MS symptoms or just fibromyalgia

[hellodian]

HI ~ I was diagnosed with central sensitization/fibromyalgia last year. I am 40 years old. I also have alot of symptoms that I am not sure are just fibromyalgia. I have extremely dry eyes/mouth but tested neg in blood tests for Sjogren's. I also have alot of urethra pain off and on. I have warm prickly numbing sensations in my hands, especially at night and it has been happening for over 5 years now. My newest symptom is a warm sensation in the back of my left thigh that is getting pretty constant. I am so sick of going to my rheumy because he says all my bloodwork is fine and I just have anxiety. Should I bother going to him with my latest issue ~ the heat sensation? Oh, and with the fibro, I am in ALOT of pain but don't take meds other than a painkiller or two a day ~ I don't tolerate the Savella/lyrica/cymbalta well.

[hellodian]

Thank you Bob!

[COBOB]

Strange sensations need to be evaluated.  Sensory symptoms bother people a lot and whne doctors can not find physical causes for the sensations, many jump to the "must be psychological" cause.  

In neurologic disease, the brain can make you think you feel all sorts of things.  It can also register extreme pain when there is no cause, but the pain is as real as if you broke your arm.  One of the best examples of neuropathic pain is "Phantom Limb Pain."  There is nothing there to hurt, but the brain registers pain all the same.

Your symptoms may not be MS (you really have not listed all that many, and they could also be caused by a blown disc in your neck.  You could have 2 or 3 different things going on at the same time.  That confuses thing and causes doctor to jump on the "crazy bandwagon."

I'd start with you biggest issue.  May be unexplained pain and sensations.  See a neurologist.  Start with hands and back of left thigh and urinary pain.  Let him as the questions and answer them truthfully.  Don't throw too many symptoms at the neurologist all at once or they will jump on the bandwagon with the rest of the doctors.  I'd also avoid mentioning "Internet" or "Personal Research."

That's just me.

Bob

[hellodian]

Sorry to bother you again, but do my symptoms sound at all related to MS? I just had a cat scan with contrast of my bladder because of urinary issues, and everything turned out completely normal ~minus the fainting during the IV lol! I just have a feeling once again they find nothing and make me feel like a hypochondriac.

[COBOB]

MRI of the Cervical Spine and MRI of the Thoracic Spine.  Some people with MS have no brain lesions at all, just lesions of the spinal cord.

Bob

[hellodian]

Thank you for answering. I have only been to a rheumatologist. He doesn't believe in pain medication so won't refer me to anyone for pain. SO I end up finding pain meds on my own, which I am also not comfortable with. What is a C-spin and T-spine? If it involves a spinal tap, there is NO WAY I could do that! I faint from IV's, so I know I would be too scared to do that.

[COBOB]

Have you had an MRI of your Brain, C-Spine and T-spine?  Are you only seeing a Rheumatologist or have you seen a Neurologist?  If you are only seeing a PCP, these things really require a specialist to diagnose.,  Fibro typically has "trigger points" that are not seen in neurologic diseases.  

Pain management is one of those things that if your doctor is not capable of managing, you should request a referral to a pain management clinic.  Anesthesiologist with a subspecialty in pain management are really well equipped to do pain management that other doctors are never trained to do.

Hope this helps,

Bob