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Posted 11/3/2012 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
who here has both fibro and MS? How can you tell the difference.

I am being sent Monday to a Neurologist. I definitely have fibro so it is not a misdiagnosis. I have alot of back pain, cramps in feet/toes

tight/tension muscles in back where I clench my fists, so agitate and. Bladder starts and stops and starts again. balance problems, don't always feel everything and then again it can feel like a fly is crawling up or touching my leg when there isn't anything there.

numbness and tingling isn't anything new. I guess some weakness in my one leg/foot.

itching, rashes,

how to tell which is which?
Posted 11/3/2012 12:49 PM (GMT 0)
My neurologist thought at first I might have  MS. I had some MRIs and nerve conduction tests, and lots of examining my feet, reflexes, etc. I think fibro and MS are similar, and it's pretty much a ruling out diagnosis.

You sound a lot like me! Though my back pain comes and goes,  I have pain mostly in my legs, feet, and sometimes toes. I was told it's something neurological, but not specifically what, but the neurologist thought maybe CP--and I may have always had it!

Post Edited (Luvzminis) : 11/3/2012 7:40:33 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 11/3/2012 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
I have all of the above that you mentioned except balance problems and I do not have MS.  I discovered much of the extreme back pain was caused by ankylosing spondylitis.  My rheumy found that out.

 

Sherrine

Posted 11/3/2012 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
Sherrine,

Can I ask how your rheumy diagnosed you with ankylosing spondylitis.

Thanks!
Posted 11/3/2012 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
He took an extensive health history, eight viles of blood that showed inflammation and a gene that most with AS have, he took around twenty-five x-rays, and two MRI's. AS usually is a disease that affects males but lucky me!

I'm glad I got the answer finally. I had never seen a rheumy until last winter when I got so bad I couldn't stand the pain any longer and I almost couldn't walk, either. Now I'm doing sooooo much better. It's wonderful when you get the help you need. I was extremely careful as to what rheumy I went to. I checked on line, talked to people who knew people that went to rheumies, too. I do this with all my doctors so I'm usually happy with all docs I have.

Sherrine
Posted 11/3/2012 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
Sherrine, I believe you said in the past that you live in the Tampa area? Is your rheumy in that area? The reason I ask is I believe my fiance and I are moving to the Sarasota area next year and I'd like to have a rheumy as good as the one I have up here.

I'm so sorry to hear about your health issues but I'm glad you're doing better. My rheumy ordered some blood work for me that I'm having done next week plus 2 cat scans. I don't like to come across as a hypochondriac but since my body is totally numb and it always feels inflammed maybe I should have some additional blood tests done?

Thanks!
Posted 11/3/2012 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
Council Lady, I hope you'll let us know how it goes. Good luck.
Posted 11/3/2012 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone, my daughter has MS, so it isn't a scary thing, and so does my sister-in-law and 1st cousin. But I know each one has different symptoms and types. Most of our symptoms with fibro can be the same with MS. So I'm not too worried. Just wanted to know if someone who had both, if you can tell the difference in the symptoms. My mom had RA, and I don't know about the history of my dad-
Posted 11/3/2012 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
My rheumy told me that usually M.S. will affect the same area of the body and in a pronounced way, where as someone with fibromyalgia may have body issues that jump around here and there and everywhere and aren't necessarily in consistent places.

For example - A person with M.S. might have a numbness or trouble moving a specific hand or foot on one side of the body. A person with fibro might feel numbness in the feet one day and then a twitching of the arm the next and then a headache the next and then rib pain later. It comes and goes and moves around.

Although I'll feel more twitching in my right calf, or more pain in my left chest, the issues do come and go and jump around for me... so after he explained this to me, I was able to put my M.S. concern to rest, so to speak. (along with a normal MRI)

*I'm not an expert though and I'm just going off of what he explained to me.
Posted 11/4/2012 10:05 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, CharmCityLady, for that explanation. I've known 2 people with MS in my life. One was w/c bound and the other didn't have the appearance of having MS at all even years later.
Posted 11/4/2012 1:43 PM (GMT 0)
But my question is for those that have BOTH- if you can tell. I know the differences - I have fibro so yes it moves around, but then again it can be localized to one side with the weakness and balance. I cannot walk a straight line if my life depended on it. I do have hand tremors and is shaky where my dh noticies it.
Posted 11/4/2012 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
and yes, I am very agitated with my muscles being so tense and tight- (sorry) and crabby. I have never been this way with my fibro - at least not like this. I told my dr (jokingly)that if she needed to hire a hit man, I'm that person.
Posted 11/6/2012 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
I have blood work and head and lumbar mri's scheduled for Wednesday. I flunked walking heel to toe and my left side is definitely weaker and doesn't feel as much
Posted 11/6/2012 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
Wishing you the best, council lady. I hope you get some answers soon.
Posted 11/6/2012 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck, council lady--let us know what you find out!
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