Workers' Compensation Discussion Forums

Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Here is where I ask for opinions. My family treating doctor, has asked me a while back to take my time, and list my symptoms of the pain / pains I have, muscle fatigue, joint pain and sorenesses, where, what times, and doing what.

Now I have been doing this for about say 5 months now. I have gone over the issues I put in writting and the problem becomes a problem for the symptoms are crossed. It seems I have symptoms of Fibromyalgia, but not the ones needed to say it is Fibromyalgia. Then I also have the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis, but not enough to say it is Rheumatoid Arthritis. Well, it does seem as if my symptoms are crossed between the two. My doctor and I have been working on this issue since I started with him back in 2005. So as you can see, the proper medication hasn't been able to be prescribe as of yet. And that is because of the symptoms we have been going over since 2005.

I have noticed something within the past 4 months, and that is when I take a low dose Vicodine that my back will hurt in the lumbar area. I know I have Stenois at L1 and L2, but always been able before to work that out. Haven't been able to work it out when taking Vicodine. So I stopped taking them and I'm waiting for results as I write.

Please note; My blood test and Liver-Kidney enzymes are normal.

My cross of symptoms start at time of waking up, where pain and or soreness will last more than 45 minutes, and in most cases won't seem to allow me to do what I can till late in the afternoon. By that time, I don't want to do what I was going to do.

As it shows, I need major relief early morning, moderate relief in the afternoon, and evenings seem fine till I wake up the next day.

I will wait your opinions.

BB, You have the same exact symptoms as mine, worse upon rising in the am, better as the day go's on. stiff and aches in am. cramps in legs sometimes during the nite. I am wondering if mine is associated with my mattress. The more exercise the better I am. But then mine could also be age. LOL

Injury L5 S1.....

Tuffy, exercise doesn't help with most of my symptoms. I guess that is a problem. Changed the way I sleep and mattress, still no change.

Leg cramps for a women I was told by a doctor they lack Magnesium. My wife had them, the doctor told her to buy Magnesium, start by taking 200 MG in the morning, if needed to increase to another 200MG in the afternoon. As much as 600MG per day as needed. The 600MG made her poop to much , so she went to the 200 + 200 a day and leg cramps stopped.

Bad Boy are you drinking diet drinks? the aspartame they use in diet drinks will cause or worsen these symptoms.......my magnesium problems are solved by a banana a day.....

Jayne, no I won't drink Diet drinks and my soda intake is maybe 2 to 4 cans on a weekend, maybe 2 times a month.

BB I have a auto immune disease, Graves Disease ( Thyroid) and that effects my whole system. Calcium and vit D are what is used for leg cramps in my case. Bananas are used for Potassium, but one a day is not enough, if you are low you need supplements. I have never heard of diet drinks causing a problem or poisoning. If that was true they would be pulled off the market. While there may be some danger, there is not enough to cause a problem.

I think this is a problem you should leave to your Dr as it seems he has your best interests at heart and he knows you and your medical history. There are as you see many reasons for your type of symptoms. My opinion only.

aspartame is a poisen when heated..sitting on a dock or in a truck in 90 degree weather is enough...it is why diet drinks do not have a long self life..pepsi will soon be using stevia to sweeten all diet drinks...

BB....Don't know if I can help but will offer what I know. RA can be dx through blood work and x-rays. I only know this because I have been to two different rheumatologists and both came to the same conclusion. I have 15 of the 18 trigger points for a Fibromyalgia dx plus most of the other symptoms. Muscle aches, fatigue , depression, trouble sleeping. RA has been outruled because my blood work is fine although both have said my hands look like a possiblity somewhere in later years. That being said Neurontin at 200 mg and Cymbalta at 20mg with an occasional Tylenol 3 has helped alot of these issues. Also I have bought a mattress that's rock solid hard. I wake in the morning with very little pain now, have started to stretch intently before i do anything and have truly noticed a difference in my stamina as the day goes on. I do get tired early evening so I have continued to be a morning person just as I was when working.

I also had the "poop" problem with too much magnesium I started to take Centrum Silver and Caltrate with Vitamin D and minerals and find this combo to be my best.

Hope I helped a little in your quest for answers. Fibro leaves questions everywhere. It's very hard to dx. Has your dr. looked into the Epstein Barr virus. I also have that and alot of these conditions go hand in hand.

Cap

So far so good people.

Jayne, yes, Diet pop can be a major problem for many people, as I known that for years. In fact all the doctor's I know, say don't drink Diet pops, unless told to by a doctor.

Tuffy, doctor is in full charge all the time. He has left the note taking up to me, for he can't be here 24 x 7 as we all know. He has tossed the DX around a little also.

Cap, that's the problem, no trigger points to say it's Fibro. Blood work has been fine also, yet my doctor knows I have Arthritis in several joints, from past and current films showing it. I do think he is hoping to slow it down from progession. As you can see from my post, I need a major kick in the morning, a boost in the afternoon, and then I'm ok till the next day waking up. The concern of the Mild Vicodine making my Lumbar hurt is now became a new symtom I never had before. Maybe it's just that my body became acustom to hard medications, yet not the strong ones.

Bad boy....I float in water it seems to help to take the weight off my joints.....I also have a deep bath tub that I can fill with very hot water that is on some days is a life saver....I am also toying with the idea of a water bed that with a heater would keep me warm as mornings are really hard on my ol bones...everything seems to hurt worse in the winter.... good luck on the DX as knowing what is wrong is half the battle