New to Fibro and so many concerns :(

I was told by my gp that I have fibromyalgia after 6 months of reg doctors ortho and Neuro 3 mri's a cat scan later they couldn't find anything ! Waiting on an appointment with a rheumatologist now ! I have muscle twitches off and on bad muscle cramps in my feet and calves ! Horrible hip and lower back pain ,tmj pain , my muscles in my legs are always so tight when stretched , have bad muscle pain in between my shoulder blades , my vision has changed bad headaches , numbness that moves around from feet and legs to hands ! Hot baths really help I would live in them if I could lol ! My first indication of something wrong was 2 and a half years ago bad muscle cramps at night restless leg and constant back pain and my skin would hurt if poked to rough :( as I look back this all started after loosing my brother to a horrible hunting accident :( ! But got bad in January with the numbness and then my constant crying and fear I was gonna leave my children sent me on a downward spiral of pain bed ridden days once I finally convinced myself to get it together it gradually got better but still had pain chronic fatigue and cramps ! Just really would love to know if this is all tied in to Fibro I guess I'm just still a bit scared I just seen my husband's aunt die with ALS so that didn't help my stress and fears !! Please if anybody has any input I would love to hear it :)

Thank you I have really tried to stop the worrying . I went to physical therapy for awhile and he also mentioned myofascial pain syndrome to me to because he kept discovering all these knots esp in my neck and lower back ! I was wondering does anyone else have the lump in your throat feeling when you swallow ? And feeling as if your neck is tight ?

brookealet,
Read your post and really feel for you. Everything you have stated I have felt at one time or another. It is very scary. I will tell you, this condition loves FEAR, Fear stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. You will not die from this condition. The more you feed it FEAR the worst it can get. So what do you do?

You're on the right track. See a good Rheumy and try different things. There is no magic pill to take all the symptoms and pain away, but as Debbie said, you can get it down to a dull roar and you can still have a good life despite fibromyalgia. Do not go searching for things on the internet about this condition. You will read lots of things that are scary and Simply not true. Do read Fibro 101 and while waiting to see the rheumy get yourself a good book on it. One I always suggest is Up Close and Personal With Fibromyalgia. The book is written by Mark Pellegrino Whom happens to be my doctor as well as have the condition himself!!

You will find what works for you, whether its prescribed meds, supplements, stretching, exercise, meditation a counselor or a combination of all. It has to be YOU though that takes hold of this condition and realizes that it is not going to hurt you or control your life. Yes life will be different . You will have some amount of pain everyday of your life, BUT it will be less than you are experiencing now. I am sorry that you have this, but so very glad you found US. we are a very kind caring and supportive bunch that really cares about each other. so please do keep posting and as stated, know that we are here for you.

Take care.....Michael

Hi,

I have many myofacial issues with the fibro...and work with a book by Claire Danes..to learn to release these trigger points myself..my therapist can do it faster...but it is not always easy to have appts all the time..so i am learning to work on that myself..thank goodness cause my hips will lock up and i can finally get them to release myself...

There is a lot of trial and error but you can get relief...you and your dr. Will need to find what works for you...but learn the self help measures ..self help seems to account for probably about 50 % of my relief...

Hi, Brookealet, and welcome! Yes, the lump in the throat feeling is most likely anxiety. I've had that. I've even not been able to swallow and that REALLY frightened me but it went away.

You can have fibro and other things so you do want to rule out the other illnesses that have many of the same symptoms. It sounds like you have been doing that but seeing a rheumatologist is a good thing. Once you accept what is going on is "normal" for this condition you will be able to face it head on and deal with it. The great thing about fibro is a lot of this stuff comes and goes. It doesn't always take up permanent residence in our bodies. Our pain will wax and wane, too. But right now you are too anxious to relax enough.

Do daily stretching exercises and a gentle exercise daily. I walk a mile plus daily and I have less pain and fatigue by the time I get home. Don't think you are dying because you are not. This is not a terminal illness so no worries in that department.

I do think when you can relax a bit and keep moving and focusing on other things, you will begin to feel better. Yes, you will be here for your children. My three children were young when I developed fibro and they are now all young adults.

You might look into a book called The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook. They sell this on Amazon. Those bumps are trigger points. If you press on them as hard as you can stand and massage them, over a short period of time they will get smaller and smaller. this book shows you where to look for the trigger points for certain pain in your body. I cured my frozen shoulder this way. The trigger points for that were in my chest wall, shoulder, and neck! Much of our pain is referred pain. Anyway, Amazon lets you read a little of the book to see if you want to order it. It has diagrams of each part of the body and shows where the trigger points can be located.

Be sure to read Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum. There are links to good info about fibro and you will learn a lot there. Good starting links would be Symptoms, What Else Could It Be, and A Thorough Explanation of Fibromyalgia. You just might see yourself there.

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

Sherrine

That trigger point book is not easy reading...but take it a little at a time and it really does help...it says to use a tennis ball under the hip points to release...

However...the tennis ball hurt..so i bought a softer ball and find it releases but without making me more sore...

My therapist said i might be able to work it out with a foam roller, but again too hard for me...so my husband bought me a pool noodle to use instead...releases without the pain...we cut it in half and there are harder and softer ones, hoping to work up to harder...

It takes some trial and error..but there are many ways to help ourselves feel better...and some days we need more than one way.