Does pain get worse over time??

You will probably get more help with this problem in the Bones, joints and muscles part of this forum. This part of the forum deals with PMR/GCA patients. (PMR usually starts in the 50+ age group - although there are a few who have this illness earlier). 

Hope you will get the answers you need there.  Good luck!

 

Hi Jon;  I'm going to try and give a little answer, but for me to compare your wife to myself, I should ask...how long has your wife had Fibro?   I've had it nearly 20 yearsl,, and yes I have become gradually worse, and at present, am literally sitting here on computor, as almost impossible to do anything else.    I REALLY do believe that with each NEW stressor, another part of our body gives way to the disease...at present I am now having to put up with TMJ probs (my jaw and the surrounding face muscles have gone, which means I am having trouble chewing/eating and talking...I am ok in the mornings, but it gets worse as the day wears on.  Your wife is lucky in that she appears to have a husband,who if not fully understanding, at least is trying....and she needs all the support (both physically and emotionally)  that you can give her, as she is probably already feeling very down and upset with herself.     Bron

Beachbum, although contributors to this site have Polymyalgia Rheumatica and/or Giant Cell Arteritis, some of them have also been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, so hopefully, you will get a few replies from them.

A few years ago, a trustee of our Charity, PMRGCAuk, produced a paper together with a member of the Fibromyalgia Association UK, on a comparison between Polymyalgia and Fibromyalgia.  The main points concerning Fibromyalgia are:

1.  Affects people of any age.

2.  An abnormal pain processing condition.

3.  Symptoms of widespread chronic pain, persistent fatigue and non-refreshing sleep.

4.  Many associated symptoms including cognitive dysfunction, IBS, and anxiety.

5.  Treated with analgesic painkillers, low-dose antidepressants and lifestyle changes.

6.  Treatment response is variable.

7.  Variable prognosis - symptoms can improve but can last many years.

If you haven't already done so, you may gain a lot more information by contacting the Fibromyalgia Association UK www stop fmauk stop org (hopefully you can work this email address out - it will disappear for moderating if I type it normally.  There are support groups around the country and they will be able to tell you whether there is one in your area.

I hope your wife will be one of the lucky ones who will find her condition improves with time.  At least she has a caring hubby.

It's my understand that Fibro is nerve related and PMR is muscle

related.  So think that pain should be somewhat different.  Has

your wife had a sed rate or put on pred to see if what she has

is PMR?  Sometimes you have to insist on some tests being done.

Hi Jon; although I added a little bit earlier, and after reading Mrs O's input, which I totally agree with, and do advise you to follow through on what she has mentioned, I would like to add/clarify some of the others' comments.  If you read all information that you can find on Fibro, you will read that in A Lot of cases, there are patients who, also, have over-lapping symptoms, such as CFS/ME....which leads to a lot of confusion.  However, it is an important issue, for many of us do have both.  In reply to Faye's comment re the difference to Nerve over Muscle, it will also be noted that, yes, Fibro is mainly a condition of the Nerves being Over Sensitive, but the Muscle pain is also there, along with the fatigue and weakness.    I have found that by finding a Good Physician, a Good Rhuematologist, and a physio who knows/understands Fibro, you will be able to get your wife the help she needs.   Originally, I found a Good massage helped all my muscles, but as the disease progressed, it became more beneficial for a physio (but one who is knowledgeable and understanding of the condition/s).....do as much research as you can (as we have had to do) to understand this/these conditions.   I have even sought some emotional support from a Pshycologist, as there are times that I need to Vent, but find that by doing so to family/friends, can be upsetting for them, as everyone has issues of their own; but a professional can detach, where others can't.....good luck for you both, and once again, I am going to thank you, on behalf of your wife, for the care that you are showing........until next time,   Bron

Are the doctors sure the diagnosis of fibromyalgia is correct - or perhaps more accurately still correct? There have been one or two people on the PMR forums recently who were told they had fibromyalgia when they were younger and then later developed some additional symptoms which fitted in with polymyalgia rheumatica which is what this particular forum is concerned with. When their doctor tried prednisolone (the only treatment to manage PMR) they found that a lot of the pain that had been attributed to fibromyalgia also got much better or even disappeared with the prednisolone. Pred doesn't normally help in fibromyalgia so it was decided that maybe they had, in fact, had aytpical PMR.

Like the others I have to say - good on you! Many of us struggle to explain to our partners(or anyone else) how disabled we are because of PMR - and few of them would think about finding out for themselves what PMR really signifies. So thank you for being willing to find out more about your wife's illness.

Thanks to all who replied.ILisa has been to the best Docters in Chicago and she has Fibro,Degenaretive disk disordeer,Depresion .and Anxiety.

She does see a psychologist.

She has her good days,but not manny..

once again thank's to all for the help..

Jon

Hi Jon,

I've had fibromyalgia 21 years. I was always afraid it would keep getting worse myself. What I have learned for me is that it gets worse and then goes back to 'normal' pain. Different things make it hurt more, like weather and stress, but those are transient as well. I look at it as I have a base pain and flare ups of worse pain. I worked with a shrink who helped me realize that fibromyalgia flares come and go, which is hard to believe when you are in the middle of hurting worse than you ever have. I have found things to do to relieve the pain on the bad days and try to stay positive that I will not hurt that bad forever. It is quite frightening for sure, but trust in listening to one's body.