Fibromyalgia: I'm Desperate; Please Help!

[Shea]

I didn't know where to post this. I didn't want to post it in the hypochondria section because it's not that type of issue. So, I'm posting it in the "Other" section...

I'm fairly certain that I have fibromyalgia. I often hurt all over - especially my knees, ankles, wrists. I frequently experience a tingling/stabbing/prickling/numbing pain in my joints. My neck also gets extremely stiff and feels like I can hardly turn my head. I've had these symptoms on and off for almost three years. It's getting to be very tiresome and debilitating. Sometimes I have no energy and cannot accomplish the physical tasks that I set out to do. I've been an avid weightlifter and I exercise regularly (for eight years). Now, I can barely complete my workouts. I've got to do something. I'm desperate. I just want my normal life back again. Please help.

If anyone has any tips/suggestions/advice on how to deal with this, I would greatly appreciate it.

[Kayteecatt]

There is a fibro support forum almost just like this one somewhere...I used to have the link on my favorites but it's not there anymore...my mother has been suffering from fibro for 20 years now, it's hard to diagnose for sure because there is no particular test that shows you have it.  They usually want to rule everything else out first.  There is a pressure point test, 14 or so spots on the body, in order to get the diagnosis you have to have pain in a certain number of those spots.

Anything that builds muscle is going to make the fibro worse.  Exercise is good for fibro, but it must be gentle, things like walking and swimming.  Daily stretching also helps.  My mom takes a water pill each day to help with her swelling.

Tell your doctor you think you have fibro, he or she should be able to recommend a specialist for you.

[Shea]

There is a fibro support forum almost just like this one somewhere...I used to have the link on my favorites but it's not there anymore...my mother has been suffering from fibro for 20 years now, it's hard to diagnose for sure because there is no particular test that shows you have it.  They usually want to rule everything else out first.  There is a pressure point test, 14 or so spots on the body, in order to get the diagnosis you have to have pain in a certain number of those spots.

Anything that builds muscle is going to make the fibro worse.  Exercise is good for fibro, but it must be gentle, things like walking and swimming.  Daily stretching also helps.  My mom takes a water pill each day to help with her swelling.

Tell your doctor you think you have fibro, he or she should be able to recommend a specialist for you.

Thank you for your reply. A few comments...

I have mentioned to my doctor that I think I have FM. He says that I don't. I'm not sure how he jumped to this conclusion so quickly. I've been tested for a lot of other stuff and multiple conditions have been ruled out. I've seen specialists, etc. Thing is (and maybe this is what threw him off), I passed the pressure point test with flying colors. My pain is not replicated by pressing at all. In fact, the pressing feels good and lessens the pain, like a massage. However, some people with FM do, in fact, pass the pressure point test, so my doctor should know this.

Also: There's no way I'm going to stop lifting weights, so I guess I'll have to learn to deal with it. LOL

[Kayteecatt]

The thing is....fibro usually involves the muscles, not the joints.  There is something called degenerative joint disease that sometimes goes hand in hand with fibro.  It's basically an all over arthritis.  But, even if it was DJD, weight lifting would still aggrivate it.  You're putting excess pressure on your joints.

I applaud you for wanting to continue working out, I just worry that you're doing damage to joints that may already be in poor condition.  Do you have a trainer you could talk to?

[Shea]

The thing is....fibro usually involves the muscles, not the joints.  There is something called degenerative joint disease that sometimes goes hand in hand with fibro.  It's basically an all over arthritis.  But, even if it was DJD, weight lifting would still aggrivate it.  You're putting excess pressure on your joints.

I applaud you for wanting to continue working out, I just worry that you're doing damage to joints that may already be in poor condition.  Do you have a trainer you could talk to?

I am a personal fitness trainer. LOL Actually, the best thing someone with FM can do is exercise. The worst thing they can do is not exercise and become sedentary.

As for now, I'm just taking life one day at a time and continuing onward with my regular workouts.

Happy New Year, everyone. 

[lmr1121]

I don't want to contradict anyone, but I was diagnosed with FM years ago. I have all over muscle and facial pain, and I have joint pain. I lift light weights several times a week unless I'm feeling really bad. Lifting does not aggravate the pain, in fact, it's made some things better. Stretching helps, too, and yoga and massage.

The doc who diagnosed me was a rheumatologist, not my regular doc. The first regular MD I took my complaints to didn't help much, just kept saying I was too young to have so many problems (this was like, 20 years ago. :)  )

[Shea]

I don't want to contradict anyone, but I was diagnosed with FM years ago. I have all over muscle and facial pain, and I have joint pain. I lift light weights several times a week unless I'm feeling really bad. Lifting does not aggravate the pain, in fact, it's made some things better. Stretching helps, too, and yoga and massage.

The doc who diagnosed me was a rheumatologist, not my regular doc. The first regular MD I took my complaints to didn't help much, just kept saying I was too young to have so many problems (this was like, 20 years ago. :)  )

YES!!! This is so great to hear! Thanks for posting. :)