Back Pain - Fibromyalgia Message Board

Tonja5 · 02-09-2001, 12:33 PM

Hello,
I am new here. Diagnosed with FMS recently, after having more and more symptoms,making my family, doctors nad myseld wonder what was wrong with me. I have the muscle pain,and spasms, but it seemed like it started as back pain between my shoulder blades,and than progressed down my back, into my knees,and down my left arm ,elbow and hand pain.I also wondered why sometimes some areas would feel like a throbbing burning sensation,like on my ribs,and felt like burning when I touched it. Or my elbow started hurting when I bend my arm, and than when I touch it on the side, it feels like there should be a bruise but there isn't.
I got a chest x-ray and a spinal done, and blood tests to rule out lupes or arthritis.Actualy one of the doctors diagnosed me right away with fibromyalgia, without checking any tender points.
I did not really belief him.Because after my pain was wandering all over my body, and not sleeping at night, waking up every hour, and with total body pain and stiffness in the morning, depression, I wonder why now it seems like my joints or bones hurt.Is that normal with Fibromyalgia? I get a lot of pain in the back of my neck, and down the spine, across my tail bone.When I turn my head it makes cracking noises,(sorry,English is my second language).It is not really loud,but I only had it sopmetimes when I walk up the stairs ,in my knees. Now it is in my knees, when I bend them, my neck,shoulder blades and tail bone.I read a lot of people having neck pain, knee pain with Fibro, but nobody ever said that there bones or joints made cracking sounds.I apologize for my first messages being so long, lots of questions.By the way I am 36 years old and I take Amitryptyline to help me sleep.

Allen · 02-09-2001, 01:50 PM

Dear Tonja: everything you described about your pain sounded like Fibro. From my own experience I learned how capricious the pain could be: on any given day, I never knew exactly what would hurt, only THAT I would hurt! Sometimes I ache, other times my muscles burn, sometimes a particular joint will bother me. Especially do I have neck and upper back pain(yes, my neck makes grinding noises when I turn it...there are stretching exercises you can do that help or applying heat). While Fibro is not at present curable, it can be treated. You may want to check out the website fmnetnews.com . Glad to have you part of a great group of people. Al

JASMINE · 02-09-2001, 04:34 PM

Hello,
Fibro is so strange,and it can change all the time, one day you feel one thing and then the next it something else. It's very frustrating.

I have been trying to deal with this for about 5 years,all kinds of medications...be real careful and don't let them over medicate you. I took the same med you are on for a while and they just kept adding more and more, I put on about 50lbs over a couple of years and that made it harder to move and I was stiffer. If there are any support groups in your area they may be able to help you when it comes to finding a qualified Dr. because not all of them are.

Unfortunatley it has been my experience they all have different opinions and no one really knows that much about it.

Are you working? I think the more active you stay the better off you are..I'm fighting an uphill battle trying to find my way back to some sort of normallity. My insurance died and my meds were at about $800.00 a month. I've been off of everything except a patch for pain call Duragesic for about a month and the weight is dropping off fast but a lot of the discomfort has returned. I applied for disability 2x now and was turned down. I really think if I'd had better Drs over the years I'd be in better shape so be careful, this board is really great, made up of a lot of super people and it can really help get you through a bad day some times...
Good Luck,
jasmine

kattnap1 · 02-09-2001, 05:23 PM

Tonya, welcome to the boards. I too have cracking and popping joints. I have a herniated disk in my lower back from moving a couple years ago. They did an MRI last Jan and found it after 6 months of pain. They also discovered I have advanced degenerative disk disease, very advanced for my age of 40. My spine snaps and pops all the time especially in my lower back where the bad disk is. My neck has popped and cracked for years. The problems with the spine while they can be serious, if you do some simple strengthening exercises you can keep your muscles toned which helps your spine do it's job. As I have said in other posts, the best thing a FMer can do is keep active and don't let the FM take over. There are so many physical things you can do for yourself. I am finding myself limited because of my knees, so I got some 5 lb dumbells and have been working my upper body and especially the shoulders and upper back.
Hang in there Tonya and welcome to the boards.

[This message has been edited by kattnap1 (edited 02-09-2001).]

gracieathome · 02-10-2001, 08:30 AM

Welcome Tonja, I also take Amitriptyline, may I suggest you see a Chiropractor? Mine has been a lifesaver as Fibro pulls your spine out of alighnment which causes more pain and when your nerves arent blocked your body is better able to heal itself. I used to be a doubter...bot it works!

Gracie