Widespread pain

[Green_bee]

Hi I just need to ask if people feel the same as me. When walking I feel like I’m walking in wet cement and feel like it’s pulling on my hip and my legs hurt so much that it actually exhaust me and all I keep doing is finding my self sleeping as the smallest task just drains the whole life out of me. My doctor just keeps telling me it’s my depression causing it.

[Hidden]

You describe the way you walk exactly the way I do but I always say that I'm dragging myself through treacle, the exhaustion and widespread pain got me a fibro diagnosis after going for many tests to rule out other things. Have you had a diagnosis? xx

[Green_bee in reply to Hidden]

No Iv been back and forth to my doctors and all they keep saying is it’s my depression. But the pain started way before the depression. Xx

[Hidden in reply to Green_bee]

I'm sure others will come in with advice for you the only advice that I can give you is that you keep on until your Dr. listens to you! I really feel for you as it took me and many others on the forum years to get a diagnosis, have you put it to the Dr. that you feel you might be suffering with fibro? Maybe even see another Dr. within the practise? xx

[Green_bee in reply to Hidden]

I have been under my doctors for 50 years and finally decided to change my doctors had an appointment today at my new doctors and they told me exactly the same thing depression but they want me to go to a pain clinic and said I will have to sleep there for 3 weeks I told them I suffer with anxiety and I can’t do that so I said I will go on appointments but I won’t sleep there. I also told him I have blurred vision in my left eye and my hair is falling out and he just said that’s due to stress. Some days I just feel to end my life because the pain is getting me down so much. Why don’t people listen to anything we tell them. I just want to be pain free. My mum had fibromyalgia but died of kidney failure 7 years ago. My older sister has fibro and her daughter too. It’s just so frustrating I’m at my wits end. They have taken me off my strong pain killers cocodamol 30/500 and put me on codeine 15mg and Saïd to take paracetamol and I’m not coping I just need something different to help with the pain I just feel like I don’t have a life anymore. Xx

[Green_bee in reply to Hidden]

Iv had this pain for over 3 years and the depression for 2 years. What do you take for your pain? X

[Hidden in reply to Green_bee]

And you have told them what you think it might be? I take gabapentin, regularly and Co codamol when the pain is really bad, also citilopram which is an antidepressant. I was initially prescribed Naproxen but they upset my stomach so badly that they burnt the lining of my stomach! I hope you get things sorted out soon there's nothing worse than being awake late at night because of constant pain xx

[Green_bee in reply to Hidden]

No Hun I haven’t told them. It’s their job to tell me. I can’t take naproxen as the same thing upsets my tummy. I have ibs. Diverticulitis. I also have COPD. High blood pressure. High cholesterol and on a lot of meds for all that but they still keep saying depression. X

[Hidden in reply to Green_bee]

I have diabetes type 2 and ibs as well and take medication for the diabetes, many fibro sufferers also have ibs, maybe your GP needs a little nudge in the right direction? Do you find that some days are much worse than others? Like flares? These are the times when you really need to be mindful and take extra care of yourself, easier said than done I know xx

[Green_bee in reply to Hidden]

Sorry to hear that. Ohh yes some day are manageable then other days are so bad. I feel like I have chronic fatigue which I cannot control. But I cannot sleep at night as soon as I get into bed I’m just tossing and turning until in the end I have to get up and just cry and cry with the pain I end up going back to bed at 8 am when I am so tired it just don’t make sense. Anyway thank you so much for listening I better let you get some sleep. Xx

[Hidden in reply to Green_bee]

You too if you can! Take care of yourself xx

[Midori in reply to Green_bee]

Hi Green Bee,

Former nurse here, also with Fibro.

Yes, it is your doctor's responsibility to give the diagnosis, but it is a long journey, and he seems to have you down as a 'heart sink' Patient. Heart Sink is the feeling GPs get when a patient comes in repeatedly with the same or similar symptoms, and it is easy for a GP to just write another prescription without really trying to get to the root of the problem.

Sometimes, GPs cannot see what is right in front of their eyes, and need leading to a diagnosis. Try saying you are frightened that it could be something like MS or ME. You could also tell him quite forcefully that your Pain came before your depression, and the pain is the reason for it.

Have you asked him straight out for a second opinion? I think it would be worth your while.

There is also another possibility; Change to a different doctor. If you are in a Surgery with a group of doctors, you can ask to see any of them.

Cheers, Midori

[Green_bee in reply to Midori]

Hi midori thank you for writing back. I have now changed my doctor after 50 years and had my first consultation with my new doctors which has made me very frustrated as I ask to see a female doctor and was automatically given a male doctor because he was the only one doing a face to face visit. I felt very uncomfortable don’t know why I just cannot communicate with male doctors for some reason I think it’s because I don’t like men to see im weak. Anyway I felt like he just wasn’t listening and felt no compassion to the amount of pain that I’m in. After a 20 min appointment I then realised he never read my notes and knew nothing about my health they just called me in because of the email I sent in telling them I need to see a doc. He said he want to see me in 2 weeks time and has took me off my strong pain meds and gave me codeine 15 mg and said to see how I go with that and in the mean time he will read through my notes I feel like Iv gone right back the the beginning of explaining all my symptoms. I’m tired of explaining and just feel like giving up. Xx

[Midori in reply to Green_bee]

Don't give up; when you next have an appointment arrange it specifically to see a female doctor. It may not be on a good day for you, but insist on a female. You have the right.

Cheers, Midori

[Admin_AFMCG Partner]

Hi Green_bee

It could be a combination of both (physical & depression), however for your GP to dismiss your symptoms as purely psychosomatic or due to depression isn't helpful. Can you try going to see another GP?

For pain, have you tried Capsaicin cream? It is prescribed by the GP, however if sensitive to medications a would highly suggest a 24hr patch test as made from capsicum peppers. Also, best applied with gloves and be careful near sensitive areas, if you get me! LOL

Link for more info: versusarthritis.org/about-a...

If you get to see another GP, do let us know how you get on....

All the best