I was under the impression ... - Fibromyalgia Message Board

Icefire · 08-26-2004, 06:53 AM

From what I've read on Fibro that it was not a progressive disease. I took that to mean that once you've had it with a certain pain level that it would stay that way. I've seen this wording many times in many different books and on the web. After reading several posts and even with myself, I'm seeing this not to be true. If you have a certain pain level in certain places and then you go into "remission", and when it comes back it comes back with a vegenance, then I would take that to be progressive. My pain level for the first 15 years was almost manageable, that is until 2 months ago. My pain level is not only not manageable now, I have pain in tons of spots that I never had before. So if I'm understanding this right now, to not be progressive you would keep the same symptoms, the same pain level ( for the most part, I know days are different) and not add on many different symptoms. Am I missing something?

Chris

pa235 · 08-26-2004, 07:53 AM

Hi Chris, When I was first diagnosed, 20 years ago, the Dr. told me that fm will progress and will affect every
muscle in your body except your heart, because that is not a connective muscle. I can tell you from my experience that it is progressive, just the last five years are getting worse for me. My flairs are closer, lasting longer, other symtons appearing and pain in areas that were not affected before.

Linda

LadyMasters · 08-26-2004, 02:41 PM

What I understood by what was meant by non progressive was that as long as you take pro active measures such as; streching exercises, walking, biking, swimming, hot tub therapies, etc. , you don't have to be crippled by FMS nor will you die from it. Now I don't know if I understood that correctly or not but that's how I deal with it.

Icefire · 08-26-2004, 03:47 PM

Well that theory is blown out the window too because I was doing what I was supposed to do when it flared up. I can't even lift an arm right now let alone exercise.

Chris

taurus3 · 08-26-2004, 09:07 PM

HI Chris,

Sorry you're feeling so down. That was funny about your kids. You're probably right about them needing your more than mine needs me right now. All he needs is Elmo and a cookie to make him happy..lol.

I do agree that it seems to get worse the longer you have it. Donna Jeanis right about how it's intended to be meant. But I think variations in treatment plans, medication and responses to it, can make the fibro become progressive. Meaning that if you are a perfect test case, the ADs, muscle relaxers, pain meds, etc. all work for you, you don't get worse. But if they don't and nothing seems to work you do.

But they are just now discovering the neurological link to a cause of fibro which tells me that if it winds up being a neuropathy of some kind that it would have to be progressive.

It's curious - Andy