Is fibromyalgia medically accepted? - Fibromyalgia Acti...

Fibromyalgia Action UK

59,346 members66,394 posts

Is fibromyalgia medically accepted?

17 Replies

After 10 years & 4× surgery from degenerating spinal discs, i feel worse than when the nightmare began. Eager to find way forward, and having fibromyalgia symptoms, I asked my GP about fibromyalgia. He said it just means 'muscle pain' and isn't an actual medical condition....?

At another visit he also suggested getting a job would be better for me....? Lost prev job thru ill health in 2010, now aged 61...!?!

Any opinions on reality of fibromyalgia? Feel like a scrounger :(

Read more about...
17 Replies

any doctor who doesn’t believe Fibro is a medical condition needs to be struck off! If a doctor said that to me i would be very very quick to show them how Fibro has threatened to ravage my life! it is very real and very horrendous a life changing illness but one that no matter what will never beat me

bobbybobb profile image
bobbybobb

I agree with droplett. Download the research published in Brain Behaviour and Immunology that shows evidence that Fibro is caused by inflammation of the Brain. Post it to your buffoon of a GP.

in reply to bobbybobb

Lol! Buffoon! Love it bobbybobb!

Nessie87 profile image
Nessie87 in reply to bobbybobb

That’s right. It’s a neurological disorder. I was diagnosed by a Professor of Rheumatology.

Lou1054 profile image
Lou1054

My neurologist treats as a medical condition, he believes it to be a disorder of the central nervous system xx

Purple_peace profile image
Purple_peace

It is a real medical condition here in the US it is on the Americans with Disability’s Act. 20 years, I have been suffering with this after my car accident ruined my neck from the airbag flying, I was a passenger airbag struck me, I lost a disc in my neck and,had to have a cervical fusion which ended up as a failed surgery so, I’m left with permanent nerve damage on my left side of my body and, then months later Fibromyalgia symptoms began at first my neurologist thought, I had MS or Lupus sent me for blood work to rule out those two diseases they were negative blood test so

,I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I have been being treated at a pain clinic now for 20 years because my conditions with my nerve damage Pain and,Fibromyalgia and, chronic migraines can only be managed with fluoroscopic guided epidurals, pain patch for nerve damage pain, and Botox injections to control constant migraines from inflammation of the nerves in my neck. My spine is very fragile, I also have degenerative disc disease of the neck & back. So my health really sucks but, even just Fibromyalgia alone is terrible because, there are no cures only management of the symptoms. Find a new doctor if you’re doctor isn’t going too take it seriously it’s not in your head. Hope you can get someone to be more Helpful in trading your condition also compassionate.

Blessings 🙏🏻💜

Lolarufus123 profile image
Lolarufus123 in reply to Purple_peace

Hi I am sorry to hear about how much pain you're in. I have bones that won't heal, S1 and L5, both in my lower spine. This is due to an accident I had a year ago where I broke my sacrum and incurred damage in at least 3 nerves that I know off. I can't walk very far, can't lift anything over a kilo and I'm in pain all the time. I decided against surgery after being told by a group of neurosurgeons that I could only get 50 percent better, no guarantee the pain would stop and out of every 200 surgeries they only do 1 sacral fusion. I am interested in what you said about you're pain clinic. I tried 3 separate pain clinics and found the staff inflicted pain rather than treating it. I will never go back to a pain clinic again. It must be an Australian thing. Wishing you all the best.

alison84230 profile image
alison84230 in reply to Lolarufus123

I went to a pain clinic a few weeks ago. But as im on morphine already they just said they couldn't do any more than that. But my gp is sending me fir nhs funded acupuncture when covid is calmed down.

kiwibutterfly profile image
kiwibutterfly

Change your GP. You can see another one in your surgery or move. I hate these GP's who are so blinkered and old-fashioned that they have only a fixed idea of things and that's that. It is real, just like ME or chronic fatigue is real and used to be called yuppy flu and treated as a fashionable, almost fake, illness. Some Drs are stuck in a time-warp. I wish you well x

Annandpaul2004 profile image
Annandpaul2004

Fibromyalgia comes with arthritis or after a spell when you have been stressed out a lot. Mine was diagnosed 3 years ago when having real probs with nutty neighbours and couldent get help from anyone. Sound like you have a doctor from the stone age so upgrade.

WF2k profile image
WF2k

If you are able to, I'd change your Dr, it's never nice when we go to our GP looking for help only to be fobbed off, I've had this often so I tend to switch Dr's depending on how the appointment went, this is probably due to my anxiety, but I really just want someone to help and listen to me.

I've been diagnosed with FM by 3 different GP's, the first two I don't think knew what they were talking about but the 3rd actually bothered to have blood tests done, wasn't referred to anywhere else though because she said that a Rheumatologist would do the same as what she's done which is to rule out other health problems.

I hope you manage to get the help that you need!

alison84230 profile image
alison84230 in reply to WF2k

My gp is great. Hes given me enough meds so i am fairly painless when i was suicdal before. Hes sent me to acpain clinic and is sending my for nhs paid acupuncture when they open after coronavirus! I can im how it feels when drs do not recognise fibromyalgia as no tests can give us a diagnosis its just if you meet most of the standard symptoms.

khaleeseebrown1 profile image
khaleeseebrown1

After suffering from a work related back injury for 11 years plus osteoarthritis everywhere 2 hip surgeries and the dreaded mesh . I was still in horrendous pain which controlled my life . I went to my doc this was 6 years ago told him I'd searched internet and thought ihad fibromyalgia , this go was youngin his early 40 ,s not an old codger waiting to retire . He dismissed the whole thing stating it was a made up condition which was given when inexplicable pain was experienced by a patient he told me go away stop internet searching I have to live with arthritis and keep taking medication exercise and lose weight . After this visit to him my whole world was turned upside down house , divorce, business etc . I had to move away from the village I had grown up in to rent a prop miles away which was damp and disgusting I felt so down . But on the plus side I had a new gp who is totally understanding has sent me to various specialist she thinks it's polymyalga but rheumatologist said it's fibro I was devastated told rheumatologist what old Gp had said she was cross and said he's not helpful my son who works in casualty had a word with one of the doctors on call with him and even that registra said it's a highly controversial diagnosis so if the hospital is at odds with the diagnosis and we only have backing of our rheumatologist who confirm it what the hell are we supposed to do . I feel the same a fraud with a nonexistent illness even with all the help on this site I still feel a fraud I'm a qualified nurse I do understand where they coming from but it's time every one was on the same page in the medical profession . Having a gp dismiss fibro has led to a number of patients feeling the same and family members dismissing it as all in your head . Good luck I would change your gp my new one is supportive and kind .

in reply to khaleeseebrown1

Drs seem to think I'm looking for something 'wrong' with me - but actually looking for something I can put right!

Have to say tho, negative comments from health professionals tend to drag you further down. They can be positive & provide some hope of better managing symptoms....or just leave you to rot.

You've had a terrible time, hope you can just think about getting stronger now. X

Janicej profile image
Janicej

I have been under a Rheumatologist for 9+years in fact because my inflammation was so high i was under the lead Rheumatologist i won't bore but I now have numerous serious health issues and have to take very many medications but, the reason for my response 're Fibromyalgia is that my Rheumatologist left so I am now under the new lead he actually sent me a letter to say looking through my notes he was pretty certain i had Fibro and he put me on Amitriptyline 3 each Night on my first visit to see him he did a test to confirm which it did! I said to him that I thought that is not recognized as a illness to which he replied it was known and recognized Wait for it!!! 35 Years ago this from a respected Lead Rheumatologist !! So to All the G.P, or think they know all people it is a Fact Fibromyalgia is a very real illness. But, having said that there is no totally conclusive test but there are i was told 5 different things that indicate fibro and the one test they can do and was done to me was ( I was warned of would Hurt and it Did !!! There are points in the Neck they touch and it can verify the Diagnosis of it causes you quite significant pain!!! It's just a extra pointer to Fibromyalgia anyways Girls and Boys i no it was a long Rant apologies But I wanted to explain in as much detail as I was informed of. Hope that might be of some help.

Milton2328 profile image
Milton2328

See another doctor that's what i did to get a diagnosis also go on the nhs website and read up on fibromyalgia print it out if you can and take it with you to your doctors appointment simply ask if it is not a medical condition then why does it state it as one on the nhs website x

alison84230 profile image
alison84230

Oh my god. Ok it absolutely is a medical condition and your dr is very out of touch. If you just Google it it will tell you that it is a widespread pain condition. I was diagnosed by my rheumatologist who gave me a leaflet about it from the arthritis society. He maybe suggested you get a job if you have depression? I know alot or most of fibromyalgia patients do and its not good for the mind to not do anything.

You may also like...

Fibromyalgia medication

No medication helps fibromyalgia

He advised me then that nothing would help fibromyalgia and nothing has changed in that way. I...

Fibromyalgia and medical procedures

widely misunderstood and dismissed health condition, I always feel it's a bit like the dyslexia...

Advise about medication for a new fibromyalgia diagnosis.

Hi I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia yesterday by a rheumatology consultant. She had told me that I...

Fibromyalgia got me medically retired from civil service

the F word for 7yrs now with anxiety...loved my job for 18yrs for the D.W.P but got made retired...