chronic pain - Fibromyalgia Message Board

velivolus · 07-26-2009, 12:20 AM

I have many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia, although I am not sure whether I have it or not. Since a young age I have suffered from chronic spasming of the muscles in my neck and back. But fromwhat i have read most fibromyalgia suffers have this spasming in muscles all over the body, not just neck and back. Is this accurate or can some fibro sufferers just have stiffness in specific areas?
At any rate I've never met anyone who has back and neck pain similar to mine, from a young age, with no previous injury, and what comes closest to describing my condition is what I read about fibromyalgia.
I was having deep tissue massages for awhile but stopped because of cost. I had been doing pretty well on my own with regular stretching for awhile, and when a muscle spasm did occur severe pain would usually subside in a week or two. But about two months ago stiffness took over my entire back and neck and new spasms are popping up all over the place and the pain isn't going away at all. I am continuing to do stretching exercises, but they don't seem to be doing much good at this point.
I am hoping some people here might share with me the ways in which they cope with chronic muscle spasms.
Thanks.

thesweetlife · 07-26-2009, 03:51 AM

My neck and back are usually the most acute areas with varying headaches - I have pain there most days and on flair ups have pain almost everywhere.

My FM was a result of a whiplash from a car accident almost 2 years ago - diagnosed 6 months ago - so I have no experience of this going back to my childhood - but reading through the forum it looks like there are several who have similair experiences to you

I handle the pain through a number of different ways - pain killers for me are a last resort - I use hot baths/showers/exercise (even when I hurt as I know in the long run it helps) including spin classes; walking;swimming and pilates/hot tub/steam room/gentle sports massage/trigger point release (just ordered a book on this topic recommended on another thread -Trigger point therapy workbook: self treatment for pain relief by Clair Davies/gentle stretching (yoga causes a flair up for me) I recently bought a cyclo massager which is a body massage system with infra red heat - expensive but well worth it - gently massages your back all over - bliss!/in addition I take vitamin supplements including magensium, vit b complex, multi vitamin, Ginckgo Bilbao and vit d. I avoid draughts (always now have a scarf or wrap on me or in handbag) dress with layers to keep the cold out, gloves in winter is a must - keeping warm. I do my best not to sit still for too long or walk for hours like I used to eg shopping I take regular coffee breaks (there are some perks to this!!!) avoid heavy handbags/carrying heavy shopping etc etc

I'm searching for a list of what others do as I'm relatively new to this and am just getting my head round things really - have learnt loads form this site it's a real wealth of experience and info - I've ordered a light box as this seems to help others - if I find a post where others have wrtitten what there successful strategies are I'll let you know

My biggest challenge is that here in the UK people are very reserved and don't speak out if they have conditions such as this - in fact almost no-one I have spoken to has ever heard of FM - the few that have heard of it is becuase their mothers have it but actually are very ignorant of the condition - very very few (I can almost count on one hand) have taken the trouble to understand and listen - I think because I look so well they don't get it - they will as I am a firm believer in educating!

Will add in any other remedies as I find them - good luck x

nochange · 08-11-2009, 11:52 PM

la ***** vita. Well, hello to you. I've also been in a car accident and had a sever WHIPLASH. Can you please describe how the whiplash actually has happened?. someone crash into you?. what did the mri show??.

I didn't take pain killers for 2 years after the accident but eventually started to take cause I couldn't take it anymore you know what I mean.

I've read somewhere that B1 vitamin when taken 100mg a day can help chronic pain and I'm going to start it today. Is that what you take?.

One last advice. The only pain killers that actually helps with this HORRIBLE chronic neck pain is percocet. NOTHING else works. In my opinion it's better to take pain medication than to suffer non stop pain.
and one last word, it's unreal how one whiplash can DAMAGE your life, BIG TIME.

AnnD · 08-12-2009, 12:48 AM

I have had fibro for 15+yrs and don't have any spasms. I suspect you may have something else. Do you have all or some of the trigger points? Do you take muscle relaxants when you get the spasms...or What do the doctors give you when you are having spasms? Also if it were Fibro I don't think you could tolerate any kind of deep massaging. It seems as though you have had some success at various treatments which suggest it is something else since fibro kind of has a mind of it's own...there are good days and bad days but everyday is painful and treatments don't really help . But anything is possible ..I just think if you have not been diagnosed with Fibro I would hope for a different more treatable diagnoses.

CougarBabe · 08-12-2009, 01:09 AM

Ann D-

I have also had a dx of FM and Myofascial Pain Syn. for as many years and I must disagree with your opinions given to the author of this thread. FM does not affect everyone in the same way.

• Muscle spasms are very much a serious problem for many of us.
• I am not nearly as "touch-sensitive" as most; My pain, not tender points, comes from deep inside.
• Many FM & MPS sufferers can tolerate deep tissue massage; yes, it hurts, just like stretching does, but over time it is a release.

Please try to remember that we all experience this pain overdrive differently, and all tolerate our varied pains differently. For example, perhaps for someone who has had some measure of joint pain all her life, she is better prepared to endure the current super-exaggerated joint pain MUCH more than the deep muscle pain, which is less familar to her. Remember, FM is an EXAGGERATION and its degree of "bearability" is relative to what was there before. Its hideous factor is in the unknowing and surprise.

I hit my knee on a cabinet knob one day and writhed on the floor for 40 minutes in extreme pain, all the time aware that even 5 years ago, that episode would have been over in 5, maybe 8 minutes!