No longer PMR it’s Fibromyalgia
Posted , 9 users are following.
So I had PMR for four years and then reduced to 0 uses DSNS and this site, I started having problems again.
I asked GP for referral to rheumy. Bloods show normal CRP and ESR and low Vit D.
So I started on a loading dose of Vit D and felt better after two weeks. Next I had MRI of my hips and shoulders showing bursa. I have steroid injections and felt wonderful, best I had felt in years.
And then I was assaulted at work. Head injury and bruising to hand, arms and legs.
And then pain and stiffness started again. Not really like PMR, so back to rheumy more injections but still stiffness, poor sleep etc.
Another full spine MRi as rheumy concerned. MRI showed a disc problem - l’m 54 - so no surprises and no inflammation.
As I have got tender spots on my neck, shoulders, thoracic spine and hips, I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Rheumy feels the trauma of the assault set of fibromyalgia.
Anyone else had this ?
0 likes, 4 replies
Flutterbie57 Janey64
Posted
Fibro definitely needs some life style changes. There were no drugs offered to me way back when, so I found stretches, excercises, hot baths (epsom salts), heat bags, massages, osteopath/chiropractor have helped me to get where I am. I did go on antidepressants eventually, as I was not all that impressed with my new situation. If you be kinder to yourself (physically and mentally), and find ways to help yourself in the early stages, I believe some people can get over the problem. I do hope you will be able to do this. Get stretches etc from a qualified Medical person tho.
I am just having a real flare up of Fibro after all this time, so I am looking for new ways to deal with the old problem.
EileenH Janey64
Posted
I have tender trigger spots and muscle problems - but it isn't fibro, it is myofascial pain syndrome. It is purely muscular and responds to higher doses of pred and manual therapies. Doctors are often hopeless at diagnosing it - and it doesn't show on any form of imaging.
Sorry to hear about your assult - people can be horrible (not the first word that came to mind but the first publishable one...)
Flutterbie57 EileenH
Posted
I didn't realise you had trigger spots too Eileen and muscle problems. Unfortunately pred didn't help all my trigger points and muscles. The body is complicated. I am looking for a miracle cure at the moment. They are advertising a machine on tele here that zaps muscles and helps to relax them. have you tried anything like it ? Do you have faith in the possibility ? I think it is something like a 10s machine. I would like to try before I buy.
EileenH Flutterbie57
Posted
Yes, when I was self-diagnosing (in the absence of any ability on the part of doctors to provide an answer) at one time I wasn't sure if it was PMR or fibro as I had several trigger spots but they weren't really enough for fibro. The answer came with my response to pred - after 6 hours only the bursitis was really obvious. The pain specialist and physio here in Italy both explained the trigger spots as being due to myofascial pain syndrome and the formation of muscle knots. Other tender areas were as a result of inflammation of the fascia - and I think that is where the real "all-over" pain in PMR comes from. The muscle knots are more difficult to eradicate but I've really benefitted from manual mobilisation - I have a physio with the strongest thumbs in the world! I won't call it a miracle, it takes months of work, it doesn't happen overnight, but the result is one!
I'm not convinced about the electrical stimulation of muscles - it makes them contract before relaxing and that is much the same as exercise so I'm not sure it would be a good idea in PMR. But I suppose you have to try before you really know. I did get a lot of help with a really good Bowen therapist - my NE of England two were amazing, the one here is a bit wishy-washy so I prefer my physio and her massage work on the spasmed muscles.