Diagnosis

[Zmcq]

My GP did a questionnaire about fibro with me and it stated that I have a definite diagnosis of fibro and hes referring me to a Muscoskeletal specialist. I'm on amitriptyline 50mg each night but I still wake up in severe pain. My GP didn't really tell me much and I forgot to ask because I'm so tired all the time. I have been reading about fibro on the NHS website and it says that I should of been referred to a Rheumatologist. I'm worrying now that I've been referred to the wrong place.

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee]

A Rheumatologist is a Muscoskeletal specialist so you are being sent to the right place.

[Zmcq in reply to desquinn]

Ok thanks

[Painny]

Hiya

Just wanted to say my Fibro came to light via going to musculoskeletal dept. The reason for this referral is for physio but you could ask your doctor to book an appointment with a rheumatologist. Mine did and the only thing the consultant did was to confirm the diagnosis plus sending me back for more physio as I am allergic to drugs. Wishing you a pain free afternoon

[Zmcq in reply to Painny]

I spent alot of time last year and the year before doing physio. No doubt they will send me there again but I will try anything.

[johnsmith]

What is a Muscoskeletal specialist and what is a Rheumatologist?

Rheumatologists deal mainly with immune-mediated disorders of the musculoskeletal system, soft tissues, autoimmune diseases, vasculitides, and heritable connective tissue disorders.

Many of these diseases are now known to be disorders of the immune system. Rheumatology is considered to be the study and practice of medical immunology.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheum...

A lot of fibro problems are musculoskeletal. So help in moving better would be helpful. Unfortunately, in many cases you have to look outside the NHS for help to move better.

[Zmcq in reply to johnsmith]

I have diabetes which is an autoimmune disease. Ive just found this online which I was not aware of before.

Fibromyalgia and diabetes. It is seen that patients with diabetes are more likely to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia. ... Furthermore patients who have both diabetes and fibromyalgia have a higher number of tender points, increased pain scores, increased risk of sleep disturbances, fatigue, and headaches.

[johnsmith in reply to Zmcq]

Diabetes is problematic. Particularly where feet are concerned. Need to ask the person you are being referred to about potential feet problems

[Cape_Cod_Sharon]

I had the same response, you need a Rheumatologist

[butterfly55]

Hi this is my first time to post. My gp diagnosed my fibro after years of suffering different symptoms ( some I never disclosed as convinced myself I imagined them) he was so understanding and explained fibro to me. He referred me to rheumatologist I waited 1.5 yrs and finally had appoint last friday they confirmed the diagnosis, extremely helpful offer meds. As I in a good space at moment ( pain in arm and leg, but manageabl) I refused meds, they have now referred me for physiotherapy. Currently I walk do aqua acrobatic when I can and started yoga.

[Gooddaysagain]

I remember an orthopaedic consultant pointing at my neck/shoulder X-Ray and saying "There's nothing on here to explain the level of pain you're feeling"...... I felt SOOO guilty. If only I'd known how to explain that I had at least 3 types of pain... one, the obvious 'outside-in' of acute pain, such as knocking a toe or cutting my finger. Another, the constant, background angry gnawing of chronic kneck, shoulder, knee and feet pain - both of which had pretty obvious causes, and then there's the 'inside-out' pain of (what I found out 4 years later) of Nervous System pain which was labelled FM.

I would now ask that Orthopeadic Consultant, and the emergency duty GP (who asked me "where does it hurt?" when I couldn't make the pain stop.....) to invest in some Neuroscience Education.

You'd have thought that Doctors at all levels, and in all disciplines, would understand and describe to their patients, simply, the difference between 'pain' and 'nociception'. Please have a read of (at least) the Discussion section in:

archives-pmr.org/article/S0003-9993(11)0067-8/fulltext

I found this site whilst actually searching for NE, as in Norepiphrenine (Noradrenaline in old money). It's a pity it didn't catch on in my part of Wales 10 years ago. Have you heard of it?

I hope it saves you time and pain.

If only I'd known back then, it would have saved me years of suspecting I might be making it all up!

Good luck with your journey back to full health,

dee x

[Zeitgiest]

Hey, how long has it been since you are on Amytryptiline? I started seeing effects after taking it for more than 5 months. So, if it has not been long, I would give it more time. Also, if you have sleep issues, I would recommend seeing a sleep therapist. Mine helped me a lot and now I don’t lie awake at night in pain.

I hope you feel better soon and take care.

Thanks

Zeitgeist

[Zmcq in reply to Zeitgiest]

Hi I've been on them for a few years now. They help me get off to sleep but I wake in early hours in severe pain and muscle spasms.