Need help figuring out this weird sensation

[luvmyglidersPEI]

Not sure what the aching all over my body is: It comes and goes day and night. It's a weird not overly painful except in my neck and wrists, sometimes my knees. It's like a wave all over that would only seem to go away if I was able to crack my joints ...I'm at work sometimes and I have to bend over because it is like a shockwave that goes from the base of my neck to the bottom of my feet and almost paralyzing pain. I have a fairly good pain tolerance so after 10 or 15 seconds I shake out of it and my muscles just feel limp. Any ideas would be appreciated. On PEI our healthcare isn't great and I don't have health insurance so very hard to find a good doctor...

[BlueMermaid3]

Hi there

Have you been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia? That sounds like the pain that comes with it (although it does come in all sorts of ways).

I do not know what PEI is, so I am a bit stumped as to know how to help you.

Can you get back to me and we can go from there.

Many thanks

Lu x

Administrator

[luvmyglidersPEI in reply to BlueMermaid3]

Prince Edward Island, Canada. PEI for short. I haven't gone to the doctor about this yet as unless I'm in a lot of pain he rather not see me... Canadian healthcare system...without the health insurance... Really was happy with the doctor I had in Ct. when I lived there and had insurance. The sensations or aches, whatever they are have just been a lot more frequent the past few weeks, not sure why. I turned 52 in June and wondering if it could be hormonal but I didn't think so. My great uncle had been diagnosed with MS when he was 51 so that has sort of stuck with me when these weird aches happen. I was also rear-ended 14 years ago and had whiplash which may have damaged the vertebrae at the bottom of my neck. Not much of a doctor goer since I moved back to PEI 14 years ago , 6 weeks before I had my daughter, Megan. I am a single mom so have to be here to look after her, so I can't be sick or try not to be... Thank God I only work 14 weeks of the year for the most part as it is almost impossible to find fulltime employment here on the Island unless you know someone in politics. Most good jobs are government run, health, education, tax, tourism and even a lot of industry jobs in farming, fishing, and agriculture, science and technology.

[Sorebones in reply to luvmyglidersPEI]

Having lived in a country that insists on health care insurance I know where you're coming from. I feel that we in the UK take it for granted that we have access to free health care. But, your health and welfare are so important when we have Fibro. Even though you won't have access to meds, you know that it's trial and error with them as we each react differently.

My advice is to learn as much as possible online about pain management. That includes things like pacing, relaxation techniques, mindfulness, CBT, gentle stretches etc. I would try each technique for a week to see if it helps. You will then be able to see what helps you and what is a waste of time. If one thing in particular helps then learn as much as you can about it.

When it comes down to it, with me that's more of a help than medication. Hope that's been of some help X 🐸

[luvmyglidersPEI in reply to Sorebones]

Thanks. I try different exercises and stretches a lot even when I'm at work. It feels if I could get to the chiropractor and have some adjustments, it would feel better but will see how changing some of my diet works and a different form of exercise that is easier on the body like walking.

[Sorebones in reply to luvmyglidersPEI]

Please find out more about pacing. It teaches you how to manage your pain x

[Hidden]

Do you have swimming centres close by that have a Jacuzzi? I find a soak in the warm bubbles helps muscles tone up a little.

[luvmyglidersPEI in reply to Hidden]

We do at the University in the city but I can't really afford to go there at the present time. A single mom with a 14 week a year job. Very hard to find fulltime employment on Prince Edward Island unless you know someone in politics.... I did work harvesting potatoes last fall and then substitute cleaned in the schools for most of the winter with a break for 6 weeks when my thyroid went defunct from low to high but has since been straightened out, I think... Not exactly what I had gone to college for( Drug and Alcohol Counsellor)and now work at a Liquor Store for 3 months during the summer...

[Hidden in reply to luvmyglidersPEI]

Hi again- It makes people in the U.K realise how lucky we are to have the NHS if we lived "out in the sticks" like you (although it sounds a lovely place) we would never survive, we are pampered thru the NHS and at our workplaces we should read more of members like you have to live with and consider ourselves very fortunate! Keep with us its good to hear from you.

[luvmyglidersPEI in reply to Hidden]

Thanks again. Yes Prince Edward Island is very beautiful, maybe a bit dreary in the winter though when we have banks of snow we don't know what to do with...

[TheAuthor]

Hi luvmyglidersPEI

Welcome to the forum and it is wonderful to make your acquaintance. I am so genuinely sorry to read that you have been suffering and struggling in this way, and it really would be best to discuss how you are feelign with your doctor. There are so many reasons and medical conditions that need ruling out of the equation, and I have pasted for you below an excerpt form the *MDhealth website to illustrate many of the medical conditions that need to be checked out for you:

*Conditions that Cause General Body Aches

*General body aches can be caused by several conditions with a range of severity.

*Temporary Conditions:

Temporary conditions can cause pain throughout the body that is not severe or dangerous. These conditions may be caused by an increase in pyruvic or lactic acid in the system or soreness because you recently overused the muscles.

Medical Conditions:

One of the most common causes of body aches is influenza. This is a virus that exhibits symptoms such as cough, fever, headache or exhaustion. This is commonly mistaken for a common cold due to the similar symptoms. Because the flu is virally based there is not usually a medication that can be prescribed to help alleviate the symptoms. Rest and home remedies to help alleviate the nausea or congestion can help alleviate discomfort until the body can fight off the infection.

Other medical conditions such as fever, other viral infections or a cellular immune response can result in temporary body aches.

Others:

Overextending the muscles with physical activity or traumatizing the muscles due to painful activity such as a car accident can result in aches all over the body.

*Medium Term Conditions:

Medium term conditions are referred to as body aches that last for a longer length of time but eventually dissipate. This can be caused by a serious condition such as a major infection that causes a full body response.

Lyme Disease: Lyme disease is an illness that is transmitted by the bite of a tick. In addition to body aches and joint pain, patients will notice a rash in a bull's eye pattern near the site where they were bitten and flu like symptoms such as chills, fever or headaches. As the disease progresses, neurological problems can occur as well. In severe cases heart problems, eye inflammation, severe fatigue and liver inflammation can occur. Antibiotics can be used to help alleviate these symptoms once the offending tick has been removed.

Pneumonia: Pneumonia is caused by infection that results in the inflammation of the lungs. This infection can be caused by the presence of a virus, bacteria or fungi. In some cases this can also be caused by inadvertently inhaling liquids or chemicals that get trapped in the lungs. The inflammation from pneumonia can cause coughing, fever and difficulty breathing. The cough may result in the patient spitting up phlegm, but this will not happen with all infections. The patient suffering from pneumonia will be ordered to rest and increase their intake of fluids to help flush the infection from the system. Rounds of antibiotics will frequently be administered to help alleviate the discomfort.

*Chronic Conditions:

Chronic conditions that result in body aches cause the body to feel this discomfort at some level at a constant rate. This may be caused by inflammation of the cells or damage to the nervous system.

Autoimmune Diseases: Autoimmune diseases cause the immune system to attack a portion of the body rather than a foreign intruder. Common autoimmune diseases that can cause body aches include lupus and severe joint pain often stemming from arthritis or systemic inflammation.

Fibromyalgia is an autoimmune disease that causes musculoskeletal pain throughout the body. This can cause fatigue, trouble sleeping, memory trouble or mood swings due to the amplified response of the nervous system and the way your brain interprets signals from the nervous system. Surgery, infection, physical or psychological trauma can cause this condition to appear, though in some cases this condition can appear with no previous indicators.

Chronic fatigue can also cause widespread muscle aches. This is because your body is not getting the rest it needs so daily activities put an excessive amount of stress on the body. You may notice pain in the joints and muscles as well as tender lymph nodes, sore throat or headaches. Women in their 40s and 50s are more susceptible to this condition but it is not currently known what causes chronic fatigue to appear.

Other autoimmune diseases like bursitis, osteoarthritis, bursitis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and fibrositiscan trigger generalized body aches as well.

Neurological or Psychiatric Conditions: Peripheral neuropathy is a common neurological condition that can cause numbness, aches and pains throughout the body. This condition may be more prominent in the hands and feet. This pain is often felt as a burning or tingling sensation. This condition is frequently caused by a traumatic injury to the nervous system or exposure to certain toxins. Diabetes can also cause peripheral neuropathy to appear. Treating the underlying condition may help this condition disappear.

Depression can also cause aches and pains to develop throughout the body. Depression is an overwhelming feeling of sadness or loss of interest. You may have difficulty sleeping, energy loss, feelings of worthlessness, changes in weight or thoughts of suicide. Depression is caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. This condition frequently appears when the patient is between the ages of 15-30 and is much more common in women. Medications can be used to artificially raise the chemical levels in the brain to help manage these symptoms.

Somatization disorder is also one of the neurological conditions that can cause general body aches.

I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck, and please take care of yourself.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[luvmyglidersPEI]

Thank you. I ruled out quite a few conditions but will look into the others. Wondering how a person can learn more about the toxins in the body since I was exposed to wicked chemicals used last fall to kill the sprouts of the potatoes and then some harsh chemicals when cleaning in the schools the first few months of the year. Kim