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I only have 6 of the 15 Tender Points (m)....
I've been waiting two months almost to have my Chiro do this test on me. I just got back and I only have 6 of the 15 Tender Points. I went through 2 neurologists since October and NEITHER one of them did this test. Is this test just ONE diagnostic feature of FM or is this THE ONE that says you have FM? I think the reason I have these 6 is because I have major back/neck problems since I was 12 years old and am now 38. I have osteoarthritis and have bulging/herniated disks in both my back and neck. I don't know, what do you guys think? This last neuro diagnosed FM because of my history - that's it oh and because ALL of my testing came back normal with the exception of my cervical MRI.
Sandra
Sandra
Spanky- I didnt' read all the responses so i don't know if anyone else asked this...have you had flexion extension xrays? Is your cspine herniation r/t an injury?
There are 2 types of doctors you could see: a BOARD CERTIFIED Neurosurgeon or BOARD CERTIFIED Orthopedic SPINE surgeon. Never let any other doc operate on your spine!!!!!!
Chiropractor - depends on what your MRI's and Xrays show. Some can be very beneficial others not so much.
There are 2 types of doctors you could see: a BOARD CERTIFIED Neurosurgeon or BOARD CERTIFIED Orthopedic SPINE surgeon. Never let any other doc operate on your spine!!!!!!
Chiropractor - depends on what your MRI's and Xrays show. Some can be very beneficial others not so much.
Spankyandrex posted: I am 38 years old - I just want this fixed. I thought my MRI results would shout out at every Dr. that read them 'THIS PERSON NEEDS SURGERY ASAP!', but apparently they don't. Even with a disk touching the spinal cord. I don't get it, I just don't get it.
This is exactly how it was with me. I went from doctor to doctor for SIX YEARS before I got any relief. I went to MDs, Osteopaths, Orthopedic guys, you name it, and all any of them wanted to do was put me on Vicodin with a side order of muscle relaxers and tell me to come back when I needed a refill. I was going CRAZY! I found a pain management doctor who then did physical therapy along with a cocktail of time-release morphine, immediate release morphine (for breakthru pain), muscle relaxers, and Klonopin. I was a zombie! I told him that I wanted to drop the immediate release morphine because I felt like I was taking WAY too much in the way of pain meds, and he dropped me from being his patient because I "refused to follow his procedure". I went to another pain management doc who put me on a low dose of methadone, and this worked for about two months and then my body decided that it wasn't going to respond to the methadone any more and I was in more pain than ever. I went to ANOTHER pain management clinic, this one was at a hospital. The doctor who looked at my x-rays and MRI that I took with me spent about two minutes with me and said "this is a surgical neck. We can fix you." I talked to the neurosurgeon that same afternoon and we scheduled the surgery for the following month. I would be just fine right now had that neurosurgeon not had me get a myelogram before the surgery. He even said I really didn't HAVE to, but he would LIKE me to because he wanted a different view of where the nerves were being blocked off than the MRI gave him. I figured this was MAJOR, major surgery and I wanted him to have every advantage, so I agreed. It was from that myelographic dye that I developed the adhesive arachnoiditis that has left me a lifelong pain management patient. HOWEVER, the surgery was a spectacular success! If only I had found that one doctor six years earlier, I could have had the problem corrected way back then instead of bouncing from doctor to doctor looking for an answer. So believe me, I know EXACTLY how you feel!
This is exactly how it was with me. I went from doctor to doctor for SIX YEARS before I got any relief. I went to MDs, Osteopaths, Orthopedic guys, you name it, and all any of them wanted to do was put me on Vicodin with a side order of muscle relaxers and tell me to come back when I needed a refill. I was going CRAZY! I found a pain management doctor who then did physical therapy along with a cocktail of time-release morphine, immediate release morphine (for breakthru pain), muscle relaxers, and Klonopin. I was a zombie! I told him that I wanted to drop the immediate release morphine because I felt like I was taking WAY too much in the way of pain meds, and he dropped me from being his patient because I "refused to follow his procedure". I went to another pain management doc who put me on a low dose of methadone, and this worked for about two months and then my body decided that it wasn't going to respond to the methadone any more and I was in more pain than ever. I went to ANOTHER pain management clinic, this one was at a hospital. The doctor who looked at my x-rays and MRI that I took with me spent about two minutes with me and said "this is a surgical neck. We can fix you." I talked to the neurosurgeon that same afternoon and we scheduled the surgery for the following month. I would be just fine right now had that neurosurgeon not had me get a myelogram before the surgery. He even said I really didn't HAVE to, but he would LIKE me to because he wanted a different view of where the nerves were being blocked off than the MRI gave him. I figured this was MAJOR, major surgery and I wanted him to have every advantage, so I agreed. It was from that myelographic dye that I developed the adhesive arachnoiditis that has left me a lifelong pain management patient. HOWEVER, the surgery was a spectacular success! If only I had found that one doctor six years earlier, I could have had the problem corrected way back then instead of bouncing from doctor to doctor looking for an answer. So believe me, I know EXACTLY how you feel!
Please go to a neuro-surgeon, not an orthopedic surgeon. Orthpedics are usually for injuries due to sports, falls, etc. At lease that is what I have been told. And yes, I think a neuro-surgeon would be saying surgery, expecially if the MRI's show impingment on the spinal cord. Mine did. I had a c5-6 last summer, and was off work only a month. PLEASE reconsider haveing a chiro adjust your neck. Mine won't touch my neck anymore due to all the problems and fusion I had. Have you had MRI's of the neck before.you ar talking about getting new ones to compare? I know that in my case my degree of pain and symptoms have almost disappeared in the neck area after my surgery. Please let us know what you find out....Prayers
Maggie
Maggie
Yes, I realize I may in fact have Fibro in addition to my C-spine issues. The other day my husband asked "yay, why are you so tired all the time"? I didn't know how to answer him. But I did answer him with "because I have Fibro - that's what the Dr.'s tell me", he said "oh, ok". I am so darn tired EVERY DAY I can't stand it. I would say I honestly have 1 good day in 7 if I'm lucky. Anyhoo, my C-spine seems to be getting worse over time. But is not AS BAD as that day I could not get my head off the pillow. I was in bed last night laying on my left side watching TV and I could feel pain going down both my arms. On my right side, it was down the back side of my right arm, on my left side it was down the front side of my arm into my middle finger. My neck is sore and I'm in pain each and every day. I am so thoroughly exhausted either from the Fibro or fighting my neck pain every hour of every day. I think I am going to call my Chiro and ask him to just go ahead and order the MRI and we can go from there. He's already said he'll refer me to a larger hospital to someone in orthopedics if I need to be (which him and I both know we do).
I cannot hyper extend my neck like for example, looking at chandeliers/lights hanging from the ceiling at Menards and the other day I was hanging my new valances in my living room, and I had to take breaks. I told my CHiro about this and he said that is going to happen with someone with disk problems in their C-spine. I won't be able to do things like I used to - like paint ceilings, tape trip up above my head, basically ANYTHING where I'm looking up. Good thing I have a sit on my arse desk job and wait on customers, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to work. The neurologist that diagnosed me with Fibro never even did the trigger point test on me. I realize that's not the "diagnosis marker", but geese, you'd think it'd be at least one of the most important ones.
I just don't know how much longer I can live with this constant gnawing in my neck - the achiness - the soreness, the stiffness. One of these days I am going to get in an accident because my Range of Motion to the right is HORRIBLE. When I talk to people, they look at me funny because I am looking at THEM funny cause it hurts to turn my neck to face them properly. Every AM I wake up thinking "is this going to be one of those mornings I won't be able to lift my head off the pillow again".
I am 38 years old - I just want this fixed. I thought my MRI results would shout out at every Dr. that read them 'THIS PERSON NEEDS SURGERY ASAP!', but apparently they don't. Even with a disk touching the spinal cord. I don't get it, I just don't get it.
I cannot hyper extend my neck like for example, looking at chandeliers/lights hanging from the ceiling at Menards and the other day I was hanging my new valances in my living room, and I had to take breaks. I told my CHiro about this and he said that is going to happen with someone with disk problems in their C-spine. I won't be able to do things like I used to - like paint ceilings, tape trip up above my head, basically ANYTHING where I'm looking up. Good thing I have a sit on my arse desk job and wait on customers, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to work. The neurologist that diagnosed me with Fibro never even did the trigger point test on me. I realize that's not the "diagnosis marker", but geese, you'd think it'd be at least one of the most important ones.
I just don't know how much longer I can live with this constant gnawing in my neck - the achiness - the soreness, the stiffness. One of these days I am going to get in an accident because my Range of Motion to the right is HORRIBLE. When I talk to people, they look at me funny because I am looking at THEM funny cause it hurts to turn my neck to face them properly. Every AM I wake up thinking "is this going to be one of those mornings I won't be able to lift my head off the pillow again".
I am 38 years old - I just want this fixed. I thought my MRI results would shout out at every Dr. that read them 'THIS PERSON NEEDS SURGERY ASAP!', but apparently they don't. Even with a disk touching the spinal cord. I don't get it, I just don't get it.
lrime posts: "I'm rambling. It sounds like you've got plenty of problems, luv. Fibro could, technically, be a part of them... although I'm a little concerned that you're seeing a Chiro with herniated discs, be very careful as they can sometimes do more damage than good! (just a friendly warning, if you're finding he's helping, please don't hesitate to see him, but I'd be concerned if it's not, and review your options for the treatment of your Herniated discs.) "
I TOTALLY agree with this! I get really nervous when I hear people who have severe structural problems such as herniated or bulging discs talking about going to chiropractors, because they can DEFINITELY do more harm than good! Alternative forms of medicine such as acupuncture can be helpful, and even if they do not help, at least they don't cause harm. But moving things around when there is structural damage can be a very dicey thing to do. In my opinion, it's not worth the risk. I'd stick with a regular orthopedic doctor or a neurologist (in the event there are nerves involved).
Ghilly
I TOTALLY agree with this! I get really nervous when I hear people who have severe structural problems such as herniated or bulging discs talking about going to chiropractors, because they can DEFINITELY do more harm than good! Alternative forms of medicine such as acupuncture can be helpful, and even if they do not help, at least they don't cause harm. But moving things around when there is structural damage can be a very dicey thing to do. In my opinion, it's not worth the risk. I'd stick with a regular orthopedic doctor or a neurologist (in the event there are nerves involved).
Ghilly
Those trigger point test aren't always the solution or answer. I went to mayo clinic and I have fibro mine is atypical all over the place. The best thing to do is just get a full workup at Mayo I am so glad i went. Now I know what i have! Before that I saw a neurologist, infections disease specialist and several mris and ton of blood work. I went to mayo and my bill wasn't so bad either!!! They gave me my diagnosis and that was the end of that. I am so happy i never took all those stupid meds that all those other docs try to give me. You need to get diagnosed correctly. It looks like you have all sorts of things going on and taking different meds with each other and going place to place is probably not good on your health.
The trigger point test is the ONE way you get a conclusive diagnosis of fibro. 6 tender points aren't enough to be classed as fibro. I too would suspect your pain and other symptoms come from your disc problems. However, that said, if you are in pain, it doesn't matter from what. You need pain relief. I have started since April 1 with Lyrica. Started off low dose, and tomorrow will be up to 300mg a day. It has improved the pain in my legs tremendously, and most of my other fibro as well. It has not decreased a lot of the pain from my bulging discs. It seems to help neurological pain a great deal. I also take Baclofen and Tramadol for this pain. This "cocktail" seems to help the worst of the muscle spasms, neck pain, etc., keeping it to probably a 5-6 level overall. By the end of the work week, it generally takes one day to recover, including long naps, to get ready for the next week. If there is anything else you would like to know, please feel free to ask me....Maggie
The national Rheum. Association made the designation that there were certain criteria for a "true" diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, which included 11 of 18 trigger points being tender. Fortunately, as the symptoms of Fibromyalgia don't just include widespread chronic pain for more than 3 months, a lot of doctors are diagnosing Fibromyalgia even if that doesn't occur. The basic symptoms for Fibro: Widespread Chronic Pain (pain that occurson both sides of your body, and above and below the waist), mental/cognitive dysfunction (brain fog or fibrofog are the common terms for it), memory problems, and sleep disturbances. (I don't know one person who has Fibro that truly sleeps well.)
Unfortunately, since Fibro is not classified as a disease (because doctors have yet to determine a true cause) it's really just a group of symptoms that mirror several other things but are not CAUSED BY any of those diseases. The only way to truly get the diagnosis of Fibro is if a doc cannot say definitively "Your pain is caused by ____" (Lupus, MS, Rheumatoid Arthritis the list goes on and on) although you CAN have these diseases AND technically have Fibromyalgia (which I find incredibly strange, considering that's part of the way they DIAGNOSE fibro... very frustrating.) Having this syndrom is very frustrating, to say the least.
I'm rambling. It sounds like you've got plenty of problems, luv. Fibro could, technically, be a part of them... although I'm a little concerned that you're seeing a Chiro with herniated discs, be very careful as they can sometimes do more damage than good! (just a friendly warning, if you're finding he's helping, please don't hesitate to see him, but I'd be concerned if it's not, and review your options for the treatment of your Herniated discs.)
I, personally, have suffered from Fibromyalgia since I was 10 years old. Unfortunately, I'm going on 27 and JUST RECENTLY received a true (and helpful) diagnosis. I remember the weakness when I was young, and the pain tearing through my legs until I cried... and going to the doctor was always the treat "It's just growing pains, give her a low dose of tylenol and she'll grow out of it." Dropping my pencils while trying to do my homework, and mother thinking I was trying to get out of doing it when my hands suddenly wouldn't function. *laugh* anyways... just a bit of reminiscing.
Good luck with all of your back problems, and I hope that the diagnosis of Fibro will help you to find some relief. :) Have a pain free day.
~Irime
Unfortunately, since Fibro is not classified as a disease (because doctors have yet to determine a true cause) it's really just a group of symptoms that mirror several other things but are not CAUSED BY any of those diseases. The only way to truly get the diagnosis of Fibro is if a doc cannot say definitively "Your pain is caused by ____" (Lupus, MS, Rheumatoid Arthritis the list goes on and on) although you CAN have these diseases AND technically have Fibromyalgia (which I find incredibly strange, considering that's part of the way they DIAGNOSE fibro... very frustrating.) Having this syndrom is very frustrating, to say the least.
I'm rambling. It sounds like you've got plenty of problems, luv. Fibro could, technically, be a part of them... although I'm a little concerned that you're seeing a Chiro with herniated discs, be very careful as they can sometimes do more damage than good! (just a friendly warning, if you're finding he's helping, please don't hesitate to see him, but I'd be concerned if it's not, and review your options for the treatment of your Herniated discs.)
I, personally, have suffered from Fibromyalgia since I was 10 years old. Unfortunately, I'm going on 27 and JUST RECENTLY received a true (and helpful) diagnosis. I remember the weakness when I was young, and the pain tearing through my legs until I cried... and going to the doctor was always the treat "It's just growing pains, give her a low dose of tylenol and she'll grow out of it." Dropping my pencils while trying to do my homework, and mother thinking I was trying to get out of doing it when my hands suddenly wouldn't function. *laugh* anyways... just a bit of reminiscing.
Good luck with all of your back problems, and I hope that the diagnosis of Fibro will help you to find some relief. :) Have a pain free day.
~Irime
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