Invisible bruises everywhere?

Hello everyone...yesterday and and today, my body has felt like it is bruised almost everywhere. The pain is worse in certain spots- my thighs and hips, my sides and back (those are the worst), and my arms and shoulders. It feels like my skin hurts but also underneath my skin- but not quite my muscles. Just like there is bruising everywhere, but there is nothing there. It's terrible! It hurts to just put my hands on my hips, rub my back, etc. I have no idea what to do because I've had body pain, aches, muscle/joint pain, etc, for a long time, but this is new. My skin has been sensitive before, such as my scalp, arms, etc...but never to this extent. I'm a little (okay, more than a little) freaked out. Is this normal?

Has anyone else had this? What should I do about it? I take tons of vitamins and supplements, including omega 3 with vitamin D, magnesium, and potassium...should I take something else? Pain medicine? Muscle relaxers? Is there anything that helps this go away?

Thank you

Hi McGraw,
Yes, as far as I know, this is a fibro thing and it sucks! These invisible bruises can be surprising because they don't always act up on me. When they are, it hurts like heck to scratch an itch or for my hubby to softly rub my skin. Of course, don't we automatically just scratch an arm when it itches, then owie - that hurt!

I think the other worse thing about fibro is the achy fevery flu feeling - the way you feel when you are coming down with a bad cold. For some reason, percocet (or the generic kind) help me a lot with that.

My doctor has me on one mobic tablet (7 mg) a day to keep the pain down to a lower level. It is better than ibuprofin because it has less of whatever hurts your liver and stomach. Then I take tramadol or percocet for breakthrough pain.

We cannot make the pain go away completely, but we can lower it some.

Good luck.
Sue

Well I am pretty new here but have had fibro since 1997.  I must agree, I feel like I have those same invisible bruises all over my body. If I start at my thigh (ie) and rub all the way down to my knee, I will touch spots that literally make me jump they hurt so bad...this for me is everyday. I know they talk about trigger points but what about all these areas that are so painful, it is almost like a quick jolt of pain when you touch it. I am thinking that maybe it is mynerve endings all over that are super sensitive. It is the worse. I also suffer from rls which has started happening in daytime and not just in my legs but my arms too. It is all so overwhelming for me sometimes. If anyone has any advice for me I would appreciate it.

 

Thank you!

It sounds a lot like fibromyalgia, but just wondering if you (mcgraw87 and others on this thread) have checked it out with a doctor? That would probably be a good place to start.

The way I describe my pain when I feel bruised all over but have no bruises is to imagine rolling down a long hill full of very sharp rocks! There seems to be "jabs" everywhere, and who knows why?

Warm showers or baths, muscle rub creams, heating pads, mild stretching, and keeping as active as I can do help. I also try to get into my hobbies, play with my pets, read, pray, and just divert my mind to things more pleasant than pain.

But when my pain goes on, I do resort to medication. However, I've been having lots of dental issues the past year and my dentist thinks it's either medication-related (some can cause dry mouth, which can lead to cavities) or my health in general (also very possible, as I have a separate as yet undiagnosed neuro condition, explained by my neurologist as possibly cerebral palsy). Who knows??

Yes, it can sure feel like bruises, even though there is no mark there.

Thank you so much for the last two reply's. This makes me feel better. I always think the worst. I have made a Dr's appt and will find out what is going on!!

Thanks again!

Can't believe I've found anybody in the whole world who seems to be describing what I feel! There are a number of small areas along the outside of my thighs, both legs- and also above my ankle, both legs (at inner calves) where I only have to press slightly- and ALWAYS it will hurt like hell- as if there are terrible bruises there- but there aren't. I've been like this for as long as I can remember. I'm nearly 60 and my 83 year old mother describes the SAME thing and has also no memory of it being any different. Some time ago I was referred to a rheumatologist for other symptoms and she suspected Fybromyalgia. But many in the medical field seem to be skeptical about the concept of Fybromyalgia- and its various, differing symptoms. I do know that my Mum has 'Restless Legs syndrome' as does a brother of mine. I've personally been diagnosed with 'Periodic Limb Movement Disorder' (similar issue I think) for which I take medication (Gabapentin) to allow better sleep. But my general health is very poor (though not life-threatening) and I can't help but wonder how many of my various conditions are related.....

?? Possibly myofascial pain syndrome ??
As noted above, ' trigger points'.

Reading The description, that is what came to my mind, based on personal experience... kinda fits, except mine includes 'raised' muscle knots: I don't know if it always does. More often than not, the area of invisible bruise feeling has a knot fairly nearby. My Physical therapist is experienced at myofascial release, thankfully.

However, Sometimes the knot is so painful, so persistent that acupuncture, or even injections are used to soften it. I ask for those when I realize that I have started SUBCONCIOUSLY gently massaging those 'knots'. Often the knots 'pull' some of the surrounding muscles I.e. Referred / radiating pain.

Good luck !

We can have pain in any soft tissue,

Fascia, tendons, ligaments, muscles..etc..

Our nerves are very involved also..the fascia covers evrything in your body including the vessels and the organs..

After a bad fall.. i am getting some very gentle therapy to try and help me loosen back out. My therapist says its often hard for us to get the stretch we need..without treating the trigger areas.

Before i fell.. i could get almost enough from stretching and trigger point work, but the fall has me in therapy..cause my muscles got into defensive positioning from injuries.