symptoms

[Walker1983]

Hi all, I’m currently having some tests done but I think it maybe fibromyalgia as I have quite a few of the symptoms. I have a lot of pain in my back, shoulders and neck. Like someone can just touch it lightly and it’s quite painful. The pain can move around these area’s. Can I ask if anyone else gets this? Also if these areas are rubbed gently it can help relieve the pain, anyone else have this?

[Al10]

Have you tried exercise. I've mentioned them before Brad and Bob on YouTube have lots of free videos showing how to help various bits of the body. Might be something to help? There were reasons why this helped me. 1. I could watch over until I'd figured what I needed to do.

2 I could then do the movement without the physio telling no this and that and ending up hurting me.

3 I could try the exercises without the judgement. Wimpy fibro complaining again. Etc

4I could have my session in my time. When I needed it, not after a long drive and wait in a cold waiting room.

5 by the time I would get to the top of any NHS waiting list, my pain will have morphed bigger, odder etc. More entrenched, harder to treat

Downsides you have to figure your search words to find an appropriate video. And there is no physio telling you to do the exact exercise and how you are doing it wrong to hard to long ect, although they do explain clearly so you shouldn't be doing that.

Until Brad and Bob, I'd never experienced any relief from physio, and I'd had lots. And that is a whole lot of critism on me because physics never like being wrong!

If you look at the criteria for joining the fibro club, it's to be affecting all four quadrants. With various of your systems affected. Tummy, urinery and so on. You may be lucky and this is posture/stress related . Too long at a desk maybe?

[Acdf in reply to Al10]

I don't know about the all 4 quadrants my pain is all from the waist up?

[Al10 in reply to Acdf]

If you don't have the kind of symptoms desquin describes, I'd really be hoping your pains are muscular or structural and as such ought to be more easily treatable. Hard to say of course.

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to Al10]

Just to say that the ACR 2016 criteria is pain in 4 of the 5 areas / Widespread pain. Also, you will have sleep and cognitive issues. These are the core elements, but you can also have but do not need to have other comorbid conditions to add to your symptom severity score e.g. IBS or migraines for example.

[Walker1983 in reply to Al10]

I do sit at a desk but this started just over 2 years ago after a car accident and has got worse over time. Pain can be all over and move around the back but now I have this pressure/ feeling that something is in the front of my neck. I don’t sleep well, have stomach issues, headaches, sweats

[Al10 in reply to Walker1983]

Whiplash injuries are tricky. can be long lasting or even take time to realise. Any injury can cause you to favour the injured area and cause other wear and tear. If it was a neck issue then headaches would be expected and if you have pain your sleep naturally will suffer.

Regarding sleep, falling asleep can be hugely affected by pain. However, if you typically wake multiple times in the night, that can be an indicator, you are not getting your essential deep sleep where body repairs happen. You then risk daily wear and tear building up into your typical fibro problems and pain. Only a Dr can pick this apart, with your help, of course.

Just beware, once you have your lovely new fibro diagnosis,some drs will give up looking for physical injuries that could still respond to correct treatment, preferring to write everything off as just more fibro.

There is no magic pill to fix fibro so it is just treating symptoms. I do hope you can get the correct help.

[Acdf]

HiMy symptoms sound very similar to yours, a lot of back,neck and shoulder pain and stiffness particularly 1st thing and kind of moves around

[Yassytina FMA UK Volunteer]

Hopefully once you have had the result s of the tests you will get answers and if it’s fibro ways too work with the condition, differently my shoulder blades, lower back , neck are my most painful/achy areas, ways I cope personally is differently a soak in the bath each nite, currently using a bio freeze rub in gel during the day , I do find at nite having some heat on these areas so hot water bottles or wheat bag from microwave as I stop using the gel at nite in order too have the bath them eventually doing this, getting comfortable can be an issue so I’ve a V pillow too lean back on .ps if your currently on any meds always run by your pharmacist any products like pain relief gel say is suitable . And yes I do find light massage helpful ,