What does your fibro pain feel like?

I'm still in the process of trying to figure out if fibro is what I'm dealing with...

My pain is mostly burning, and occurs on my cheeks, the back of my neck, across my shoulders and upper back, as well as on my buttocks and down the backs of my legs. Generally my most painful spot is my armpits and right around where my bra goes.

Occasionally I have random pains--sometimes in my lower abdomen, and sometimes over my hipbones...it can happen almost anywhere on my body.  Almost all of my pain feels like a combination of a bad sunburn and a pulled muscle, but the random pains can be more "zappy" sometimes.

Is everyone's worst pain in the morning?  Sometimes mine will be really bad in the early morning, but then it gets better in the middle part of the day, only to return in early evening.  Sometimes I go days where the pain is barely there...even three or four days sometimes, and then it's back with a vengence.

Does this sound like anyone else's pain?  I just don't know if I'm looking in the right direction thinking I might have fibro, but I can't find anything else that comes close to my symptoms.

I would love to hear anyone's description of their fibro pain, just to get an idea if I'm looking in the right direction.  Thanks to anyone who takes the time to reply!

Thanks for the recommendation on Vitamin D--I do already take 1000 mg. per day.  I also take magnesium and fish oil.

Thanks again for responding!

   Now the active pain is when my fibro starts acting up. I get zapping, shooting, stabbing, sharp and dull pains in random places all over my body. It happens fast, imagine a ball bouncing all over the inside of your body and every place where it touches it causes pain. Sometimes it feels like someone is jamming a screwdriver in my joints and muscles. I can even feel a weblike structure in my muscles, I know that sounds weird but it's hard to explain. I don't know if it's the nerve pathways or connective tissue, who knows.

    I rarely get the burning skin sensation, but I have had it maybe two or three times. If I rub on a certain spot on my skin lightly after a few minutes it starts to hurt somewhat, I guess the nerves are getting irritated. If you grab my arm, or if I run into something...ouch! the pain is amplified and lasts longer than before I had fibro. Sometimes I get restless leg syndrome. I also get this humming or vibrating sensation all over. I know several times at night I thought I felt a slight tremor or light earthquake, only to really realize it's my body.

I have also noticed if I overwork a certain muscle, (legs,arms) it will cause pain all over in my muscles. I kinda over did it on the treadmill a week ago. The next am I had pain in every muscle..lol, even the muscles in my fingers were killing me. And the list goes on.

Thankfully with me staying home and pacing myself I am not having as many flares. My pain flares are accompanied by a 24 hr virus sick feeling..very yucky. It has literally taken me year to get to where I can pick up and lightly clean around my house without having a flare. I remember sweeping the floor was to much, now I can sweep the floor without problems. I still get flares, but I am learning and my body is finally getting used to my routine. Plus I have 3 ruptured disks in my back, so that causes problems too.

Sorry so long, I am in a chatty mood. lol

Klambert,

No worries about the "chatty mood"--I'm grateful for all of the detail, believe me! Your descriptions of your pain were very clear, and that's not always easy information to convey.  Everyone's feedback is helping me to see how much I have in common with people who have been diagnosed, and is very valuable to me.

I know exactly what you mean about the night-time vibrations/humming...I live near a highway, and at first I thought maybe it was caused by a semi going by (although I've lived in the same location for ten years, and had never noticed it before), but after awhile I realized it was me!

I also get the random pains, but mine don't seem to travel around as quickly as you describe that yours do.  It's just weird how a certain spot can hurt so intensely, and then awhile later, there's no pain there at all.  I also understand what you mean about the heightened sense of pain when you bump yourself on something...it hurts out of all proportion to the impact.

For years, I suffered off and on with restless leg syndrome, but I haven't been bothered with it for a couple of years now...I wonder if it will return?  Hopefully not--that can really drive a person crazy!

I also know what you mean about pacing yourself.  I'm a "type A" personality who always wants things done now, but having rheumatoid arthritis for over twenty-five years has taught me the benefits of prioritizing and doing things in stages.

I also understand completely what you mean by "background pain" vs. "active pain"--very good way to explain it.  I'm glad to hear that you're able to stay home and that it's improved your life--you can't put a price on that.  I've been on Disability for about ten years because of my RA, so I'm able to stay home, too, and it helps a lot.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your experiences with me...I really do appreciate it!

Hi, angelfeather~

I'm so sorry to hear about all you have to deal with...I've had a chronic pain condition for many many years, too, and it affects one's life in so many ways.  The saying "when you have your health, you have everything" is so true. 

Thank you for sharing your fibro story with me.  It's very evident that this disease, like the rheumatoid arthritis I've dealt with for so long, can vary iin severity from person to person, or even from one part of the day to the next in the same person, but it's never good.

I wish you the best in your struggle with fibro, and I want you to know you'll be in my thoughts and prayers. 

You're so right...the heavy burden of pain that we carry is just a bit lighter when it's shared with those who understand!  I appreciate your prayers as well...hopefully we can continue to be here for each other! 

Hi almost medfree~

I, too have heard the "hypersensitive" explanation for fibromyalgia...that the problem lies with the brain's inability to properly process incoming information, interpreting normal signals as pain.  It sure feels real!!    

As far as weather, my RA isn't too affected since I began injecting Enbrel several years ago, but before that, a low-pressure system could leave me incapacitated, as could eating poorly, as you mentioned.  (Especially sugar--that was the indulgence I paid the dearest price for.)

As far as what affects my fibromyalgia (and I'm now pretty sure that's what I'm dealing with, although not 100%), the wax and wane of symptoms has been so variable that I'm still in the process of sorting it all out.  So far, the only factors that can guarantee an increase in symptoms are too little sleep and/or too much activity, and of course, neither of those is surprising!

I admire the fact that you "get by" on so little medication, with all of the conditions you have.  With my RA, I managed to avoid a biologic agent like Enbrel for many years.  The potential side effects were so daunting..."lymphomas and other cancers, fatal blood disorders, MS, TB..."  The drug comes with a side effects  "fact sheet" the size of a poster, covered front and back with fine print!  I didn't have a choice with insulin for diabetes, as a I'm a type 1, or the medication for the Grave's, but I held out as long as I could with this.

But, life as I knew it had ebbed away...the pain of RA is difficult to describe, but when just lying in bed breathing became so painful it left me in tears, the gamble became worth it, just to have a life.  I fought it for years with diet and every other item at my disposal before I gave in. 

I intend to do the same with fibro--I want to try the supplements and such first, even though my rheumy instantly wanted me to begin taking gabapentin.  (I thought I might have trouble "convincing" her that fibro might be my problem, but as always, she was there, prescription pad at-the-ready, pen poised!)  In my experience, one can always count on a doctor to diagnose a drug  "deficiency"!! 

So I'm not new to the game of sleuthing it out on my own to find something non-drug that might help.  I'm so envious of people that have a doctor or other healthcare person in their corner this way.  I live in a rural area and don't have much in the way of choices for doctors, and sadly, they're all pretty much prescription-oriented problem solvers.

I thank you for sharing some of your experience and triggers with the fibro, and best of luck to you, too! 

Spookiesmom,

I laughed out loud at "your mileage may vary"...cracked me up!!

Thanks for sharing some of your fibro story with me.  I don't seem to have as much of the noise intolerance issue as you describe, but I do have it to a degree.

I take Flexeril, too, as my rheumy prescribed it years ago for the RA in my neck, but of course it will work all over.  I was only taking it every other night or so, as I didn't want to count on it to sleep, but the "bargain" I made with my rheumy last time I went (because I didn't want to start the gabapentin she recommended until I knew for sure what I was dealing with) was that I'd take the Flexeril every night, and I did for a bit, but I've kind of gone back to the every other night routine.

Once I get the CT scans for my swollen lymph nodes, and I see if my rheumy wants to go forward with a lymph node biopsy, then I'll  consider further medications, but I think it's foolish to begin taking a new medication when I'm not even sure what the problem is--if I get a new symptom, then I won't know if it's from the new medication, or a new development from whatever my body is dealing with.

Tell me about Spookie--dog or cat?  I have cats, and although I love all four-footed things, I seem to be a magnet for cats without a home!

Well, thanks again for sharing some of your experiences with fibro, and best of luck dealing with this demoralizing illness.