Fibromyalgia or ???

[grnmaj]

I have been diagnosed with herniated disks, bone spurs in right shoulder and cervical spine.  I also have a blown disk in lower spine.  I am 71 years old and outside of the pain issue, I am pretty healthy. The only med I am required to take is Synthroid.  I have recently been experiencing pain that seems to be related.  It starts along the outside of my right wrist, extends to the heel of the hand and terminates in the middle finger.  The finger seems swollen a bit, and is very painful.  I've lost most of the gripping power in that hand.  I had carpal tunnel surgery and a trigger finger release on this hand and finger many, many years ago. I also have pain (some days worse than others) in my knees, hips, lower back, elbows, shoulders and neck.  My neck creates a grating sound when I turn my head back and forth.  I take a 300 mg. Tylenol 3, not more than twice a day when pain is really bad. I do have a problem with my left eye...pain above the eye, frequent tearing..diagnosed with blepheritis, roseacea, and the start of glaucoma.  Does anyone have any ideas?  Thanks in advance for any thoughts.  

[grnmaj]

Thanks so much for the additional comments.  It has been a battle of different problems, I must say.  This web site is so great; to be able to discuss these issues and hear from others that might be dealing with the things similar.  Thanks again!!

[FurballsMom]

Please take at least 5,000 iu of vitamin D3.  I,000 iu is really not enough.  The Vitamin D Council and Dr. Mercola (mercola.com) recommend this much as the minimum maintenance dose.  Dr. Mercola explains why the FDA did not increase the RDA sufficiently a little more thoroughly than the Vitamin D Council did.  Actually, he recently recommended 8,000 iu of vitamin D3, so if you take at least the 5,000 iu, you can't overdose on that much.  Not even as a senior.  In the winter we just don't have any sun exposure, because what sun is available won't help because it's much too cold to have sufficient skin exposed to the sun.  If you take a medication for acid reflux to deal with the burning from the H. Pylori, such medication is known to cause malabsorption and to cause vitamin D deficiency.

I would consider, too, looking into the source of the anemia.  For example, do you have sufficient vitamin B 12 in your blood?  So, you want to be on the look out for pernicious anemia.  If your iron is too low, you can ask if it's alright to take chelated iron, which is gentler on the stomach than either one of the prescriptions.  The chelated iron is usually not sold in the lower dosage of iron, but there is a Gentle Iron available in health food stores at the RDA dosage.  I was so low at one time that ALL my doctors had me taking higher than usual amount of chelated iron, because I have never been able to tolerate either form of the prescription iron.  It did get me up to the level of iron that they wanted.  You should never take more iron than the doctor wants you to take, though, because it is hard on your heart.  Chelated iron saved me from having to deal with something more serious, so it is worth looking into.

[grnmaj]

Thanks so much for your post.  As I read your suggestions I found so many things that have been a problem over the years.I do take extra strength vitamin D and calcium...D-1000 and a Senior woman's multivitamin daily. In summer I get lots of sunshine as I have a large lawn that takes me 3 1/2 hrs. on a riding mower.   As for the glaucoma, there is no record of anyone in my family ever having this.  I've had problems with H. pylori in regard to problems with my digestive system. I don't have high blood pressure, but I have had problems with anemia back a few years ago (had a blood transfusion rec'd 2 pts.)  I realize I'm aging and some of these things are to be expected as body parts "do" wear out.  My shoulder joint and the cervical area have been treated with cortiscosteroids, normally giving me from 9 to 12 months relief.  I rec'd one in Sept. in my shoulder and one in Oct. for cervical area, this time the relief was very short lived and debating what next?  I am a widow and live alone in my home of 20+ years.   Thanks again for your assessment.  grnmaj

[Red_Star]

One study found 93% with unexplained bone and muscle pain were deficient in vitamin D.  Bone spurs have been linked to a deficiency in calcium; vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption.  Vitamin D deficiency is very common with thyroid disease.  The vitamin D council recommends vitamin D levels between 50 - 80ng/mL or 125 - 200nmol/L year round.

Researchers found that people with glaucoma were 38% more likely to have had a thyroid disorder diagnosed at some stage in their life. Besides this finding, major risk factors listed for glaucoma include:

Age over 45 years
Family history of glaucoma
Black racial ancestry
Diabetes
History of elevated intraocular pressure
Nearsightedness
Farsightedness
History of injury to the eye
Use of cortisone (steroids)

Blepharitis is one of the most common disorders of the eye and is often the underlying reason for eye discomfort, redness and tearing.  

The main causes of blepharitis are:

Staphylococcus infection
Seborrhoeic dermatitis
Contact dermatitis
Rosacea
Eczema

Experts are not sure what the exact causes of rosacea are but suspects include:

Abnormalities in facial blood vessels
Light skin color
Demodex folliculorum (microscopic mite)
Helicobacter pylori bacteria
Family history (inheritance, genes)

Some factors can aggravate or worsen rosacea including:

Hot foods
Hot drinks
Caffeine
Spicy foods
Dairy products
Extremes of temperature
Sunlight
Humidity
Wind
Stress, anxiety, anger, embarrassment
Vigorous exercise
Hot baths
Saunas
Corticosteroids
Some medications
Cold
Cough
Fever
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Alcohol