New on this board. Have FIBRO Questions, Please Help

[tina1966]

Hi,
My name is Tina and I am a TMJ Sufferer. When I first got diagnosed with this
it was so bad doc's thought I had MS or Lupus. Those tests came back negative, however, I have myofascial pain as well. I am just scared this pain
could be fibro,,now my doc says it is, my physical therapist says no, that its
just my muscles pinching nerves and causing me pain, Its like a "piercing" that
I have, in my arms, hips, legs and feet. Its really bad if I am active or drive alot. I do strectching and walk every day. Also, I take Xanan and paxcil due to the TMJ pain. I am in my 7th month with TMJ. My splint I wear has helped alot. But still I have pain. Sometimes its a shooting pain, like down my legs.
I also have been having bad night sweats for a couple of months now. I thought it was menopause, I am only 37, but it runs in my family,(EarlyMenopause). My periods are also messed up, more bleeding and they last longer than ususal. So, I am very confused, do I have fibro or not? Could someone please tell me what the MAJOR symptoms are?? Also, when i sleep or take a shower I feel absolutely no pain. Its like I can control the pain level.
Thanks so much! All replys are really appreciated! Tina

[Copper]

Originally Posted by tina1966

Hi,
My name is Tina and I am a TMJ Sufferer. When I first got diagnosed with this
it was so bad doc's thought I had MS or Lupus. Those tests came back negative, however, I have myofascial pain as well. I am just scared this pain
could be fibro,,now my doc says it is, my physical therapist says no, that its
just my muscles pinching nerves and causing me pain, Its like a "piercing" that
I have, in my arms, hips, legs and feet. Its really bad if I am active or drive alot. I do strectching and walk every day. Also, I take Xanan and paxcil due to the TMJ pain. I am in my 7th month with TMJ. My splint I wear has helped alot. But still I have pain. Sometimes its a shooting pain, like down my legs.
I also have been having bad night sweats for a couple of months now. I thought it was menopause, I am only 37, but it runs in my family,(EarlyMenopause). My periods are also messed up, more bleeding and they last longer than ususal. So, I am very confused, do I have fibro or not? Could someone please tell me what the MAJOR symptoms are?? Also, when i sleep or take a shower I feel absolutely no pain. Its like I can control the pain level.
Thanks so much! All replys are really appreciated! Tina

Hi Tina,

Here are some excerpts from an article I wrote back in 2000. Hopefully this will answer some of your questions. Hope so! Good luck! :

"The more frequently experienced symptoms are insomnia, extreme exhaustion and/or fatigue, hormonal dysfunction, irritable bowel and bladder, blurred vision, thermal regulation dysfunction, dysmenorrhea, TMJ, food and environmental allergies, unrefreshing sleep, mitral valve prolapse, muscle pain and spasms, (apparent) joint pain, myofascial pain, depression, anxiety, sugar cravings, excessive thirst, confusion, memory loss, chest pain, irritability, acne, diarrhea, gum disease, oral inflammation, and headaches [Starlanyl; Casura; Yue; Roderick]. The list goes on and on, yet, comparing one patient to another will produce two entirely different sets of symptoms [Yue]. This, in itself, can impede the diagnostic process as numerous illnesses and disorders share these symptoms.

....Diagnosis

In 1990, the American College of Rheumatology established diagnostic criteria [S of W], which aids in distinguishing FMS from other disorders. This criteria must include, but is not limited to [et al]:

Widespread, generalized, persistent muscle/joint pain, not explained by an inflammatory or degenerative musculoskeletal disorder, for 3 or more months (though many doctors insist on 6 months)

Ongoing fatigue for a similar time period

Tenderness in at least 11 or 12 of 18 tender points, referred to as (TrPs), on digital palpation:


suboccipital muscle insertions at occiput

lower cervical paraspinals

trapezius at midpoint of the upper border

supraspinatus at its origin above medial scapular spine

2nd costochondral junction

2 cm distal to lateral epicondyle in forearm

upper outer quadrant of buttock

greater trochanter

knee just proximal to the medial joint line

(Goldenburg)


Some clinicians also specify the degree of palpative pressure applied, varying between two & 10 pounds...."

[painsucks]

Copper,

Could you please explain some of these symptoms in English? I've had fibro for over 10 years and I haven't heard of some of the things you've mentioned, perhaps it is just because I am not familiar with the terms.

[Charlyssa]

Hi painsucks

Sorry you have so much pain, but pain is sooo typical of fm, of course. TMJ, along with a host of other problems/symptoms, which Copper outlined to you, affect us too, either in whole, or part. I have most every single one of them, and like you, had the heavy bleeding and longer periods at the same age you did. It was described to me by my gyne as due to 'fluctuating hormonal levels' and COULD be the beginning of perimenopause. It was for me, and by age 46, I was in complete menopause.

Have you been to a Rheumatologist? Often they are the Doctors who are able to be most accurate in diagnosing FM. One of the guidelines is to use the 'tender points test', and Copper was describing to you where these points are found on the body. Usually they just press VERY hard on these spots, and if you jump thru the ceiling when this is done, more than likely you have fm as it's very painful. I have sensitivity to the touch just about everywhere on my body, anyway, so this was very painful for me when he 'tested' me. I have TMJ, too and usually just take ibuprofen when it's bad, as it's an anti-inflammatory. It can upset the stomach so I make sure to take it with food, and you should make sure it's OK to take by asking your Dr. first.

Hope this helps. Take care.

Char

[Copper]

Originally Posted by painsucks

Copper,

Could you please explain some of these symptoms in English? I've had fibro for over 10 years and I haven't heard of some of the things you've mentioned, perhaps it is just because I am not familiar with the terms.

Hi painsucks,

Sorry! Sure, I can try and break it down for you:

The more frequently experienced symptoms are insomnia = can't sleep, extreme exhaustion and/or fatigue = I THINK, self-explainitory, hormonal dysfunction = difficult periods, sweats and chills, menopause-type symptoms, irritable bowel and bladder = frequent stomach discomfort, nausea, back and forth between diahrrea (sorry, I can't spell today! ) and constipation, blurred vision, thermal regulation dysfunction = opposite body reactions to what the weather is, i.e. cold when it's hot, vice-versa, dysmenorrhea = difficult/ painful menses, TMJ, food and environmental allergies, unrefreshing sleep, mitral valve prolapse = dysfunction of a particular heart valve, muscle pain and spasms, (apparent) joint pain = apparent, because the pain is not actually in the joints, just feels that way, myofascial pain = the fascia is that membraneous tissue that surrounds muscles, and IT HURTS! this is one of our MAIN symptoms, depression, anxiety, sugar cravings, excessive thirst, confusion, memory loss, chest pain, irritability, acne, diarrhea, gum disease, oral inflammation, and headaches ....

as for all the technical terms listed in the diagnostics, these are specific points on the body that are palpated (pushed on) by the dr. to determine if, indeed, FMS is present. The previous post explains this pretty weel. I don't have the physical energy to back track and explain each one. Sorry. But, if you do a web search, you can find an actual chart showing each of these points on a diagram.

hope this helps,