HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Fibro pain and injuries

Support Forums
>
Fibromyalgia
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/6/2011 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone else have a hard time telling apart the "normal" fibro pain and pain that might have an actual physical cause?

I was just diagnosed this year, and in the leadup to the diagnosis, I had a lot of pain that no one could find a cause for. This is what finally led to the diagnosis, although I've suspected fibro for about 5 years. However, since I've been working with a physical therapist and a physiatrist, I have found out that some of my pain is due to physical issues. I have bursitis in my hips and IT band syndrome that caused the bursitis and also knee pain. So two of my really achy spots actually have treatable conditions. I also have a back injury that has caused me pain for almost a year, but I always knew that wasn't fibro pain.

I have gotten the knee pain under control with ice, stretching, and naproxen. I guess now it's time to work on the hips. The physiatrist did say he thought the fibro made all my pain feel "out of proportion" to what other people would feel with a similar injury. Aren't we fibromites special like that?
Posted 7/6/2011 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
Well I try to keep track of my real injuries, both recent and from years ago, because I have fibro issues, sort of a "pain memory" thing apparently going on as well. For me, the worst is an area on the inside of my shins, just above the ankles. This pain was caused by those compression cuffs they put on you after abdominal surgery to prevent blood clots. This area is so painful I can barely stand to touch it, and the surgery happened in 2002! I even went thru ultrasound to check for clots just to be sure. It was all clear, thankfully, but the pain is always there. Just another fibro party favor, I guess.
Posted 7/6/2011 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
Oh yes, we're special all right. Just a bunch of hothouse flowers, don't cha know?? :) I always wonder the same thing. I finally asked my doctor, point-blank, if my spine MRI showed just normal abnormalities for someone my age (56), but I feel the damage where most people wouldn't. And he said, "yes."

This does make me feel better....if going over a bump in the car causes pain, at least now I know it's not causing actual damage.

Debbie
Posted 7/7/2011 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Heather~

You sure do bring up a good point! What if something is seriously wrong and we can't tell it's pain from the fibro pain? I'm just guessing here but for me fibro pain is dull, full body aching and sometimes intense pain in certain areas. My doctor checks the regular fibro areas each month so I pretty much know what the fibro pain feels like. If I move my back wrong and pinch the nerves that run down my legs I sure do notice it since it's way different.

That said, what about those on pain medication? Since much of the pain sensation is dulled can we feel symptoms of a different problem? Some people might not. My half brother was on pain medication for a knee injury/problem and was taking narcotic pain medications for it. What he didn't know was that his pancreas was going bad and turned cancerous before there was time to do anything about it. He died from the cancer shortly after it was discovered.

I think my brother is a exceptional case, IMHO, but the possibility is there. I'm not going to lose sleep over it but I do try to be aware of where my pain is and report it to my doctor.

So I didn't really answer your questions but you have my $.05...inflation you know. Wait, $.04 with recession factored in...lol

Chutz
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply