Swelling

[kattnap1]

I have a question for everyone. Does anyone else get swelling in the areas of pain??? Everything that I have read states there is no outward sign of FM. But I have swelling in most of my tender spots. Right now my left hand is so swollen that it is hard to do anything with it without sharp agonizing pain. My Dr says it is tendonitis or the beginning of carpal tunnel, but the Dr. at work says tendonitis, (of course the word carpal tunnel won't come out of his mouth.) I can't sleep either. Haven't slept more than 1 1/2 hours for the last 2 nights. I would like to know if anyone else has swelling with their pains, as I have had all the arthritis tests and come up negative. My Dr. says that I will probably get arthritis because of my degenerative disk disease and knee deformities, and arthritis is more known for swelling. Even the RX motrin is not making the swelling go down. Any thoughts?

[korken]

Hi, Have you tried vioxx? It works for swelling. I do swell but, its my whole body. Some of my joint get mushy or spongy feeling. Good luck, Kim

[Elaine from Kentucky]

Kat, one of my biggest pet peeves is the swelling. Haven't been able to wear my rings for a year now. What are you taking for sleep - anything? It's funny how some meds work for others, but not me. I took Vioxx and swelled up like a hippo. Seriously, from my toes to my knees, and from my fingers to my shoulders. That's when I went to a rheumatologist. He sent me for five blood tests, including lupus, thyroid, etc. and all came back negative. He confirmed the diagnosis of FM, and said if it were arthritis that there would be swelling around the joints, had me make a fist, and pushed on my knuckles and showed me what he meant. It's hard to explain what he meant, but I understood at the time. When I went off the Vioxx, the swelling went down, but it is still very bad in my ankles and feet, and my hands and wrists. Thought I would let you know that I share your pain!

[Scooby]

I have been on Vioxx and have not noticed a difference one way or another. When I was on Naproxen I felt like I shrunk immediately. I do not always notice the swelling as much as I notice hot spots on my tenderest most points. Another symptom of other diseases, none of which show up in my bloodwork.
PS a good friend of mine has lupus and blew up like a balloon when she took Vioxx and Leviquin at the same time. Were you on antibiotics when you blew up?

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~Luv, Scoobs~

[kattnap1]

To anwer Elaine, I don't take anything for sleep as I can't handle the zombie feeling the next day when I have to work. Up until a month ago my sleep was getting better but I had knee surgery and when I quit taking the Vicotin this past Sunday, I quit sleeping again. I take Motrin 800mg 3x a day which has made my knee feel better than the Vicotin did, but the Vicotin helped with some of my FM symptoms like the aches in my shoulders and my back. I have not tried the medicine that you all mentioned and think I would be afraid that something would cause more swelling. The more swelling I get rid of, the better I feel and right now the only places that are swollen are the places that hurt. (left arm, wrist and hand, and right shoulder. Nothing that I have taken gets rid of the swelling in my left arm, wrist and hand. I can occasionally feel the swelling in my back by my herniated disk if I lean back just right. I think I need to make another visit to my doctor regarding my medication. Days like today I just feel like giving up. It is snowing outside and it hurts more when it snows.