I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 1989. It was determined, from my medical history, that I have probably had it since birth. I have had muscle pain my whole life. I had pain in my legs that I remember curling up or rocking in the corner of our couch crying with it as young as 6 or 7 yrs old. My Mom even took me to the doctors, this back when parents didn't run their children to the doctor for everything under the sun. He said it was of all things "growing pains". I believe they have determined there is NO such thing as growing pains haven't the? *LOL* If not, they should!!

The pain of RSD has over ridden the Fibro pain for the most part these last 5 yrs. I honestly didn't think any pain could out do Fibro pain, but I was most certainly wrong. Fibro pain would literally knock my sox off!! I would miss work periodically due to Fibro pain & had it set up that when it did, they could not hold those days off against me as I would use Federal Family Leave Act for those days. I could use up to 3 days a month. It was especially bad in the Spring & Fall when there were lots of weatjer fronts moving thru. The Barometric Pressure changes were devasting for me especially the Lows, which btw are still bad for me. Here in California the changes in weather are not as severe or as often as they were in Iowa. But, like I said, before RSD I also did suffer horrible flares of Fibro pain. Now that my RSD pain has been more in control, I do suffer from Fibro pain again. It is utterly two completely different types of pain. I can absolutely tell the difference from when RSD or Fibro pain is flaring & when they are both flaring. I took Vicodin then Norco for Fibro pain when needed. Neurontin did not help the Fibro pain for me. Now I have a few real time friends with Fibro who say Lyrica has absolutely changed their lives for the better. Has literally given them back their lives. I do not take much Lyrica anymore as I gained way too much weight on it & all I did was sleep while taking higher doses. I only take 50 mgs at bedtime now. If my feet are flaring with the burning pain of RSD I might pop an extra 50 mgs to help cool them back down. I do however take 900 mgs 2x's a day & 1200 mgs 2x's of Neurontin for a total of 4 doses. I truly can't tell you if Lyrica helped or Neurontin helped with Fibro pain this time around or not. Before RSD I would feel as if I walked on bruises due to Fibro. Now it is more a bone deep pain in my feet, when they don't burn like smoldering coals or feel like they are thawing out from a deep freeze, or numb with a pins & needles affect (or is it effect? just can't remember which is correct anymore) or cramping etc etc etc. Sometimes now when I combine Aleve with what I take for RSD pain (morphine with oxycodone for BTP) it helps with the Fibro pain in my muscles.

What I am getting at tho, is that they are, atleast for me, two completely disparate types of pain.

Not sure if any of this was helpful or not. And I sure hope it wasn't too confusing a read. That happens when I write now days *LOL* I did reread this & it made sense to me anyway as is *LOL* but then what can I say? *LOL*

Good Luck,
Debby

Links:

National Fibromyalgia Association
http://www.fmaware.org/site/News2?pa...rticle&id=7355

Dominie's Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Homepage
http://www.fms-help.com/