fibromyalgia or something else?

[danielle]

Hi. My name is Danielle. I was diagnosed with FMS in my late teens. I am now 31 and it has gotten progressively worse.

I suffer from moderate to extreme back pain, crippling fatigue, and frequent flares. I cannot stand for more than maybe ten minutes in one spot without varying degrees of pain. I can't sit in most car seats without severe back pain that lasts for weeks. If I do anything much (ie i went to the zoo and for an hour and was so horrible the next day I could hardly walk to the bathroom). My back was swollen, but every joint and bone ached in my body. I was so exhausted I couldn't function. My medication barely touched it.

I hyper-respond to everything. I have had light massages done by a professional that have left me with debilitaing symptoms for over 8 years now. I never healed from it.

I can't leave the house for more than 2 hrs at a time it seems--without suffering these repercussions.

Can anyone help? i'm almost afraid to persue doctor visits because a simple exam could leave me with a new "permanant injury.

I know noone else with FMS who has these type of symptoms or severity.

Thank you!

[Dr_prakesh]

Can anyone help? i'm almost afraid to persue doctor visits because a simple exam could leave me with a new "permanant injury.

What do you mean by this

[danielle]

I mean that I don't seem to heal from things very well. For instance, a massage I had over 8 years ago left me with an inability to sit in many chairs without pain. From what I know, light swedish massage should not permanantly injure anyone.

I can't have the top of my head touched without it flaring my symptoms. If a doctor twists me past my range of motion during an exam, I may LOSE more range of motion--permanantly.
If the top of my head is touched--I may end up with dizzy spells and so much pain in my neck that I need a shot of Demoral. This HAS happened in the past. Henceforth, my reticence to endure doctor's examinations.

[MG (Admin)]

If a doctor twists me past my range of motion during an exam, I may LOSE more range of motion--permanantly.

Has this happened to you already?

[danielle]

Yes...It seems to send my muscles into spasm and even after they calm down, I don't seem to have the same range I did before. It's almost like my body views it as an "accident" or "injury."

[MG (Admin)]

What did they do to you to cause this?

[danielle]

This has happened several times before in my life, and it has occurred from nothing more than a typical exam where a doctor will guide you to the edge of your range of motion to determine how far you can move your neck, shoulder, etc.

Sometimes I suffer decreased range of motion/pain/inflammation for a period of a few months, and sometimes the range of motion never comes fully.

[MG (Admin)]

Have you seen a rheumatologist?

[danielle]

Yes. I have been seeing a rheumatologist since 1998. That is how I got the fibromyalgia diagnosis

[MG (Admin)]

What medications have you tried?

[danielle]

zoloft, elevil, lorezapam are what i'm on currently. have tried...paxil, prozac, celebrex, vioxx, pain pills (can't recall which), flexeril, (many diff. muscle relaxants), host of other anti-depressants, steroids...

This has been going on for 20 yrs, I can't recall everything we've tried.

I also tend to react to small dosages of meds. i'm very sensitive to them.

[MG (Admin)]

host of other anti-depressants

Which ones?
What doses?
Have you ever taken lyrica?

[danielle]

No. I haven't tried Lyrica. My doctor is hesitant to put me on it because I tend to have "paradoxical" reactions to medications. For example: He tried a systemic steriod injection on me and I felt worse. I had burning searing pain through my entire body for a month after. It didn't help one bit. Also, parafon made me "buzzed" instead of drowsy, etc.

Prozac, effexor, paxil, zoloft, elevil, there are a few more...all at low doses...I honestly can't recall EVERY anti-depressant I've tried over the last 13 yrs...