hello,

Please bear with me, as I have a lot of info to provide you. I am currently being treated by a Neuro for small fiber Peripheral Neuropathy. I think that perhaps there is more to my pain and would like your opinions. Here are all my symptoms and significant history.

Had sexual abuse at young age approximately 6 - 7 years old. Went on for 2 years. Family history includes alcoholism and depression.

Age 19 was diagnosed with Rheumatic fever. This is when I started drinking. After 18 months of penicillim treatment, was done with Rheumatic fever bit had ongoing joint inflammation. Tested for Lupus...negative.

Continued drinking and was admitted for alcoholism in 1998. I have been sober since then. Also was dx'd with major depression and Generalised Anxiety Disorder. Began taking Anti-depressants and finally found that Prozac kept me from being suicidal.

Sobriety brings a new life and happiness. Surprisingly got pregnant (for the first time) in age 39. Great pregnancy except for burning pain in balls of feet. Has a healthy baby boy via c-section and it was discovered I had endometriosis, fibroid tumors, and chocolate ovarian cysts. Had surgery to remove all that. Was told it was a miracle that I got pregnant and a miracle I carried to full term. My little boy is absolutely a joy!

I thought the burning would go away after I lost my pregnancy weight, but it did not. Went to podiatrist who dx's Mortons Neuroma in both feet. Tried conservative tx but ended up having surgery on both feet. One Neuroma in left and 2 Neuroma's in right were removed. 6 months later they grew back! Had surgery again only on right foot as that was the worse. Approximately 2 month later I had extreme burning all over my feet. The only relief was soaking my feet in ice water.

Got a referral to Neuro and he dx'd PN, although no cause has been determined. Have had MRI's, cat scans, amazing bloodwork, and Nerve stimulation Test. All tests have come out normal, but the Neuro who did the nerve testing suspected small fiber sensory neuropathy. Negative for cancer, MS, Lupus, Sjogren's, Lyme, neoplasms..etc...

I have all my strength in my muscle although my balance is weak in my feet. All reflexes intact. My lower legs twitch all the time. I get such bad leg cramps at night I take Baclofen. I do not have RLS as I do not have the overwhelming desire to move. I also take Neurontin for the PN pain. I tried Lyrica and was pain free for two weeks, but felt real loopy, gained 10 pounds, and got a tongue sore.

My pain now is in my feet, legs and sometimes lower arms, hands. It generally is burning, bee stings, pins & needles, numbness, or deep bone pain. My right lower back/hip kills me. Pain radiates down my leg. I limp. Cat scan shows no abnormalities. Bone density test normal.

What got me thinking about Fibro was that recently I started doing Pilates. I need to get in shape and thought I could help my PN with exercise. The first two weeks I went 3 times a week. Last week I went 5 times in a row! On Saturday morning, I woke up in really bad leg pain (aching, deep pain). 4 advil was not touching it. This was not the typical overuse of muscles pain. I was already beyond that. Additionally, the area at the bottom of my skull is so tender. It hurts without touching it. I looked up the sensitive points for Fibro and the points on my chest hurt so much and the inner knees, to say nothing of the point beneath my skull. For obvious reasons, I couldn't test my backside. The leg pains and skull pain I've had on and off for years. I have also been dizzy when I move and turn my head since saturday.

I also have sporadic bionic smelling, headaches behind one eye, right wrist pain and loose bowels pretty much all the time (could be coffee however 2 to 3 cups a day half caf/half decaf). I am thinking about getting a referral to pin down all this other pain, but thought I would get some opinions.

Do you think that a Fibromyalgia Dx is something I should persue? I can honesty say I have never been pain free since age 19.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Ann

P.S. Despite all the pain and past trauma...I'm happy and grateful. I also peruse the PN message board here for a lot of help.

What you describe doesn't really sound like fibro to me, but it can be a sneaky illness at times. For a clinical diagnosis, you must have had pain in all four quadrants of the body, and tenderness in at least 12 of the 16 tender points. When you press on these points with moderate pressure, it feels like deep, sore bruise. But the pain doesn't spread. I diagnosed myself with the condition by searching the internet and finding a "map" of the tender-point locations.This is the most definitive test, as there is no blood test or anything else on which to base a diagnosis. That's why it's called a syndrome.

Anyway, I had been having very strange symptoms and was researching that when I came across the information about fibro. I studied about it for two days, and then did the tender-point test on myself. I had fourteen of them. And I was so pleased that I had found this problem that I kept on poking the sore spots for an hour before I went to bed. The next day I woke up feeling like my upper body had been hit by a truck. I would say that from what you've said, you might possibly have a case of secondary fibro, but there is also something else going on that is more important. Ask your PC to send you to a neurologist. They are the specialists who usually treat fibro, and any one should be able to diagnose it. Good luck to you, and I hope that no matter what you find, you will feel better soon! Good luck and best wishes, Ann.