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Was your fibro triggered by a trauma?

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Posted 4/11/2013 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
Only 3 things i can think of that could have started the fibro,a neck injury in 2007 re drink or extreme stress i had due to worrys non stop and last a bad urine infection 3months before i got diagnosed with fibro,have always worried my hole life and still do so this really goes for the fibro,so i feel due to that i will get worse in time,as i have really tried not to worry about everything but just cant do it,hope all you laddies are fine XX
Posted 4/12/2013 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Maitland,

Those three things could have easily triggered your fibro. My neuromuscular massage therapist thinks fibro is caused by frozen fears. I see it more as each of the traumas I experienced during the time my fibro was triggered made my muscles tighter and tighter. So I fight these tight muscles by stretching twice a day, not overdoing, and not lifting more than a little bit of weight.

I'm finding that doing my stretches to yoga music is helping me to breathe a bit easier and to relax more while I'm attempting to stretch these tight muscles of mine.

I hope you're doing well.
Posted 4/13/2013 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
Is that what he said,i will start to do more stretching to almost medfree,i pulled a muscle 2days ago around my wrist area,so that might be due to my muscles being so tight,will do more,was thinking of yoga to,as its meant to be really good and safe for us all and good for the breathing,i was talking with a chinese medicine doctor on the phone 2weeks ago,he seemed to no alot re fibromyalgia,he said its very important for us all to breath the right way and to get our hearts pumpping again and very important to get any tension out of our heads,he was from london,so he said to me go now and see a chinese doctor for a week ask him to get the tension out your head by head massage and get acupuncture,go back to him every second day for that week,and let me no how you feel,i have not went to see one yet but i will do before the end of april,he was also going on re the nerves with fibro,but one thing he did say,you can go forward with this illness and get alot beter from it,but if you dont then fibro will win then you will really go down hill & not get back up again,i have noticed latley my heart beat doesnt beat the same and thats because i am not doing much to help it beat fast,so thats not good as so much fatigue,in away i am still in shock re fibro,will have to think beter and get outside in the fresh air and get walking also start a yoga class like you & stretch twice a day to,thanks,hope you are all fine XX
Posted 4/13/2013 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
Car accident in 1997, triggered fibro for me and loads of back trauma as well. Everything went downhill for me from that date. Hope this helps...
Posted 4/13/2013 9:37 AM (GMT 0)
Chartreux, I was told by a therapist who does myo fascial release that if we have an injury the muscles around the injury tighten and if these aren't released more and more muscles tighten surrounding it. The myo fascial release felt good for me but it was only short term for me like accupuncture. Seeing a neuromuscular massage therapist has helped me the most but I still have to be so careful about everything that I do so I don't irritate some of the progress she's made. Seeing a good chiropractor has helped me some too, at least he has me aligned the correct way.

Maitland, please be careful about the yoga class. I learned the stretches I should do from a physical therapist who was told by my rheumatologist what I could and could not do due to my injuries.

Concerning yoga, I tried a few of those classes and some of the positions were too harmful for me.
Posted 4/14/2013 4:37 AM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with fibro in December of 2012. We used to have horses but it was getting difficult for me going to the barn 3 to 4 times a day. My legs felt heavy and I suffered from back pain I associated the back pain with the heavy lifting. By spring of 2012 my husband agreed on selling the two horses and trailer. November 2013 I had a three hour surgery rectocele and cystocele also removed a large cyst. I went home that same day with percocet to take for pain. Two weeks after I went back to the doctor because it felt like the bladder came back down and it felt like I had an infection. Doctor said everything was fine. Weeks later went back for the same thing and again he said it didn't drop and no infection I was also having extremely bad back pain and they said it was the way I was positioned on the table and it will go away. I then went to my gyno who confirmed it did come down and I had a bacterial infection which I was treated with strong antibiotics. Since then had an mri of my back and found I have three bulging discs and facet arthritis. I've also have been recently diagnosed with raynaud's and superficial and deep venous reflux. At times my legs feel weak and shaky, can't curl my toe, chronic fatigue and now I'm loosing feeling in my pinky. Also mottled skin on legs and stomach sometimes arms. Sorry for the long description and for any spelling errors I'm pretty tired. Are most of these symptoms related to fibro? It seems like every week a new symptom is popping up.
Posted 4/14/2013 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi deejay11,

I'm so sorry to hear about what you're going through. I use to do work for years that included heavy lifting and now I know I very much hurt myself by doing it. But I didn't know any better. I thought I was just having aches and pains. I now know I overdid. I abused my body. I should have changed jobs.

Bravo that your husband agreed to sell the horses and the trailer. It sounds as if he's supportive. I now have a man in my life who watches over me as I do him and he encourages me not to do what will hurt me. Sometimes I forget.

We certainly can't trust all doctors. I'm glad you have your diagnoses. Please no apologies for a long post and spelling errors. We don't mind. We just want to help and encourage and learn from each other.

Chronic fatigue can be related to fibro, I certainly have had it from the start. I try and help myself by eating a healthy diet, taking good supplements, stretching and walking, and being careful that I don't overdo.

I also have herniated disks. I see a good chiropractor and a neuromuscular massage therapist who is much more knowledgeable than other massage therapists. You could talk to these people on the phone ahead of time or go in for a free consultation to see if they could help you.

Wishing you all the best.
Posted 4/15/2013 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
As a child, I was physically and verbally abused. My dad died when I was 13 and I believe I became very depressed, but it went unnoticed and I lived with the depression and anxiety for many years without any medication or therapy. I became extremely active in exercise in my 20s and 30s, working out early morning, at lunch and after work. I was very fit and felt pretty good. I was involved in a car accident when I was in my early 30s and shortly after that, I began having back problems, both cervical and lumbar regions. Shortly after that, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which was about 25 years' ago. Pain and fatigue made me give up a lot of the exercise and the depression and anxiety came back full force. I've been battling it for all these years, using drugs. Just recently, I got off the antidepressants with the help of an amazing psychotherapist, who I continue to see. At least for me, talk therapy is keeping me from having bouts of depression withOUT the use of medication. I also have begun to practice positive affirmations which I am convinced are also helping me to gain back my health. I've just not yet been able to get a hold of the anxiety, I still need to use meds for that, but I'm hoping in time, I will be able to manage that too. My therapist keeps reminding me that this didn't happen overnight, that I've lived with depression, anxiety and fibro for many years and I can't expect it to go away just like that. I continue to have a lot of back problems and so I am not sure which causes me more pain, the fibro or my back. I have disk bulging/degeneration at many levels, along with scoliosis, spondylolithesis (sp?), sciatica, and spinal stenosis. I do exercises I learned from a physical therapist to strengthen my core, which in turn supports my back. I know fibro is not curable, at least not yet, but I feel I have a very good handle on it...sadly, it took me 25 years to figure it out.

Miriam

Posted 4/15/2013 9:22 AM (GMT 0)
Miriam,

You're a survivor too. Bravo for us. And bravo for those of us who are actively working on helping ourselves.

I see a psychologist. He is very good. I see psychotherapy as peeling back the layers of an onion to get to the core. There are times I'm surprisingly moved to tears when I talk about various subjects. It's amazing. And I do feel a few of my layers have been tore away.

I also was in an auto accident that did much of the same to me as it did to you. We also have our physical therapy exercises and stretches in common. I not only work on strengthening my core but also stretching my muscles to make sure they don't contract further and to help relieve my overall tightness.

I have to ask you, Miriam, do you work on your anxiety by eating and drinking the right things? I've found if I have a food that doesn't agree with me such as a sugary product, my anxiety becomes far worse.

I also recently learned from my psychologist that chia seeds are good for anxiety. I started 1/2 teaspooon a day in my frozen fruit/almond milk/liquid supplement drink. It might be helping me. It's hard to tell.

I would certainly like to be as relaxed as I use to be. If it never happens at least I know I'm not as bad as I could be and I'm doing my best without being hung up on it.

I wouldn't be concerned about how long it took us to learn all that we have about ourselves. We didn't have a forum like this for support and there are so many other variables. I'm proud of us.
Posted 4/15/2013 11:52 AM (GMT 0)
BWFM,
Tail bone breaks stink! The last time I damaged mine, I was told don't expect it to repair at al... nice huh? That was the 4th or 5th time I broke it..crazy..

As for my fibro, I guess I have not been technically diagnosed yet, but that appt. is next friday. So I am actually looking forward to that appt. at the pain clinic..any relief from all this would be fabulous right now!

BUT, the general thinking is that it was probably my colectomy that sent me into full-fibro mode.

I finally go to the ortho Monday and I start physical therapy on Wednesday. Truly hoping things go better after that..tired of losing sensation in arms, and legs and hands and feet all the time :(
Posted 4/15/2013 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
I am 45, married female. 3 children by birth, one stepdaughter, and one adopted at 6 months (grandson now 5 yrs). I am a survivor of sexual abuse from my father and numerous other freaks as I grew up. I have also been physically abused by my father and boyfriends and my second husband sad My oldest daughter has an addiction problem and lost custody of her first 2 children (one of which I adopted) and then she had a third I had guardianship over for a year and his dad just gained custody of him this past Nov 2012. I was "vaguely" diagnosed with Fibro 2003. This has defianately been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was in an boat accident that crushed 2 of my vertebrae in 2009 and now my symptoms only seems amplified. In the past 6 months I get injured easily, I'm ALWAYS in pain. No one around me understands especially my husband. I have always been extremely active and now I struggle to wake and get out of the bed. I painted a night stand yesterday and can't use my hands yet today (chicken pecking lol). I have been diagnosed with PTSD, type 2 bipolar (I cried) hypertension, migraines, depression and anxiety, panic attacks. I'm stuck taking Effexor ( any missed doses results in SEVERE screaming nightmares, brain zaps) As I type this, it's as if I'm writing about someone else. I don't want this to be me. I loved being at the gym at 5 am, running, biking. I struggle to even garden which I love. I believe trauma has played a huge part of where I am now. I'm too young to feel this old and hurt sooo much :(
Posted 4/15/2013 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Almost Medfree,
Thanks for your suport! No, I have not even thought about food and its affect on anxiety? Really, sugary things? I drink soda with Splenda, I got off Aspartame years' ago. I use to be addicted to Diet Coke, had at least 6 to 7 cans of it a day and then read how it can exacerbate fibro pain so I slowly weaned off of it. Now I drink Cascade Ice, which has Splenda in it. I try not to have more than one a day. Otherwise I drink sparkling water that has natural fruit flavor in it, nothing else, no sweeteners. I am bad about drinking water. Chia seeds, huh? I need to try that. I am willing to try anything. Anxiety just sucks. And I'm not thrilled about taking anti anxiety meds, but I cannot stand how I feel, plus when I am anxious, my blood pressure goes up. I have high blood pressure that I control with medications and I monitor it daily, sometimes twice a day and it's obvious what Xanax does, as far as lowering my blood pressure, when I feel anxious.
I am overweight and that is a constant problem, always fighting to lose the weight. I exercise just about every day, but with back pain, leg pain, well, we are fibromites, I don't have to tell you, it's not always easy. I have two Golden Retrievers that motivate me to move. I also have a pedometer that helps to get me moving.
Thanks so much for your info, much appreciated!
Miriam
Posted 4/16/2013 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
Yes thank you for your Support Almost medfree & keep being yourself,dont let anyone tell you how to act,we all have it totally different,so we deal with it our way & we do so well, as ours are the constant Pains daily,yes will do that re yoga,Thanks,Hope All You Laddies Are Fine XX
Posted 4/16/2013 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
I am not sure if mine was or wasn't. Prior to the onset, I was diagnosed with malaria (I had been in Africa) and not long after that went through a very emotional, stressful personal event which finally ended with me dropping out of college and job hopping for years. I feel like I never really got better and then after all the anxiety and mental exhaustion, the pain started. I always assumed that these two events paved the way.
Posted 4/16/2013 3:37 AM (GMT 0)
LisaLu and Kalivanna,

I'm glad you found your way here. It might be a good idea if you each start a new thread, with an indication in the title that you're new...that way more people would know that and respond to you.

Welcome!

Debbie
Posted 4/17/2013 9:55 AM (GMT 0)
Mrs. Bugzy, good luck at your appt on Friday. Let us know how it goes. The only benefit for me when I was diagnosed with fibro was to know it was real. I learned to not count on the doctors for medication but more on myself to learn all I could to help myself along with their support and medication only if I had to.

Lisalu, I'm so sorry to hear what you've been through. The only advice I could give you from my life experiences is try to get your husband to go with you to a doctor who is knowledgeable about your health conditions so he can hear firsthand about your limitations and your conditions. What will make this all go easier for you and him is to take care of yourself the best that you can and that includes not overdoing. It's good to know your limits. And, yes, it's frustrating to not have the life we had before. Turn it around, look at all the people who had it far worse than us then count our blessings. One of the blessings is a place like this forum where we can receive support, give support, and learn. We're always learning and that's how it should be.

Mt lady, I don't believe any sugar substitute is good for you. Why not try going off of your splenda drink for a day and see how you feel? These kinds of things are addictive. It surprises me when someone says they don't like water, my mother never did either. Water is my favorite drink. Good luck to you.

Maitland, thanks, it's very nice to have you here. Keep writing often.

Kal, yes, that could be how your fibro was triggered. With this fibro with its various health conditions, we definitely have to shape new lives for ourselves. Our lives take a different direction. And with me even with the pain and all my limitations, I wouldn't have my life be any different than it is now. Like I've said in other posts, I feel empowered, proud of myself in all that I do to help myself because it does take a lot of work. But life comes first and I try to grab on to all the happiness that I can and try to make others happy too. Thanks for sharing.
Posted 4/17/2013 11:04 AM (GMT 0)
I was taking a taekwondo class that turned out to be too strenuous for me. I guess my body interpreted that as trauma. Ironically I was trying to get in shape.
Posted 4/17/2013 11:33 AM (GMT 0)
AlmostMedfree...some people with weight issues or diabetes have no choice but to use artificial sweeteners.  Eliminating sugar completely from ones diet is not reasonable or even possible.  Too much of anything can be harmful...everything in moderation.  Life is too short to deprive one's self of small treats.  This is a statement from a nutritional biologist:

Is it OK to use calorie-free sweeteners?

Yes! The FDA deems stevia, aspartame (Equal), sucralose (Splenda), and other cal-free sweeteners safe. "Short-term data suggests they're safer than table sugar," says Kimber Stanhope, a nutritional biologist at the University of California-Davis.

Faux sugar won't cause blood-sugar spikes or weight gain -- and all the potential health ills. As Stanhope says, "I use them because I can't afford the extra calories!"

 

My husband was just diagnosed with diabetes and after doing much research, I cannot find a single reputable site that says artifical sweeteners are toxic.  As a matter of fact, they are lifesavers for those who are not into complete self-depravation.

 

 

Posted 4/17/2013 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Apple, I tried yoga classes and they were too much for me too. I can't imagine trying the class you did. You're very brave.

Vest, I hope you don't think I'm judging when I mention such things. I like to discuss and learn from others. I don't consider not having a sugary treat a deprivation. I know how I feel when I have one and I won't go there. Maybe you're not as sensitive as I am. When you don't have it for a while you no longer crave it.

Vest, we will always find people even doctors who will tell us a food or drink item will not hurt us. Then if we look hard enough we'll find reputable websites that will tell us differently. I came up with a few:

http://www.realage.com/manage-fibromyalgia-pain/eat-foods-to-ease-fibromyalgia-6

http://www.livestrong.com/article/75255-foods-trigger-fibromyalgia/

My fiance was going to a specialist for a possible serious health condition. After several tests which were repeated several months later, they found nothing wrong with him. The doctor mentioned at one of the appointments that he himself doesn't use sugar. He believes it's toxic. I asked this doctor if the small can of soda my fiance was consuming daily could be causing this health condition and he replied with a definite no.

I ignored the doctor and asked my fiance to go off of sugar for a couple months along with sugar free sodas and he hasn't had any issues for several months. He no longer seems to have an interest in sugar or artificial sweeteners. I'm thankful for that and he seems to no longer crave them.

I don't think it's wrong to have treats, I'd just like my friends in this forum to know this could be something to think twice about...

Posted 4/17/2013 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
Well, here is the scoop on artificial sweetners and other sugar substitutes.  This is from the Mayo Clinic on their "Nutrition and Healthy Eating" site.  This was written by their staff and the Mayo Clinic definitely is reputable. 

As you will see, everything in moderation is the key and that is said over and over again on this forum.  Of course there are people like AMF and others that seem to have many things affect them so they can't use artificial sweetners but, for most of us, these are quite safe and a healthier way to go....in moderation, according to the Mayo Clinic doctors. 

I'm diabetic.  I drink mostly water with lemon in it but I do love an occasional glass of Fresca, and my no sugar added ice cream with Splenda in it, and my sugar-free chocolate pudding with Splenda in it with a big squirt of Reddi Whip.  YUM!  I use mostly Splenda products and don't use aspertame (Nutra Sweet) because I don't like the taste of it.  Most sugar-free things have Splenda in them now and Stevia is on it's way up, too. 

But this link explains the health benefits and possible problems of sweetners but the overall consensus is that these are perfectly safe and a healthier way to go.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/artificial-sweeteners/MY00073

Sherrine 

Posted 4/17/2013 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
Concerning Mayo Clinic which is a reputable, conventional health institution made up of conventional doctors, just like my fiance's convential specialty doctor who stated he won't do sugar, I doubt if he or other conventional doctors would come out and say an illness could be aggravated by artificial sweeteners. They have to be very careful about what they say, perhaps because there isn't enough proof?

It probably took a while for conventional doctors to tell their diabetic patients to stay away from consuming too much sugar.

Here's an interesting article about the history of diabetes and treatment:

http://www.everydayhealth.com/diabetes/understanding/diabetes-mellitus-through-time.aspx
Posted 4/17/2013 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
I lived in VA Beach for many years and after being dx'd with fibro thought I would take advantage of the hoards of holistic naturopaths that clutter every street corner...including going to the Edgar Cayce Foundation for nutirional and spiritual advice.  I deprived myself of everything I loved...sugar, caffeine, carbs.  Bought organic and never ate anything with preservatives. On my kitchen counter top was a wicker basket full of expensive supplements.   I lost about twenty pounds (which I couldn't afford to lose) and had chronic, dibilitating canker sores in my mouth every ten days.  They were so bad I had to drink many of my meals through a straw.  I developed spasms in my back that would shake everything in the room when I sat down.  I stopped the insanity of thinking I was going to cure myself with this lifestyle and within three months, I was back to normal....except for the fibro pain which I will have no matter what.  To this day, I don't take anything but Advil.  I limit my salt intake because of Meniere's Disease but have not found that restricting anything else from my diet improves anything....pain wise.  Or mentally. 

I appreciate your sensitivies...we all have them.  But making wide, sweeping statements that suggest food is the root of all our problems is erroneous.  I would never tell someone to not eat salt because I happen to be sensitive to it...we are all different.  As I said before...everything in moderation.

 

Posted 4/17/2013 11:04 PM (GMT 0)
Vestabula,

Sorry you had a very unpleasant experience with trying supplements and changing your diet. I've had some unpleasant experiences with some supplements. We are all so different. I don't believe I stated that food is the root of all of our problems. It's just good to be informed about different viewpoints so we can each make our own decisions.

Also, I don't see myself as making wide sweeping statements but more like sharing ideas to get other's opinions. I appreciate your sharing.
Posted 4/17/2013 11:22 PM (GMT 0)
Suggestions are good, AMF.  I guess I misinterpreted your intent.  Several years ago, after having a horrific experience with Rx medicatons I 'suggested' that people check into their pain meds to see if the side effects were worse than the disease.  There is the rebound effect with many narcotics and SSRI's and benzos can lose their effectiveness and turn on you in a New York Minute.   It was not received well and I was told I must not have the same level as pain as most do with fibro.  I can assure you, I do.  So I stopped the campaign, realizing not everyone will have the same experience as I did.  Most won't, for that matter.

Different strokes for different folks.  I actually envy those who can take medications as see positive results.  And if you feel better on restrictions that don't bother you then it's all good.

Posted 4/17/2013 11:30 PM (GMT 0)
AMF, you are absolutely correct when you say conventional doctors don't tell their diabetic patients to stay away from consuming too much sugar.  They used to do that but don't anymore because they now know that it's carbohydrates that raise blood sugar.  Refined sugar does not raise it any faster than carbohydrates.  Diabetics, and I'm one, need to count carbohydrates, which I do AND we are allowed sweet treats...in moderation...as long as we include them in our carbohydrate counting. 

 

The benefit of artificial sweetners are they don't raise the blood sugar like refined sugar and they are considered a "free food".  They don't have as many calories either and a diabetic needs to keep their weight down because being overweight negatively affects our blood sugar also. 

 

Here is a link from the Internet site Livestrong.  This is what they say about refined sugar and diabetes.

 

http://www.livestrong.com/article/225906-how-does-refined-sugar-affect-diabetics/

As far as "conventional" doctors go, most of them are excellent and devote their lives to helping others.  They spend years studying various illnesses and have saved millions of lives.  Most doctors know a lot about diabetes, too, and there is a ton of studies out there about diabetes, sugar, carbohydrates, etc.  There is plenty of proof!  

  

I trust medical sites written by conventional doctors over Internet sites.  I have a lot more confidence in what they are saying...especially since hospitals like the Mayo Clinic are world renowned.  The Mayo Clinic doctors are some of the best of the best doctors out there so I do use their site a lot. 

 

Here is a link from the Mayo Clinic about their staff's feeling on artificial sweetners.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/artificial-sweeteners/AN00348

Another world renowned hospital, the Cleveland Clinic, states the same information.  I posted a link but it made this post too wide but you can look it up and read it if you are interested.

 

I did enjoy the link about the history of diabetes.  I know the advancements in medical science is amazing and that's another reason I stick with conventional doctors.  I know if I were terribly sick, I'd head to a conventional doctor way faster then a health food store.  Conventional doctors have saved my life twice so far.  I'll take them every time.  I just make sure my doctors are excellent ones.

 

Sherrine   

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