Dr. Thinks I may have Fibro - Fibromyalgia Message Board

jane2 · 06-27-2003, 05:34 PM

I have myfacial pain in the shoulders an neck, but that can be explain by many cervical problems C1-6, including a pinched nerve and cord impingement. I have leg pain and EMG re****s. All this points to neuro problem. I never had all the tender points except in the front of the shin and shoulders. I don't have the depression or fatigue.

Lately I am getting the trigger points all over and increased fatigue. The fatigue might be asthma and allergy related. I have migraines too. IBS.

I wonder if all the pain I have been on has triggered this. However, all exercise makes me worse, NSAIDs do nothing, anti-depressants give me headaches and make me crazy. All that helps is MS Contin, neurontin and muscle relaxers.

I was sure I didn't fit in this group before, but as the muscle pain spreads, I begin to wonder. I had though of it myself, before pain doctor said it. I do fear that fibro is over diagnosed.

I know you guys are going through something real. Something that many don't take seriously.

Wondered if any of you had any thoughts. Everyone else thought my problems were spinal or may be (not likely) auto-immune. I have had many diagnoses before.

Confused.

AliceBlueBelle · 06-27-2003, 09:14 PM

There's a variety of ways people believe causes fibro. It sounds as though you may have found one of them.

Since those symptoms are just beginning, hopefully it is the stress from the pain and lack of sleep. The sleep part is just a guess. The longer the stresser is in charge, the more likely is is to become chronic.

Anyway, that is my opinion.

Perhaps someone will have suggestions for the pain relief.

Alice

jane2 · 06-29-2003, 01:49 PM

I am on lots of drugs and have had lots of treatments. And that was when the pain was localized. I can't exercise, cause there is something very wrong with the nerves in my legs. Same goes for my arms cause the discs in my neck are seriously damaged.

I am sleeping. With medication. Otherwise I wake up in pain. I don't feel exhausted or depressed. I do have the trigger points and they are spreding beyond the areas that are alreayd a problem.

I am realy disabled. I can't walk much. My husband had to take care of me, shops, does everything. This is before it turned into fibro or the monster spread.

Other possiblity is spinal cord impingement. Some shows on MRIs not enough. We all know how accurate those tests are.

I do have a very kind pain doctor and before this one a kind set of rehabilitative doctors and rheums. All trying to help, but I get worse.

Oh well. I wondered if this really sounded like fibro or just myfacial pain. Somethings in common with fibro but not true fibro.

Creeping Crud · 06-29-2003, 02:47 PM

Hey Jane,

I agree that fibromyalgia is over diagnosed.. Sometimes it's just a scapegoat when doctors can't find a true cause for a patient's suffering..

However, a lot of research links fibro to problems with the nervous system.. My rheumatologist personally believes that it's caused by the overactivity of neurotransmitters in the brain, but there really isn't much medical consensus when it comes to fibromyalgia because there just hasn't been enough research done.. For every study done about fibro, there is another one that refutes its findings..

Fibromyalgia is technically a syndrome (or a set of symptoms) that can coexist with other conditions.. If your body has been "out of whack" long enough, it might very well lead to fibromyalgia or a physical state that resembles fibromyalgia.. That's why a lot of cases of fibro are linked to autoimmune disorders, viruses, intense physical or emotional trauma and other medical distress.. I personallly believe that if your body and brain have to overcompensate due to physical or emotional distress over a long period of time, they eventually just get stuck in overcompensation mode..

Of course, those are just theories and speculation.. I know that there is a relationship between fibromyalgia and chronic myofascial pain too, but I haven't done enough research on the matter to discuss it intelligently..

In any event, not every fibromyalgia sufferer experiences all fibromyalgia symptoms.. Yes, they generally have the tender points, but a doctor could pick just about any point on my body to press and it would hurt.. My most common symptoms are pain, fatigue, anxiety, dizziness/lightheadedness, sensitivity to light, sound & touch and a general feeling of illness.. Everyone of us is different though.. Some have depression, some don't.. Others have IBS, while some are IBS free..

I honestly don't know whether or not it matters if you have fibro.. You're already getting treated for your symptoms & I'm not sure that a diagnosis of fibro would change anything (except your doctor's willingness to look into medical maladies and find the true root of your problem because EVERYTHING can be blamed on fibro)..

Anyway, I've rambled for long enough..

I wish I could help more, but most of the time, I'm just as confused as you are..

Take Care,
Melanie

charlotte1 · 06-30-2003, 09:04 AM

I can relate to some of what you said. I have cervical spine injuries from a motorcycle accident last July. I had the wreck the last of July but didn't have big symptoms until Sept. I am a nurse and had to quit working Dec. because of inablility to lift pts and horrible pain. My family doc and my chiropractor have diagnoised me with fibromyalgia. I am currently being tested for MS. If these test are negative, I will go to a rheumie. I really got desperate for pain relief before I agreed to go to a chiropractor. I wish I had done it along time ago. My chiropractor specializes in active muscle release. He has helped tremendously. I was on 1800mg of neurontin daily, now I take only 300mg at bedtime. I was on strong pain medicine, now I don't take any. I still have pain but it is much more tolerable. Before my wreck, I was swimming a mile 4 times a week, golfing, hiking, etc. The beginning of March, I couldn't even hold my body up in the water. I started out by just standing in the pool, then gradually I became stronger. I can now swim about 18 laps. Also, I walk 2 miles a day. What I have found is that low to moderate exercise helps but I can no longer push it to enter the competitive phase. If I don't exercise at all, I get worse.
Oh yeah, the most important thing - God has given me the strength to get thru this and I will.
Hope some of this info helps.
Charlotte