I was diagnosed a year ago with severe Fibromyalgia that was way out of control. My Neuro has my migraines under control with 300 mg topiramate and 6 months ago increased my Cymbalta to 90 mg (from 60 mg). There has been no positive change in my Fibro pain.

I have been told that Fibro is not progressive, though my muscle and joint pain continues to worsen. My Rheumy does not seem to be concerned about and I don't see him again until the end of December.

Sometimes, I wonder if I was prematurely labeled with Fibro once MS, Lyme, and Lupus were ruled out. My PCP feels I probably have RA even if the bloodwork is not showing it. I see him early next month and hopefully we will do some more labs. I just feel like I am losing my mind and this horrible pain of 8-10 never stops.

Thanks for letting me vent. I hope all who read this have a low to no pain day.

it took several dr visits until i found a neurologist who confirmed that i had fibromyalgia on top of reflex sypathetic dystrophy. rsd causes contant pain out of to the body lhat feel like burning and electrical and stabbing and cramping pain. it hurt when someone touched my skin because it felt like it was burning up. the pain i felt with rsd was widespread. it started in my initial injured site which was my wrist and had and then spread to my llmbs, stomach and face. it was mostly a stinging and burning pain.
but then after a few years of that i started getting widespread pain that felt a deep aching throbbing pain deep into my bones and muscles and it never stopped either. it hurt when anyone touched my skin with that too. after seeing a few drs, my neurlogist confirmed that i had fibromyagia on top of rsd. my pm dr told me people iwht rsd get fibro shortly after and they don't know why.
rsd and fibromyalgia are not the same. rsd has physcial symptoms as well as widespred pain where fibromyalgia had widespread pain but not visible symptom. they both hurt like heck though.
i was told that lyrica can help fibro but gabapentin could too and since i already took gababpentin i stayed on that and had it increased by my pm dr. that seems to help manage both rsd and fibro.
i tried cymbata a while back and it didn't help me at all. i'm not a dr but you may want to ask you dr about trying gabpentin or lyrica for your fibro. they have some side effects for a few weeks but then they fade.
i thought i was losing my mind too for a while until i found a dr who knew i wasn't and that my fibro was as real as my rsd. you are not losing your mind. you just need to find a good dr (neuroligst or pm dr) who can diagnose your fibro.
i was also tested several time sfor RA since it runs in my family but it came up negative thank goodness.
i hope you can find a dr soon who can help you manage your pain. i know it's hard but don't give up hope that you will find a dr who can help. they are out there. in the meantime tyr to rest as much as you can. soft hugs coming your way.
p.s. you may also want to get your vitamin D level checked. that can cause widespread pain too. it hurt if any pressure was applied to my bones like getting an ultrasound. if your levels are low they can prescribe vit d pills like i take to increase your vit d levels so that your pain subside a bit.

You might list all of your symptoms again, for those that are new readers, or new to your history.

I was told I had FM in 1999 and from many others on health groups and an FM/CFS group, so much info on the thyroid and Fibro connection. Too many go with no or inferior thyroid support....I went 10 yrs with that "normal" mantra. I could write a book on it all.

It was suggested that I include a list of my symptoms...so here it goes...

Daily migraines (currently controlled with Topamax 300mg daily & Cymbalta 90mg daily)
Cognitive issues (includes comprehension, thought processes from sight and sound, memory problems, following written and spoken directions) I have a terrible time trying to focus on anything for any amount of time.
Speech will jumble and slur at times
Heightened sense of smell
Vision problems (early cataracts, just beginning last year at age 48...with new glasses I still have blurring and halos and can't read at times...problems with judging distance).
Hearing & Vision-If exposed to noise or lighting (fireworks, movie theaters, on coming headlights, fluorescent lighting) I end up in bed with my brain trembling within my skull, the electrical impulses travel from within my skull down my spine and zap along the nerves and my body and limbs jerk.
Nausea
Pain in every muscle in my body, my hands, wrists, feet and ankles seem to be particularly effected. I cut my hair to shoulder length so that I can brush it myself, I can no longer raise my arms high enough to be able to reach my hair if it is longer. I wear sports bras since I can no longer hook a bra in the back and a bra is one of the most uncomfortable piece of clothing.
My muscles often cramp and spasm.
My ribs hurt often and I find myself sighing more often when I breathe.
My fingers are beginning to become misshapen.
My balance is not good.
I no longer wear pants because the material causes my shins to burn (skin), the skin on my arms often burn.
I have burned myself twice in the last 3 weeks when I was cooking because my hand jerked while I was stirring boiling liquid.
I use a rain shower head and luke warm water when I shower or it is not a refreshing shower, but I am still exhausted after a shower.
Fatigue is horrible.
I think this just about does it.
Oh, I forgot to include mood and depression.
I have been diagnosed with general anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, severe major depression disorder, and PTSD.
Standing, sitting, or laying for more than 15-20 minutes makes the pain worse.
I also have tremors in my hands, especially when I am holding something. I have burned myself twice in the last few weeks when I was stirring a pot and boiling water was literally flipped out of the pot onto my abdomen. I have a scar from the first time. Draining a pot can be a very bad experience as well.

rsd me,

My rheumy tried gabapentin first...I had such a bad reaction to it with the jerking, he listed it in my allergies with a note that it should never be given to me. Lyrica, hmmmm, I can't take it as long as I am on Topamax, but I hesitate to take it. I was a pharmacy tech and had toyed with the idea of pharmacy school. I react so strangely to so many drugs that I prefer not to test the waters with Lyrica.

Vit D is one I plan to ask my PCP to test me for next month. My PCP is thinking I have RA, too. Some days I just don't feel like getting out of bed.

Gentle hugs and hoping for a low to no pain day for you!

hi bd. i saw your list of symptoms and was wondering if you ever saw a neurologist or pain management dr about the possibility of having crps (chronic regional pain syndrome). i hope you don't have that but if you do they could prescribe the right meds for you like gabapentin, which takes a few weeks to adjust too, but helps manage the pain along with dr prescribed pain meds. i have both fibro and crps and know that fibro has no visible symptoms whereas crps does. they are both very painful but in different ways.
some of your symptoms i.e. mis shapened fingers. that could possibly be a sign of crps or rheumatoid arthritis but not fibromyalgia.
and the burning pain is a sign of crps.
pain to touch of your ribs could be from fibromyalgia or a low vitamin d level. i have that too.
i am not a dr but i have crps, fibromyalgia and low vitamin d levels so if i were you i would get checked out for all of them.
i don't have rheumatoid arthritis but was tested several times for that too. it can't hurt to check.
once you find out what you have, then the right meds can be prescribed to you. i hope you find out exactly what's wrong so that you can start feeling better soon.

Hi rsd me,

I will see my neuro in early December and I will ask him about it. I will also talk to my primary care. I am unable to take gabapentin because I have severe jerking of my nerves from it. LOL I thought my last brain MRI was going to end in a whiplash...I just stopped taking Mobic because of the side effects (swelling of my hands and face) with no benefit in pain reduction. My rheumy has been treating my pain and I havenot seen a pain management dr. But, I will talk to my awesome and understanding PCP.