Stress or something more serious?

[Aar75]

I'm 37 and I have chronic muscle pain in my neck, back, arms, hips, legs ankles and even feet. There are often  painful lumps in my muscles; there is also a burning sensation deep in the tissue when pressed or when I stretch. Lately, these sensations are worse when I do mild yoga, stretching and lifting. Muscle pain began when I was young and has not gotten better even though there have  been periods when I have felt better than others.

Over the years my blood work has revealed nothing out of the ordinary except once a low platelet count and once I had too much bile in my urine but I had been battling a stomach virus for several weeks.

I have IBS (managed through diet) and exercise induced asthma, hives, and once exercise induced anaphylaxsis. I don't smoke.

I have had mononucleosis and scarlatina as well as multiple ear, nose and throat infections as a child and young adult.

Other than that nothing serious. I have had four healthy pregnancies.

I am not overweight, currently breastfeeding for over two years. My son is a little over two and has weighed 30 -35 pounds since 12 months. I tell you this because I am also currently having some significant rotary cuff pain from lifting him and possibly a pinched nerve from poor body mechanics/posture ( I am at a desk several hours a day) I do have tingling sensations throughout my body when I put pressure on my muscles such as when crossing my legs for a few minutes, an area of my foot may begin to tingle.

My upper body feels significantly weaker than it did a few years ago. After sitting with a bent leg it is difficult to move and feels like dead weight.
As I said before stretching causes muscle cramping which is very frustrating to me.

In my early twenties I was diagnosed with ptsd from a late childhood trauma, chronic mild to moderate depression and generalized anxiety disorder. I manage my symptoms without drugs through meditation and mindfulness.

I am usually very tired even though I get enough sleep. My lifestyle is more sedentary than I would like. I may even be slightly dehydrated from breastfeeding and drinking caffeinated beverages. I do take a multi-vitamin  a few times a week and eat whole organic foods whenever possible.

Given my generally healthy lifestyle and my mental health issues could my fatigue, burning , tingling, stiffness, spasms, cramps and painful tender lumps be caused by stress or should I look into autoimmune diseases?  A few years ago a doctor looked at me and said that I was too young to be in the state I described prompting the blood work that revealed only low platelets and nothing more. He told me I had fibromyalgia but I was not convinced.

One last thing for this very long question, when I press on my thighs there seems to be small painful lumps covering the muscle. I was thinking maybe there was something going on with my fascia? Is there an autoimmune disease that attacks the fascia?

[karajo]

Very well said.  I think drs. can better serve their patients if they would write their symtpoms down.  It helps them sort it all out more clearly w/o any misunderstanding.
Thanks!

[funkytown]

I also suggest you print what you just typed and take to a trusted nurse practitioner or doctor and let them see in writing what it is that you are describing.  Sometimes we can write down better what our symptoms are than describing it all in one visit.  Autoimmune issue (if that's what this is) presents SO MANY symptoms...(I've learned this the hard way) and it can be so much information to present in a visit and so we just keep going back.  I wish i had done this in the beginning than to have gone back over and over, I feel like I could have gotten a quicker and much more accurate diagnosis.

[funkytown]

possibly fibromyalgia, but i would suggest having b12 checked....the reason I say that is I have fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue and have exactly what you are describing.  I also have B12 deficiency and experience the tingling sensations that you describe which  i had for some time with no explanation until all of the sudeen it showed up in my bloodwork, just thougt it was worth mentioning.  B12 deficiency, even if mild will wipe you out!

[Aar75]

Thanks so much!

[LazyMoose]

"Is there an autoimmune disease that attacks the fascia?"

-In some of us, ..yes. Autoimmune hypothyroid (Hashimoto) and non autoimmune hypothyroid (generally not as severe) can both tighten and knot up the facia as well as any muscle and tendon. Can cause tingling as well. This is created from a disturbance in the ATP muscle rebuilding process from hypothyroid in some people resulting in a depletion of magnesium and build up of lactic acid in the tissue. I know, I have it but was one labeled as a possible fibromyalgia patient until elevated Hashimoto antibodies (TGab and TPO were found. I suggest you get these tested as well as Free T3 and Free T4.

TSH cannot be used to diagnose hypothyroid, its not accurate despite how Drs are trained on the subject.  

Hypothyroid symptoms also inclued anxiety, depression, digestive issues such as IBS and acid reflux. Chronic fatigue is one of the most common hypothyroid symptoms. Contrary to popular belief, not all with hypothyroid gain weight, some lose weight.

[karajo]

I hope I can help.  For starters, it is very possible you have fibromyalgia.  But it could also be a mineral deficiency.  Many times when women brestfeed their body gets run down.  Some of your symptoms sound like a magnesium deficency.  It is best to take it w/ calcium.  The recommended amounts are 1,200mg of Calcium and 600mg of magnesium.  Another mineral deficiency is potassium.  As long as you DON"T have diabetes, it would be safe to take potassium.  Bananas have a significant amount of potassium.  

I would also try increasing your water intake.  The rule of thumb is 1/2 you body weight in ounces.  For ex. if you weigh 140, then drink 70 oz. of water daily.  This one you may have to work up to.  

As far as fibromyalgia goes, sleep is very important.  I realized I was waking up several times during the night and struggling to go back to sleep.  I now take something to help me sleep.