Do I suffer from FM or is another thing?

Sorry for the rant,but a little background is needed.I'm in my early 50's and about a year ago I finally get rid of an addiction to Xanax.It was a nasty  and long battle.
Recently my new doctor diagnosed me with FMS.All started when I started weaning off the Xanax,there were some knots in muscles on my back,no big deal.It progressed and in a period of a year the pain was all over my body,even months long after no use of benzos.It was kind of rare.I slept fine,but the moment I opened my eyes my muscles,like programmed,started to contract and get stiff.This was more acute on my back(imagine a pair of pant suspenders over your shoulders,well the pain was from the waist till the neck all along those both sides,also in the front)Also in the chest(pectoral muscles),biceps,triceps,legs,neck,all my body,but the worst was my back and sides where beside the pain and stiffness I feel like burning,like some little million animals were chewing in my muscles.I stretched them and used heating pads,but it provided only momentary relief and during a year I laid in bed or the couch.The thing is that I see the charts of FM points and some don't bother me,neither I suffer from fatigue.
Now,the new doctor put me on Diazepam 10mg(I know,another benzo)Lyrica and tramadol.At the beginning I saw the light,I believed I could regain my life again.Now,little by little,everyday slowly the pains are coming back.
Do I suffer from FMS?Or is another thing?Is it a post reaction to the Xanax addiction?
I'm desperate,I don't want to be in bed again crying in pain.
Please,help me,
Bob

[BobBeach]

I forgot to mention that recently my lower legs get swollen easy too.Could it be from being so much time in bed/couch position or is related to any of the drugs I take?Or part of the FMS per se?
These are my meds,just in case:
Seroquel 100mg 1 at bedtime
Diazepam 10mg 2 a day
Lyrica 200mg 2 a day
Lovaza 1gr 4 a day
Depakote ER 500mg 1 at bedtime
Tramadol 50mg  2 to 4 a day,depends on the pain,but lately is not working
Remeron 45mg 1 at bedtime
Proscar 5mg 1 at bedtime
Metoprolol Tartrate 25mg 1 daily
Imitrex 100mg as needed(I suffer from migraines too,but lately not much)

[dustybrown]

Hello Bob,
I am sorry to hear about your issue and it does seem like a complicated one at that. It's really hard to tell which one came first- the Xanax addiction or the FMS...hmmm...

Without knowing more of your history is hard for me to really tell, and of course, I am not a doctor, but guessing with the array of other medications you are on it doesn't make much sense to me that Xanax withdrawal could cause FMS especially when you have replaced it with another benzo.

It makes the most sense that you are suffering from Fibro and perhaps the Xanax was just masking some of your symptoms for all of those years, so when you began to wean off of it, you were taking away the medication that was keeping some of your symptoms at bay. Does that make sense???

[BobBeach]

Before using Xanax I never suffered for any pain,just occasional migraines.Everything started when I weaned off the Xanax,from there till now my life has been miserable, at the beginning it wasn't so strong but it progressed to the point that I had to be on bed or the couch with a heating pad,specially in my back.Now when the doc prescribed me the other benzo that is a muscle relaxer along with tramadol and lyrica,at the beginning it was a miracle but now is coming back.I don't know what to do.I don't want to live like that.I rather die.

[dustybrown]

Hello Again,
Migraines can be a starting point for FMS. I have talked to a lot of people who said their first memorable symptoms of Fibro was migraines or just plain headaches that got worse and worse over time.

Also, being dependent on a medication isn't necessarily a bad thing especially if you have an illness. Xanax is not such a bad medication to take on a regular basis if you truly need it. Addiction and dependency are two different animals when you are speaking of illnesses. This is something you will need to consider and feel ok about especially if you are sick with FM. And it's ok. It's no different than taking medications if you had a heart condition or high cholesterol. You are not taking these medications to get high. You are managing a condition.

I have a question for you...and this is kind of an opinion too, so I just have to remind you I am not a doctor, I am just a patient just like you :) ...How long have you been taking the Tramadol? Do you like it??? I have experience with it and have noticed that people either do well on it or don't. I happen to be one of the people that can't stand it. I have very bad side effects from it. It causes me severe headaches, horrible fatigue during the day and insomnia at night. I also get really wired feeling to the point I am afraid of having a seizure, which I have had in the past, so I know what they feel like.

With that said, do you think there is a chance that you may be having some negative side effects from the Tramadol and just not realizing it? Let me know your thoughts when you have time. Thanks.
-Dusty