HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Are they sure or just guessing....?

Support Forums
>
Fibromyalgia
Is this progressive or not
No, it doesn't progress at all - 11.8% - 2 votes
Yes, but at a very slow rate - 41.2% - 7 votes
Yes, and it's faster than "they" think - 47.1% - 8 votes
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/15/2008 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
In everything that I've read on fibro there's a common statement of "Fibromyalgia is not progressive" repeated over and over. I can't say that I really believe that it's something that progresses to a fatal point, but I've known several people over the years that have had it and it does seem to get worse over a looooong period of time.

On here, and in people that I've known in life, there's been several times that we have developed new symptoms, or worsening of things that already existed. I know that even with stretching and keeping active and doing everything that I can, there's been a few subtle changes.

So...what do you think? Does it not progress at all, or is it just that it never progresses to a level that is fatal?
Posted 10/16/2008 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
The problem as I see it, is that as we age the wear and tear on our bodies, accumulates. People with fibro, and those without both have symptoms of wearing out joints, aging cell tissue. I personally believe there is a deficiency of Human Growth Hormone and other important hormones diminishing as we age, and the HGH is what helps cells heal. So, we don't "heal normally". Therefore, as we age, there is more wear and tear, we don't heal as well, therefore, progression. I don't know about the fatality bit.

Posted 10/16/2008 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
I think this is a very interesting topic and poll. thanks for posting it!
Posted 10/16/2008 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
Well I believe that for some people fibro can be progressive, but it's not fatal. I believe it's progressive in my case. There are some symptoms of fibro that I've had for most of my life that were never explained. Then just this year I started getting problems with the pain and the dizziness and I got my diagnosis of fibro and it explained all these other various symptoms that I've had for so many years. So for me, it didn't all set in at once but gradually built up to it's current point over the course of my life.
Posted 10/16/2008 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
While I do believe it to be progressive, I also have to wonder how much of it is fibro, and how much is back damage. This does puzzle me. I have lots of back stuff going on, but I know I have fibro too. They say fibro is non-inflammatory, but i'm not sure I agree with that either. I have been on pred for a couple of weeks or more for Crohn's. The fibro has been greatly improved, or is it the back damage that is greatly improved? AAARRRRGGGHHH Charlie Brown!! I gues I don't really know. I'm sooo confused!
Posted 10/16/2008 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
I"m with tyno on this one. The rest of the body's aging process just increases other pain levels that make the fibro feel worse. The only way that this disorder could progress is if you lay down and stay in bed. Then you would lose whatever physical abilities you already had.

Years ago, when this was called articulating rheumatism, middle class women (the ones without servants) who had this could not give in to their symptoms. The had to keep kneeding bread, scrubbing clothes on a washboard, beating rugs, chopping wood for the stove... They had to keep going, they had no choice.

Women of means, who had servants, would take to their beds and become "persons of delicate health" and eventually become incapacitated. They took laudanum on a daily basis, became addicts and probably died of pneumonia or whatever flu bug was passing thru in the winter.

We are actually better off than our predecessors because we have just enough tasks to keep us going, but we also have vacuum cleaners and washing machines to help us along. Just my 2ยข.
Posted 10/16/2008 6:48 PM (GMT 0)

My opinion is that it is progressive!  When I was first diagnosed, I did not have all of the tender points, or at least I did not feel them.  Now, I can feel all of them.  I don't need to be touching them, I just feel the ache.  Also, my sensitivity to touch, sound and smell have greatly increased.  I don't believe that it increases to the point of being fatal, but I do think that as we age our week spots become vulnerable to the fibro.  I do think that we can slow the progression by eating right, exercising and staying away from stress or triggers.  We all need to learn what sends us into a flare and then we need to avoid it, if possible.  I'm still working on that one smilewinkgrin .

Meggie

Posted 10/16/2008 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
I know I have MPS along with fibro and the TRPs can cause secondary TRPs etc. So I know that in the past 18 mos. I have not aged enough to cause all the different places that I have pain now that I didn't before. It was just in the neck and back and it has spread down the arms and legs and continues to spread.

 

So is fibro progressive, I don't know. But from what I have read the knots in the muscles from MPS can multiply and mine have over and over.

 

We have had a weather change and today it would be hard to find a place on my body that doesn't hurt so I'm not sure today is a good day to ask this question. turn

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 10/16/2008 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
I believe that it is progressive. Also they say that it is not fatal. However alot of research that I have done would agree that it is not fatal. however there is a very high sucicide rate among fibros and also a lot of drug over doses. So what now If you are in pain and it seems like it gets worse with each flare which happens to me Would that be considered progressive? I would think so but I am not eduacated on the subject even though it seems as though I know more on the subject than my DR. Sorry for babiling been home all day with sick child and sick dog.
Posted 10/16/2008 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
I'm with Jeannie and Tyno with this.  Yes, I have gotten a little worse..especially over the past 4 years, but I'm also 61 now.  I keep moving but it can be more difficult.  That's what made me try the malic acid.  I know that I need to keep on moving and walking to keep me flexible and also independent. 

 

Sherrine

Posted 10/17/2008 11:22 AM (GMT 0)
I've never believed that it is/or can be fatal, but I do believe that there is a progression. You may be on the right track with just attributing it to aging, and the aging process complicating it. But they also have not proven - yet - that it's hereditary, even though it does seem to run in families.

Progression does seem pretty likely, but I don't think that it's something that's a rapid process. My mother was one of those who was an early diagnosed case. At that point in education they really didn't have any treatment. The doctor's advice was that the micro tears and abrasions that happened within the muscles were not able to repair themselves during the sleep time. She was advised to take it easy and allow the muscled to rest a much as possible.

By the time that she passed away, <i>>she had lost a lot mobility. </i>
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply