Could I have fibromyalgia?

[sarah498]

Hi, I am sure this question comes up alot. I have had muscle aches and tenderness for as long as I can remember mostly in my back and hips but I do get leg aches and pains as well sometimes. Touching certain areas in my back and hips produces pain I can't tolerate. I have frequent headaches/migraines and have been having constant pain in my right side/back since March. My regular doctor's have tested my gallbladder and tests are fine. I have to go in for a scope to check for ulcers. I have also been diagnosed with IBS and have nausea/ diarrhea and constipation alternating. I went to a chiropractor for the first time yesterday and she asked me about fibromyalgia because I am so very tender and tight. She thought I should be checked out. So I am thinking about going to a rheumatologist soon although my mom doesn't think this is the problem. I am a 30 yr old female. I am also tired all the time. I have some problems going to sleep but after I do get to sleep I never want to get up. When I do get up I feel unrested and tired the whole day. The pain in my back is making it hard to do housework and my job. I am a dog groomer. The chiropractor is adjusting me hoping to help my headaches and side and back pain. One hip is higher than the other so my spine is a little curved and she is going to try and fix that. anyway, what do you think? should I go see a specialist or would it be a waste of my time and $? thank you! At this point that is all I can think of that is wrong.

[sarah498]

I went to a rheumatologist and he thinks I do have fm but he is checking for ra and lupus to rule those out. He prescribed nuertonin??? have no idea how to spell that but I am scared to try it due to things I have read about side effects and seizures. I do get relief from tramadol but it causes me to itch so I have to take benadryl with it and told him that. I am not sure what else to take for pain. I don't like drugs. I take alot of ibuprofin for headaches/migraines but it doesn't touch my muslce pain. Just for anyone reading this wondering if they have fibro my suspicions started when i started haveing pain in my right side. I could never decide if it was rib or gallbladder related. All gallbladder test came back fine. The pain radiates to my side and back at times. Sometimes I also have this pain on the left side. Just recently my knees have started to hurt. I have had leg aches for years that I attributed to my job as well as extreme muslce tenderness in my back and hips. I have since learned that this is not normal. I get extremely sore after activities such as mowing with a riding lawn mower and planting flowers. I guess I get more sore than someone without fibro according to my chiropractor cause I mowed last weekend and had to make an emergency visit to her the next day as the pain was horrible. I have been tired all the time for years and get plenty of rest. Anyway, those are my symptoms as well as IBS. Hope that will help someone. If you think you have it go see a specialist. My pcp didn't seem to care and always just wanted to give me anti depressants since I couldn't sleep.

As for the pain, what do you with fibro take? What are the side effects?

[sarah498]

I have been depressed in the past but not currently and I don't want to take meds for that again due to the side effects. I have bouts of depression at times but it goes away. Thanks for the reply. hopefully it is just my back.

[problempat]

I think it is very possible you do have fibromialgia, howerver it could be something else--actually a combination of things. The slight curve of your spine COULD be causing your back and hip problems and it's possible you may actually be clinically depressed.  Have you been evaluated for that?  Depression can cause physical pain in many areas and the fact you sleep ALOT can also be an indicator.

[sarah498]

oh I also talked with my primary care doc about my fatiques and muscle tenderness but she basically ignored me.