Hard to cope with new diagnosis

[Janethaywood]

Hi I'm Janet 48! Recently diagnosed with chronic pain syndrome/fibromyalgia! It's turned my life upside down and I've found it hard to come to terms with.

[Pinky2233]

Hi, dont give up on other possible specific causes. Fibromyalgia is a widly disputed diagnosis but as I agree has good intentions especially based neurologically and helps with getting pain management drugs but typically as I understand it could have any number of roots which can/may be treated therapeutically and not just generally.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fib...

I was diagnosed with several general diagnoses including fibromyalgia from many doctors so they could help with medication but didnt know the cause. If a doctor/ therapist doesnt know my advice is keep searching till you get more specific info and dont give up on therapy's, pt, careful gentle acupuncture with highly trained people! My best to you.

[Janethaywood in reply to Pinky2233]

Thanks pinky, a lot of this has come about from last year, I had some routine surgery which went wrong! Had it corrected which resulted in my femoral artery bursting, had months of trying to recover. And just haven't bounced back from this at all. On top of the recent diagnosis I've also been told the 3 prior surgeries may have been for nothing as I still have hardly no pulse in my leg again😡😡

[earthwitch]

Did you know there is a fibromyalgia group on healthunlocked? You may get more targetted support for managing on a day to day basis on that group.

[RibvanRey in reply to earthwitch]

Also you do not have to choose between Groups. You could join the Fibromyalgia group as Earthwitch suggests and stay a member here too.

Regards, Rib

[Janethaywood in reply to RibvanRey]

That's what I'm going to do, thanks Rib 👍

[Janethaywood in reply to earthwitch]

Hi earth witch yes I've seen the group on health unlocked, I'm going to post on there as well. Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post x

[Janethaywood]

Hi Dan I've been offered some cognitive behavioural therapy which I may give a go. I do walk very frequently with my dogs even though it's painful, I suffer with peripheral arterial disease too in my left leg. I've had 3 operations now to try n correct this, to no avail and this causes horrendous pain too! In fact I'm sure this is what started my problems in the first place. But I just have to get on with on with I know. Thanks for taking time out to reply to my post 😀

[Boozybird]

Hi Janet, so sorry to hear about your distress. It is awful to have these feelings. good advice below. I would add that certainly don't give up. You don't have to accept anything just yet if it affects the way you feel about life. Acceptance can be overrated as can cbt. It's not for everyone. Do consider duloxetine (antidepressant) it gave me an energy boost when I needed it and helped clear my mind. I was a bit stuck with 'this is my life omg!' And I was only on it for 6 months. I certainly needed a break from myself. The other thing is to get your blood checked for thyroid, iron, and B12.. These can all be affected and affect us in turn... Keep us posted. Best wishes 😜🍀

[Janethaywood in reply to Boozybird]

Thanks Boozy for your time, il take your advice on board and see my gp 😀

[Boozybird]

Oh and vit D. Bound to be low if you aren't able to get out and about. 😜

[Janethaywood in reply to Boozybird]

My iron levels are very low due to the blood loss during surgery and for some reason they aren't correcting themselves 8 months on. I'm on 322 mg of iron daily at the min. X

[Boozybird in reply to Janethaywood]

Hi Janet, more reason to feel hopeful... Important info! Low iron will make you feel totally rubbish. More reason to get your b12 and D status checked! Keep us posted!

Best wishes, 😜🍀

[Janethaywood in reply to Boozybird]

Thank you xx

[johnsmith]

You need to do some research on what happens when a muscle shortens. A shortened muscle is very painful and needs to be lengthened out before it becomes unpainful. The lengthening out can take several weeks. The lengthening out process can be painful.

You are looking at sports massage, yoga, various physiotherapy exercises specially designed for the particular muscle which has shortened.

NHS physios are not helpful as they engage in one size fits all. Do you know anyone on the local football team who can direct you to the appropriate therapist.

Hope this helps

[Janethaywood in reply to johnsmith]

Why would my muscle shorten, in the first place?

[johnsmith in reply to Janethaywood]

There can be a number of reasons. The why of why it does in a number of cases is not something I have studied. I just know the effects of what happens when it does. Muscle shortening is a complex process involving ATP and nerve impulses.

Muscle moves things by contracting. (ie shortens). when a muscle over contracts then the muscle can be very difficult to uncontract. Yoga has been working of this problem for several thousand years.

When a bone breaks often the muscles can over contract by themselves developing a lot of pain until they are physically lengthened out again. Cramp (muscle shortening) is something a lot of people have experienced. A treatment for cramp is often to stretch the muscle in physical manner.

As we get older there can be a tendency to lose fine control of muscles resulting in the brain over contracting a muscle. A muscle has nerve conections for contraction, but no nerve connections for uncontraction. All the nerve can do is to stop sending instructions to contract. The muscle under normal body operation relies on other muscle movements to lengthen the muscle out again.

Hope this helps answer your question.

[Janethaywood in reply to johnsmith]

Thanks John, that's helped yes👍

[cindy1957]

I am so sorry for you diagnoses, I have been in chronic pain also, back pain, sIJ joint pain, arthritus and much more. Some days are better than others, but it is hard to work, sit or stand. Also laying down kills my back, I also have Bursitus in my left leg since my hip replacement. That is very painful. Have not really found relief, shots only help a brief time. Trying to eat better, lost weight and hope I will feel better, exercise is also hard. I was a very active person before and now it is hard for me to get my house work done besides working two jobs. Too many bills to retire. But good luck and will keep you in my prayers.

[Janethaywood in reply to cindy1957]

Hi cindy thanks for taking time to reply, I really do feel so much for you my love! How you manage to work is beyond me! I understand that you need to pay bills though! It's awful I know, your body is screaming out but your brain is saying carry on😢😢 I've had to give up working now, I'm just too sore plus it takes me so long to get moving in a morning I doubt I would ever be on time for a job ha ha Keep your chin up cindy and I always here for a chat if your feeling down 😘