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Fibromyalgia
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Posted 2/13/2014 9:18 PM (GMT 0)

Hello friends,

I am a 27 year-old Male who has been diagnosed with FM for 6 years. For the most part I have been able to carry on with my life but in the last few weeks my pain has multiplied exponentially and I am really, really suffering. I will try to be succinct as possible since I know these kind of long-winded groanings can be a big turn-off and overwhelming, especially to someone already in pain.

 I suffered a car accident in 2004 and ever since my muscles have been hurting relentlessly. Initially treated with chiropractic care, it quickly became apparent that was not a long term solution for what I had going on.

Over the last 10 years, I have been overwhelmed with how the aesthetic of my life has been transformed to one of pain. The last 3 weeks however, have relatively made what I previously thought was suffering look like nothing.

My doctor diagnosed with with Fibro in 2008 and since then I have tried a multitude of medicines, not limited to Amytriptaline, Cymbalta, Prozac, Sevella,  and Lyrica. To complicate matters, I found out I was allergic to apples/oats/soy/tomatoes/potatoes/peanuts/carrots/apples/oranges about 2 years ago in addition. Tests have shown up negative for RA and Lupus, which I know I should be grateful for. Lyrica and Cymbalta were initially both effective, but each had issues.

For about 3 weeks I have been in the most excruciating flare up of my lifetime. The area connecting my left shoulder to my neck is so sore, aching, sensitive, and inflamed, it is almost more than I can withstand. I am sore in a plethora of other areas including my other shoulder, mid/lower back, arms, legs and feet. My doctor increased my Lyrica and I got back on Cymbalta as well despite the price. Now, 3 weeks into this flare and being back on Cymbalta I am experiencing no pain relief whatsoever. This has made getting through an 8-hour work day torturous and I have never suffered so much pain/anxiety in my life.

I am seeing a pain specialist for the first time next Monday, but getting through every passing day is a true test in willpower and desire to live, sometimes it feels like whomever created me wants me to suffer. I have a loving girlfriend and parents but the disease takes an emotional toll on them as well and they are largely unsure of how to respond to a miserable and suffering person. In addition, my mother has ALS/Lou Gherig's disease and I deal with the stress and pain with that daily.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, just knowing there are people out there in the same struggle who are persevering is comforting.

Posted 2/14/2014 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome, Sean.
From the sound of it you're under severe stress and as many of can tell you stress seems to make fibro worse.
Try to find time to focus on you and indulge in some stress release. Sometimes discussing what's bothering with a therapist can help with the stress.
Posted 2/14/2014 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sean,

And welcome to the fibromyalgia forum. I am so sorry for what you are going through. It sounds like you could be in a bad flare...

As Joy said, you need some stress relief. I would recommend talking to a psychologist or a therapist. They can help you put the pieces back together so that you can feel better. I go, I have for years. It truly keeps me grounded and my symptoms in check.

When you get a chance, do look at the first thread on the forum titled "fibro 101". It is a great thread full of a ton of information. You may even see yourself there...

Keep your chin up. Things get bad, but they get better. Remember stress can cause us to hurt a lot more. So keep it minimal...

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 2/14/2014 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Sean, and welcome! I have had tremendous shoulder and neck pain also. I developed a frozen shoulder and could barely move my arm and reaching for things caused tremendous pain. I found out about trigger point therapy so I bought The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook on Amazon. It has diagram that show you where the trigger points are that are causing the pain. Much of our pain is referred pain. Anyway, you then massage those trigger points until they go away and it relieves the pain. I cured my frozen shoulder this way. So you might want to look into that.

I do use ibuprofen with food, Tylenol, vitamin D3, magnesium malate, and a prescription muscle relaxer called Robaxin to help with pain and fatigue. I also keep moving. If you sit or lay too long, you will be stiff as a board and have more pain. Gentle daily exercises like walking and swimming help a lot too, and so does pacing yourself when doing things. Moist heat helps and many have a Bed Buddy that you can find at Walgreens, Bed, Bath and Beyond and other places. You pop it in the microwave and it gives off moist heat.

Be sure to read Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum. There are links to good info about fibo and you will learn a lot there.

I'm looking forward to getting to know you better. Don't hesitate to ask questions because we are here to help you. Hope to hear more from you soon.

Sherrine
Posted 2/15/2014 4:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hello, Sean.

Welcome. I'm sorry you're in such pain, and feel like no one around you understands. I know that feeling, when you feel like you're just going to disappear in all the pain....

That neck/shoulder area is one of my worst, too....has been since I was a new mother....something about the way I held my babies, I guess. My severe pain, which I'm constantly aware of, is almost exclusively on my left side. It runs all the way up and down, but my Sciatic nerve and that shoulder area bear the brunt of it.

My heart goes out to you and your mother. My father had ALS; he died in 2008....I've never been through anything so hard. Towards the end, I was grabbing at straws and I found an online support group which was very good. There are subgroups there for family members and caregivers, as well as for people with ALS. It's alsforums.com.

I hope you'll keep posting. We are here for you.

Debbie
Posted 2/18/2014 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Friends,

Thank you for your replies, it is greatly appreciated. Over the weekend the intensity of my flare-up suddenly stopped. I went from about a 9/10 to a 3/10 in pain.

It is difficult to understand and keep sight of how hard it is to live your life when you are in such an incredibly intense pain-spell. The fact that overnight a medicine can start working or a flare-up can just "stop" is not just confusing, but also frustrating. When we are feeling strong, it is very important to remember what it was like when we are feeling weak. This is where I am at now, trying to make sense of why I was hurting so bad when now I am feeling relatively fine.

Thank you for the support, it means the world to me.

Posted 2/19/2014 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
Sean, I am glad your feeling better today. Yes, it does take a emotional toll on you. I use subutex from pain management and had great results. It doesn't mess with your head. I hope you find some relief soon.
Posted 2/26/2014 11:09 PM (GMT 0)

Last week was great for me relatively-speaking in terms of my pain. Monday came around and what would you know? Full circle right back to a 10/10 intensity of my pain in my neck and shoulders. I got some medial branch block injections (http://arizonapain.com/pain-center/pain-treatments/medial-branch-blocks/) in my shoulders and neck today and felt absolutely no pain relief, which was surprising to my doctors. More throwing money down a never-ending hole in the feeble attempt to assess/address what is going on with me. Very frustrated and drained at what has been about a month of unrelenting physical sorrow.

Post Edited (Sean Floyd) : 2/26/2014 5:51:52 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/27/2014 7:51 AM (GMT 0)
I know your pain is bad if it's a 10. I use to chase things for relief to. I finally found out it wasn't doing much good. So now I keep it simple and I am amazed how well it works. I couldn't imagine having that much pain all the time. I hope you can find a treatment pain control soon.
Posted 2/28/2014 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sean! Welcome.

Sorry to hear the pain is back again. I know it can be an emotional and physical roller coaster ride. It can be very hard. People in this forum do understand . We are going through it too. People here are wonderful and I would encourage to keep coming back!!

Which type of Dr are you seeing?? I am seeing a neurologist. I am currently in a flare as well and have been using the heating pad, muscle relaxer and some pain meds. .what works for one person will not work for another. I found Lyrica with some excersice helped a great deal. When I am in an extreme flare like this week, there was no exercise Tuesday and Wednesday. I actually slept 21 hours straight...

Stress is a huge contributor...this I know is what has caused my recent flare. ( my son was in the hospital) what I try to remember is that it will end... The pain will subside..even for just a short while...keeping positive can be hard when the pain is so bad, but try.
We are a All here for you!!
Keep posting!!

Dawn
Posted 3/24/2014 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
So I had several MRI's and they revealed I have a herniated disc on C5/C6. I suppose this on top of the fibro has been what has really been causing my additional pain lately. My pain specialist wants to put me on a steroid to decrease the inflammation. I am just aching so bad, and am in the midst of the longest and most painful flare up of my life.
Posted 3/25/2014 5:43 AM (GMT 0)
I feel for you, Sean.

Are you going to try the steroid route? (I assume you're talking about oral steroids?)

Debbie
Posted 3/25/2014 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
Correct, I started Medrol yesterday and I do feel a little better today. Hoping this is an indicator it will continue to work.
Posted 3/25/2014 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sean
I too have always had incredibly intense neck and shoulder pain, including frozen shoulder. I am happy you found a reason for the flare :)
I can not take any of the new meds like Lyrica and refuse. I take pain meds. This is not a light decision nor is it for everyone. I have managed to get through 13 years of fibro pain and recently was rear ended at a dead stop at 25 mph. The repercussions go on amd on. I am currently having to rethink my entire life plan. But, what really helps me is places like this forum where others understand. My family members try and are helpful but it is like the boy who cried wolf; they are exhausted from my pain. There is not a lot I can do about it. One item I would change if I could was discussing it often and finding other, new methods of having assistance.
Please keep us all informed and don't give up
Blessings and Compassion
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