could i have fibromyalgia?

Question

im only 24 and i have constant pain in my hands wrists and arms, i thought it to be cts becasue i use my hands so much. but i also get severe migraine headaches, have what seems to be constant back and shoulder pain. i visit a chiropractor and it helped some at first but doesnt seem to anymore. my right shoulder always feels like someone is stabing me.sometimes i feel dizzy all of a sudden, and my eyesight has changed. sometimes my hands swell also.i feel sick on my stomach alot as well. ive had 2 kids and i know pregnancy effects alot of things, but i think for my age i feel really bad, the drs say that cant find anything wrong with me, but it hurts badly. the aleve and hot/cold packs dont work. im not sure what else to try.

Answer 1

Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose. It's usually only diagnosed after all other diseases with similar symptoms and signs have been ruled out. (Things like rheumatoid arthritis, lyme disease, lupis, mutiple sclerosis...ect.) It can be a very long and frustrating path to diagnosis for one who truly does suffer from it. I would suggest being vocal with your doctor about finding the reason behind your signs and symptoms.

Answer 2

Hi, I also have Fibromyalgia myself and your symptoms do sound alot like mine a couple of years ago. It can be a long haul getting a diagnosis of FMS, and it is very frustrating.

If you are in the UK then you could try asking your GP to refer you to a pain specialist, they won't tell you about this, but they will usually make the referall if asked. I went through this route to get a diagnosis and found the consultant very helpful and understanding.

The link below is an FMS forum I chat on regularly, you do not have to have a diagnosis and you can be from anywhere. I have found the support invaluable.

http://www.fibromyalgia-kent-uk.co.uk/smf/index.php

I hope you find some kind of relief from your symptoms.

Take care,

Mel.

Answer 3

I am trying acupuncture. It has helped with the pain in the shoulders and back. Make sure you get a good magnesium supplement, too.

Here's a site that rates remedies:
http://remedyfind.com/HealthConditions/10/

Here's some information from alt.med.fibromyalgia on MSM:
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.med.fibromyalgia: /browse_thread/thread/3b77b1e41030b6f5/e97838a59073de4b?lnk=gst&q=MSM&rnum=5&hl=en#e97838a59073de4b
The cheapest source for MSM is www.msm~msm.com.

Fibromyalgia sucks. I have had it for years.

The google group above is a very good support group, lots of good people, but it is not moderated so there may be rude trolls.

Answer 4

If you have these symptoms you may have fibromyalgia:
The defining symptoms of fibromyalgia are chronic, widespread pain and tenderness to light touch. Those affected may also experience heightened sensitivity of the skin (also called allodynia), tingling of the skin (often needle-like), achiness in the muscle tissues, prolonged muscle spasms, weakness in the limbs, and nerve pain. Chronic sleep disturbances are also characteristic of fibromyalgia, and some studies suggest that these sleep disturbances are the result of a sleep disorder called alpha-delta sleep , a condition in which deep sleep (associated with delta EEG waves) is frequently interrupted by bursts of brain activity similar to wakefulness (i.e. alpha waves). Deeper stages of sleep (stages 3 &4) are often dramatically reduced.

In addition, many patients experience cognitive dysfunction (known as "brain fog" or "fibrofog"), which may be characterized by impaired concentration and short-term memory consolidation, impaired speed of performance, inability to multi-task, and cognitive overload [6]. Many experts suspect that "brain fog" is directly related to the sleep disturbances experienced by sufferers of fibromyalgia. However, the relationship has not been strictly established.

Other symptoms often attributed to fibromyalgia (possibly due to another comorbid disorder) may include Myofascial pain syndrome, chronic paresthesia, physical fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, genitourinary symptoms (such as those associated with the chronic bladder condition interstitial cystitis), dermatological disorders, headaches, myoclonic twitches, and symptomatic hypoglycemia. Although it is common in people with fibromyalgia for pain to be widespread, it may also be localized in areas such as the shoulders, neck, back, hips, or other areas. Many sufferers also experience varying degrees of temporomandibular joint disorder. Not all patients have all symptoms.

Fibromyalgia can start as a result of some trauma (such as a traffic accident), major surgery (often hysterectomy[citation needed]), or disease. Some evidence shows that Lyme Disease is a common trigger of fibromylagia symptoms.[7] However, there is currently no known strong correlation between any specific type of trigger and the subsequent initiation of symptoms. Symptoms can have a slow onset, and many patients have mild symptoms beginning in childhood, that are often misdiagnosed as growing pains. Symptoms are often aggravated by unrelated illness or changes in the weather. They can become more tolerable or less tolerable throughout daily or yearly cycles; however, many people with fibromyalgia find that, at least some of the time, the condition prevents them from performing normal activities such as driving a car or walking up stairs. The syndrome does not cause inflammation as is present in rheumatoid arthritis, although some anti-inflammatory treatments, such as Ibuprofen and Iontophoresis, may temporarily reduce pain symptoms in some patients.

Answer 5

I have had firomyalgia for 23 long years....you have a lot of the symptoms.....Find a rhuematologist...they know...there is a test they give 21 or 23 points on your body will show if you have it or not.... Don't let your Dr talk you out of it......Or tell you your crazy............It's very real ....and you don't die from it....but sometimes you wish you could!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Good luck