Does this sound like Fibromyalgia?

(Just to clarify, I'm not looking for a diagnosis here, just seeing if the pain from fibromyalgia is similar to what I'm experiencing.)

Hello, I'm new to the forums and I'm trying to figure out if the symptoms I'm having are similar to fibromyalgia. For the past few years I've had searing pain in my neck and after a thousand tests to try and diagnose the problem, my doctor suggested that I may have fibromyalgia. I've always had pain in my joints as well, but never connected the two pains and assumed it had something to do with lack of exercise or nutrition. At some point, the pain became a normal thing for me, and I guess I got used to it and stopped wondering about it. After reading some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia I'm starting to think my doctors' diagnosis was right on the money.

Here is my question: what type of pain do you guys feel? Does mine sound similar to yours? I have constant pain in my knees, ankles, neck and often in my wrists. The pain radiates outward from those points. It's a throbbing pain and feels like the sensation you get when you need to stretch or crack your joints, but I'm unable to do so and stretching doesn't make it feel any better. I also have very tight muscles around those areas. The joints aren't stiff, they just hurt. I can't get to sleep at night because I'm constantly re-adjusting and can't get comfortable. Sometimes my limbs feel restless and I can't sit still even if I'm physically tired.

So, do these symptoms sound familiar? I'll honestly be relieved if someone else out there feels the same way/has the same type of pain. If so, perhaps I'll finally be on the road to living my life without constant pain.

On another note, I've read that a variety of mental issues are related to fibromyalgia. I've been diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, and chronic depression. I currently take Lexapro 10 mg a day and see a therapist, but I'm unable to hold a full-time job or do much else besides sleep or sit on my computer all day. I thought my problems were just mental, but now I'm wondering if this constant pain is a source of my depression and anxiety. As I said before, the pain has become such a normal daily thing that I stopped noticing or wondering about it. I've also been taking Tramadol 50mg up to 4 times a day (though I've gone as high as 6 or 8 on really bad days) for almost 5 years. I was taking it for the pain in my neck muscles, which it helps manage, but it doesn't seem to affect the pain in my joints as much.

Thank you in advance to anyone who replies. Your help is more appreciated than you'll ever know. <3

Thanks for the reply. :) My mom actually works for a chiro, I might try it out.

She has, I just didn't think it would help for muscle problems. Aren't chiros more for bone alignments and stuff? Oh well, couldn't hurt. I've had X-rays and MRIs done on my neck already. :) Thanks!

Hi, living, welcome to the forum.  Lots of people here will be able to help you, I'm sure.  

Your pain sounds a lot like mine...so hard to explain it to anyone who doesn't have it!  Mine started in my neck/shoulder when I was holding and nursing my 2nd baby, 25 years ago.  It radiates from my neck, lumbar, and sacroiliac areas, way worse on the left side.  As I'm typing, I have a throbbing and mildly aching sensation in my neck, arms, back, butt, legs, and feet.  It doesn't really register as "pain," though, until late afternoon (unless I do something to provoke it.) 

Lately, I haven't done anything particular to bring it on, but it's been bad every evening.  That really bothers me, that it'll kick into overdrive even if I'm careful and live a very boring existence!  I know it's a stage, that it'll ease up eventually, but I always wonder if this will be the time it doesn't. 

I also take tramadol (since they axed darvocet) and it works amazingly well for me, putting the pain into the background, making it a warm, fuzzy pain instead of a sharp, nasty pain.  That scares me too!  What if I get dependent on it and then need something stronger?

As for depression, I figure I'm a little depressed, though not seriously.  It's hard not to be with what we have to deal with.

Debbie     

Hi Livingdeadinside,

If the doctor thinks it is fibromyalgia, it probably is. Though maybe you could try celebrex for the joint pain. That is what I take as I have osteoarthritis also. Just make sure that you eat before you take it, or with it. Otherwise it can bother your stomache. Talk to your doctor about it. I get samplees as I don't take it a lot because of the stomache issues. Fibromyalgia doesn't usually effect the joints. Though it does the soft tissue and ligaments. So it can feel like the joints, but if the tramadol isn't helping with that pain, it could very well be arthritis. Though you would have to talk to your doctor to find out for sure. It could be in beginning phases and isn't showing up on the xrays. I have had it since I was in my 20's. Not bad, but enough to notice.

I am glad that your pain fades into the background. A lot of us strive for that and have a hard time ignoring the pain. I have mine pretty much under control. It is always there, but I don't pay much attention to it. That is good. You are fortunate.

Keep posting and know we all care about you. And welcome to the forum.

Hugs, Karen

Hi, Living, and welcome!  I'm glad you found us and joined in.  Check out Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum.  There are links to good information about fibromyalgia and you will learn a lot there.  There are links to Symptoms and also What Else Could It Be.  A Thorough Explanation of Fibromyalgia is another good one to start with.  You just might see yourself there.

 

You do need to keep moving with fibro.  Sitting and laying too much will make you stiff as a board and you will have more pain.  You want a gentle exercise that you will do daily.  I walk and swim for my exercise.  Yoga is supposed to be good, too.

 

Gentle massage helps, too.  I see a massage therapist once a month and wish I could afford to go more often.  She really helps me a lot.  A deep massage would put me in the hospital but a gentle massage is wonderful.  Here is a link to find a massage therapist that knows how to massage people with practically any illness!  They have to take classes and continue to learn various techniques.  My MT is presently taking classes on how to massage cancer patients.  So, if you are interested, check out this site.

 

http://www.amtamassage.org/findamassage/index.html?utm_source=%2Ffindamassage%2Flocator.aspx&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=redirect

 

I'm looking forward to getting to know you better.  I hope to hear more from you soon.

 

Sherrine

I, too, have been on a larger dose of tramadol for several years and I find that if I miss a dose or take it too late, I get that restless, aggitated, achy type pain in my lower back and legs.
So, if you take 6 almost everyday and then one day only take 3or4 then you could be experiencing withdrawel symptoms. These on top of the normal aches and pains can be quite annoying.
I try to make sure I take them the same time everyday, usually my body and the restlessness remind me if I forget. IF I ever have to ween off these things, it is going to be awful. That scares me.
hope this helps

Oh, I agree about the pain thing. I have had pain a lot longer than I have been on the tramadol and I don't ever want to have to give it up. I was only trying to describe the restless feeling in the muscles.

I get this restless, aggitated, cant sit still type ache that makes me feel like I constantly need to stretch but nothing works. So, I take a tramadol or 2 and about 15 minutes later that restlessness goes away. that is why I thought that maybe you could be having the same experience. Withdrawel can happen even if you are just an hour shy of your meds, you don't have to be days without to experience it.

I also have arthritis and meniscus tears in my knees and that pain is so different than the "fibro" aches.


I also understand the diagnosis gauntlet. first I had the knee issue, then it was fibro, then it was Iron dificiency, then it was fibro, then it was b-12 dificiency, now my rheumy says that it is fibro AND all those things. Now I have thyroid cancer (had it out the 25th last month but havent started the treatment yet - find out the 24th the what and when).

Some day, hopefully when we are still here to reap the benefits, they will find that ONE thread that ties us all together and use that to find a cure. Someday.......

Emm, I also have that feeling like the joints need popped. There are times that I would like to go to a chiro and just have every single thing "popped" that can be LOL.

When I am in bed I stretch my legs, & I roll up my pillow and kinda jam it under my neck so that my head tilts back. I have enough of my pillow so that my head does not touch the bed. Then I roll my head back and forth and it does pop. The popping releases endorphins according to my chiro. You will feel the exact position to help the neck feel better, and many nights that is the only way I can fall asleep.

my hubby does the same thing. He constantly moves, flip-flops, wiggles his feet,and he jumps and jerks as he is falling asleep. I can see why your boyfriends have an issue with this. It drives me crazy. I try to be understanding because he is totally understanding of my illness and I know that he cannot help it. What helps both of us is my Ambien.

I only have that "need to pop" feeling in my left knee. It is the worse of the two. I have two meniscus tears in that knee, arthritis,bursitis and a fluid pocket on top of the knee cap. there are days, and especially nights that it aches so bad that meds just don't really help. I am glad that it is my knee and not my neck. that has to be really aggrivating.

what does help when it gets to point that I cannot take it anymore is a cortizone shot. I usually have to get one in that knee every 3-4 months.

hope you get relief soon.

oh I agree with that one too, to an extent. I had one hurt so bad going in, I had the doctor concerned. I really had severe pain in that knee for several days and then it eased off. Up until this week it has not bothered me.
But, speaking of knees - its back. I got my last shot the first week in October, so I am right on schedule. the alternative, besides living with the pain, is surgery. I am not ready for that yet, I just had two surgeries back to back within the last two months. And, I still have two partial root canals that need done.
So sorry none of the suggestions are going to help, or have helped. I wish you luck in your search.

On another topic. I am, in just a few hours going to see the specialist about the cancer found in my thyroid. I will find out all the details, if it was aggresive, contained, needs treatment (already told yes-just not what type), and so forth. I could use all the prayers, and good wishes that everyone has.

will talk to you all later today to let you know how things went.

p.s. My daughter in law had her thyroid out three years ago and just recently was told that she has graves disease. I still need to check that one out.

till later........

livingdeadinside said...

mscrowbar said...
what does help when it gets to point that I cannot take it anymore is a cortizone shot. I usually have to get one in that knee every 3-4 months.

I've had those done twice in my neck. They hurt more than they help, LOL.

Argh! I remember those Cortisone shots from back when I was having problems with my wrists. I don't think anything can feel good when it's injected intot he center of a joint. *shudder*