New to FM forum. Advanced FM and desperately need help!

Yes, it can cause dibilitating pain...the kind that makes you cry. I have the kind of hip pain you describe at the moment but it comes for a length of time then moves somewhere else...then returns.  For instance yesterday it was so bad I was hobbling around on a cane and today it is gone.    Others I am sure will respond and let you know what kind of meds help them the most.  For me, I only take Advil and Tylenol as Rx drugs made it worse.  Also moist heat and hot bathes.  Fibro tends to attack in flares, as you probably know.  One day fine and the next it feels like you have been beaten with a baseball bat.

Hope you get some answers here that are helpful...

Donna

Besides the meds and vitamins, I do stretching exercises, walk daily, and get gentle massages once a month.  All of the above have kept me on my feet.  Gentle exercise like walking, yoga, and swimming really do help.  You will most likely have to start out slowly but you will build up so you can walk more and hopefully without crutches.  I guess time will tell.  I just know that if you sit or lay too much, you will be stiff as a board and your pain will be worse. 

Also, google the medications you are taking and see what the side effects are.  You could possibly be having some issues that way, too.

As far as your leg swelling and turning blue, I have never heard of this with fibro.  I'm not a doctor but that sounds more like a circulation problem. 

I have had the unbearable hip pain...then it sometimes is in my knee, or foot or neck or shoulders.  This is a very weird illness, for sure!

Be sure to read Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum.  There are links to good information about fibromyalgia and you will learn a lot there.  I see you already checked out the Symptoms link.  Hopefully you have had the illnesses in What Else Could It Be ruled out.  They usually are before a diagnosis of fibro is given.  There are some good stretching exercises that could help you.  They are done sitting down.  Also there are links about malic acid/magnesium supplements and vitamin D3 and how they work in your body.  This might interest you too.  You can bounce this off your doctor like I did.

I see a board certified Internist for fibro and everything else I have.  Others see a rheumatologist and some a neurologist. 

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

Sherrine 

I realize you are on crutches right now.  You do need to get to the bottom of that swollen leg.  But, if you use crutches, then  you are not too far from walking on your own.  Aim for that.  Talk to your doctor about this goal and ask for suggestions.  Perhaps physical therapy would be a good start.  When I started walking, I could only walk four houses down and had to turn around because of the pain.  But I didn't give up.  The next day I tried again and managed to go a little further.  Now I can walk a mile easily.  Not too bad, huh!  So take it slow and easy and do what your doctor suggests and you just might find yourself getting around easier.  I sure hope so!

Again, you have a wonderful birthday today!

Sherrine