Flare up: OMG. As u will know, I've had... - Fibromyalgia Acti...

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Flare up

nicnoc profile image
11 Replies

OMG. As u will know, I've had fibro for 12 years so learnt to live with the pain whilst appearing fairly normal. Over the last 6 months I have had flare ups more frequently and for longer periods so its becoming harder to deal with. Last night/ early hours it came to a head. We had been out for my birthday, few drinks and then a meal. Was fine when I went to bed. Half hour later went to the toilet and it struck me. Had a pain like a lightening bolt from my leftt nipple to my armpit. This floored me and happened 3 times. It then turned into what felt like being clamped in a red hot vice and twisted. Ended up in A&E for 6 hours to be told it was a new way of my fibro manifesting itself and flaring up quite violently. The doctor is going to write to my gp to advise then to refer me to the pain clinic and for a reduction . Have any of my fellow suffered this type of pain? I would sooner go through childbirth than experience this again it is now coming in waves every half hour or so

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nicnoc profile image
nicnoc
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11 Replies
rosewine profile image
rosewine

I am so sorry that this terrible pain spoilt what sounded to have been a lovely birthday. yes I have experienced that and the first few times it was really scary. That is how mine all started with a bout of costo chondritis which is inflammation of the cartiledge of the rib cage (if you haven;t heard of it) and was like a horrible gnawing ache and then I started the "zaps" as I call them which red hot shooting pain like someone had either tazered me (pr what I imagine it is like) or stuck a red hot needle in me. It kept on happening at first from my left rib cage right across my left breast. I know it is so severe that you just have to shout out with it. It got so bad that the doctor actually sent me to the Breast specialist at the hospital just to rule out anything more sinister. I also get the red hot burning/shooting pains in my thoratic area of my back. Pregablin dampened it down somewhat but unfortunately it has never gone away. completely and regularly rears its ugly head when I am least expecting it. I find a change in temperature or if I have overdone it often starts an episode off. I sometimes find a warm Epsom salts bath seems to calm it down and if the burning part is persistant the doctor has given me lidocaine patches to administer to that area but of course they don;t work instantaneously. I sincerely hope you find something that helps you. Very gentle, soft hugsx

nicnoc profile image
nicnoc

Thanks for your reply, its good to know I'm not the only one to have haf this and yes it is very scary when u not had it before. All I can do is try and get to see my gp and push it so I dont get fobbed off with painkillers yet again. Watch this space. Lol.

I am not sure if it was the same as yours, but I have had electric shock like pains 3 times over the last few years. Each time it has been in my back and upper chest. The first time it left me covered in black and blue bruises. I never thought to check the other times, But all 3 times it kept coming in waves, I would get the shocks and then some relief, gradually the pain would build up and my muscles become tense until I had to move to ease the pain, knowing that as soon as I did the shooting shock pain would start again. Each time the worst wore off after a couple off days leaving me with a very sore back.

Fingers crossed it has been a couple of years since the last time.

Sorry that I have no advice for you and I hope that the pain will soon pass for you.

Gentle hugs sue xx

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor

Hi nicnoc

I am so sorry to read that you are suffering in this way and that it ruined what should have been a wonderful birthday bash! I genuinely hope that you can find some resolution and relief to this issue. I have experienced similar pains but nothing near the severity that you have described. I have Costochondritis in my right side ribs which can cause my Fibro to flare up and it is excruciating.

I want to wish you all the best of luck with your appointment at pain management and with your GP, and I sincerely hope that you can find the answers that you so desperately desire and deserve.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken x

nicnoc profile image
nicnoc

Thanks for your replies, its typical timing that cant ring docs till tues with it being bank holiday. I havent had any bruising apart from in my hand where the doctor was trying to get a needle into a vein and burst it. I warned them my body doesnt like giving things up easily. Haha. This is reflected in my personality. I am a leo after all. I will keep fighting as it wont control me yet, im too young.

So sorry to hear of ur awfull pain,I'm going through something awfull at te mo, ths seems to comes in waves ,I wouldn't wish this on anyone

honor1a profile image
honor1a

Hi Nicnoc,

I hope you had a lovely birthday, apart from the pain you suffered! You

mentioned going for drinks before

the meal, were your drinks alcoholic

& was your meal spicy i.e. a curry? I love

curries but I know if I have one I am

going to suffer for 3 or 4 days I'm the

same with alcohol, so don't drink except

2 maximum xmas day same on new years.

the other thing that aggregates my fibro

is cold damp weather, just a suggestion

that these things might be cause of your

flare ups, I hope your pain settles before

too long. Take care & hugs to you x

B2WC profile image
B2WC

Hi Nicnoc,

I am sorry to hear that, not a very happy birthday then, I learn over the last three months, as I started writing every thing of what I eat, I thing I have read some thing of a journal (I was waiting at the pain clinic) - and a lady I couldn't remember the author name she used to suffer severely from FM and she start to noted every thing what she does each day , what makes her flare up - what good/bad/worse day she has, so I start to copied her 3 months ago, and I notice the differences, every time I eat little - by little (often) rather than 3 x a day - I feel better the next day - I stop, eating after 7 pm - but I have hot milk before I go to bed. I have black berries every, other day just a handful, I never eat banana anymore, I reduce my in take of potasium and carbohydrate, as well as white bread, I replace my meal with lots of fruits and vegs, I eat a handful of dry mix fruit/nut each morning, green tea, I feel I am getting more energy, only now I can walk but I just have to fight for it, as before I was really struggling, I start doing my morning meditation and breathing exercise, hopefully next week I can go to my local FM group. Try to drink green tea with honey, anything with plenty of antioxidant suppose to be good for our nerve and muscle.

But I wish you the best...it is not a very nice condition for all of us

bwaite profile image
bwaite

Oh that's awful! Haven't had that

but my breast hurt of and on

all the time. Hope they can find

something to help you. X

mitziblue profile image
mitziblue

So sorry sweetheart!!! Sounds horrible. I've never had anything like that or heard of it. Have you had a mamagram lately? I've had pain in my ribs and get it often, but it hurts when taking deep breaths, coughing, sneezing, and uncomfortable to bend over. I hope the pain clinic can help but it sounds as though a nerve is backfiring and causing you terrible pain. I'm having issues with my esophagus, I always say " Another Day In The World Of Fibro " Like a box of chocolates you never know what you are going to get. Hang in there honey and I'm praying you get the help you need to relief your suffering!!! xxx Mitzi

nicnoc profile image
nicnoc

Thanks for your comments and advice. They wont give me a mammogram as I am too young. I only drink once a fortnight and dont really eat spicy food. I have noticed weather conditions can aggravate it a lot more and if I have a bath it makes my legs worse. Will start doing a food diary..c what I find. Think physio will have to wait for a while

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