can a car accident cause fibromyalgia?

[Jodi42]

Over a year ago was in a car accident and my muscles and joints hurt so bad most of the time its hard to have a normal day. Its not arthritis or lupus and Dr's are now saying fibromyalgia..I also have extreme burning in my joints and neck is this also a symptom of fibromyalgia?  

[Quixotic1]

Hi, I can't tell you how pleased I am at the turnaround in your prospect for proper treatment.  You must have done everything perfectly with your doctor.  She's really on your side now.  I hope this new direction brings you some relief.

Would it be possible for the PT to teach someone things (exercises) to do with you during the long pause thru the weekend?  That way you won't slide back and, I do know that you have to stay on top of your therapy to make headway if this is RSD/CRPS.

You're in my thoughts as you go thru the testing for the cancers.

I have been spending less and less time over on this forum as the MS Forum gets busier.  I've also had a couple little setbacks with my disease.  So, if you need to speak with me, just post over there.  There has been a recent thread there about the combination of Lyrica and Cymbalta being a miracle for their paresthesias.  The thread is called "Regarding Vibration Sensations."  There are many different kinds of nerve pain, burning, tingling, buzzing.  Generally they all respond to the same meds.  And in neurology a combination of meds is often more effective than either one alone.  So if the Lyrica helps, but not enough, you could consider adding in another.  Do you have a specific problems with it?  Research into chronic pain has long shown the benefit of adding in certain anti-depressants.  And it's not because of depression, per se, but because the meds can actually help tune down the brain's perception of pain.  I am not trying to talk you into anything, just offering info.

When I checked back on you, I was happy that we might have reversed your doc's attitude.  I do hope so!  Quix

[Jodi42]

Thank you for your responses..My new Dr, has been great and is willing to listen to me and try new things..Is sending me to Pain management and was not at all upset when I chose not to take cymbalta. She did put me on lyrica for nerve burning and have to slowly work my way up to 3 a day. Between those and percocet I feel so tired and blah, hopefully that will go away soon. Never feel anything but tired..This Dr. she's sending me to Bowersox is suppose to be excellent and has written books on fibro and other diseases. Has been to China for research and is very personable cant wait to meet him but can't get into see him until Sep.  My Dr. wants me to stay in therapy which is helping. But if my last day is on a Thursday and I don't go back to therapy until tues. all the burning and stuff comes right back. And now something is happening where if I scratch anywhere on my body it hurts..Im very very sensitive to touch even on the top of my head!!..I think stress makes it worse. And Im worried about having to get my sons graduation party together and hes getting married in Oct. and I have to go get my results back on my genetics testing for certain cancers and have been told if my results come back positive they are talking about doing a double masectomy and a total hysterectomy.  The reason for the genetics testing was because I had breast cancer at the same time the accident happened and the cancer I had makes me more prone to having other cancers. So my question is does stress make my symptoms worse? One thing that does help tho is getting on here and reading everyones responses and knowing that there is help out there and that others are going thru similar things and that this can all be treated and there is hope..So thank everyone for there responses and words..By the way, this post took me about 30 mins because I kept forgetting what I was going to say...LOL..that happens all the time.

[jenn38018]

The not feeling like you are walking straight can definitely be a symptom of RSD.  Your muscles will begin to atrophy and thus will not be able to hold the weight of your body up.  If I walk behind my mother it looks as if she is walking on her ankle because of the muscle atrophy in that foot and leg.  This will also mess up your gait.  Something to talk to the pain clinic about.

Jenn

[aggrevated]

Forgot to mention...If you feel you are not being listened to, you're in the wrong place.  I went through that, and still do for different symptoms, for months before anyone even suggested Fibro.  Infact I had to tell my doc that my mom had it for 3 years before he would even check the tenderpoints!  All I have to say is don't come to South Dakota for an intelligent neuro-check...

[aggrevated]

I have had Fibro for 12 years...its a struggle to find what works for you.  I did not have good luck with the 14 different meds I was tried on.  Alot of them were anti-depressants.  I found after going through the pain clinic at Mayo Clinic, that reducing caffeine (sp); walking even through your house to start, water and a lower fat diet helped me more than any drugs the docs tried to push!  It was tough for me to get going on the walking especially with so much pain, but going slow and steady got me up to 1.5 miles a day.  That was harder to do than quitting smoking!!!  I had a husband and kids kinda pushing me, and I guess I just had to get mad enough to do it...I thank them now!!!

[Jodi42]

Thank you for your support and help. I did go back to my family Dr. and took my husband as you suggested before and told her that I had talked to someone who told me my symptoms sounded like complex regional pain syndrome and she was very open to that and said its a great possibility and she also thinks that I have fibromyalgia as well. She referred me to a Dr. in Willoughby named Dr. Harold Bowersox and wants me to do pain management as well. She put me on lyrica for the burning because of the nerve damage. We were in there for about 30 mins. with her and I was amazed at how great she was with me. I even told her I was on this site and she said thats great because she loves any feedback she can get and that this is the best site to go on for information. Now my left knee feels like its shifted tho and we didn't have time to get into that with her. When I walk I don't feel like Im walking straight anymore my knee feels like its shifting, or just not straight. I don't know its weird.  But at least now I feel like Im getting somewhere and am NOT crazy..Thank you for your suggestions and your support...