HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

difficulty walking and swallowing?

Support Forums
>
Fibromyalgia
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/26/2012 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with Fibro 20 years ago and my major complaints have been my herniated disks in my neck, migraines and Crohn's .... therefore, I've not really thougth about my Fibro - I take nortryptiolyn (sp?) for it.

Well, a week ago I developed bad back pain - typical wiht a crohn's flaire. Then over the weekend I started having really bad swollen legs and leg pain when walking. Then yesterday it was so out of control, I couldn't walk more than 20 feet at a time. I went  to my GP and he said it was Fibro.

I should say also that I have been going through a battery of tests for dysphasia - problems swollowing foods - and the last cookie barium swallow should I have splillage and slow transit. I have yet to speak to my GI doc, this was only info I gathered from  the speech therapist right after the procedure.

Back to yeterday, I asked my GP if the trouble walking could be related to my difficulty in swallowing and he said he has never heard of such a disease.  (I thought to myself, perhaps he doesn't have the same Internet I have LOL).

Any thoughts or ideas.

If this Fibro, when will I be able to walk again ?????  I have to work !!!!!

Posted 6/26/2012 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
I have never read where fibro makes your legs swell. You may get a "feeling" of swelling but they don't actually swell. Being muscles are used in swallowing that could be the fm. I had a stricture in my esophagus which the gastro doc stretched and no problems since.
Its my opinion you have something else going on. You aren't on Lyrica by any chance. One of the side effects is leg swelling. ( I had it and had to go off of it).The swelling would naturally affect your walking.
Hope you figure it out soon.
Posted 6/27/2012 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
I'd have to say its related to your lower spine, or knees. Maybe even hips. Might want to see an ortho? My youngest BIL at 53 had a total knee replacement. Still hurt, problems walking, etc. Just had a total hip replacement last month. Seems like that solved his problem.
Posted 6/27/2012 3:58 AM (GMT 0)
Champagne,

I have no idea about the swallowing, but as far as the leg swelling and pain, my first thought would be the same as Spookiesmom, some kind of spine thing. I have been dealing with a herniated lumbar disc since January. Mostly it's my left foot and ankle that's slightly swollen and red, but both legs feel extremely tight, especially when I try to bend them - which no one can explain to me. They're also weak - they hurt like *^$# and give out on me if I squat too low. Surgery took away the extreme, electric-shock sciatic pain, but I'm still on Hydrocodone 4 times a day...:(

I've been diagnosed with fibro for over 20 years as well, and never had any problems with my legs or any kind of swelling (including during pregnancy) until this disc problem.

Today my doctor increased my Gabapentin, and I just read that it can cause swelling in legs...?? Guess I'll have my answer if it gets even worse!

Good luck to you.

Debbie
Posted 6/27/2012 4:31 AM (GMT 0)
This part was cute: "(I thought to myself, perhaps he doesn't have the same Internet I have LOL)."

Loved that. Just had to say that.

Do your legs actually swell or do they just have the feeling of swelling? If they are actually swelling, then I would say get to a gynecologist ASAP in case it is ovarian/uterus issues. I'm no expert but that's what I would do.
Posted 7/6/2012 11:42 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone. I have had herniated disks in my neck and back for over 15 years and have some neuropy but not to this extent. The swelling in my legs has gone down, but not the spasming and pain. I am getting it my arms too now and even my check will spasm. I feel like such a spaz! LOL ... I just don't know how to do ... I also have Crohn's and fear I have another autoimmune disease too.

My legs did swell and thee was a remakrable pit indentnation for about 1/2 in the middle of the night, even my husband felt it. At times, my knee and elbow joints will swell and get sore. They have ruled out Lupus and RA.

I got up this morning, walked to the kitchen to take my meds, went back to bed and my legs are twitching and my back spasiming ... so frustrating!

Thanks for your kind input!
Posted 7/7/2012 8:34 AM (GMT 0)
Champ- I would recommend the book I am reading. It's Fibromalgia and myofascial pain by Mary Copeland. It had several of your symptoms in it. It's has helped me so much. It has helped me mentally the most. I feel valated from the book alone. My Dr's never shared hardly any of this. It's real cheap on amazon. It's the second addition.
Posted 7/7/2012 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
Have you been checked out by a rheumatologist?  I was having intense pain in my legs and it turned out to be an autoimmune illness, not fibro, that was causing the problem.  I was put on correct medication and am back to walking again.  Before, I could only walk in inches...barely could lift my feet off the floor or even get my legs into bed.  I had intense raw nerve pain going down both legs.

 

You need to find out what you are dealing with.  It could be something like deep vein thrombosis, too.  I'm not a doctor and am just guessing but I guess what I'm trying to convey is for you to see another doctor and get another opinion.  Do your research before you chose a doctor to make sure they work with fibro patients.  I would suggest seeing a rheumatologist.

 

I did have a few spells where I couldn't swallow at all!  But, now, when that happens, I cough and then I can swallow again.  That's because the muscles were spasming in my throat and making it so I couldn't swallow!

 

Sherrine

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply