RA and fibromyalgia

[BlightyFiveStar]

In a recent letter to my GP (copied to me) following a rheumatologist review (as I have been having problems with feet etc) the doctor wrote under diagnosis that I have fibromyalgia, as well as RA. This was news to me as no one had discussed it or told me. At the appointment, while asking me questions at a hundred miles an hour, the doctor was pressing various points on me to see if they hurt. Having looked up fibromyalgia symptoms I now think he must have been testing for that with his pressing. But it seems a bit casual to just decide based on that, that I have another condition, and then not tell me.

If anyone on here has both, I’d be grateful to hear from you about how you were diagnosed, also how you know what symptoms are RA and what bits are fibromyalgia, your treatments, what works, etc.

Thanks very much in advance.

[Ruth12345]

My Rheumy said I probably do have fibro but it makes no difference as treatment will be the same for that and RD. My understanding is that both give you severe fatigue and flu like feelings. I have both. However other people on here may well know more than I do then we will both learn something. Lets hope so.

[Hidden in reply to Ruth12345]

Hi Ruth12345 - Mine did / said the same thing. She didn't want to even list it on my insurance papers, because as you said, the treatments are the same..

[Slightly_ginger]

I was told off hand that my fibro myalgia was very much part of my psoriatic arthritis, and I was equally shocked, but apparently it is more common that you might think to have both RD and Fibromyalgia. As far as I'm aware Fibromyalgia is a group of symptoms more than a specific disease. Not reducing it in anyway. I get terribly fatigued and lose concentration, fuzzy headed, connective tissue pain etc

[Zip1]

I was also told as an afterthought at my last appointment that I had fibro alongside my RA and like your other replies gave no extra help or advise. Sorry I have no idea which symtoms are which. I also hope someone may have some knowledge and advise.

[sylvi]

I had a rheumy dr as well and he did the same tests that you had and i too have both and three weeks ago i had a infusion for the pain and it helped so much.It hasn't done nothing for my back and ra joints,but boy do i feel a lot brighter than i did before the infusion. I have been able to do a lot more than i did before,but it didn't make any difference to the fatigue though.xxxxx

[Shirley3000 in reply to sylvi]

What kind of infusion did you have?

[sylvi in reply to Shirley3000]

Lidocaine Shirley.xxx

[phil_54]

Hi. I too have both RA and Fibro and to be honest i find it difficult to differentiate between the two so i try to place as much trust in my Rheumys knowledge as i can but find that on particularly bad days is it the RA or Fibro, So for me i concentrate on the meds and as long as they continue to work well then am happy, Just like Ruth12345 i also feel very fatigued at times, I realise this doesnt really answer your question but as long as they get your medication right and it wworks for you at least you may get some pain free days.

Good luck

[Radiogirl]

My rhreumy also mentioned almost off the cuff, that he thought I might have Fibro and RA, too. He hasn't said anything about it since then. I I am compiling a new list of questions for my appointment next month.

[marie66]

Hi I have both. I had a hand scan then my gp received a letter says RA seems to be settling still very tender, secondary fibromyalgia. Not much discussion either but after some reading (they at least sent a leaflet! ) probably correct! M x

[Preacherman]

Hi BlightyFive Star,

My doctor told me that there is no specific test for fibromyalgia and that it was a diagnosis of symptoms. I had a lot of muscle pain associated with my r/a. My doctor told me it was most likely fibromyalgia as they go hand and hand with r/a sometimes. He prescribed Duloxetine for chronic muscle pain. I can honestly tell you the muscle pain was gone the very next day and has been gone ever since......Amen, this was about two years ago. However, your doctor needs to communicate a little more with you about you and your health.

Blessings,

Brian

[Ruth12345]

Very intersting thread, thank you. Sylvi so good you are improved and what was your infusion that you had?

[Bakinglover]

Hi, I’m really sorry to hear about how you found out as getting a second diagnosis can be hard to process and you should have been offered some information and advice. I also have both RA and Fibromyalgia, which is apparently very common, and was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia by my Rheumatologist. He prescribed me Pregablin which I have found helpful. I was also fortunate to be having physio and OT input around the time of the diagnosis and I found what I learnt about pacing particularly helpful in terms of the fibromyalgia. It can be hard to differentiate between which symptoms are caused by which condition. I have struggled much more with fatigue since developing fibromyalgia and this is where pacing has been so helpful. I imagine it’s different for each person though. I hope that you can receive more information when you next have an appointment with your Rheumatologist. I wish you all the best.

[andy9131]

Very interesting question put up after reading through all responses things make a little bit more sense now the constant fatigue and flu like symptoms and pain in muscle thanks for pointing this out