Hello everyone. I have RA and FMS. Lately I've been in a great deal of pain. Everything hurts, including my eyeballs. How can you tell if it's the FMS that's flaring or the RA? I do have swelling in most of my joints, including my lower back, middle back, and neck, my fingers, toes, and knees. Some doctors have told me that FMS affects the hands, some have told me it doesn't. I'm so confused. My sed rate is elevated (or rather it was last July, which was my last visit to the doctor due to money concerns). I also have huge knots across my shoulders, that I'm told feel like rocks, and it's very painful to move my arms. My elbows hurt so much I can hardly lift a gallon of milk. I'm miserable. Any thoughts?
Cris
Hi, I also have both problems. I am being treated for those "knots"l in my back with trigger point injections, (They are coming from the fibromyalgia.) The injections really help - also I use a TENS unit at home, it provides an electrical stimulation to the painful muscles in my back , just like the chiropractor did. Good luck!
I tried the trigger point injections. Apparently I had a reaction, as it dropped my pulse down to about 40 and my bp to almost nothing.
Thanks for your input.
Cris
I'm sorry your feeling bad. I was going to suggest getting massages. I get them twice a week. She is very gentle and knows how to give massage to FMS patients. It helps keep the muscles soft. I've also used "Tigar Balm". It's a cream you rub on the skin. I get it at the pharmacy. It's smelly, but provides temporary relief.
I hope your feeling better soon.
From, Mary
Thanks Mary. I had a massage right after Christmas.. it was a gift from my employees.
Cris
Hi Cris,
I have been on total disability for almost 17 years now and from all my research and ordeals I have been through I can tell you that the swelling in your joints is not from Fibro. That is your RA!
About the hand massages they hurt tremendously bad and sometimes you leave feeling kind of good and soon it changes to bad.
I really love hot rock massages
They feel great and there is no after pain later.
I was put on total disability when I was 19 and I will soon be 37. I wish there was some magical cure but there isn't and the truth being it is just plainly awful. My good days can go to bad days within minutes and the weather can play havic on every part of the body.
About the pain creams I am extremely smell sensitive as most all Fibros are. If you are sensitive to smells be careful because the after affect of headaches can be very bad.
Have you tried a warm bath just before bed seeing as you are having so much pain at night?
I presently am going through MONO which is another thing you get with fibromyalgia. All the sleeping makes the fibro go on full alert and everything hurts extremely bad.
About the trigger point injections make sure you are fully aware if things go wrong. I was one of the people it didn't work on and it was a month of migraines. To make it worse I got my first and only trigger point injection in my neck during a time when my fibro was in a full flare. My husband was dying to Cancer and I talked with the Doc and he told me this injection would help me and I was not told about what could go wrong and it did.
I spent most of my time in the ER while visiting my husband.
I will never have another and will never recommend one either.
sending well wishes and lot's of understanding.
Cindy
Thanks Cindy. I've only had the trigger point injections once, and after my blood pressure and pulse dropped to practically nothing, I've decided that wasn't such a good idea.
I've thought about hot baths before bed to try and relax some of the muscles. The only problem is, I'm cold all of the time, and am afraid I would just tense up again from shivering.
I do know what you mean about good days going bad in a matter of minutes, and the weather definitely has a drastic effect on my body. The weather here this winter has not been kind to me.
I'm very sorry to hear about your husband. Hugs to you.
Cris
I have fibro and OA, to mention a few of my diagnoses. Thanks for the info about being 'smell sensitive', I didn't realize that was from the fibro!
What helped me the most was a experimental treatment called PAP-IMI, where they used electro-magnetic fields on the areas that hurt. The therapist was kind enough to give me my treatments for free, but she had to sell her machine, so that ended after about 3 months.
I haven't been able to work since 1998, when the fibro started as the result of a whiplash injury, but I have yet to be declared disabled! Now I am living with friends, out of the kindness of their hearts.
Take care!
Deb