Is it fibro?

[toadaleh]

I'm hoping for some help.  I've been suffering chronic fatigue for the last 10 months.  I hurt all over, but the pain in my lower back and legs is insufferable.  I've been given Tramadol, but it doesn't even make a dent in it.  I have been diagnosed with Complex Migraine Disorder (just to make life more complicated!), but that only explains some of my symptoms.  I get really bad brain fog, and confusion, occasionally I don't seem to be able to focus on anything.  I've also started retaining fluid in a HUGE way, I can't get my rings on some days, and sometimes I can hardly get my shoes on!
I was tested for MS, but thankfully that came out negative, problem is, I still don't know what's going on.
Any ideas?

[PlateletGal]

Hi ! I would consider checking out our Health Pages (located to the right of your screen). One of the links I posted in there shows you where the tender points are located.

The American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria for the classification of fibromyalgia*

History of widespread pain; pain is considered widespread when all of the following are present:

Pain in the left side of the body
Pain in the right side of the body
Pain above the waist
Pain below the waist
In addition, axial skeletal pain (cervical spine or anterior chest or thoracic spine or low back) must be present. In this definition, shoulder and buttock pain is considered as pain for each involved side. “Low back” pain is considered lower segment pain.

Pain in 11 of 18 tender point sites on digital palpation.
Pain, on digital palpation, must be present in at least 11 of the following 18 tender point sites:
Occiput: bilateral, at the suboccipital muscle insertions
Low cervical: bilateral, at the anterior aspects of the intertransverse spaces at C5-C7
Trapezius: bilateral, at the midpoint of the upper border
Supraspinatus: bilateral, at origins, above the scapular spine near the medial border
Second rib: bilateral, at the second costochondral junctions, just lateral to the junctions on upper surfaces
Lateral epicondyle: bilateral, 2 cm distal to the epicondyles
Gluteal: bilateral, in upper outer quadrants of buttocks in anterior fold of muscle
Greater tronchanter: bilateral, posterior to the trochanteric prominence
Knee: bilateral, the medial fat pad proximal to the joint line

http://www.redlabsusa.com/fibromyalgia/

[toadaleh]

Thanks for that.  I've had a cranial MRI, came back clear.  Ive been tested for thyroid, lupus, mysthenia gravis, Epstein _ barr, glandular fever, anemia.  Basically, I've had about an armful of blood taken with no further answers!
I keep reading about the 'tenderness points', but I'm not sure where they are.  
Being in the UK, treatment is good, but diagnosis of these kid of conditions is SLOW!

[selmaS]

What tests were done to this point......did u have MRI's.....labs......did u check for the tender points of fibro....check the health pages to the right of the screen to see how they dx fibro.....there are so many conditons with the same symptoms u really need to rule things out with the testing.Also consider having your thyroid checked....

Good luck
Godspeed
"selma"