fibromyalgia, Whiplash and Falls: What’s the connection?

Frequently a traumatic event will start the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Why is that? What happens to our body when we have a fall or have a car crash or another traumatic event?

In any car accident the sudden impact will cause the body to do two things: First, the body and head will move in opposite directions, causing the head to jerk suddenly backward (hyperextension) and forward (hyperflexion). Then, the neck muscles stiffen in an effort to prevent serious injury to the spinal cord and brain, which can cause tearing of the muscles, and stretching of ligaments and muscles in the back of the neck. In short, there is a lot of muscle trauma involved in most car accidents, particularly rear end collisions associated with whiplash.

But what about falls?

When most people hear the word, “whiplash,” immediately they picture a rear-end motor vehicle accident. But there are other ways that whiplash injuries can occur, including:

• Falls

• Assault, such as being punched or shaken

• Roller coaster rides

• Sports, especially contact sports such as football or boxing

A whiplash injury occurs when the cervical spine (neck) is stretched beyond its normal range of motion in a forward (flexion), backward (extension) or sideways movement regardless of whether or not the person is in a car at the time. The discs between the vertebrae, along with their associated muscles, tendons and ligaments can be stretched or torn, resulting in symptoms such as:

• neck pain, stiffness or tenderness

• headache

• dizziness

• numbness or tingling sensation

• muscle spasms

• irritability

• memory loss

• blurred vision

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• ringing in the ears

• back pain

• swelling

These are many of the most common problems associated with fibromyalgia.  But the worse part about a whiplash type injury is the impact that it makes on the nervous system.  Brain Stem pressure can develop as a result or the top bone in the spine called the Atlas shifting from it’s normal position and locking into a stressed position.

Many patients think that if the pain they feel the day after an accident is minor, then they are “saved.” Then, years later, they begin to experience extreme neck and back trauma that branches out to other parts of the body through the nervous system. Others experience significant neck pain that goes away after a month or so. Then, perhaps 10-20 years later, they may begin to experience symptoms such as extreme neck pain, tingling down the arms into the fingers, and trouble sleeping that all relate back to the original whiplash injury!

An article in the British Journal of Orthopaedic Medicine stated that “chiropractic is the only proven effective treatment in chronic cases” of whiplash injury. The article reported the results of a study in which 26 out of 28 patients with chronic whiplash syndrome benefitted from chiropractic care. The authors also noted that “conventional treatment of patients with whiplash is disappointing.” Convential treatment would include medications and physical therapy most commonly.

So how does this all relate to Fibromyalgia?

Most common symptoms associated with “Fibromyalgia” are;

Pain all over
Fatigue
Brain fog
Trouble sleeping
Exercise difficulties
Irritable bowel
Headaches
Jaw pain
Multiple sensitivities

Sound familiar?

The number of symptoms that are commonly associated with chronic whiplash injuries are many of the same symptoms associated with Fibromyalgia.  Here is an example from my office of a woman named Lynn who had a fall in a grocery store.  She slipped and fell back onto the hard floor.  About 6 weeks after that, she began to feel that she was getting the flu.  Sore and achy all over, sinus congestion and some trouble breathing.

15 years later the flu hadn’t gone away!

Here is her story in her own words…

“I came into Dr. Davis’ office with Fibromyalgia pain, allergies, low back pain and headaches.  After my very first visit I found that the congestion in my sinuses was cleared.  I could breath so much deeper.  After 15+ years of taking allergy medication, I no longer need them!!

I am sleeping sounder and I don’t have muscle spasms in my back anymore!

I have more energy to exercise.  I have been able to garden and do yard work without back pain!  It used to take a week to recover from 2 hours of gardening!

Dr. Davis truly cares about his patients well being.  He explains everything and takes his time with you.”

Fibromyalgia is a complex condition, but if the upper cervical spine has been misaligned due to accidents or injuries, brain stem pressure will begin to develop.  Once that pressure is removed the nervous system can begin to heal the body from the inside out.

Frequently Fibromyalgia is just a fancy latin name for the lingering effects of chronic whiplash injuries and the underlying upper neck misalignment that has occured.

 

Why Not Have Some Underwater Fun This Winter

If you are thinking about exotic places to visit on your vacation, to escape the chill of winter, you may want to consider a hot tropical island with mysterious underwater places you can visit. Go to a popular dive destination and seek out the help of professional divers working at the dive centers or resorts and you will be taken to explore the breathtaking scenes of the underwater realm. From enchanting coral reefs ,to brilliantly colored reef fishes and intriguing varieties of sea creatures,never seen before, it can be a truly sensational experience of a diving adventure.

Many people find thrill in seeing what is not commonly seen in everyday life. And then to be so close and personal with the different marine flora and fauna an average person can only read about and view in dive magazines or books can be an amazing recreational activity to enjoy with your family and friends.

Scuba diving is an excellent way to spend quality time together and at the same time discover the wonders of the aquatic nature. There are many ways on how you could enjoy your adventure. You can sign up to participate in a dive trip in which you will be brought to dive sites that you have never been before. Its the anticipation of the unknown. The excitement of going to these places. That is what makes scuba a wonderful adventure experience everyone should try in his or her lifetime.

Another great reason for the popularity of scuba diving is to be able to capture images of the underwater world. All it takes is a keen and sharp eyesight and many wonders of that world opens up. The sensational feeling of taking pictures underwater (especially of rare and seldom seen creatures ) has a wonderfully gratifying effect when it comes to the level of enjoyment felt .

Underwater photography is a very respected field now and hugely popular recreational activity nowadays.

Anyone can learn how to dive. With the help of a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, an individual can personally witness the wonders of the underwater world. The safety measures involved in the preparation are highly reliable that the activity can be taken part by participants from 8 years old and above.

Scuba diving does not serve mainly as a recreational activity. In fact, this enjoyable underwater experience can help people with certain disabilities to improve their condition. For example, individuals with fibromyalgia can undergo programs in order to train and learn several approaches that would greatly benefit their adaptation to their condition.

There are several choices when it comes to places to go diving. Whether you are a professional or for just an amateur, there are different options you may want to choose as your diving site. Most people take interest in going to tropical coral reefs in which the area is surrounded by beautifully colored corals and sea creatures.

However, you may also want to try out other alternative spots such as lakes and rivers for a very different underwater adventure. Make sure that professionals are available to guide you so that you can effectively avoid accidents from happening. Aside from safety purposes, knowing the right places to dive and proper use of equipment also requires the help of diving experts.

Safety is always the first priority , and with that enjoyment of the activity.

Have you ever wondered what it was like for a friend, spouse, or other family member who suffers with fibromyalgia?

When you are in constant pain it is often difficult to see the beauty in life

fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions can be difficult to understand, especially when someone you love is the one who suffers from the condition.

You can not just look at a person with fibromyalgia or other Chronic pain and see that they are suffering from a Chronic disease process. There is no way to tell just by looking at them just how much pain they are really in.

Family and friends may not believe that the person who suffers from Fibromyalgia or other chronic pain condition is really sick. They often think that the person who suffers from these disease conditions is just to sensitive, or has a low pain threshold or are faking the condition.

It is hard for people who do not suffer from Fibromyalgia or other Chronic pain conditions to understand just what the sufferer goes through on a day to day basis.

Read on and I will try to help you understand, these are the tools you will need to hopefully understand what it is like and how you may be able to help the sufferer

* Caring spirit

* Ability to be non-judgmental

* empathy not sympathy, we do not need your sympathy!

* Understanding that some days we just can not keep up with our or your plans.

Fibromyalgia and other Chronic pain conditions

may not be life threatening, but they are life stopping!

Fibromyalgia steals more than just relationships …

causes more than just pain …

It steals lives, one day at a time …

everyday activities like taking the family dog for a walk can become impossible!

Simple things like taking the family dog for a daily walk can become impossible when you are faced with chronic pain … Each and every day we are alive is a day with pain

Daily pain wears the body down…

pain reduces energy…

reduced energy diminishes quality of life,

When you are in constant pain it is not only we who suffer…

but our family’s as well.

Every day we are in pain is a day our world shrinks a little at a time.

Our co-workers may notice we are not as attentive as before and may even begin to gossip about what they think may be going on in our lives

Others may see us as scatter brained, inattentive, or wonder if we are drinking,

Fibro-fog steals the most important thing… Our ability to think and communicate.

We loose words all the time, the phrase “it is on the tip of my tongue” was ment for fibromyalgia sufferers …

it had to be… because we live it daily.

People think we seem distracted, slow or unable to perform our jobs because…

we miss things, that we would otherwise not miss.

This distraction may be due to the “fibro-fog or simply the pain!

If you are a supervisor and have Fibromyalgia, it is even worse because employees chat about if they think that you are drinking during your breaks because your speech may be slurred, or you may appear inattentive.

Just like a puppy in a cage, our bodies betray us and we sometimes stumble and fall

Our world gets just that much smaller

we lose our identity, independance, zest for life! Our world shrinks on a daily basis.

We can’t work, so we then find that we must fight to go on disability because we loose our jobs …

Again our world shrinks.

We experience fatigue, we can’t get around like we used to … our world shrinks.

We loose our independence and may need  to depend on others … our world shrinks.

we want to spend time with our familys and our children

but we are tied down by our fatigue, our pain …

Our children want us to come play with them, our husbands want our time and our attention, our family can’t understand what is wrong with us…

we look just fine… but inside we are not fine!

Loved ones want to help but are frustrated,

they see us in pain and can do nothing …

Our outside friends and family members may not believe we are sick …

Our children do not understand why we can not attend events with them …

Our relationships with our husband/wife and children suffers …

We experience financial hardhsip as we fight for disability income …

Financial burdeons worry us as the medical bills mount with no end or answers in sight!

Living with Chronic pain can make us angry

The pain makes us angry, tired and miserable. We may lash out at loved ones…

We don’t understand what is happening to us before we are diagnosed, and may become angry and lash out at those we love the most

Fibromyalgia and Chronic pain is about losses

We often try to hide how we feel, this causes isolation

Which only makes us angry and miserable.

Our family and friends don’t know how to deal with us anymore

We loose friends, family doesn’t understand, relationships suffer

Even a touch from a loved one causes pain

Even a gentle touch from a loved one causes pain… making us seem unavailable to our familys.

Our world gets ever smaller…

It hurts to sit …

it hurts to stand …

even a loving hug can cause pain …

We try to hide just how bad we feel, it may even work for a while, but sooner or later the pain catches up …

Then it just takes over…

Children end up having to take on some adult responsibilities

Our children end up doing some of the household chores that we once did.

Our children can’t understand why we can not do the things that their friends mom’s or dads can do.

Our family’s and our children adapt, they try to help around the house to make us feel better.

This makes us feel guilty for our pain, so we try harder to hide it, from our loved ones and from ourselves…

We often try to hide our pain, this only makes the pain worse!

My son’s were wonderful about being quiet or bringing me ice when I had a really bad day.

Deep down inside though, I felt like I was letting them down.

I was no longer the wife and mother that I wanted to be…

I became someone else… someone I did not like at all

I became the embodiement of PAIN

Pain steals our lives

We are in constant pain, we try to hide it, we deny it,

but there it is… it steals our life…

How can we help but be depressed!

Like it or not, Depression steals even more of our lives!

Depression did not CAUSE our pain, rather depression is caused BY our pain.

Some doctors still hang on to the myth that we are depressed and that is what causes the pain,

or worse yet, they tell us that we need counseling, not medical treatment, to deal with our depression and not the pain.

Depression IS caused by the pain, but depression still needs to be addressed.

We may deny the depression

But how can you help but be depressed when every waking moment of your life you are in pain!

Sleep deprivation or improper sleep is common with fibromyalgia

Sleep eludes us for the pain, then fatigue becomes mind numbing,

and then finally sleep finally takes over… our lives!

Then there’s the fatigue …Endless mind numbing fatigue…

We become so tired, but we can not sleep for the pain

then it finally catches up to us, and we sleep for days

We feel tired all the time

Again our friends and family may try to understand

but they too fight the frustration and anger, when we can not do what we were supposed to do …

Plans get put on hold because we are too tired to go on that trip

Our children count on us to watch them play at the big game, but we just don’t have the strength…

Our jobs suffer   Our family’s suffer   Our lives suffer

Many of us suffer from undiagnosed sleep disorders,

Sleep apnea is a common problem  for those of us with Fibromyalgia

Ask your doctor for a sleep study!

Sleep apnea and other sleep disorders are common and they are treatable

Sleep apnea is often treated with a CPAP or BIPAP device that the sufferer must wear every time they try to sleep.

Sleep apnea is common in sufferers of Fibromyalgia and other Chronic Pain conditions.

Sleep apnea can be either obstructive, which means that the airways close up during sleep, or Central when the brain forgets to tell the lungs to breathe.

Sleep apnea is diagnosed by a sleep study and usually treated with a CPAP device.

CPAP therapy is difficult to learn to live with, you wear a mask at night while pressurized air is pushed through a piece of tubing and into the mask to keep your airway open while you sleep. The device is noisy and can blow air on your spouse during the night.

This usually causes the spouse to feel resentful and try to urge you to not use your device at night so that they can get some sleep.

This can cause a further strain on relationships as the couple struggles to cope with yet another health related issue.

Then there is the dizzyness

many of us suffer with episodes of true vertigo

yes, the room really does spin!

True Vertigo is when the room really spins, you loose your balance,

and find it impossible to walk without falling due to the constant motion of objects around you.

Dizziness or true Vertigo are often common problems

Yes, the room really does spin!!!     No, I am not kidding here,

Dizziness is common with Fibromyalgia but no one can really explain why.

Dizziness can range from a simple feeling of movement that may or may not be followed by nausea and vomiting.

Sometimes it is only a sensation of movement or seeing movement out of the corner of your eye,

you see movement but when you go to look for it and it is gone…

But for some of us, myself included… it is typically true vertigo.

The room spins when you tilt your head a certain way.

This causes severe balance issues as well as nausea and vomiting.

It can last from a few hours to days at a time!

The sufferers doctor may prescribe Meclizine to help reduce the symptoms and make life bearable till the bout passes

Your balance is affected, you stumble and fall frequently,

you may find that you try to avoid public places so that others do not see you fall

Balance issues can be the worst thing to consider when dealing with Fibromyalgia.

You wobble when you walk. If I never hear another Weeble joke…

you find yourself bumping into door frames, stumble over your own feet, etc.,

People think you have been drinking or are drunk due to the way you walk…

You can’t help it, and so you become acutely conscious of how you walk, especially when out in public.

If you use a cane to assist you, you may find that sometimes it is not where you think it is and you fall.

People look at you, and again think you are drunk.

Stories about what you may be doing begin to be the latest gossip around town

You become more self conscious so, your world shrinks!

You become more self conscious, your world shrinks as you begin to avoid being in public when you are having problems with how you walk to avoid the embarrassment… and the questions…

Migraine headaches become a way of life

Even if you have never suffered from them before frequent Migraine Headaches may become a way of life

Migraines can be brought on my tight painful muscles that restrict the blood supply, often called tension headaches.

Migraines can come on for a variety of reasons, but with Fibromyalgia and chronic pain sufferers ,the Migraines may be brought on by the muscles in the neck and shoulders being in a constant state of spasm.

In this case pain begets more pain!

Migraine Headaches can also be caused by warmer weather, which for me is  frequently the case.

I tried to talk to my doctor about it but he is unsympathetic and feels that since I deal with them by staying in bed with ice packs, then I am ok… remind me that I need to find a different doctor!!!

So Again your world shrinks …

Optic Migraines are the scariest!

I have episodes when I see a multi-colored lightning bolt shoot through my field of vision, usually in my left eye. When this happens the lightning is the only thing I can see with that eye!

I close my eyes and it still see it!

It usually lasts from a few minutes to a half hour and leaves me feeling nauseous, dizzy, and out of sorts for the rest of the day.

I certainly can not drive when this happens….

my world is further reduced as I am again forced to depend on someone else to do my shopping, and errands for me….

Living daily with Fibromyalgia is about living with losses…

loss of freedom, loss of employment, loss of friendships when friends don’t understand, loss of relationships, but worst of all is the loss of independance

Then there are the strange sensations that only you feel!

You feel like someone is poking you repetidly

Sometimes, you look at the muscle and actually see it in spasm, Now that is truely strange!

it pops up and down and is a very strange sight to see…

Or you suddenly feel like someone has sprinkled you with Ice Water, but there is no ice water…

These sudden intense muscle spasms can become quite a bother when you go to reach for something and your hand or arm jumps… You have no idea how many times I have flung my french fries or even once a hamburger out the window of the car, when my arm or hand jerked at an unexpected time!

Again, when this happens, people stare…

You become nervous in public

again your world gets smaller…

The real CREEPY CRAWLY sensations can be the worst.

If you suffer from Fibromyalgia or another Chronic Pain condition you may suffer from crawling, tingling, burning, or other sensations in the skin or under the skin.

I have one spot on my left shoulder blade that always feels like there are bugs moving around just under the skin. sometimes these crawling sensations are maddening… I am constantly asking my spouse to scratch there and also if he sees anything moving around under the skin. Of course there are no bugs there

It has been years since this started yet I still ask, even though I know the answer is NO!…

Sometimes it feels like someone is touching you when no one is around.

Sometimes you feel like you have an intense sunburn and your skin is painful when your clothes touch, but again there is nothing there…

Dealing with Fibromyalgia or another Chronic Pain Conditions on a day to day basis makes you feel trapped, isolated, and alone!

There are 18 identified Pressure points in Fibromyalgia

There are 18 recognised pressure points in Fibromyalgia. For a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia sufferers have to be only identified with 11 of these. Fibromyalgia is no longer considered a “catch all” disease for when nothing else fits.

Finally the medical community is begining to see that this is a real disease process and not “all in our heads”.

Some doctors finally recognise the fact that Fibromyalgia causes painful knotted muscles and some have even realised that you can FEEL the knots in the muscles!

There are some doctors now who will actually look for these knots in the muscles to help identify those patients who may have Fibromyalgia.

Finally there is a finally definaitave criteria set for the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia.

Doctors can apply pressure to these trigger points (excruciatingly painful for the sufferer) and if the patient tests positive (thats expressing pain) in at least 11 of the 18 recognised pressure points then that is proof positive that the patient suffers from Fibromyalgia.

Finally there is a set criteria for a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia

My diagnosis took 7 years, because my previous doctors did not believe that Fibromyalgia was a real disease process even though the AMA recognises it as such!

Fibromyalgia makes your world smaller,

until you feel like you are the only one who suffers!

Finally there is hope for Fibromyalgia sufferers.

Doctors are begining to understand the disease and how to identify it.

Medications are being approved by the FDA for the treatment of Fibromyalgia such as Lyrica.

* We are not lazy, simply fatigued

* We ARE in REAL pain

* This is a REAL disease condition

* Yes, some people have it and still function, Fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions are different for different people. For some it becomes debilitating and others a mild inconvenience

* Strong relationships based on loving communication seem to stay together, while other relationships do not.

* Fibromyalgia and other Chronic pain conditions often cause the loss of relationships.

* Communication is the key to holding on to loved ones, talk to them, tell them how you feel, try to make them understand you still love and care for them.

Related Blogs

Do you have fibromyalgia?

Do your joints ache? Does your back hurt? Have you been to the doctor time after time and been told that nothing is wrong or they cant find any visible signs of a problem. People are usually labled as having fibromyalgia after every other problem has been ruled out and they dont know what else it could be. Below are the main symptoms of fibromyalgia and how it is treated.

What is fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is defined as a chronic condition that causes pain,tenderness and stiffness in your muscles and joints. Some of the signs you may show if you have fibromyalgia can be not getting enough sleep because of pain,extreme fatigue,depression,anxiety and improper bowel movements. The cause of fibromyalgia is generally unknown.

Fibromyalgia is generally found in women. Even though some men do get fibromyalgia, it is predominately found in women. The age range is between 35 and 55. Below are the symptoms that chronic fibromyalgia sufferers will show signs of.

The first symptom is pain. Generalized as unexplained pain. The pain from fibromyalgia is not seen in tissue inflamation because there is no inflamation. People who suffer from fibromyalgia are generally more sensative to pain than someone who does not have fibromyalgia, this in return giving them a lower threshold for pain.

Areas of concern. The pain caused from fibromyalgia is usually all over the body. Most commonly the neck,shoulder,arms,upper and lower back,legs and chest.

Fibromyalgia pain can also show itself through tender spots such as the elbows,shoulders,knees,hips and around the back of your head causing wide spread pain throughout the body.

Another symptom is extreme fatigue that generally shows from inadequate rest caused from the fibromyalgia pain. The pain from fibromyalgia keeps you from going into the deeper stages of sleep that your body needs causing you to be fatigued and feel completely unrested. The lack of sleep can actually cause worsening symptoms of muscle fatigue and muscle ache.

Fibromyalgia patients are also most likely to show signs of mood changes,poor concentration,irratibility and forgetfullness. This is usually from being frustrated about the pain and lack of knowledge of why the body is undergoing this kind of pain.

Fibromyalgia will often show itself in the form of migraine symptoms and tension headaches.

The diagnosis of fibromyalgia is not a quick and easy one. The diagnosis usually starts with the doctors history of your visits pertaining to this problem and a physical examination. If the patient can point out what tender spots of the body is showing th most pain. There are around 18 tender spots on the body. To be classified as fibromyalgia, you generally have to meet 11 out of 18 painful tender spots with no other explanation.

Other symptoms can mimic fibromyalgia and also have to ruled out before a fibromyalgia diagnosis can be made. These other conditions are: hypothyroidism,parathyroid disease,muscle disease,bone disease,hypercalcemia and even hepatitus.

At this point in time, there are no known blood tests to check for fibromyalgia. The blood tests are usually ran to exclude other conditions and problems before moving on to fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia can also accompany other conditions as well as being diagnosed by itself.

The treatment for fibromyalgia differs from patient to patient. Some of the basic treatment plans for fibromyalgia include a medication regimen for the pain,education on fibromyalgia,planned exercise and stress reduction education. It is usually with the combination of all of these treatments that you get the best results for fibromyalgia.

Some of the medications used for treatment of fibromyalgia are Lyrica,trycilic anti-depressants,elavil,prozac and ativan. Some of these medications will be used in combination for maximum results. Only your doctor can reccommend which medicines are right for you.

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The fibromyalgia Merry Go Round

In 1994, I had an accident that changed my life, forever. What happened is irrelevant but the results took me on a long and arduous journey of doctors, tests, and soul searching that led me to write this article.

I sustained a major trauma to my neck, which resulted in three pinched nerves and two herniated cervical discs.  A “C” collar and painkillers got me through the initial accident but nothing could have prepared me for the lifetime of pain and anguish that was to follow, but not immediately.

As I said, initially, the damage was treated and all seemed “fixed” but I was not aware, that trauma such as this can have dormant effects for the victims. Ten years and two pregnancies later, I found myself in increasing, excruciating, and inexplicable pain accompanied with bouts of immobility.

I subsequently developed; bone spurs on both sides and a reversal of curvature on both ends of my spine, spinal canal stenosis and degenerative disc disease along with multiple bulging discs and arthritis from end to end.

What became odd, (skeletal issues aside, because that pain was/is continuous), was that some of the pain began to “move.” On one day, my left leg would just start hurting and it would last from a day to a month or two. Then, as quickly as it started, it would vanish only to reappear in another area of my body, again, staying an undetermined amount of time until simply disappearing.

I went from doctor to doctor and I finally realized that they did not know any more than I did about what was happening to me and at times, I did not believe they cared. This, of course, could be attributed to the doctor’s being afraid of misdiagnosis and the onslaught of lawsuits that such brings. Let us also face the facts, the disease itself it is an enigma.  It plays hide and seek and masks itself as so many other problems, it makes it virtually impossible for a doctor, who wants irrefutable proof, to diagnose.

However, mental issues are the first avenue they all took, which is ironic because the pain and malaise gets so bad, you do start turning inward so that depression is a valid diagnosis but not the cause. When you are looking to a doctor for an answer about the pain you are in and he looks you dead in the eye and says, “You probably do hurt but because of your depression, it is not nearly as bad as you think it is”, well, that is when screaming and crying become part of your normal existence!

I became so distraught but determined that I even began to keep my own medical file so that I could instantly keep any new doctor up to date and they wouldn’t have to wait for tests, etc. to be sent to them. This came in handy several times, as I have had x-rays, cat scans (both with and without fusion), MRI’s, blood work, physical therapy, etc. and not all have been in the same state, let alone the same medical center.

I began to joke that I had had so much radiation that I should glow.  However, joking aside, I have spent literally thousands of dollars of both my own and insurance companies, on the search for a diagnosis.  This is no laughing matter considering the state of the health care system today.

I have seen GP’s, Rheumatologists, Endocrinologists, Neurologists, Neurosurgeons, Orthopedic doctors and surgeons, cardiologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, ENT’s, Dentists, Chiropractors and Reiki Masters. This was all over a four-year period and yet at the end, there was still no definitive diagnosis.

Oh, I had several “revelations” from doctors such as; “You have the bone structure of a 70 year old woman,” “You could be paralyzed just by turning wrong,” “You can no longer work at anything strenuous,” “I’m over 60 and I don’t have near that many problems,” etc. To their benefit however, I did get a more accurate picture of what my spine is like and how I had to alter my lifestyle because of that alone, but none of them explained the “traveling pain.”

The problem with seeing all these different physicians is that it begins to appear that you are a “seeker”, a person simply looking for the next drug or a diagnosis (mental issue involvement again).  Therefore, my solution to that was to stop taking all my pain meds and to not accept any prescriptions…I just lived with the pain, so to speak.

Finally, at the end of my rope, I headed to the internet and began my own research.  I found that this really is not a good tool for someone with so many symptoms.  If so prone, people could easily convince themselves that they have multiple diseases.  Luckily, I am not prone but I did find a doctor that I thought could help me. She was within the state and when I called, she accepted me as a patient.

I forwarded a copy of my file to her office and a month later, my husband and I traveled to Chicago to meet with her.  After an extensive 30-minute visit and exam, she proclaimed to me, “You are not crazy, you have fibromyalgia.”

The definition for fibromyalgia is:

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points — places on your body where slight pressure causes pain.

Fibromyalgia occurs in about 2 percent of the population in the United States. Women are much more likely to develop the disorder than are men, and the risk of fibromyalgia increases with age. Fibromyalgia symptoms often begin after a physical or emotional trauma, but in many cases, there appears to be no triggering event. (Mayoclinic.com)

My reaction was tearful because back, in the beginning – four years ago, I asked my family doctor if that was a possibility and was told, “That doesn’t even exist, and it is just a term used when no other diagnosis can be made.” So, here I am, being diagnosed with something that I was led to believe was a “dodge.” “Well, now what?”

This doctor assured me that it was real and that although there is not a cure, there are things you can do to alleviate some of the symptoms.  I left with a feeling of, “I’m not crazy” and “I can make it better.”

However, there are so many aspects of this “syndrome” such as; IBS, Thyroid dysfunctions, memory loss, stumbling, vision problems, chest pain, weight fluctuation, sleep deprivation etc., each bringing their own host of problems with them.  It makes it very difficult to know when you should actually see a doctor or write it off to the Fibromyalgia.

My personal “demons” are the memory loss and cognitive impairments that fall under the heading of “mental fog.” I suffer from this terribly.  I find myself struggling with names of everyday, common things.  I have put my mail in the refrigerator and the ice cream in the cabinet.

I also suffer from the sleep deprivation but this I have just learned to accept.  It is nothing for me to still be up roaming the house at 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. and then be back up and moving by 6:00 or 7:00.  I know that sounds like a good solid 4 or 5 hours of sleep but know this; I wake up every 2 hours, like clockwork.  Broken sleep is never, ever a good thing and that is what I function on daily.

However, I have found that the absolute worst thing about this disease for me is that it severely limits my mobility.  Because most activity causes flare ups, I am unable to interact with my young, active children, my husband and clean my house, as I would like.  That same inability/inactivity has caused me to gain a tremendous amount of weight and the pain prohibits me to exercise it away.

I have other medical conditions that prohibit my taking most of the new prescriptions that are now “tagged” for Fibromyalgia but I am still pretty much convinced that there is no “magic pill” for it anyway.  The more weight I gain and the more my husband, children and household suffer, the more I revert inward and the cycle of depression “flares up” as well.

Until the entire medical community gets behind the fact that this is a very real, dibilitating disease, and not a syndrome, no real advancements or cures will be found.  In the meantime, suffering and depression are common for so many people and they do not even know why.  It is a vicious and completely unfair cycle that needs to be broken, and soon.

If you suspect that Fibromyalgia is behind your problems, I suggest finding a rheumatologist.  Keep looking and changing doctors until you find one that will listen to you, not just pacify you.  Do not get discouraged (easier said than done, I know) but they are out there – the doctors that care and do their very best to help.  There are also support groups, message boards and newsletters that can help.

Today, my pain is still horrible at times and I have several prescriptions that I have to take daily to control some of the subset illnesses, but at least I know that I am not alone and my diagnosis is real. I had to quit my job and now do a small, less strenuous job that is not enough but it keeps me somewhat active, mentally if nothing else.

The bottom line, trust in yourself and what you know about your own body.  If you believe that what you are feeling is serious enough to seek a diagnosis, then keep going until you get it.  There is something to be said for vindication and that is what my diagnosis felt like to me.  I was “vindicated” when I was told I was not crazy and that my pain was real! Knowing is a major step toward helping yourself, even if there is no “magic pill” to fix it.

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