Patients Speak Out About the Pain of Fibromyalgia | Arthritis Information
Fibromylagia, a condition characterized by generalized symptoms of pain, fatigue, and digestive issues, is a controversial diagnosis in the medical world. Neither the physicians who treat it or the patients who suffer from it know exactly what the disease is, nor is there s definitive test to diagnose for fibromyalgia. Still, the people who have fibromyalgia will tell you that their disease is very well, and so is their pain. This week The New York Times profiles several patients who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Their experiences and insights into their disease may help outsiders better understand the pain of fibromyalgia, and may help those currently suffering without a diagnosis to discover what is ailing them.
The primary symptoms of fibromyalgia are long-term, body-wide pain and tender points in joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. Patients with fibromyalgia also often report symptoms such as fatigue, morning stiffness, sleep problems, headaches, numbness in hands and feet, depression, and anxiety. It may present on its own or along with other musculoskeletal conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Fibromyalgia is most prevalent in women ages 20-50, but it can affect anyone. Preliminary studies have shown some indication that the there is an inherited tendency toward the disease, but this theory has not yet been confirmed with sufficient data.
When the US FDA approved pregabalin (Lyrica) for the treatment of fibromyalgia in 2007, it was the first time a drug was approved for the treatment of this disease. Since then, Cymbalta, a depression drug, and milnacipran (Savella) have also been approved to treat fibromyalgia patients. These approvals have gone a long way not only in easing the pain of many patients suffering from fibromyalgia, but also in helping establish fibromyalgia as a recognized disease.
You can listen to the patient voices of fibromyalgia on nytimes.com, accessible here.
My fibro is really acting up lately. It feels a lot like the severe body aches that accompany a fever, with the added bonus of a burning sensation. The RA is acting up too. I wish my energy levels were acting up... wouldn't that be awesome?
Anyway, thanks for posting this Lynn. It's very interesting to hear other people talking about their experiences. Lelia, I sympathize with you! I often wonder how my RA would feel without the added ills of fibro... I had one when I was diagnosed with the other, so they have always been hand in hand for me. I wish my energy levels were acting up right now too!!!
I really do not know how you ladies manage with both RA and fibro as I, with OA and fibro, sometimes just want to give up with the pain and fatigue. They say for fibro that you have to keep exercising but there are days that is not an option. I am on gabapentin and venlafaxine and the Dr. wants to up the dosage again but I will not...in fact I tried going off all meds but in two days it was obvious that this was not an option. I am still waiting for the results of the study from Stanford on fibro and LDN.
Hope you both are feeling better soon.
Pat
The doctor is raising my Lyrica very slowly. I have to say that scince my Cymbalta was raised to 60 mg and it took a couple of weeks to kick in good I am so much better. I think in two weeks when he raises the Lyrica again I will perfect.
I can not take the Cymbalta without the Lyrica because it gives me funny numbness feellings and that drives me bonkers. Well it did when it got raised to 60 mg. So I make sure I take my Lyrica at the same time and I do not feel the tingly winglies. I am sharp mentally now. I love that. When I started I was just buzzed. So for full effects it could take a while and your body has to adjust to the meds but oh it is nice.
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