NEWLY DIAGNOSED MILD FIBROMYALGIA AGAINST A BACKGROUND OF OSTEOARTHRITIS

Hi Hon. I really sympathise. Multiple causes of pain can be really difficult to cope with. I too have OA in various places, - ankle (due to a major injury), thumb joints and more recently knee and upper spine. I also had more widespread pain issues which didnt seem to relate to the OA and then got diagnosed with a ruptured bicep tendon and rotator cuff injury. (they found this out by doing an ultrasound scan) I got referred to a rheumatologist who to be honest was the least helpful medical professional I've ever met and she said I should take amitriptyline, which I did for a while. It helped with improving my sleep which had been effected by waking in pain but it unfortunately caused mild hallucinations which I hated, so I stopped taking it. She then suggested gabapentin but I have a friend who took it and became very quickly addicted, having to take higher and higher doses, so I refused. I got the impression then that I was a waste of space to her and she referred me back to the GP stating there was nothing more she could do. I've become intolerant of anti inflammatories so my GP told me not to take the naproxen I was on or even ibuprofen, so all that was left was paracetamol, which really doesnt do much. I've started to research other options for pain relief. One thing I found works for the arthritis inflammation is ginger. I mince it up and mix with body lotion or hand cream and rub into my thumb joints, then leave on overnight - it's amazingly good and I dont get woken up by hand pain in the night anymore. I would also recommend meditation, particularly mindfulness which is very good for pain issues. Much of the non specific pain we experience is due to the body being under stress - with your own and your husband's health issues, this is very likely and meditation can help calm the adrenal system. Other than fibromyalgia, we're also prone to polymyalgia as we get older - unlike fibro however polymyalgia is a rheumatic condition and can be diagnosed by blood tests. They may already have ruled this out for you but it's worth asking about. Getting a diagnosis of fibromyalgia doesnt really change the outcome or the options for treatment (the word fibromyalgia is just a generic term - fibro meaning fibrous and myalgia meaning pain) and honestly they just label it that because they cant find any specific reason for this type of generalised pain. Unless blood test have revealed any specific vitamin deficiencies please avoid taking vitamin supplements some are totally unnecessary and you'll just end up with expensive pee (the term my GP used) or worse, could cause a toxic overdose - Vitamin A for example is quite dangerous if an overdose level builds up particularly as you already have sight issue. Some people think taking Vit C and Vit D will help but the body usually makes enough of its own and any excess is just flushed away (eg the expensive pee mentioned above), so a waste of money buying supplements. Try to get a referral to the pain clinic, they can often come up with non medication options.

Hi Libralady, Sorry to hear you are suffering. All symptom s are same as me. I went to doc's last week and she agreed that it is difficult to tell which pain is which. I take Gabapentin which I find very good, Also Amitriptyline plus co-codamol. I always was on the go working, doing something or another but now I can hardly do anything some days. I'm 77 years old now and 'yes' getting worse. I feel for you with a husband who is suffering as well. Just try and help and understand one another best you can which I expect you do. My fella has dementia so not much help to me. I'm happy to be alive though and enjoy what I can. Thoughts are with you. Love and hugs from Josephine.

hello I have just read your message, am same age as you and was diagnosed with fbm 6years ago, also have osteo arthritis!! have now come to terms with the help of a wonderful counciller of pacing myself!!!

Have always been a very active and full of life person so found it hard to accept to slow down when I HAVE A FLARE UP, be gentle with yourself and talking about it has really helped, I dont bore friends with it but talking to a proffesional has really helped me so much, I Try to stay positive and when the pain is bad I HAVE to rest, dont give up and dont give in to it

my thought and best wishes go to you

Christine

hi I am so very sorry about your diagnosis but nothing worse than being in constant pain I have fibromyalgia and spondylitis arthritis I am only 49 and was the school teacher for 20 years and had to give that all up I now take 10mg twice a day they are called physeptone i could not even get out of bed my back was that bad and i tried everything but this works for me it lasts a long tine in your system and its a different form of methadone i dont like to write it on just any post because of the stigma ive been on it now for 1-2 years my GP is ok with me taking it after getting permission from my rheumatologist every one is different and yes it is addictive but i never go higher in my dose and it does not make me feel drowsy my husband said he can finally see bits of the old me iI used to wake up in the night crying in pain because of my back pain i still get some pain in different spots and have acupuncture done 1-2 times a week if it works for me then so be it i know its bot the perfect drug to be taken but the alternative is just not worth it

take care this is my story sending you and your husband lots of love and hope you find something that works for you and i also just got a referal to see a specalist run by the govermebt to try medical marijuana in capsule form if that works ill stop taking it my doctor will ween me of it take care thinking of you hope i have helped in some way its not everyones way but it works for me ❤