I have a diagnosis of somatoform pain disorder but could it be fibromyalgia?

[Infinitetrouble]

I take lots of pain relief that isn't that effective now, I've had the pain for 20 years. Because of the pain I am extremely depressed and at my lowest point ever. Things just get worse never any better so I'm trying to do my own research but everything gets really confusing.

[earthwitch]

Somatoform disorder can be something real, but it can also be one of those throw-away diagnoses that people get given when the doctors don't want to look any further for whats really going on. Yes, highly possible you have fibromyalgia, or some other undiagnosed physical condition. Also highly possible that its all the pain meds that are contributing to the depression as well as the pain contributing to it. If your pain meds aren't effective, then it might be really worth while asking if you can be referred to a pain clinic and see what they can suggest. Pain clinics can look at pain control from a whole lot of different angles, including psychological, and can be incredibly helpful sometimes. Of course there are good and bad experiences of pain clinic, but if you are, as you say, at your worst point, then there would seem to be nothing to lose.

The other thing you could look out for is a "long term conditions"self help and self-care group. One of the arthritis groups runs these in Scotland, but they are for anyone with a long term illness, and they can give really great skills for understanding what is going on and coping with it. I'm sure this kind of group session would be available in other parts of the country too. You might want to ask at your local CAB (the disability advisor) if they know about anything like that in your area.

[Infinitetrouble]

I tried a pain clinic but got told they couldn't do any more than my GP was doing. I've done a course on living with a long term condition which sort of helped my attitude but didn't give me anything that worked pain wise.

What I forgot to say was I recently got diagnosed with a personality disorder. Probably avoidant personality disorder but maybe borderline. Which is not helping the depression and I am very much at the worst place possible.