Fibromyalgia is a hugely misunderstood condition. It is now thought to be neurological in origin, caused by problems in the hypothalmus (an area of the brain) which affect the muscles and tendons, leading to widespread chronic pain. I used to be fit and healthy, someone who could walk 10 miles ... Read review
Fibromyalgia is a hugely misunderstood condition. It is now thought to be neurological in origin, caused by problems in the hypothalmus (an area of the brain) which affect the muscles and tendons, leading to widespread chronic pain. I used to be fit and healthy, someone who could walk 10 miles in a day and work sixty hours a week; Fibromyalgia has made me a wheelchair user who can no longer work at all. Unfortunately, many doctors think it is 'all ... ...depression, even though this is now known by specialists to be untrue.
My own experience of Fibromyalgia Syndrome began two years ago when I was hit with a very nasty virus which wouldn't go away. I was left in a lot of pain and with terrible fatigue, dizziness and other strange symptoms; no one could tell me why. Doctors gave it the vague name of 'post-viral syndrome' and told me to rest. I had a short period of recovery, then suddenly ... more
Fibromyalgia is a hugely misunderstood condition. It is now thought to be neurological in origin, caused by problems in the hypothalmus (an area of the brain) which affect the muscles and tendons, leading to widespread chronic pain. I used to be fit and healthy, someone who could walk 10 miles in a day and work sixty hours a week; Fibromyalgia has made me a wheelchair user who can no longer work at all. Unfortunately, many doctors think it is 'all in the mind' and believe that it is caused by depression, even though this is now known by specialists to be untrue.
My own experience of Fibromyalgia Syndrome began two years ago when I was hit with a very nasty virus which wouldn't go away. I was left in a lot of pain and with terrible fatigue, dizziness and other strange symptoms; no one could tell me why. Doctors gave it the vague name of 'post-viral syndrome' and told me to rest. I had a short period of recovery, then suddenly began to deteriorate quickly again. Ten months on, I am in constant, widespread pain, and I can only walk a short distance on good days. I need regular visits from a care worker, I can't cook my own meals, I can't shower alone, I often fall, and I find it very difficult to look after myself.
Fortunately, I have found a wonderful consultant - although I have to pay to see him privately - who knows a great deal about Fibromyalgia, what causes it and how to treat it. A friend of mine has had her Fibromyalgia symptoms almost completely reversed by one of his more experimental treatments. I was unable to tolerate this treatment, but I have benefitted hugely from a neurological medication called Lyrica, which has brought my daily pain levels right down, and has also helped me with fatigue, dizziness and other symptoms. Thanks to this consultant's excellent treatment, I am slowly regaining my quality of life.
I have also found other ways of dealing with my pain. I take Tramadol, a heavy-duty painkiller, when necessary - although I try to reserve it for the worst times of pain. I use my wonderful TENS machine (which I have reviewed), which helps take away some of the moderate chronic pain that I experience on a daily basis. I had a course of hydrotherapy which helped to strengthen my weak muscles, which has allowed me to start doing a bit of gardening and walking on better days - and light exercise itself is helpful for pain reduction in Fibromyalgia. I use a powered wheelchair, which helps me to pace myself so that I can live a more normal life. I also follow a programme of pacing which helps me to do small tasks one at a time, with regular rests and changes in types of activity, so that I can maximize my energy and prevent pain from taking hold.
By far the most difficult thing about Fibromyalgia is the negative, often ignorant attitudes of others. Many people, both laypeople and medical professionals, believe that this illness is caused by depression. This is not the case - usually the depression is actually caused by the same chemical changes in the brain that cause the Fibromyalgia itself. The World Health Organziation classifies Fibromyalgia Syndrome as a neurological illness; many UK doctors need reminding of this, as they tend to be quite ignorant about its causes and effects. It can be a major battle, trying to gain the support, treatment, disability benefits etc that you need if you are going to deal with this illness properly and regain some quality of life. However, it can be done. I am starting to live a more full life than I have in the past two years, and I hope I will continue to do so, even if that life has to be lived from a wheelchair and 'paced' well.
Advantages: Not a life-threatening illness Disadvantages: Painful and generally uncomfortable
Yes, I've suffered from intermittent depression and chronic anxiety for most of my life. The pain in my neck and shoulders began about five years ago. I blamed it on my poor posture, the layout of my work station, the weather - virtually anything that I could think of. I went for x-rays and was told that I had some narrowing of the space between vertebrae, which could be either Degenerative Disc Disease or Rheumatoid Arthritis, only to have an MRI ... ...earth was wrong with me?
Two weeks ago, I went to a rheumatologist and was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. After I read the handouts given to me by the physician, everything made perfect sense. Finally, it's nice to be able to put a name on a series of symptoms that have been plaguing me for years.
The physician came to this conclusion when he performed a simple test that involved pressing certain tender points all over my body. These tender points ...
Pelenya 17.10.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Member Advice on Fibromyalgia
Advantages: none Disadvantages: pain from muscle spasms and sleepless nights
The Hidden Disability
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Fibromyalgia
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This has been the reason why I have not been on Ciao for some time. My History
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For some years I have been in pain, not knowing the reason why until now. I have had many x-rays showing up ware and tare of the joints, but after trying so many kinds of treatment including acupuncture, physio, steriod injections and pills of all kinds the pain was still there. ... ...fedup with me and sent me to see an orthopaedic consultant. I new I had osteo arthritis in my feet, but the consultant told me I had arthritis in my right shoulder. He recommended I go to the pain clink and also see a rhuematologist as well.
The Diagnoses
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The rhuematolagist told me I had chronic pain and advised that I join a group in my home town to get help and good advice from them. My doctor told me the rhuematologist also ...
jeannie 03.08.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Member Advice on Fibromyalgia
Advantages: Makes you value the little things in life more! Disadvantages: pain, tiredness, depression, headaches...
Fibromyalgia is one of those illnesses which very few people have heard of, because those of us who suffer from it are unable to cope with seeing people when we are at our worst. Sadly this also means that frequently people don’t believe that there is anything wrong with you.
Let me just say here that Fibromyalgia (often referred to as FMS or Fibro) and ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) are very closely linked to my mind. ... ...I have also had the label ME placed upon the same illness, and my mother who 5 years ago was diagnosed with ME, has more recently been told she has FMS. This, combined with the fact that we both suffer very similar symptoms leads me to believe that if these two are not the same illness, they are at least branches of the same thing.
I’ve had Fibro for a little over 5 years now, and although I doubt I will ever be truly well again, I am now a lot ...
vialdana 27.06.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Member Advice on Fibromyalgia
Advantages: NOTHING THAT I KNOW OF Disadvantages: CONSTANT PAIN AND DEPRESSION AND TIREDNESS
So at last people are starting to understand that there is an illness called Fibromyalgia. Some have heard of it but aren't too sure of what it is and some know exactly what it is (usually sufferers)
Here is the story of how I started with it
I was diagnosed with severe depression after my youngest son Lee was born in 1986. It was mainly to do with Post Natal Depression and then topped up with the fact that our 16 year old niece decided to tell ... ...the past 10 years. We had our niece living with us as she didn't feel safe anywhere else which was okay at the time. The build up of a new birth plus two children under 3 to look after as well as a frightened girl of 16 got a bit too much for me - the rest of the family were reluctant to help in any way by taking her for a few days as they thought she would be more trouble than she was. So for six months she never left my side - she wouldn't even ...
carolburns 16.06.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Member Advice on Fibromyalgia
Advantages: pain free days, and good days Disadvantages: none
About me..... My Fms strory i have had fibromyalgia pain since i was 14 years old. i crashed with full blow-en fibromyalgia at the age of 16 years old i was disabled in unbearable pain near to a year and it took the doctors around 2 years to work out that i had fibromyalgia i have had an bad case of fibromyalgia since day ONE! before i started my treatments i couldnt walk to the shop next door to my home which was only 5 feet away from where i lived ... ...for such an very long time walking for 5Min's would MAKE BE BEDRIDDEN! IN UNBEARABLE PAIN*&^ i never had an pain free day, hours weeks, hour, min ever in my whole life! for over 10 years!!*&^(^% would feed junk food sweets chocolate down me everyday i never smile i was so big and so unhappy then! i had serve headaches for 10 years unstop no break before the treatments as well i couldn't even go to church it was that bad! Then One day a wake up saying ...
NicoleMc 22.06.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Member Advice on Fibromyalgia
