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lose_yourself_in_the_moment

Posted Friday, February 23, 2007 3:29 PM

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Hey guys!

I was wondering if anyone could help me out…

I have had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since I was thirteen (I just turned 18 this month). I had a bad flare up this morning and was looking up information on it and came across fibromyalgia. I was looking at the symptoms and many of them pertained to me. It’s been many months that I’ve been having a lot of back and shoulder pain and muscle spasms in my neck. I’ve been doing tissue release therapy for the muscle spasms but they don’t seem to be working, but my doctor told me it’s just the arthritis doing that. Because I have polyarticular arthritis I have a lot of pain in my knees, elbows, hips, hands, and feet as well (especially in my elbows and knees, my one elbow is always locking up and I get a sharp tingling pain down my arm). I take a lot of medicine for these but the pain in my shoulders, neck, elbows, and knees never fully go away. I also suffer from anxiety and though my doctor and family don’t know but a lot of depression. (my mood changes sometimes seem outrageous, I usually go from really happy to tired to sad to angry within a few hours... one of my friends even asked me if I was bipolar) I never feel rested and have trouble sleep at night, especially with my neck being the way it is… I guess my question is, is it possible that I also have fibromyalgia or do you think it is just my arthritis? My other question is I go see my rheumatologist in a month and if it is possible that I do have fibromyalgia should I go sooner because she would be able to help me?

Thanks guys, I reallllllly appreciate it!

Tara

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Michelle343

Posted Friday, February 23, 2007 5:17 PM

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Tara, first of all - Happy Birthday and second, you are just so young it breaks my heart to see you suffer with these medical problems! For some reason though, I sense that you are very strong. Depression is not uncommon and you should not be afraid or ashamed to tell your doctor or your family. In fact, I am shocked that your docs havent asked you about your moods etc. Anyway, I have psoriatic arthritis and fibromyalgia, among other things. It is common for autoimmunes to run in clusters. From what you have said, I feel that it is very likely that you do suffer from FM and I think that you should definately mention it to your rheumie. Unfortunately, there really isnt much treatment for it, but believe it or not antidepressants is one of them and sometimes it just helps to have a diagnosis so you dont feel like your crazy. Keep your spirits up girl and stay strong. God loves you and so do we -- arthritis sisterhood (LOL). Take care and good luck. Peace and Blessings, Michelle

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Emmab2003

Posted Wednesday, February 28, 2007 3:59 PM

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I dont know, I think it might be possible to have both?
Fibro is sooo different for everyone.
In my own case, its been diagnosed as secondary to other conditions (not stand alone Fibro).
I still think maybe you do have both????

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Michelle343

Posted Wednesday, February 28, 2007 11:23 PM

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Hey Tara. It is me again. It is common to have fibro and RA, PsA or other autoimmunes. Just as Emma stated, usually it is secondary to another automimmune. Yes, it is true that doctors often confuse the two. In fact, I was dx with FM years ago and PsA only 2 years ago. If you look through all the threads on this website, you will see that there are many that have both. Perhaps when you read that it is unlikely to have rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia at the same time, they meant that both arent always flared up at the same time. For example, you can get joint pain under control and still be in significant pain from the FM. I have PsA (psoriatic arthritis; which is basically RA with psoriaisis) and have FM with it. My sister has RA and has FM, another sister has Crohns and FM, and another has discoid lupus and FM. Remember that when they list symptoms, they are general guidelines and there may be a symptom on the list that you dont have, just as there may be a symptom you have that is not on the list. Mention it to your rheumie and they can check specific pressure points that can confirm the FM in addition to the RA. Keep us posted. Good luck and I hope thnigs get under control for you soon! Peace and Blessings, Michelle

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Sue1

Posted Sunday, May 27, 2007 10:02 AM

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Hello Tara,

Amitriptyline has been used for FMS for many years because even in small doses it may help some patients with FMS pain, even if they are not clinically depressed. I can remember being given amitriptyline way back in the early 80s as a trial, and several other times when physicians insisted I try it again. It has not been helpful to me in terms of pain reduction and I don't like the side effects. Other folks have apparently found it helpful though and hopefully that will be the case for you. The dosages given for FMS are very, very small compared to the dosages used for clinical depression. If you feel like you are having problems with depression, by all means bring it up with your physician.

Cheers,
Sue

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Keith99

Posted Monday, May 28, 2007 2:00 AM

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Hi Tara,
I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in February as a result of CNS trauma. I am on Elavil(Amitriptyline)20mg every night before bedtime. It works well with my other meds to put my mind and body in a more peaceful state in hopes of having a decent night of sleep. Some nights are better than others. However, even the bad nights would be much worse without the Elavil. As it helps with pain, the anti-depressant characteristics also help as I too can let anxiety/depression beat up on me pretty good from time to time. I actually was on Elavil before because the neurological regeneration from the CNS trauma was quite painful. So, when they wanted to put me back on it for Fibromyalgia, I welcomed it because, for me, it is very effective with little to no side-effects. As for talking to your doctor on whether or not You have Fibromyalgia, just ask. It will open up the dialogue to either work toward diagnosis and confirm or rule it out and see if it's something else. Good luck.

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Rosemary148

Posted Wednesday, June 06, 2007 10:00 AM

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Hi there. I have RA and Fibro. I was just diagnosed with the fibro in April. It IS possible to have both and many people do have both. It really is a relief to get some answers and find out that I am not crazy. I even thought I was becoming a hypocondriac because I never seemed to feel good anymore.
I was taking amitriptyline 50mg every night before bedtime. It stopped working for me though. My doctor put me on neurotin at night to see if it helps. It seems to be helping some, but the side effects are terrible.
I hope you can find some relief soon.
Love and care
Rosemary

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Wanda1

Posted Thursday, June 21, 2007 7:45 PM

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HI all, I am new to this site and newly diagnosed just 3 weeks ago with RA and Fibro. My rhumy said that a lot of people with RA also have Fibro, and I happen to be one of them. Depression is definitely a symptom of the Fibro. However, being sick and off work for 9 months and living alone and not knowing how you are going to survive is enough for me to be depressed about!!!!

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christinia3

Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007 1:18 AM

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I get so frustrated with mis-educated people thinking fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue aren't real disorders! I'v had so many people tell me (before they knew I have these disorders) that people who 'claim' to have these are just lazy or hypochondriacs. I wish people would educate themselves on a subject before they voice their opinion about it! My health has finally improved enough for me to start working part time again. When co-workers ask why I haven't worked in so long or why I changed careers I'm uneasy about telling them because of peoples reactions-- they either voice an uneducated opinion, feel sorry for me, or want me to explain everything about the conditions. It's nerve racking! Thanx for letting me vent!!

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Elizabeth37

Posted Tuesday, December 18, 2007 8:50 PM

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My doctor/s are trying to decide if I have FM and RA or just one or the other. Boy, it is confusing and hard. The pain is just incredible and I keep expecting someone to give me pain medicine so I can get through the day. I have been in the bed a lot for the past three months. I can get up for about 10 min at a time and then am so stiff and in such pain I have to lie down again. The things that seem to be confusing to drs are that I have an elevated rheumatoid factor, but do not have the other factors that are usually elevated in RA patients. I also don't have noticable swelling. Either way, I just want some relief!!! It is so easy to project and feel like I'll never have my life back.
Elizabeth

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Meomy1968

Posted Wednesday, December 19, 2007 3:34 AM

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Hi Elizabeth,
I know exactly how you feel. All the tests yet nothing adds up. All of the different symptoms and the pain as you say is just awful. Its like you just need them to say awe yes this is what you have but its just a process of elimination. Very frustrating.
I dont know if we can get our lives back, at least not the way it was (not for now). I just hope it will come soon. I cant imagine living like this for the rest of my life. I've tried all kinds of pain meds but nothing worked. And now my doctor has given me oxymorphane (narcotic). I lost my oldest son in 2004 to an accidental overdose (narcotic). So as you can imagine, I'm not only scared to start my new meds but it also brings back alot of painful memories. I have the bottle there and think of the relief it might give me but I havent gotten the nerve to take it yet. I hope you get the answers your looking for. Just do alot of research and try to make the best choices possible for your condition. As I have been reading some of the posts on this and other sites I can see that the pain level for every one is different. Mine is so intense as to keep me from any enjoyments I previously had. I had several hobbies that required detail work with my hands but the pain is constant. I also had to go on LTD from work. So whats a person to do? I dont have energy to go out and do things and now I cant even do my hobbies... Sad

Good Luck.
Melissa

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