A Few Questions

Hi Everyone,
I am so new to this Fibro **** that I don't know what is what with my body.  I am also fighting Breast Cancer.  I am having severe pain in my right foot..the ball of the foot and cannot bend 3 of my toes.  Am I nuts? LOL. Is this part of the Fibro? Also...wondering about Cymbalta.  I tried Lyrica and there is no way I can take it so I am a bit apprehensive about the Cymbalta.
Thanks everyone.
Recrdpxi

[PlateletGal]

Hi ! You aren't nuts.... but since you can't bend three of your toes, I would consider talking to your HEM/ONC or your primary care physician and asking them to test you for lyme disease. Do you recall being tested for lyme before ? Often the test result could be negative and this happens quite often.

[recrdpxi]

Hi,
Thanks for your response.  Lyme disease is not something that I would be exposed to where I live.  I have never even had a tick on me.  I believe it is from ticks?  I will see my Onc. in a few weeks and am going to talk to her about it.  Thanks so much!

[PlateletGal]

Hi ! I've been reading a book about lyme disease and according to this book (Beating Lyme Disease -- Dr. David A. Jernigan), the author says that many people with lyme disease tell him that they never recall being bitten by a tick. He said that some of his patients have told him that they have never personally even seen a tick.

According to Dr. Jernigan... it is now known that only about 30% of individuals bitten by a lyme-infected tick develop a bulls-eye rash.

[patsy10]

There would need to be more symptoms than just foot pain.  I believe the criteria says widespread pain on both sides of the body, above and below the waist, present for I think 6 months or more but it may be three.  I forget.  11 out of 18 tender points must be present.  fibromyalgia-symptoms.org is a very good site for learning about fibro.  Are you on chemo?

[recrdpxi]

Have any of you tried Cymbalta?

[LLWB]

Yes, Cymbalta, while primarily used as an anti-depressant, also is give for the nerve pain in fibro. Have you tried neurontin? Similar to Lyrica, but sometimes when one can't be tolerated the other is.   Depression is also seen in a lot of fibro pts., but my PCP perscribed it for me for the nerve pain. Helping with my mood swings and upsets over having a chronic illness was a nice side effect. Good luck, there is a lot to learn about fibro, and a lot of good websites out there.  Have you had surgery for your breast cancer? That also could increase your pain from the fibro, as stress affects fibro too.

[reidys]

hi not been diagnosed yet but i am on amitriptyline wich helps a little

[recrdpxi]

Hi,
thanks for your response.  I also have severe panic disorder and am a recovering Agoraphobic.  I am taking Zoloft and really do not want to change to Cymbalta. Yes..I have had 2 lumpectomies and a bilaterial mastectomy.  I was told that because I had so many surgeries and treatments within a certain amount of time that my body never healed properly...thus the Fibro.

[PlateletGal]

Hi ! I'm glad to see that you are posting on other MedHelp boards and hope that those resources will help you with your anxiety. I believe that anxiety is a physical condition... especially to those people people who have chronic health conditions. If you do have fibromyalgia.... I would seriously think about checking out our Health Pages (located to the right of your screen) and writing down the name of that thyroid test (and treatment) that MANY fibromyalgia patients are failing. Having a low thyroid can contribute and/or cause anxiety symptoms.

I also hope that you will consider asking your physician about getting tested for lyme disease. The reason why I mention this again is because I have seen cases of lyme, where the patient's toes were curled. This happens in untreated conditions. I've never seen or heard of this happening before in people who have fibromyalgia.

[recrdpxi]

Hi,
Thank you again for all of the advice and help.  I will ask my Dr. these questions. I go to City of Hope for my Cancer and they are also treating the Fibro so I see pain mgmt. next week and will add these questions to my list!

[PlateletGal]

Good luck ! I hope that you will continue to post and keep us posted !