Dose anyone have or know anything about chroinc pain syndrome or Fibromalaygia?
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You might try discussion groups online, such as that linked below.\n\nIf you do check it, I think there are lots of people taking part in the discussions (and chats) who are actual sufferers, and should be able to offer some helpful ideas.\n\nLike anything else on the Web, it's important when reading posts in groups, or taking part in chats, to be aware that some people are trying to sell something.  And some people may challenge the idea that there is any such thing as FMS. Just ignore anyone who isn't being helpful -- don't get yourself worked up by trying to argue with them.
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Hi, \nI was diagnosed with fibromyalgia five years ago.  Even though The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has developed criteria for fibromyalgia that physicians can use in diagnosing the disorder, it is not "technically speaking" arthritis.\n\nThere are more  physicians all the time that are beginning to recognize the disorder, but most are still flying blind.  This DOES NOT mean that there are  not treatments!  Because there are!!!\n\nYou must educate yourself about the disorder and research methods that have worked for others.\n\nI have an extremely aggressive form of the disorder, my Dr. was trained at the Mayo Clinic and specializes in the disorder.  She says I have fibro from hell, but that doesn't mean I don't have a quality of life.  I've had to change alot of things.  But, I do not use any type of narcotic pain medication to deal with the pain associated with this illness.\n\nI changed my diet.  I eat organically.  Drink tons of pure water.  I exercise; ( low impact stuff. Yoga, Thai Che, stretching, walking).   \n\nI use lidoderm patches, ( Lidocaine patch 5%).  Take robaxin, which is a skeletal muscular relaxer, it does non mind or mood altering drug like flexaril.\n\nGetting restorative sleep is important.  I use melatonin.\n\nI would love to talk more with you on this and am here for you if you want to talk.  My name is Pam\nMy email address is jzett@sbcglobal.net
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I do and it is quite debilitating.\n\n“Fibroid myalgia” or fibromyalgia as it is better known is a common condition characterized by generalized pain and fatigue. This condition has nothing to do with fibroids, but is more a form of rheumatoid athritis.\n\nI regularly see a Chiropractor, Accupuncturist and a Massage Therapist and I take Naproxen and Norflex because the pain is so intense sometimes.   It affects my lower back and my shoulder blades are constantly aggravated.  I am usually in constant pain and stressed out about my back because it affects my daily living. My muscles are always sore and makes me tired and irritable.\n\nI am looking to see a rheumatologist.\n\nOh yeah -- symptoms include migraine headache, decrease in short term memory, cognitive dysfunction, blurred or double vision, hypersensitivity to sound and smells, shortness of breath, chest pains, palpitations, irritable bowel, irritable bladder, painful menses, painful urination, multiple drug allergies, multiple sensitivities to chemicals.
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I would suggest posting at fibrohugs.com asking for a doctor in your area. The website has a lot of posters, so they might be able to help.
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Oh, PLEASE. "God will help you!" I'm still waiting.\n\nI was involved in three car smashes in the space of four years. Each time I was hit from behind by another driver - two of these three were hit-and-run. I now suffer pain, day and night, including chronic migraines and sometimes, agony so bad that I literally cannot think. I have fibromyalgia, which is chronic incurable pain. I had to give up ballroom dancing, martial arts, horseriding and more. I can't even do grocery shopping anymore and have had a disabled parking permit since I was around 24 years old. A good night's sleep doesn't help, because when you have fibro, there's no such thing as a "good night's sleep". The pain is such that proper sleep - and often, ANY sleep - is impossible.\n\nInterestingly, I was a devout born-again Christian at the time of the first two accidents. Jesus didn't help me.\n\nTo give you an idea of what fibromyalgia is like, have you ever been in a car smash and when you woke up the next day, you could barely move? Or have you ever had a really bad flu, so bad that every part of your body ached and you couldn't think? That is what fibro is like - EVERY SINGLE DAY. I have days where the pain is so bad, I can barely move and even just lying down in bed is agonising. Two Panadeine Forte don't do a damned thing (that's 60mg codeine and 1000mg paracetamol).\n\nYet I know that there are people who suffer much more pain than I do, and I cannot believe that there are other people who would stop them from ending their own life. The pain I endure on a daily basis has been disabling and debilitating - I no longer have a social life and doing normal, everyday things is nearly impossible. Even standing in a queue is an almost insurmountable task for me. But I *can* stand, and I *can* walk. What about those who can't?\n\nI am willing to put money on it, that the people who would have the "right to die" made illegal, have never truly experienced severe pain, and if they have, they haven't lived with it day in, day out, year in, year out.\n\nUntil these people live in agony every second of every day, year after year, with no cure and minimal relief (if any), they have NO RIGHT to stop another person from ending their own life.
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sounds like pains that are associated with carpal tunnel syndrome--mine is in my thumb and pointer finger and wraps around the wrist, crosses to the elbow and up my arm into my shoulder--i have been to chiropractors, orthopedists, and neurologists.  mine flares up every few weeks.  if it is not bad enough for surgery the best you can do is take advil/ibuprophen. It works better for me than alieve.  good luck!
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FMS (fibromyalgia syndrome) is a widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder for which the cause is still unknown. Fibromyalgia means pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons – the soft fibrous tissues in the body.\n\nMost patients with FMS say that they ache all over. Their muscles may feel like they have been pulled or overworked. Sometimes the muscles twitch and at other times they burn. More women than men are afflicted with FMS, and it shows up in people of all ages.\n\nTo help your family and friends relate to your condition, have them think back to the last time they had a bad flu. Every muscle in their body shouted out in pain. In addition, they felt devoid of energy as though someone had unplugged their power supply. While the severity of symptoms fluctuate from person to person, FMS may resemble a post-viral state. This similarity is the reason experts in the field of FMS and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) believe that these two syndromes may be one and the same. Gulf War syndrome also overlaps with FMS/CFS.\n\n(Back to top)\n\nSYMPTOMS AND ASSOCIATED SYNDROMES\n\nPain - The pain of FMS has no boundaries. People describe the pain as deep muscular aching, throbbing, shooting, and stabbing. Intense burning may also be present. Quite often, the pain and stiffness are worse in the morning and you may hurt more in muscle groups that are used repetitively.\n\nFatigue - This symptom can be mild in some patients and yet incapacitating in others. The fatigue has been described as "brain fatigue" in which patients feel totally drained of energy. Many patients depict this situation by saying that they feel as though their arms and legs are tied to concrete blocks, and they have difficulty concentrating, e.g., brain fog.\n\nSleep disorder - Most FMS patients have an associated sleep disorder called the alpha-EEG anomaly. This condition was uncovered in a sleep lab with the aid of a machine which recorded the brain waves of patients during sleep. Researchers found that most FMS patients could fall asleep without much trouble, but their deep level (or stage 4) sleep was constantly interrupted by bursts of awake-like brain activity. Patients appeared to spend the night with one foot in sleep and the other one out of it.\n\nSleep lab tests may not be necessary to determine if you have disturbed sleep. If you wake up feeling as though you've just been run over by a Mack truck – what doctors refer to as unrefreshing sleep – it is reasonable for your physician to assume that you have a sleep disorder. Many FMS patients have been found to have other sleep disorders in addition to the alpha-EEG, such as sleep apnea (as well as the newly discovered form of interrupted breathing called upper airway resistance syndrome, or UARS), bruxism (teeth grinding), periodic limb movement during sleep (jerking of arms and legs), and restless legs syndrome (difficulty sitting still in the evenings).\n\nIrritable Bowel Syndrome - Constipation, diarrhea, frequent abdominal pain, abdominal gas, and nausea represent symptoms frequently found in roughly 40 to 70% of FMS patients. Acid reflux or gastroesophogeal reflux disease (GRED) also occurs with the same high frequency.\n\nChronic headaches - Recurrent migraine or tension-type headaches are seen in about 70% of FMS patients and can pose a major problem in coping for this patient group.\n\nTemporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome - This syndrome, sometimes referred to as TMJ or TMD, causes tremendous jaw-related face and head pain in one quarter of FMS patients. However, a 1997 published report indicated that close to 75% of FMS patients have a varying degree of jaw discomfort. Typically, the problems are related to the muscles and ligaments surrounding the jaw joint and not necessarily the joint itself.\n\nOther common symptoms - Premenstrual syndrome and painful periods, chest pain, morning stiffness, cognitive or memory impairment, numbness and tingling sensations,
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I am sorry to hear about the pain you are having...\nI was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and rheumatoid arthritis.\nI would find another doctor, a more understanding one..\nThe tests (at least in Australia) for fibro and chronic fatigue, well they have no definitive tests, and it is mapped by a thorough examination and you go through the history of your pain and then doctors and specialists and they will be able to answer your questions..\nI hope you find relief....
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I am going to a chriopractor and love him.  Check around and find one highly recommended.  I also have had two back surgeries. I take neurotin for the jumpy nerves in my legs and percocet for pain.  The pharmacist told me there is nothing formulated for fibro. pain, but this helps a little. I am a firm believer that your spine must be aligned.  It may not give you total relief ((nothing will) but it sure has helped me a lot and it is relatively cheap in the medical field.   Remember ask around and get one highly recommended, don't just pick one out of the phone book.  Good Luck two year sufferer
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I am a sufferer also. There are many treatments which you may find helpful. I have lots of resources that would require me to email the pages to you [they're obtained through college databases]. I'd be more than happy to email them to you if you're interested. [archnarkiegirl@yahoo.com]
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Personally, I have had Fibro since I was 16 and am now almost 36. I have seen more doctors over the years than I can count from Neurologists to Rhuematologists to Chiropractors to Psychiatrists to Pain Specialists. In my experience pain medications do not work. A muscle relaxant is much more helpful. I have also tried biofeedback, steroid shots, trigger point injections, two sleep studies, nerve blocks, accupuncture, foot braces, wrist braces, carpal tunnel release surguries, and so much more. All just torture and I felt like a guinea pig.\n\nMy best advise is make sure to get plenty of sleep, take a multiple vitamin, remember you are what you eat, keep active in at least low impact sports, and consider Magnesium and Malic Acid supplements (consult the doctor or a nutritionist to have your Magnesuim level checked- it is a simpe mouth swab and not painful), meditation does help some in keeping the pain back if you can seperate your mind from the pain, and try to take 2-3 warm Epson Salt baths a week (Epson salt contains Magnesium and soaking in a warm tub of it helps to get the mineral into the body. Magnesium aids the muscles in using oxygen and when the level is low which is typical in Fibro it can cause are cramps, spasms, and pain.) \n\nAlso, Fibromyalgia is a neurotransmitter disorder and certain foods can trigger similiar symptoms to Fibro. Try eliminating Monsodium Glutamate from your diet. I did and some of my symptoms (chronic headaches and nausea) went away. It is in everything from Doritos to chicken soup. A few key finding's of an FDA study found MSG to cause a "burning sensation in the back of the neck, forearms and chest". Otherwise, learn your limits and pace yourself.\n\nGood luck!\n\nHere's some of the best information available.\n\nTreatment of Fibromyalgia in Detail\nRobert Bennett MD, FRCP\n\nIf you are reading this you probably have a common syndrome of chronic musculoskeletal pain called fibromyalgia. This chronic pain state is now appreciated to be caused by abnormalities of sensory processing within the spinal cord and brain. As such you will usually experience a bewildering (both to you and your doctor) array of bodily and psychological problems that can seldom be “cured”. However, armed with both patience and knowledge, many fibromyalgia patients can be helped to live with less pain and be more productive. In my own evolving experience of dealing with this problem I can identify 7 aspects of management that are of importance for your doctor to successful manage your fibromyalgia.\n\nMy Advice to Doctors who care for Fibromyalgia Patients\n\n1. Realize that FM patients are going to be a chronic challenge.\n2. Be non-judgmental and prepared to be an advocate.\n3. Understand the pathophysiological basis for symptoms.\n4. Analyze and treat pain complaints in a systemic approach.\n5. Recognize and treat psychological problems at an early stage.\n6. Recognize associated syndromes of disordered sensory processing.\n7. Involve all FM patients in a program of stretching and gentle aerobic exercise.\n\nTreatment of pain in fibromyalgia \n\nPain is the primary over-riding problem for most of you. Many of the problems you experience are largely a secondary consequence of having chronic pain. When pain is even partly relieved, fibromyalgia patients experience a significant improvement in psychological distress, cognitive abilities, sleep and functional capacity. A total elimination of pain is currently not possible in the majority of fibromyalgia patients. However worthwhile improvements can nearly always be achieved by a careful systematic analysis of the pain complaints. As a generalization fibromyalgia related pain can be divided into general pain (i.e. the chronic background pain experience and focal pain (i.e. the intensification of pain in a specific region – usually aggravated by movement). The latter is probably a potent driving force in the generation of central sensitization. Attem
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Hi Irishbob.  I highly recommend a book by Sherry Rogers, M.D. (available at Amazon.com) called "Pain Free in 6 Weeks".  She thoroughly discusses the multitude of causes of pain, especially the kinds of things that can cause unusual pain patterns like yours.\n\nBest wishes and good luck!
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Fibro is related to several different illneses, from Mono (ebstein-barr syndrome), IBS, to Cancer even...  It seems to exist alongside other diseases, and is not technically a disease.  It is a syndrome with known symptoms, that can be debilitating at its worst.  At best, one can expect any of several conditions, muscle ache, joint ache, Abdominal problems, Lower back aches common.  Stiffness, burning skin, numbness, and on and on.\n\nIf the lumps don't go away, they should be checked.  They could be fibroid tumors, or something worse.  Best to see a doctor to be sure..
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i found some fibromyalgia wipes at rite aid ,they really help with the pain,out of them at the moment so not sure of the name .was in the bengay isle.
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I am assuming that you live in the USA??? If so, there are PAIN clinics you can take him to that can help with more diagnosis. Also maybe see a nuerologist for other diseases or disorders. \nThe reason I say this is because I have severe ( on again off again ) pain at the site of my liver. I have been dignosed with Localized Scheleraderma ( not the same as scheraderma) and Fibromyalgia. Its what hit me when I read your question. Never give up. Keep going to different doctors until you get the answers you need.\nGood luck!
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What is fibromyalgia?\nFibromyalgia is a name for widespread pain affecting the muscles but not the joints. It will not cause permanent damage to tissues but the symptoms may last for months or years. There are no outward signs of the condition and people with fibromyalgia often look well but feel awful. Because of this, other people may not appreciate the pain and tiredness you are suffering and this can cause additional distress. Fibromyalgia is a common condition and is sometimes so severe that it affects your work and your personal and social life. In fibromyalgia the tendons and ligaments, or fibrous tissues (fibro-), and the muscles (-my-) are affected by pain (-algia) and tenderness. The pain may feel as though it affects the whole body.\n\nThere are usually tender points in certain areas of the body. These help the doctor to make the diagnosis. If enough pressure is applied to these places most people will find it uncomfortable, but in fibromyalgia there is a change in the threshold at which pressure causes pain and many of these points can be extremely tender. Tenderness at individual sites sometimes occurs and this can give rise to localised conditions such as tennis elbow. In fibromyalgia, however, there is tenderness at a number of points.\n\nIn the past fibromyalgia was often diagnosed as muscular rheumatism or fibrositis, or it was misdiagnosed as degenerative disease of the joints (signs of wear and tear are very common on spine x-rays as we get older, whether there is pain or not). Research in the past few years has led to a clearer picture of what we mean by fibromyalgia, and the diagnosis is being made more often by rheumatologists and general practitioners (GPs).\n\nWhat are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?\nPain, tiredness and sleep disturbance are the main symptoms of fibromyalgia. Most people feel the pain of fibromyalgia as aching, stiffness and tiredness in the muscles around the joints. It may feel worse first thing in the morning, or as the day goes on, or with activity. It may affect one part of the body or several different areas such as the limbs, neck and back.\n\nSometimes tiredness (fatigue) can be the most severe aspect of fibromyalgia. There may be overall tiredness and lack of energy, or muscular fatigue and loss of stamina. Either way, it can be difficult to climb the stairs, do the household chores, go shopping or go to work. Becoming less fit makes matters worse. Waking in the morning feeling unrefreshed is common.\n\nLess frequent but still troublesome symptoms include:\n\npoor circulation – tingling, numbness or swelling \nof the hands and feet\n\nheadache, irritability or feeling low or weepy\n\nforgetfulness or poor concentration\n\nfeeling an urgent need to pass water\n\nirritable bowels (diarrhoea and abdominal pain).\n\nOf course symptoms like these can have other causes, and your doctor can help decide whether any further tests or advice are needed. The severity of the symptoms and the effects of fibromyalgia can vary considerably, and this range of severity can cause problems in diagnosing the condition and lead to varying medical opinions. A particular feature of fibromyalgia is the need to have the symptoms recognised and to be taken seriously.\n\nHow can fibromyalgia be treated?\nThere is no overnight cure for fibromyalgia but with the help of your doctor and family it is possible to find ways of managing your symptoms so that you can continue with your normal activities. Fibromyalgia may settle down by itself, but this can take weeks, months or even years. Your doctor may be able to help you by making the diagnosis of fibromyalgia and reassuring you that despite all the pain you don't have a condition that will cause permanent disability. You are no more likely to develop arthritis later on than anyone else. Your family can also help with understanding and encouragement.\n\nYour doctor can prescribe a variety of medications which may help with the pain. These include painki
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Hi, my mother has has the same problem and she was finally diagnosed with fibromyalgia....A lot of Doctors will tell you that you might be suffering from depression or stress but in reality there really could be another diagnosis. You should try to find a doctor that actually specializes in Pressure Point Exams and Fibromyalgia.\n\nAlso, I have been living with undiagnosed pain for the past 4 years. I have alot of the signs/symptoms so I am going to see a specialist soon that deals with fibro and maybe I can get my pain under control. I hope this helps!