Looking for help...I am 33 years old. I have Systemic Lupus and fibromyalgia. 3 years ago had a bad lupus flare and was put on 60mg of prednisone for a year and a half. After 2 mo on the prednisone I developed avascular necrosis in my knees, then hips. I had both my hips replaced, but they don't want to mess with my knees too at my age...Before all this happened (3 years ago) I was very active, walking, yoga, etc. I was confined to a wheelchair for 6mo before hip replacements, and am still very limited to weight bearing activities due to the avascular necrosis in the knees. I don't know if it's the fibro causing it or what, but for the last 3 years my body has been covered with knots. It's in my back, but from the waist down it's insane. My fiance' will massage my legs for me (God bless him). He says it starts out with a million tiny knots, as he massages it will turn into larger knots, and then it becomes long rounded hard muscle knot. He refers to it as feelinging like a big worm under my skin-they are near impossible to break up. He once massaged me for 2 and a half hours and the next day the knots were back to the original state. It is extremely painful, and very frustrating. I'm not on any meds for fibro (bad reaction to lyrica). Don't even know if this is fibro. I am on pretty strong pain meds for the AVN pain, and it does nothing for my knots. I am miserable- ALL THE TIME. Can someone please tell me what these knots are and how to treat them? I use a heating pad, hot baths, epsom salt and mineral oil menthol bath oil, massage, icy hot and other topicals, have tried acupuncture. At my wit's end, chronic pain is so draining...please help