All new to me!

[jlc5155]

I was diagnosed with Fibro a month ago.  For years I have lived with dizziness, muscle pain, joint pains and just about anything else it can throw at you.  Most of the doctors wanted me to try this or that medicine.  Two years ago I had three angioplasties (sic) in one year, but the problem is, I still have the arm pain that sent me to the hospital.  I was in a minor car accident in July and was in the hospital for four days.  Every test in the world was given to me, but the neurologist said I had "Stingers", the orthopedic surgeon said that all of my spinal column nerves were damaged and finally my GP said that he thought I might have fibro and gave me a website to look at.  Since then I have looked a dozens and found that many problems that I have had over the years are contributed to fibro, even the fog part.  I found this site this morning and I am thrilled that I can go to a question and answer section as there is no help group here and I have found that most of the massage therapists don't know just what to do with a fibro client.  I am in physical therapy for the accident, but am finding that most of the fibro pain has been triggered by the accident.  To sleep , I take clonazipam, flexeril and trazadone.  Some sleep, not much.  With meds that I take for my heart condition, I'm leary of adding anymore pain killers (I take vicodin if I have a lot of pain but it really doesn't even take the edge off) or meds that may interfer with the heart condition. Any helpful hints will be appreciated.  It has been suggested by several of the different doctors that I have seen that I may need to see a therapist for the problems that are "in my head".  Now I know that they are not.

[jlc5155]

I think that I have had the FM for years.  The Dr. has just finally given the condition a name.  He even told me that most people think that it's in "the head".  Yes, right along with the headaches, neck pain, back and shoulder pain, hip pain, dizziness, restless leg syndrome and on and on and on.  I don't really know that the heart meds contribute to the pain, but I'm not dismissing it either.  For that I will need to talk to my cardiologist who may poo-poo the diagnosis.  As for as the PT goes, they have all attempted to break the adhesions (knots) loose and suceed, but they always come back, and in here lays the stress factor.   I have a lot of it as many people do, but the doctor that is always driving the stress problem is also the one that recognized the fibromyalgia.  Thanks for any and all help with this.  I'll be spending alot of time researching this problem.

[Curls]

Welcome.  Hope as you read down the posts you've found some useful ideas.  I don't know what this culture's or human being obsession is about putting everything into the head, but it's not helpful!  Even mental illnesses are chemical brain disorders and not "all in their head"!  Is there a chance your heart meds are contributing to the FM symptoms?  (Heart meds such as beta blockers and a few others are sometimes used to treat Fm is why I'm thinking of it.)  It's something to research if you think it might be.  Good luck.  

[LLWB]

No, it's not in your head! My internal medicine specialist told me that, and I changed dr's.  Myofascial spasm massage helps with the fibro. It is painful, as they break loose the adhesions, but it helps a lot. After it quit's hurting! LOL A physical therapist usually is trained in this kind of release. Good luck, and welcome.