Amitriptyline and/or codiene?

Hi Denise, I have cervical spondylosis to, but also get pains in my back ,legs and different parts of my body. The pains are worse at night I get brain fog, and hot sweats. I'm really wondering if I have fibromyalgia, do you know how it is diagnosed as all my dr seems to think it's arthritis and given me pain killers and said sorry I had it take these but it will get worse as it's my age I'm in my 60s!!! Was very fit and still try to be but the pain is getting me down . How are you managing it ? Regards dingle dell

Hi Dingle fell,

Fibro is hard to diagnose as fir one thing there isn't a simple blood test that tells you. Also, because it's a pain thing, nothing to see physically, that's another reason why it's hard. You should ask your doctor to be referred to a rheumatologist. They will ask you specific questions about how you suffer and do a pressure point test, which is where they will press lightly in certain points around your body to see how sensitive they are.

Basically, the main way they try to figure out if a person has it is by a process of elimination. If it's not this, this, or this, it must be this. Diagnoses is rarely ever 100% conclusive.

hi Dingle dell, Im in my 60,s as well they press certain points on your body and watch for you to say ouch you have presure points that hurt when he examines you and the rhumo.will ask you lots of questions and tell you exercises ect . ive had scan s done too but you sound just like me with your hot seats and pain ect. ask your doc. to refer you to see rhmo. and not a lot helps really im still always in pain with it nothing eems to work for me it just ease it a little sorry to say .good luck at the docs. hope he helps you out .

I haven't been able to work for a long time because of it either. It's so soul-destroying.

A few years ago someone made a joke about me wanting work to be handed to me 'on a silver platter'.......what?!?! I couldn't be bothered with explaining to them the reasons behind why I wasn't working because 1. they are one of my friends and so therefore already KNOWS how I suffer, and 2. why should I justify myself to someone who is clearly narrow-minded. I didn't speak to them for a while after that. It was cold how they said that comment.

I've spent years explaining to people how this affects me, what I can and cannot do, and mainly the fact that just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not there. All that is exhausting in itself!

Hi  I was diagnosed in jan 16.  I continue to work although I had to reduce my hours. I am a carer for the elderly.  My work have not been at all supportive of me.  I have been threatened with the sack!!!  even though they know why I have been off.  Like you say because you cannot see it people think you are okay which is not fair.  I ache most days but some are much worse than others especially when i get a flare up like now and it makes me exhausted. I just wish my employer would see that some days I am not 100 percent but still go in and offer me lighter duties which dont put strain on me.  When I had a discussion with her  a month ago, all I got was ' my mother has this and I know all about it'  clearly not because if she did she would understand.  I want to work and am actively seeking a change of direction but nothing is coming up.  Exhausted is an understatement at the moment.  

I'm sorry you have to endure all that. It's sickening. Could you perhaps ask your doctor to write a letter for your employer about how you struggle? Your employer has to by law make your job and duties suitable for you. Granted, if a person is unable to carry out the main duty they are employed to do, and amended options don't work, then the employer can have grounds for dismissal, although they still have to be very careful about it!

But well done to you though, for striving on helping others even though you're in pain and could use some help yourself. Nice to know there's still some good Samaritans out there!

Thanks Yasmine. I suppose I could ask my doctor although I found him rather un sympathetic when I went this week to ask him to sign me off. They have done nothing to help me at work at all.  I was supposed to be put on light duties before but that never happened.  Bascially the company are awful cos its if your face fits.  Deputy threatened me back in feb that if i didnt sign a form for them to access me medical notes my job would be at risk, and the manager has sais several times my sickness is apalling it needs improving!!! Yeh thanks boss no support from you.  And to top it all today I get a phone call waking me up from a good sleep which I need to say why am I not at work!!!!! 

You should go see another doctor. Fortunately we are not stuck with the doctor we're first assigned to. Or, go see your specialist, if you have one, and ask them for a letter.

I don't think your boss is allowed to ask for access to your medical records. But you could request from your surgery yourself the relevant records you need for your boss. You may have to pay a fee though.

But maybe also contact Citizens Advice, see what they say.

Thanks Yasmine.  I saw one doctor who told me to self cert for 7 days as he couldnt sign me off as you have to self cert first, saw another doc as 7 days was up and like i say he was reluctant. I have been discharged from the consultant aswell.  Because I work in care it makes it harder all round.  Pretty much I am stuck.  In our area aswell its not easy to get doc appts. 

What is this self cert exactly? I've never been told to do that. I was able to be signed off in the past for 7 days without having to do anything prior...

Why was he reluctant though? Clearly you're struggling, and it's not as if there's no history of it on your medical records, etc. Sometimes I think it's what they've been ORDERED to do by the higher powers, which kinda defeats the object of training doctors to help people's lives!

Fair enough you've been discharged from the consultant, but maybe get referred again? I know it can take a few months but at least it'll get the ball rolling.

And, yeah, it usually takes me at least two weeks to see my doctor, which is why I usually end up seeing someone else. I still remember the days when I had to wait no more than two days!

Self cert is where you self certify yourself as being sick from work. I think its more because some docs dont believe in it and if they do its more of a case of get on with it.  I am actually seeing the same doc in 2 weeks for my high bp so if I am still struggling then I shall see what he says. We have to ring bang on 830am to try and get an appt for that day which is no good when I start work at 7am.  We can book online sometimes but thats not normally for same day.  Sorry I am having a right old whinge but it is great to chat to someone, 

Oh right, yeah I've never had to do that.

We have to ring bang on 8, and you're on the line for such a long time before they answer the phone....if they answer at all.

And don't worry about needing to whinge. We all need to whinge from time to time. It's a good stress reliever!

Hi Yasmine, I went back to work today for first time in nearly a fortnight but my neck is so painful that I made urgent doc appt.  Now on more meds and signed off for 3 weeks.  Doc not happy about this told me its a long term condition and need to change my job, which I said I know I do and am trying to change. 

It sounds to me you might benefit from claiming ESA (Employment and Support Allowence). ESA isn't just for people who are completely incapacitated, it's also for people who can work but are very limited. Once you pass the medical, they'll decided out of which two groups you qualify for and then help you find appropriate work and once you do they top up your earnings. Not by much by it helps.

The criteria you have to teach is rather high and they'll try anything to find a reason why you 'shouldn't' be on it. I appealed my decision but I still lost. You may have better luck!

If you decide to try it, send me a private message and I'll walk you through the do's and donts.

Thanks Yasmine thats very kind of you.  I am managing it reasonably its just when I get a flare up I get bad. I suppose if I'm honest in my job the minute I feel somethings wrong I should tell work and have a couple or so days off and maybe I'd be ok.