Just like to know

[minka]

I have question I don't know if it's fibro my ankle is giving way and knee and I'm getting pains and sore in shoulders next day trying to walk on this. I'm getting about 4 hrs sleep and waking up sweating wet through could this be fibro and low level energy. Keep doing a bit then laying on bed.

[ivytrain]

yes l got that as well and my hips feel so bad now when l try walking

[Blearyeyed]

It is probably linked to the Fibro , especially if you have been inactive for a while and then tried to do too much on weaker ankles.Your shoulder pain can get worse too if you are having trouble balancing and your muscles are weak. When you try to keep all of your weight off a weak leg or ankle you put more tension through your shoulders and back to keep your balance and maintain standing.

I have Nordic Walking Sticks. They are invaluable for these issues. I also have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and regularly sublux or dislocate my knees , hips , shoulders and ankles which weakens them . The sticks are used to improve your balance and posture , reduce weight on the limbs and prevent falling if your ankles roll.

Plus , they are used for a helpful type of exercise so you just look sporty when you use them.

They help you walk with less pain but also help you gently exercise your arms and shoulders to help stop muscle weakness in the upper body.

Keep active but do exercise or physical activity within your comfort zone . Don't push it on the good days but keep things consistent or you cause pain flares. Wear good fitting supportive boots and comfy socks , it's worth getting your feet checked and your shoe size properly measured. Don't be tempted to carry heavy bags , especially just on one shoulder.

You sleep and sweating issues are all down to the link that Fibro has with Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction or Dysautonomia. Your ANS is in charge of your " fight or flight" and " rest and digest" , so all the involuntary responses your body does. Unfortunately Fibro and its effects on nerve responses and messaging between brain and body can cause ANS dysfunction because of poor signalling.

This means you can get sweating or chills from poor temperature control , digestive issues and poor absorption, palpitations, dizziness on standing , headaches , vertigo , a feeling of Anxiety with no cause, insomnia or fatigue and hypersensitivity to the environment, foods and products.

It takes some time but getting a balance between rest and activity , learning relaxation and breathing techniques , having a bedtime routine and getting body rest even if you don't sleep, using distraction tactics by drinking cool water before moving , or if you are sweating , doing gentle exercise in your comfort zone and building up your activity slowly , eating a high nutrition diet , drinking more and using vitamin supplements , learning mindfulness to reduce our reaction to events, and learning your symptom triggers and avoiding them all help improve these dysfunction problems.

I have Chronic Dysautonomia caused by a tachycardia syndrome so that is unfortunately a big part of my life made worse by the Fibro. But if you have ANS dysfunction that comes and goes as part of your Fibro trying the above tips can reduce how often those things happen.

[Dinkie]

Please don't assume everything is down to the dreaded fibro. I did when my ankle kept giving way and 2 years later decided to mention it to GP and it turned out that I had detatched tendon and ligaments in my ankle and needed surgery. Worth getting any new symptoms checked out just in case. Likewise my shoulder pain turned out to be calcific tendonitis not fibro. My fibro pain tends to jump around and not stay too long in one area but of course fibro treats all of us differently which is what makes it so difficult for us.

[minka in reply to Dinkie]

My ankle isn't swelled that's what I can't understand. Dinky if I use boot it holds it together better . So did the re attach your tendons for you

[Dinkie in reply to minka]

My ankle wasn't swollen either. Yes surgery corrected the problem and since that date my ankle has been absolutely fine, not gone over on it once. The surgery has left it a little bigger than the other ankle and obviously there's a scar but other than that it's amazingly good. Apparently it was so fascinating for the surgeon he took a video of it and asked me if I wanted to see it. I declined!

[fmlife]

would contact your gp, having a leg that misbehaves, possibly making you fall is dangerous, specially with the lack of ambulance situation.

GP may do a blood test to rule out anything else.

[JazzElvis1]

I would try 6 weeks of specific strengthening exercises for the ankles and knees ; then see if that makes a difference before thinking it’s fibro , You can just look for physio exercises online for specific areas , if they are better after the six weeks, and that means doing them every day , then not fibro x

[minka in reply to JazzElvis1]

Will do

[JennyHJ]

like fmlife says don’t presume it’s just fibro, get it checked. My leg kept giving way and was having strange symptoms in my legs on a night. It turns out all my lower back vertebrae and discs are damaged / a mess and one of the vertebra is sitting on a nerve, which is why leg is giving way and was getting strange symptoms. I am not sure what is happening as a result of my new diagnosis, as only got it Friday and got an appointment in 2 weeks to look at options. But I kept thinking it was fibromyalgia and not pushing for further investigation, but then one day, I was so bad with my leg, I made an appointment and glad I did!

So make an appointment with GP as soon as you can to rule out, it’s not nothing else! All the best

[Yassytina FMA UK Volunteer]

I think the best way forward is too make notes of your symptoms, roughly how long you have had them and hopefully get in as soon as you can too see your doctor, especially if your knee keeps giving way as you don’t want too have a fall, I hope you get seen soon and take care . Xx