TexMom85

Becky,

I don't know of a source I can officially cite, but I can tell you from experience that trauma to the body definitely impacts Fibromyalgia's severity and perhaps its onset. I have had declining health for about 15 years, starting with degenerative disk disease and other minor illnesses, much of it brought on by stress, which led to sleep disturbances and then two surgeries. After each of the surgeries, my fibro symptoms became much worse. I have recently suffered from nerve pain (deferred pain in my arm from something floating near one of my cervical disks), and now my fibro is even worse.

I have kept a diary for many years, keeping a record of how I felt each day, what I ate, what medications I took, how active, etc. My fibro pain increases after extreme physical and mental trauma, no doubt about it. Sometimes, my body reacted badly to a new medication, or (when I used to work) stress from the rat race.

Of course, every one is different, and this is such a tough malady to pin down that we can never be sure what the causes and effects are. I just know from experience that my symptoms worsened after major physical events such as surgery and even a minor car accident when I was rear-ended. My stress from years in an unhappy marriage, trying to "do it all" and be super-mom, super-wife, super-corporate worker really added up and did lots of damage, in my opinion.

Do what you can to treat yourself emotionally as well as physically...it cannot be underestimated how much stress plays a role in illness. Massage therapy has always helped me both physically and mentally. Although I am new to the board, I am no stranger to suffering. Don't feel guilty about being sick--treat yourself when ever you can, to a nap, a massage, a bath, etc. And take it a day at a time--you'll get through it!

Blessings,
TexMom