What could cause all over pain...

[LadyV13]

Hi.  I am a 47 yr. old female with chronic pain.  Not just body aches, but neck, back, shoulders, hip, stomach, breast (yea, fibrocysitic breasts they called it) pretty much you name a part of my body and it hurts at some time or other.  I also have fatigue and have alot of trouble getting out of bed everyday.  On top of that I have Hypoglycemia.  Most painful part of my body is my head.  I have headaches almost everyday.  They started when I was 15.  I've gone to many doctors and specialists over the years, but have never really had much success.  I've been diagnosed with complicated migrains, cluster and tension headaches.  Over the years the headaches have gotten worse and 2 yrs. ago I had one that lasted 10 months.  Doctors have tried so many meds. that I feel like a guini pig.  MRI's every year.  The last two showed white matter, that they have not been able to diagnose.  As I've gotten older the other parts of my body started hurting.  I have neck problems, including arthritis, 4 herniated disks that compress my spinal cord and stiffness.  Lower back, spondyolesthesis or something like that ( a deteriation of the lower spine) that was found when I was 30.  Stomach problems, GERD, Hiatel Hernia and IBS which is not going to the bathroom for weeks at a time (seriously).  Shoulders hurt, especially my right and all the way down to my shoulder blade.  They have found that I have arthritis in both with bursitis as well.  Heel pain after standing for long periods of time even sometimes when I wake up.  A couple of years ago, I started having leg pain when sitting down relaxing, actually aching is a better word.  Then shortly after that there were strange burning sensations in different parts of my body (when I say burning I mean like someone has a voodoo doll and takes a pin and heats the end then stabs me for 10 to 30 seconds in my leg, then maybe 10 min. later stabs me in my cheek, then my arm, I'm sure you get the picture) doctors placed me on Neurontin and that seems to help.  I've had right hip pain over the past year and they can't find anything wrong with it.  They say it's from my back.  Actually, almost all of my problems the doctors claim are because of my neck.  I get to the Specialist (surgery doc) and they say it's not.  Last year I found that I have breast milk (my last child was born 16 years ago) doc's call it Galactoria.  Specialist said he doesn't want to rule out a pituitary tumor, but the MRI's come back clean in that respect.  I'm so confused that I hate doctors at this point.  Now, they want me to go to a Rheumatoloigst.  My PC thinks that I have Lupus or Fibromyalgia.  I've already been tested twice for Lupus and the results were negative.  A couple of months ago I went to a Neurologist that specializes in MS.  He ran so many blood tests that I'm surprised I still have blood.  Anyway, the blood work all came back pretty normal.  He also did a spinal tap and that ruled out MS.  Thank God.  I know this is alot of problems and it seems that some can be traced to some point of origin but I have so many others that it's all so confusing and I'm so tired of being in pain.  I'm on Soma, Neurontin, Naprosyn, Prevacid among others and in the past they have had me on Vicodin and other strong pain meds. that did not work.  I'm on this medicine everyday of my life and I'm still in so much pain.  Can anyone offer any real suggestions as to what might be wrong?  By the way, I do have some tender spots but they are only tender if pressed.  Thanks for reading.  I know it's alot.  

[ootie]

Hello!  I'm another one with almost identical symptoms as yours.  I've been to sooo many doctors neurologist, internists, eye specialists and am really exasperated with the whole thing.  CT scans and MRI's of my brain too.  My GP doesn't have a clue what to do.  I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia/CFS ten years ago but it started at least 14 years ago.  I have another lab form for more blood tests but I'm tired of doing them.  

I was looking at Dr. Mercola's site too and found great info when I searched on thyroid.  Apparently, a sluggish thyroid may be responsible for a lot of our grief!  I looked into it further and found www.drlowe.com as well who has proof of this.  It's a ray of sunshine for me!  

They're saying that test range levels for TSH should be lowered from 5 to 1.5 or 2 to include people who's thyroids are sluggish.  This causes fatigue, pain etc.  My last tsh test was '2' and that was a year ago and I'm much worse off now.  I haven't had tests for t3 or t4 yet though.

I called a naturopath since my GP doesn't believe in this new evidence and prefers to just go with what he learned in medical school in the 60's.  

Like you, I'm tired of the pain.  We need to just get on with our lives - these doctors don't know everything like they think they do.  I know I'm suffering but I think they're tired of dealing with me because I'm not a quick fix for them.

I'm going to persue the fibromyalgia/thyroid connection with a naturopath because I can't resist this ray of hope.  If it works, I'll shout it from the rooftops!  Hang in there, take some magnesium for the muscle aches and have a look at Dr. Lowe's site - he might have some answers for you too!  Take care, and all the Best!

[patsy10]

I have most of what you described including the breast milk! I've never had any children.  I don't have IBS though.  I also had a disk in my neck that was "supposedly"  causing my problems too.  Well I knew it wasn't, ended up having surgery which greatly aggravated my problem and set my on a downward spiral.  Long story short, my problems are probably related to chronic lyme disease.

[Phtartist]

Hi, As I was reading your post I was amazed, it is nearly exactly my description of myself.  
I have Fibromyalgia/CFS which involves a multitude of the symptoms you, myself and many other people suffer from including IBS.  

Ironically I'm on the same meds as you also.  Vicodin can cause constipation which is why a stool softener and fiber is a good idea to be used with it.  Not going to the bathroom keeps toxins in the body, therefore exasperating the FM.

I have more to talk to you about. You have to know I have spinal RA, and small spinal problems, white matter in the brain which actually is normal for our age.  

etc. etc.  I would like to write you more

[FurballsMom]

The latest newsletter from Dr. Mercola has a great overview of Fibromyalgia, and some good GENERAL tips for managing FMS.  I still think it's a lot more difficult than the overview makes it sound, but I thought it was still a good article that might be helpful to send to the people in our lives that might give them a little more insight into what we have to face everyday.  I do have a friend with RA who is more sympathetic than most people, because people with RA have to face many of the same things that we do.  She might have FMS, too, and not know it.  But, that's hard to say, since so many of the symptoms overlap.  But, I know that's why she shows more understanding than most of the people in my life.

I sure am grateful for having medhelp in my life now.  I have to be in quarantine for a while, because I found out that I have a possible flare up of Shingles, like I had a couple of years ago.  Yikes, Shingles is very contagious, so I really don't want to unwittingly spread it to anyone else, but I already feel so isolated.  Thank God for the internet and sites like this.  No one can catch this kind of virus online.

[Please_Help950]

I agree with everyone else that going to see a Rheumatologist is a very good idea. I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and I can honestly relate to a lot of the pain that you are experiencing. Since I went to see a Rheumatologist a lot of my pain has been relieved and I hope that you will also be able to be relieved of a lot or all of your pain. I know that it is terrible to be in pain all of the time and I hope that you can be helped soon. I used to, and at times still experience stabbing pain shooting through my shins, knees, hips, and ankles. I also get pain shooting through my hands at times. I also would recommend getting plenty of exercise, if possible. That is what my Rheumatologist recommended that I do in order to ease my pain.

Like I have said before, I think that it is a great idea to go see a Rheumatologist. He/She might be able to help you a lot better than any of the doctors that you have seen before. I can also relate with you on the topic of bad doctors. I have been to numerous doctors in the past for my various health problems and a lot of them just blame my issues on stress. I can't believe it, I mean, if you know how bad you feel and you're taking the time out of your busy schedule in order to find out what is wrong with you, and they just act as if it's all in your head. That don't make sense to me. If they do that, then I say they weren't at all worried with what you are going through and that you should find a better doctor.

My Rheumatologist was one of the better doctors that I have been to so far, he seems to be really nice and caring. I hope that you will have a better time than you have had in the past with your medical problems and that you will be able to find a very caring doctor that is concerned about your health.

I just wanted to let you know that I care about what you are going through and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Good Luck on your path to recovery.

Take Care and Best Wishes,

"Please_Help950"

[Sonflower]

Good morning;

I too, think it is a very good idea to go the a Rheumatologist!

You could very well have Fibro or CFS and/or an autoimmune disease or all three like me and many others.

Sometimes we have to go to more than one Rheumatologist until we find the right one, and yes as we all know very well that this is a frustating journey....   but we have to find the answer to, "what is really wrong?" so we can get the help that we need!

I myself went to four different Rheumatologist until I found the one that was willing to not only treat my symptoms, but also monitor them and take the time to go through a process of elimination until finally figuring out what is really wrong.

Find a good Rheumy and stick with him....   Good Luck!   Sonflower

[grumpygen]

I think going to a Rheumatoloigst is a very good idea.  I think that one will help you, and it does sound like it could be Fribor, or another auto condition.  I take Lyrica and it does wonders for me.  I can't believe the difference in my life.  I fought going to the Reume for a long time.  I regret waiting because it helped my Firbro so much.  I hated the diagnoses at first but now that I have relief I am thankful.  I also have chronic progressive colitis.  Finding out that I had both and being treated has been a great thing in my life..........Thinking of you...Gen

[Cindee56]

Hi Lady, I have a lot of the same problems.  Also, my knees are bad--but I have to admit I'm way overweight!  I have the herniated discs in my neck and low back, all kinds of joint and muscle pain.  I have pains in my jaw and my hands and elbows.  I had a carpal tunnel surgery on the right, but still have pain.  I get shooting, stabbing pains that wake me up at night.  The upper back and shoulder pain and pain in my biceps is unbearable at times.  My low back and butt always hurt, all the way down my right leg.  My feet always hurt too.

I know how depressing this is and how you get to hate doctors.  I have been to tons of them, and I have a rheumatologist now but he's not much help.  I take anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants and sleeping medication (doesn't always work).

My experience is that if they don't see anything on tests, especially blood tests, doctors don't take you seriously.  They don't care about your pain.

Not to be negative, but I wanted you to know you're not alone.  I hope you find someone who can help you.