Do I have fibromalgia?

[Mc2203]

Hi Im in the process of being diagnosed with IC. Ive had muscle pain in my shoulders on and off for a couple of months. The padt couple of days it has been more severe. Ive tried to rest more so that it eases but its not budging.

This is how it feels: like the muscles in both sides of my neck & shoulders are pulled and are aching. Also the backs of my arms above my elbows & the inside of my arms above my elbows. Just aching all over & tired all the time. Cant be bothered moving!

I think I already know the answer to this- but please could someone tell me if this sounds like fibromyalgia?

Sarah

[ginaaa22]

My muscles feel tight and achy after overexerting myself. I dont think anyone can tell you on here whether you have it or not. You have to go to a dr and get testing done to make sure u dont have an auto immune disease. There are trigger points and you have to have pain in so many of these area and it has to be above and below the waist and on both sides of the body I believe. I went to a rhematologist and got diagnosed. I was put on flexeral which made me crawl in my skin and cymbalta which didnt help. I take no meds for my fibro other than getting plenty of rest, massage, heat and taking it easy. Sometimes my shoulders are sore from the way I sleep.

[Mc2203]

Thanks Gina. I agree, plenty of rest and hot baths makes it feel better. Il just hope it doesn't get anyworse. It's nothing compared to the ic at the moment so I'll get over it!!

Thanks, Sarah

[ICNDonna]

I agree that you need to see your doctor.


Donna

[statesboro]

I would agree about seeing a doctor. Of course, you may end up needing to get an MRI as well. I have had a full spine MRI, a neck MRI,a brain, head, MRI, and a lower back MRI by now. I have had major neck surgery, as in March 5, 2010. OK. I had to wear the neck brace for 12 straight weeks as well. The low back MRI, the one done a few days before Christmas of last year was showing that my low back is all screwed up.(as in degenerative disc disease) OK. The neck surgery was a success, but I still have pain in my neck currently. (and back) I am now on retirement disability and often walk with a cane. Oh, yeah! I will turn 45 next Friday, but I am used to taking naps because I get burned out easily.(and was actually told CFS several years ago) Oh! I am not trying to diagnose you at all. You could be having fibromyalgia, but it could be something else as well.

[Linda May]

You need to see a doc about fibro I believe you have to have so many points in different areas to have fibro. I have nerve damage in both elbows and carpal tunnel in both wrists. I also have bones spurs in my neck and shoulders alot of this caused from a severe fall. Your muscles could be overworked or you could have pinched nerves. Have them rule out all possible reasons for your aches. You need to be sure what the exact cause is to get treated. I had my right elbow done I will soon have my left one done. I wish you the best of luck, but for some reason alot of uros want to blame fibro like my ex uro did and it was not fibro. That is the problem with alot of uros they automatically think its fibro.

[JoieRomero]

plenty of rest and hot baths makes it feel better.



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[Shalena]

It could be fibro, I have a lot of pain in my shoulders (around my shoulder blades) and up my neck (which causes migraines). I've had extreme pain in these area's sense I was 15, to the point I'd beg people to punch my back. I used to have my husband put all his pressure into my knots with his elbow just to get 10 seconds of relief from the massive burning stabbing pain. I would even smash my back against corners of walls in attempt to make it stop. In the end I caused more damage and i've learned to just deal with it. The knots usually throw my arms out and it's not uncommon for me to have a good 2 inch difference in length. The muscle aches I get feel like when you go to the gym and over work your muscles to the point you can't move them the next day, but it lasts for almost a week at a time, super sore all over and I pretty much feel like a walking purple bruise. I do believe you have to have wide spread pain in all 4 quadrants of your body and at least 11 of the trigger points if my memory serves me correctly.

[pittsburghOT]

Re: Do I have fibromalgia?

I always describe my pain as feeling like I'm coming down with the flu - only nothing flu-y happens besides that. Sitting with a heating pad always makes it feel better for me. I remember sitting on my mom's couch a few months ago just shifting the heating pad all over my body while she looked at me like I was crazy. To have a legitimate diagnosis of fibromyalgia the pain needs to be "widespread" - in other words, in all four quadrants of your body (left and right sides, above and below the waist). They'll test you for trigger points. At one point you needed to have a certain number, I believe 11 out of 18, but I think research on that is changing.

So basically, I agree with all the other posters - you need to see a doctor and rule out an autoimmune problem, even if they don't test you specifically for fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia mimics a lot of other conditions that can get pretty serious if left untreated!