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Mammogram with Fibromyalgia

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Posted 10/19/2016 9:11 PM (GMT 0)
Most of my muscle/ nerve pain is in my upper back, armpits, shoulders, and neck being stiff.
I am very late in getting a mammogram. Any tips for getting one w/ fibro.?
Am I on the right track w/ doing this? Taking a pain med. along w/ muscle relaxer
I am scared getting a mammogram is going to really upset my upper back to the point I won't be able to move well. When the nerve pain hits, you just have to stop a moment and try to relax.
I am going to get the mammogram but would like helpful advice as to what I can do (other than what I mentioned above) before, during, and after. What should I tell the tech?
Actually, it is not the mammo making me nervous. It is the positioning of the arms that I feel will have the most impact on my upper back and shoulder area.
I hope all of this makes sense.
I am on Gabapentin which is helping and best of all, no side effects!
Thank you for any advice!
Posted 10/19/2016 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
Try not to worry so much. That causes pain. I get a mammogram every year and, yes, it can be uncomfortable at the time but shouldn't cause any long term pain. I let the technician know I have fibromyalgia. If nothing else, they seem to be more sensitive towards me. But they have to do things a certain way to get a good "picture".

Once it's done, you don't have to think about it fo another year. That will make you smile.

Sherrine
Posted 10/19/2016 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you. I have never experienced pain with a mammogram. It is the positioning of the arm I'm most concerned about.
You're right, once it is done, it is over f/ another year!
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.
Posted 10/25/2016 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
I was wondering if you have numbness with nerve pain. I never had this issue until I had the frozen shoulder on both sides. This began my problems. It is mostly on my left shoulder and in my arm pits where I feel so tight and cannot lift arms up well until I do my stretches. It even goes down my side and through my breast area feeling tight.
It subsides once I've stretched. I just got my teeth cleaned and it did a number on my TMJ. Just awful. Now, more than ever, I am concerned about getting a mammogram. I feel like I am moving my upper body all the time while sitting trying to get comfortable. It is the tingly numb feeling causing me to do this. Just awful.
Posted 10/26/2016 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sungirl1: Maybe you could bring up your concerns to your doctor and/or phone the clinic or hospital and talk to someone in imaging before you get your mammogram. I would think others may have had something similar.

I sometimes get numbness with nerve pain, especially in cooler months. Have you seen a neurologist for your issues? They may be able to get to the bottom of those problems.

Hope you get some answers. I am one to ask lots of questions (just ask my doctor, LOL!), but it always eases my mind in the end.

Best wishes and keep us posted! :-)
Posted 10/27/2016 11:54 AM (GMT 0)
Tight muscles can cause this. When my muscles are tight I get "antsy" and just can't get comfortable.

You should try trigger point therapy on yourself. I had a frozen shoulder where I could t raise my arm or put my arm behind my back. The trigger points for that are found in the chest wall leading up to the shoulder. Push from the sternum up towards the shoulder and you just might feel tender spots which are knots I. The muscle. Press as hard as you can stand and then massage each one. Do this several times. Other trigger points are at the top of the shoulder, right over the shoulder and along the side of your neck. Use the same procedure as above and this will help release those tight muscles and you can get movement bs k. It takes a while for complete recovery but it sure beats shots in the shoulder which don't take care of the problem! I have total movement now.

You can get The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook on Amazon for under $20 and it has diagrams as to where to find the trigger points for the pain you have. That's how I knew where to look when I had the shoulder problem. This book has helped me with side pain too.

Hope this helps you.

Sherrine
Posted 10/28/2016 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you both for your responses. I have not seen a neurologist. I am still so "new" to this and feel I need a new dr. due to the one I see is literally in the room w/ me for no more than 3 minutes with hand on the door. He is a good dr. but I believe I need someone to take time w/ me and discuss how to cope w/ these issues. I feel like a prisoner in my own body and feel suffocated because in my mind, I can still do things like bending down to pick up something but when I go to do it, it hurts and I bend awkwardly. I feel I am in a tailspin here spiraling out of control. I don't like being on meds but finally relented to get relief. I will call the imaging center and ask to speak w/ someone who can give me guidance. When you say, "numbness," is it like tight with pressure and like little fingers are just moving around and then bam...the burning pain I call "nerve pain?" Mentioning "getting antsy" I am moving my upper body constantly while sitting to try to get comfortable. I can't tell you the last time I actually leaned back in a chair. The feeling I get in my upper back/ shoulder area is so uncomfortable. It is just really hard to explain these feelings and I feel I am rambling. I am miserable, unhappy, weigh more than I ever have due to not being able to work out like I used to, oh, and I went to have my teeth cleaned Monday. Oh, mercy...when she put the film in to x-ray my teeth, I didn't think she would be able to get it out. My mouth due to TMJ was so tight and now I am uncomfortable in my mouth. It just seems to be snowballing out of control. I am so grateful f/ this site f/ those who have been through it know what I am feeling and trying to express. Sorry it is so long but I am so down right now. Thank you for listening and offering help
Posted 10/28/2016 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
For me it feels like I have the beginning of the flu. I aches throughout my body and feel like I have lead weights hanging on me. That is everyday for me, but flares are 10 times worse.

Today I was feeling okay (that is "okay" for me) and I went to the store. As I placed my foot in the store my left foot suddenly felt like I had turned it. I hadn't, but it hurt for the rest of the evening.

Our bodies are so sensitive.
Posted 10/29/2016 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
Just my opinion and experience. In 2011 my mammogram was fine. In 2012 I had three cancers in one breast! I was HER+ which means an aggressive form.
I thank God everyday that I had the mammogram. Yes, they were painful. A double mastectomy and a year of chemo was no fun. But I am still here and cancer free.
Because it was caught early it did not spread outside of the breast.
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