Limb Pain

[kiminpain]

I have severe pain and heavyiness n limbs. All bloodwork came back normal, nerve and muscle tests came back normal and so did ultrasound of legs. Next is an MRI to rule out a pinched nerve. I am 55 and in good health except for this problem. The pain is unbearable, why can't they figure out what is wrong so they can start treatment?
The pain is affecting my lifestyle and my sleep.

[kiminpain]

Wow, your emails are helpful. My pain hit about the same time severe tendonitis and carpal tunnel hit my dominant hand. I haven't slept through the night for a few months. I had surgery 6/1 and my hand is healing nicely. The only thing that is getting me through this pain is the vicodine, my concern with that is addiction. Chatting with you gives me hope there is a light at the end of the tunnel, only those experiencing this pain and discomfort know how depressing this becomes.

Thank you.

[marycarmel]

That's the trouble with fibro.  Sometimes you're not well enough to exercise.  But when you get the flare quieted down, it's good to try to find something you can do because it makes a huge difference.

There are different theories on how you get fibro.  They range from viral, trauma, sleep disorder and more. Mine came on after I had my last baby.  He was very sick and didn't sleep much and cried all the time.  I was getting very little sleep.  My symptoms came on when he was about 10 months old.

When I had the first episode of it, I wouldn't have been able to exercise either.  I did a lot of research and didn't come up with anything that looked like it would definitively help.  i tried Lyrica and that did actually help quite a bit.  I was also given Vicodin and I was given 800 mg. of ibuprofen 3 times a day.

I had a jacuzzi tub in my house and that really helped the most.  I was given Ambien to help with my sleep and I believe that helped tremendously as well.

When I decided to try some exercise, I was in pretty bad shape.  I was still in pain.  I started in the pool because the water did feel good.  But I actually started by walking one length in the pool.  It took me a while to build up my routine but eventually I was able to swim for 45 minutes.  I also added in the elliptical and built up to an hour on that, and from there added in some light weights.

I also cut way back on sugar.  The exercise in turn helped with improving my sleep.

I still had to take medication on occasion but once I was able to exercise my flare-ups got further apart.

[kiminpain]

Thanks. Excercise and sleep are not possible at this time with the pain I'm in.

[marycarmel]

Fibro is a rule out diagnosis.  There are different treatments.  For me, it was trial and error.  I found that exercise and diet played the biggest role.  Getting good sleep is important too.  Different medications (Lyrica, Cymbalta) are also often used.

[kiminpain]

Thanks, so there is treatment and does it work?

[marycarmel]

This was how I presented with my first symptoms of fibromyalgia.