! was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis after 6 months of bizare blood tests including for Wild Pidgeon desease, because they found fluid on my left lung afetr a sleep apnia test. Everything kept coming back clear, so given a final diagnosis of secondary lung cancer and told the outcome was inevitable. On 4th April five years ago, I went through a VAT proceedure to remove the fluid, and for what it was worth, trying to re-attach the lung to it's lining. There were two of us operated on that day, John died in the September of the same year, from lung cancer.
Whilst recovering from the Vat P, I woke up one moring with the most severe pain in my fingers, worse that the chronic re-action to the medical tape used to protect the three holes in my side. I started taking Tramadol around 3am, more at 5am and more at 7am meant I could use my hands properly. Three days later my fingers became swollen over night, to the point I had to take my wedding ring off.
I was referred to the Rheumatoligy Unit, diagnosis confirmed as RA, but given such a dose of steroids that it has fried my brain, I can't switch off at night, can carry on a complex discusion with my boss whilst working out the solution to another problem. after 4 weeks of desperately reducing the steroids, Put on Methotrexate for RA, plus hydroxichloriquine, folic acid and Omeprezole. So with IBS, Sleep Apnea, it was of little surprise I was diagnosed with Fybromyalgia.
I had been sent for an OH referral from work, and was very very lucky to have a Rheumatology Consultant, who had worked with the British Olympic Team, the Canadian Olympic Team, and was considered as one of the best in that field. At the end of the referral, he asked if he could just do a couple of quick checks, and having found 6 painful responses to gentle pressure, advised me to go back to the RA clinic as he had no doubt I had Fybromyalgia.
I wear sport arm supports on my right arm from wrist to shoulder, to compress the muscles and ligaments which does help ease that pain, but when you feel in in waves through the bones, there is little releif other than 2 x Tramadol. I also wear sport hand sleeves on both hands, to ease the Ulner Nerve which suffers tightness in my right elbow. and the Carpul in the left.
Exercise has to be slow and on level ground. When I walk up any gradient, my hips start to stiffen slowing my pace, and if for any distance, it becomes hard work puting one foot in front of the other, the length of my stride shortening. My wife says it's my weight, but friends at work with Fibro have the same problems with walking up hill.
I have recently had physio and accupuncture on my left IT Band and knee joint, to releave the feeling of somebody tearing my nerves out of that leg over-night. It has eased the nerve pain in that area, but has made the pain in the attachments on the front ligaments and muscles just below the knee, painful and worryingly not stable. I fell recently on holiday in Cornwall, my left knee just gave way, decided the pain level trying to keep up on level ground with my wife was too much.
We are all different, reading below shows just how diverse Fibro really is. You need to find a good GP, I am GP managed for RA so have a really switched on GP that has looked after me for five years now, and discusses even the most simplest of problems as they can well lead to worse if not managed.
Then start with your pain areas, don't feel silly saying you can feel pain going through your bones, they are just as alive as muscles and nerves, else you wouldn't mend a broken arm. Ask for a DMARDS blood test, I have this monthly, and it really helps spot problems. One reading went fro 41 to 1825, so immediately contacted and told to come of Methotrexate. That was 6 months ago, and we are now able to see more of the problems Fibro presents, as they are not masked by the RA treatment.
I take a high level dose of amitriptyline at night to help me sleep. but not for depressioin. I suffer tiredness mid morning and afternoon, sometimes lack of attention, have ashamedly become abusive to my wife, and three years of weekly them monthly counsceling has helped, but you can't turn the clock back. Just don't think the simplest symptom is unimportant. You are not going made, just have untreated Fibro.
JK