Fibromyalgia?

Question

I'm 18 years old and have had a lot of pain over the past couple of years. I was put on an antidepressant for stress and muscle relaxers to take at night. When I went to college I started having panic attacks and was put on Paxil and xanax, they made me feel weird so I went back to the other stuff. My parents don't believe in fibromyalgia, so I can't talk to them about it or they will say im just being dramatic.

I went to the doctor to get my prescriptions refilled and on the refill sheet it said "Diagnosis: Fibromyalgia" but he didn't tell me that I had that. So I am diagnosed with it, but he isn't going to tell me how to make it easier for me? or any treatments I should try? I just don't understand..

Answer 1

Well - your doctor seems to be using fibromyalgia as a "wastebasket diagnosis," unfortunately. That's ridiculous. While you may or may not have fibromyalgia (FMS), which is a very real disorder, it's hard to know how to help you, because it doesn't sound as if your doctor has treated your problems seriously, possibly because of your age.

The fact that your parents aren't acting as advocates for you complicates things, but at least you are 18 and can seek out your own care now. That's a big plus in your favor. I've been through this process with my daughter, who was only 9 when we started, so I feel for you (she and I both have fibromyalgia).

I agree with the person who said you should fire your doctor. If that's not possible, at the very least you need to demand that he take a much more proactive approach to your health.

First, before anybody ever started talking about FMS, had you experienced pain in all four quadrants of your body (above and below the waist, left and right sides) for at least three months?

If you did, your doctor should have started by trying to rule out everything else that might explain your pain - done a full set of blood tests, x-rays, etc. to see if you have any kind of arthritis, Lupus, Lyme disease, thyroid problems, absolutely anything that can be treated. If he isn't a rheumatologist or orthopedic specialist, he should have referred you to them to have you checked out. To be thorough, a neurological exam wouldn't be out of line.

After everything else was ruled out - and believe me, that takes a long bloody time, and you'd know if you'd been through it - you'd be referred to a rhuematologist, who would do a tender point exam. As I recall, someone else posted about the specific tender points used in a diagnostic exam, so I won't go over that again.

Now IF you have FMS, you will serve yourself well by learning as much as you can about it. For one thing, you need to learn to avoid quackery, as you'll be offered plenty of nonsense cloaked in psuedoscience. That's all too common when dealing with any condition for which there is no cure. With something like fibromyalgia, which wasn't even properly acknowledged by the medical community until a few decades ago, we have to deal with even more snake oil salesmen.

Fibromyalgia is a neurological disorder of hypersensitivity. Research pointing to a genetic link is piling up.

While most people are familiar with the increased pain, FMS patients are actually more sensitive to everything - changes in and extremes of temperature, aromas, tastes, chemicals in cleaners, preservatives in foods, allergens, everything. We usually get sick more easily and take longer to heal from any injury or illness than we did before we developed FMS.

Stress doesn't cause fibromyalgia, but it will exacerbate the symptoms. Doing all that you can to control stressors in your life is very important if you do have fibromyalgia - and if you don't, it will be good for your panic attacks, anyway.

One of the biggest sources of stress in my life was people who "don't believe in fibromyalgia" or who were otherwise negative. Even when they are related to us by blood, limiting contact can be necessary. Build your own support network of people who are positive, who do "believe in" you and fibromyalgia. If there's an FMS support group that meets near you, try to attend a few meetings.

While antidepressants are sometimes prescribed to treat fibromyalgia, I think little of their efficacy. Depression does not cause fibromyalgia, and clinical depression is not caused by fibromyalgia. It is reasonable that experiencing constant pain, fatigue, and cognitive deficits would lead to feelings of depression and even grief, but that is different from clinical depression.

Antidepressants do not treat "stress," either, and any doctor who prescribes them that way is, frankly, treating you like an idiot. I'd suggest seeing an actual therapist for psychological evaluation, and having a psychiatrist take over management of the antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications IF the therapist thinks they are warranted. If not, tell your doctor that you want to taper off of them, slowly and carefully. Therapy will give you someone to talk to and help you decide what you want, and having a specialist who understands those medications is better than having them prescribed by a family doctor. Try to find a therapist who works with chronic pain patients - that could be a real help to you.

Besides reducing stress and getting a second opinion about your current medications, when you see a proper doctor (most likely a rheumatologist) to confirm your diagnosis of fibromyalgia, she should be willing to give you some kind of pain medication. The muscle relaxants are good, but not usually enough by themselves. If you aren't able to find enough relief over time with the medications the rheumatologist gives you, request a referral to a pain management clinic.

In the meantime, pace yourself. I've written an article about attending college as someone with FMS - you can find it at the site linked below. Be as kind as you can to yourself. Create a stress-free haven somewhere, perhaps in your bedroom, where you can control the environment as much as possible. Enlist the aid of those close to you as advocates you can and will step in for you when you're in a flare (especially bad spell, when the pain and "fibro fog" are at their worst).

Good luck!

Answer 2

I'm sorry sweetie, I am kind of in the same predicament. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia as well, but I actually had the true test for it when your doctor will press on certain parts of your body and ask if it hurts. I have dealt with the whole everybody thinks you're faking it phase to the why don't I just kill myself phase. I think that FMS is a true disease, but I also think that it isn't. That may sound weird, but what I feel it is it a doctors way of saying I don't know why you hurt all the time. They will push antidepressants on you that will make you feel like you are a completely different person and they will tell you to get some exercise. Yeah.. that all helps (lol). I am 23 and I started having these symptoms after a car accident when I was 16. It went from take this percocet to take this vicodin to take these 1200mg of ibuprofen until you die of liver failure. What I suggest is the best thing for you is to be your own advocate. Only you know how you feel and don't let anybody discredit you. I am going to start acupuncture. I'll try to let you know how that works. My Grandmother had it when she was dying from cancer and it helped her a great deal. I hope to find you on this board again so we can talk a little more in depth. I was lucky enough to find a husband who believes in me. I can't work anymore. I can't even get out of bed some days, so he makes a living. We own our house now and are doing great on one income, but doctor bills suck...even with insurance. I hope you can find someone to believe in you. If it's any help..I believe you. I understand. It just...HURTS!

Answer 3

First off: switch doctors. He should never have diagnosed you with a disease and not discussed it with you.
You may or may not have fibromyalgia. Depression, if you have seen the slew of commercials lately, can have physical as well as psychological symptoms.
I googled fibromyalgia support and this is the first one that came up, but there are others.
www.fibromyalgiasupport.com

Answer 4

Fibromyalgia is what a uninformed doctor will put on pains that he doesn't understand. It's usually undiagnosed hypothyroid. They also do the wrong tests. What you need is the free T3 and free T4, and if the free T3 is low in the range, bingo. And anxiety...you may have adrenal fatigue, which is common with hypothyroid. Go here : www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ and click on the Adrenal Info page and especially do the pupil test. And find a MUCH better doctor who LISTENS, not simply puts words on a piece of paper and leaves you hanging.....

Answer 5

Doctors here in Canada for the most part do not reconize Fibromyalgia. A rheumatologist told me that it it was "junk science" for stressed out moms. Having been in severve pain for three years(my whole body felt like one big bruise), I swore at him and left. I then did my own research, because my co-workers had similar deep, deep skin pain. What we found is that fibromyalgia/fascia in our cause by overexposure to heat. Our skin looked completely normal, but we had damaged the deep layers of out skin. When the deep layers of skin are damaged, it feels exactly like a bruise. The fatigue comes from lack of sweating.
For other people, they may have damaged their skin due to overexpose to cold, to radiation, to disease, etc.

Treatment should be to avoid temperature extremes. No heat or cold applications. Avoid suntanning or the heat of the sun. Dress warm in the winter. Protect your skin. Putting any lotions on your skin with oil will make you feel worse. This include suntan lotion.

Think of it more of deep skin pain that muslce and nerves and you'll get better faster. Also, put a sleeping bag on top of your bed for your pressure points. Cheap and effective. It'll give you some extra padding.

Answer 6

This disease sees a lot of skepticism. Many believe it is a cop out...especially at such a young age. He probably didn't tell you because there isn't really anything to tell. However, that doesn't make it okay...he still should have told you. There's not much we know about it, but we do know that it's not a big deal. You take some type of pain medication and that's all you can really do. I have seen this a lot in people who have mental health issues (anxiety, depression, bipolar). I could only suggest pushing yourself. If it is a mental thing you'll get over it by being motivated. However, if it's real and you are concerned you should just do research on your own...maybe find another doctor.

Answer 7

my mom has it and has been drinking xango juice. she said it takes all the pain in her joints away. she feels great. it is kind of expensive($30 a bottle), but i guess if you want the pain gone. good luck.

http://www.xango.com/

i also found this the other day and told my mom about it...

http://micronutra.com/activive.html?aff=1234&kwgroup=av_activive&utm_source=Google&utm_ad=645097833&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=Activive&utm_term=fibromyalgia&gclid=CK7Ln_TozIkCFRyVFQodWW5z-A

Answer 8

Fibromyalgia

Statistics

*

Fibromyalgia syndrome is believed to affect approximately 3.7 million people.
*

It occurs seven times more frequently in women than in men.
*

It occurs most frequently in women of childbearing age.

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points. Fibromyalgia mainly affects muscles and their attachments to bones. Although it may feel like a joint disease, it is not a true form of arthritis and does not cause deformities or loss of function of the joints. Instead fibromyalgia is considered a form of soft tissue rheumatism.
What causes it?

As with many other rheumatic diseases, the cause of fibromyalgia is not known. Theories include sleep disturbances, psychological stress, immune or endocrine abnormalities, or biochemical abnormalities in the central nervous system. Others believe an infectious agent such as a virus in susceptible people may trigger the syndrome, but no such agent has been identified.

What are the symptoms?

Muscle pain and fatigue are the most common symptoms of fibromyalgia. The pain occurs in areas where the muscles attach to bone or ligaments and is similar to the pain of arthritis. Other symptoms vary from person to person and may include sleep disturbances, dizziness, tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, and gastrointestinal problems, including irritable bowel syndrome with gas and alternating diarrhea and constipation, and urinary frequency caused by bladder spasms. Women may have painful menstrual periods.

How is it diagnosed?

Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose because many of the symptoms mimic those of other disorders.
According to the American College of Rheumatology, intense pain when a finger is pressed to 11 of the following 18 pressure points may indicate a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. (Note each is bilateral making a total of 18)

1. On left or right side of the back of the neck, directly below the hairline
2. On left or right side of the front of the neck, above the collar bone (clavicle)
3. On left or right side of the chest, right below the collar bone
4. On left or right side of the upper back, near where the neck and shoulder join
5. On left or right side of the spine in the upper back between the shoulder blades (scapula)
6. On the inside of either arm, where it bends at the elbow
7. On left or right side of the lower back, right below the waist
8. On either side of the buttocks right under the hip bones
9. On either knee cap

How is it treated?

The treatment of fibromyalgia usually requires a combination of exercise, medication, and stress reduction.

Medications:
Antidepressants known as tricyclics are commonly prescribed for the treatment of fibromyalgia, primarily to reduce sleeplessness and muscle pain. Other anti-depressants may be used if there is depression accompanying the symptoms.

Muscle relaxers such as Flexeril may be used to relax muscle spasms in specific locations without affecting overall muscle function.

The corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) typically used in other types of arthritis are of little benefit for those with fibromyalgia. Acetaminophen is usually the pain reliever of choice.

Exercise:
Many studies have indicated that exercise is the one of the most effective treatments in managing fibromyalgia. A long-term exercise program should be developed and adhered to. Some people with fibromyalgia avoid exercise for fear it will exacerbate their pain. However, according to studies, any pain caused by exercising subsides within 30 minutes. Physical activity prevents muscle atrophy, increases a sense of well being, and, eventually, reduces fatigue and pain itself.

Stress reduction:
Some people with fibromyalgia seem to have a more stressful response to daily conflicts and encounters than those without the disorder. Some methods of stress reduction to consider include biofeedback, deep breathing, meditation and massage therapy.

What research is being done?

Recent studies show that abnormally low levels of the hormone cortisol may be associated with fibromyalgia. Researchers are studying regulation of the function of the adrenal gland in fibromyalgia.

Researchers are concentrating on how specific brain structures are involved in the painful symptoms of fibromyalgia. Other scientists are investigating the causes of a post-Lyme disease syndrome as a model for fibromyalgia. Some patients develop a fibromyalgia-like condition following Lyme disease, an infectious disorder associated with arthritis and other symptoms.

Some of the related information found on Arthritis Insight:

For support visit our Chat Room and Message Boards.
For medication information see our Medication Index.
For more sites about FMS check out our Web Links.
To find tips for getting through the day, stop by our Better Living section.

Answer 9

USANA Technical Bulletin
Disclaimer: The information provided in this technical bulletin is strictly educational and not intended as medical advice. For diagnosis and treatment of medical disorders, consult your health care professional. This information may be copied and freely distributed only if all text remains intact and unchanged.

Fibromyalgia
Description

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes pain, tenderness, and stiffness in the muscles, tendon insertions and soft tissue structures. Criteria for diagnosis of Fibromyalgia are widespread pain in combination with tenderness in 11 or more of the 18 specific tender points1.

Causes

The etiology is not known. Fatigue, poor sleep, stress, anxiety or can trigger the problem.

Types

There are no clear and distinct stages of the disease, though the symptoms may worsen at different times.

At Risk

The condition occurs primarily in females. It may be induced or intensified by physical or mental stress. It is estimated to affect 3-5% of the population in the US2.

Prevention and Management

General:

There is no known prevention strategy for fibromyalgia. However, people diagnosed with fibromyalgia may be advised to participate in non-impact aerobic exercise and gentle stretching. Cardiovascular training has shown to decrease pain and stiffness.
It is also suggested that patients get plenty of sleep to help decrease fatigue2.
Nutritional Influences:

Nutritionally, it is recommended that Fibromyalgia patients increase their intake of fresh fruits and vegetables3.
Low levels of magnesium have been found in patients with Fibromyalgia4 and supplementation with magnesium has been beneficial. In a double blind, placebo crossover study, 12 out of 15 patients benefited from supplementation with Mg5.

Additional Information


Disclaimer: These websites, addresses and/or phone numbers are provided for information purposes only. USANA, Inc. makes no claim, actual or implied, regarding the content or validity of the information obtained from these outside sources.


Fibromyalgia Network
PO Box 31750
Tucson, AZ. 85751-1750
Info line: [phone]
Internet Newsgroup: alt.med.fibromyalgia

Abstracts

Eisinger J, Plantamura A, Marie PA, et al. Selenium and Magnesium status in fibromyalgia. Magnes Res 1994;7:285-8. Muscle pain has been associated with magnesium (Mg) and selenium (Se) deficiency: magnesium and selenium status were investigated in fibromyalgia (FM). Erythrocyte (E), leucocyte (L) and serum (S) magnesium, serum selenium and zinc, and vitamin B1, B2, A or E status were assessed in 22 patients with fibromyalgia and in 23 age-matched healthy controls. LMg is significantly increased (P<0.05) and Emg slightly decreased in fibromyalgia. These magnesium abnormalities are associated with previously reported impairment of thiamin metabolism. Antioxidant status (as well as plasma malondialdehyde) is unchanged in fibromyalgia and serum selenium levels, slightly but not significantly correlated with serum magnesium, is normal.

Cox IM, Campbell MJ, Dowson D. Red blood cell magnesium and chronic fatigue syndrome. Lancet 1991;30:757-60. The hypotheses that patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have low red blood cell magnesium and that magnesium treatment would improve the wellbeing of such patients were tested in a case-control study and a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, respectively. In the case-control study, 20 patients with CFS had lower red cell magnesium concentrations than did 20 healthy control subjects matched for age, sex, and social class (difference 0.1 mmol/l, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.05 to 0.15). In the clinical trial, 32 patients with CFS were randomly allocated either to intramuscular magnesium sulphate every week for 6 weeks (15 patients) or to placebo (17). Patients treated with magnesium claimed to have improved energy levels, better emotional state, and less pain, as judged by changes in the Nottingham health profile. 12 of the 15 treated patients said that they had benefited from treatment, and in 7 patients energy score improved from the maximum to the minimum. By contrast, 3 of the 17 patients on placebo said that they felt better (difference 62%, 95% CI 35 to 90), and 1 patient had a better energy score. Red cell magnesium returned to normal in all patients on magnesium but in only 1 patient on placebo. The findings show that magnesium may have a role in CFS.

References

1 Andreoli, TE, Bennett, JC, Carpenter, CCJ, Plum, F, editors. Decil Essentials of Medicine, 4th Ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1997. p 635
2 Berkow R, editor. The Merck Manual. 7th Ed. Rathway (NJ): Merck Research Laboratories; 1992. p 1369.
3 Zeman FJ. Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics. 2nd Ed. New York:MacMillan Publ; 1991
4 Eisinger J, Plantamura A, Marie PA et al. Selenium and magnesium status in fibromyalgia. Magnes Res. 1994;7:285-8.
5 Cox IM, Campbell MJ, Dowson D. Red blood cell magnesium and chronic fatigue syndrome. Lancet 1991;337:757-60.

Answer 10

as far as i know there is no treatment for the condition.
it kind of basicallymeans "undiagnosed pain" i think.
it's hard but i think gentle yoga and breathing are the best
treatment.