Does this sound like fibromyalgia?

Question

I have a severely swollen ankle since September. They won't go down. It's so bad if you press it in it stays dented in for over 30 secs. The pain is so bad, some days I cannot walk. It burns and is excruciating.Then my shoulder joints started hurting and will not stop. Then I started having painful muscle spasms in my back. I can't lie down for the pain, but I'm so exhausted. I don't have any energy. The pain in my back shoots around to different areas. Sometimes down my thighs, legs. I can't stand to be touched anywhere, especially around my rib area. I'm always cold and get sore throats a lot. The doctor couldn't find anything wrong in the bloodwork and is sending me to a rheumatologist, but I have to wait a few months to get an appointment. He says he thinks it sounds like fibromyalgia but can't confirm it, the rhematologist will have to see me. I am trying to find ways to cope in the mean time. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Fibro (have had it for decades) is so variable it's hard to say. Sounds like edema in the ankle--would be good if you'd be treated for that and if it were x-rayed as well. However, a few things you can try to help with that include:

decreasing sodium intake

drinking lots of water (sounds contradictory, but it's not)

drinking green tea (naturally diuretic)

also cranberry juice can have a diuretic affect

Get the foot up as well, above your heart level when you're sitting or lying, and see if that helps some.

Do what you can for better rest. If your bed is uncomfortable, think about a memory foam mattress topper (cheaper than a new bed). That has helped me some.

Don't smoke, drink alcohol or caffeine, don't take drugs, and if you need to lose weight, that should help. I know exercise sounds impossible, but would you have access to an indoor pool? Water therapy is great for virtually anything that ails you and exercise IS a recommendation for fibro sufferers.

Read up on nutrition or visit with a nutritionist as a healthy diet will help. Personally I find lots of the "unnatural" things in food from high fructose corn syrup to aspartame to preservatives make me so much worse. Try to eat a more natural diet with lots of vegetables, fruit, and whole grains.

None of the above will hurt you no matter what the cause(s) of the problem are. Remember too it can always be more than one thing--could be a cardiovascular problem and MS for all I can tell.

There are some useful FM sites out there just in case:

http://www.fmnetnews.com/basics-symptoms.php

http://www.fmscommunity.org/fibro.htm

http://www.afsafund.org/

I also find prayer helps. God bless.

Answer 2

I have fibro, but haven't heard of the ankle swelling you have as being a symptom of it. The other issues may be related, but it really doesn't sound like fibro to me, at least not in my experience. Some doctors think of fibro as a catch-all for anything pain related that doesn't make sense to them. This may be what's happenning in your case.

You are in too severe a situation to wait months for an appointment. If you can't find a rhumatologist that will take you sooner, I'd try a chiropracter who will see you today. They may not be able to help, but then it's worth a try.

Another suggestion is to see if there are any practitioners of Integrative Medicine in your area. This is a relatively new field that looks at the whole body system instead of just one part, like most modern doctors are trained to do. However, Integrative practitioners are MDs, but they're open to less traditional western medical solutions, so they may advise accupuncture, bio-feedback or nutrition changes to help instead of pills. I've had mysterious pains and exhaustion that Integtrative docotors have been able to treat quite well with supplements and exercise.

From the sounds of it, I would guess you have more than one condition causing these issues, one rhumatic (ankle swelling) and the other related to the nervous system. But I'm no doctor.

You really need help immediately. A pain clinic is another option that might be able to see you right away. Please, get to a doctor that can ease your pain as soon as you can.

Best of luck. Feel better. Have hope.

Answer 3

Sounds like the swollen ankles are from fluid retension and may not be related to your other problems. Cut out alot of sodium and drink water. Water will help rid the body of fluids.Natural fluid removers are asparagus, string beans and cucumbers and cabbage.Good Luck with all your health issues.

Answer 4

Yes it sounds like fibro. Welcome to MY world! I've been in pain ever since 2001.
The only thing that doesn't sound like it is the ankle. Sounds like you broke it or fractured it. While ankles can be painful with fibro, they don't get THAT swollen.
Good Luck with the Rheumie.

Answer 5

Not exactly like FM but could be. Could also be Neuralgia. In the meantime, ask your doc for a pain prescription till the Rheum doc can see you. If it is FM they will teach you pain mgmt techniques.

Answer 6

search google or ask a pharmacist

Answer 7

ask ur dentist god bless