the medical community & those who suffer from ME ... the med community seeming to want to treat ME largely from a psychiatric viewpoint -- as I understand it -- but I'd love to be corrected!

It's not uncommon for fibro to flare following an injury. But in your case, you've got a double whammy going, the menopause issues. Low hormone levels can make healing occur more slowly. One of the most impt things for soft-tissue healing after trauma is an adequate level of testosterone. Even lasses need a smidge of Mr T. for happy muscles. Libido level decrease is also indicative of reduced testosterone. Your doc can run a test if you desire. Low levels (the reference ranges for females are very diff from those for males) benefit from supplementation.

You might also look at your HRT Rx & determine whether it contains synthetic progesterone/progestins, which have been known (but not commonly), to cause sedation/depressed mood & muscle/joint pain in women. On the other hand, synthetic estrogen in HRT can bind with thyroid hormone. In that case, even mildly suboptimal thyroid function is going to predispose one to increased pain. I realize it's difficult in the UK, but if you can find a med consultant to ck your free thyroid hormone levels, as opposed to the TSH test, that would be most revealing test of thyroid function. Note, early menopause is not uncommon in hypothyroid women, and MVAs resulting in whiplash or other neck trauma frequently injure the thyroid gland.

It's possible that a number of things that might be contributing to your longstanding back pain. One of the best references I've found that describes the wealth of treatments available for chronic pain is the book, Pain Free 1 - 2 - 3, by Jacob Teitelbaum, MD. This book describes the spectrum of conventional medical, alternative, and self-help remedies for pain.

Best wishes.

I'll just mention this in case it may apply.

I had a rheumatologist who was almost ready to go with a fibro diagnosis, but noted some very slight changes in my thyroid levels (which were still within normal levels but skewed to one end of the range). He suggested we try a small dose of thyroid medication. Within two weeks most of the pain was gone and over the next couple of months all symptoms were gone entirely!!!!!

His diagnosis was hugely controversial with my GP, who jumped up and down and insisted my levels were within normal range and there was NOTHING wrong with my thyroid (she even suggested my reaction was a placebo effect and that my main problem was depression :mad: ).

I went to an endocronologist for a second opinion, although she agreed that my levels were within normal range and would not normally merit medication, she went on to say that if the medication was resolving my symptoms she could see no harm in continuing with it (subject to review of course).

It took at least another year before my thyroid numbers DID go out of range, which necessitated an increase in medication. SO I am very thankful to have found that particular doctor - or I would have had to continue feeling so rotten for so much longer.

If you haven't already done so, it may be useful to have your thyroid checked out - educate yourself a little on the ranges, and insist you get not just your TSH level tested, but also your T3 and T4 levels (which I don't think are routinely done in the UK). Get a copy of your results - you can post them to the thyroid board here for opinions of some very knowledgeable people. Thyroid seems to be something not all doctors are good at, so it is worth reading up about it and being a bit assertive about second opinions to make absolutely certain!!!

regards
Georgie

Thankyou for your replies - I will look into the issues raised although (as far as I understand it) I have had blood tests Re: thyroid and have been told the results are normal.
I shall have a scout about on the site and see if anything comes up.
kind regards
LL X