Question:
 

Very late or early whichever you like, Wenesday morning or Tuesday night.
I started having what is I am believing Fibromyalgia or arthritis pain in my
lower back and legs. It is centered in my left side more than any thing.

But it was so bad, that it kept me awake pretty much all night. Its never
happened this way before. I tried a little of everything. Even tylenol and
then hydrocoidene. Then heat, and then my husband did a very good
massage. But within short periods it was back and even worse. But I
am not sure what to think as to if that is all it is or was.

Any ideas what else to do. I take Gabepetin 1800mg a day, flex-somthing?,
3 times a day. And then iron, magnesium, vitamins, calcium, and all my
other meds. I have been doing the heat and hydrocodeine on the schedule
that I can. But no idea what else. It usually works.

Any ideas, its so limited in area. And its definately a tight muscle type
area. But what else to try.

Donna:grouphug:

I think you should call your doctor if it doesn't get better.
I am sorry that you are having this pain. Maybe a chiropracter????
hope it goes away soon!
bizi

Donna,
See a chiropractor and your mdoc tomorrow.

See if you can get this taken care of before the week end.

1. For now, the only thing I can think of is soaking your feet with Epsom Salts so that you get more magnesium.

2. What kind of calcium do you take?

3. Have you checked your blood sugar?

4. Can you check with your physical therapist?

Mari

I don't know what kind of calcium I take. Its just the regular kind you
buy. I have been checking my blood sugar regularly. Its in the normal
range. Really pretty good range. I don't have a physical therapist
right now. But I could call the one I was using. And I was just at
the doctor for this stuff last week, wouldn't you know that.

It was all fine then.

Ugh, I don't want to call him. I will see about that though, had
already considered it.

Donna

Donna,
Call the physical therapist you saw.

Can you find a chiropractor?

M.

I can try and call the physical therapist on Monday.

She is only in on 1/2 a day a week. And its Monday.
Donna

Is it possible that you some how over-exerted your left side, Donna?
If so, heat alternated by ice could help... and an anti-inflammatory (aleve is my go-to, but if you aren't able to tolerate NSAIDS tylenol) with some light stretching of the effected areas. I suggest this because you describe muscle pain.

I'm sorry that I'm not as familiar w/ your medical history as I should be by now... Please explain, only if you're comfortable, of course.
Have you been prescribed exercises for this area in the past?

Whether or not you have been seen for this before or not, If it doesn't resolve by Monday, my first go-to would be the doc you saw recently, since it is his domain. Ask the secretary to speak to the nurse, who should share the info with your doc. You should get a timely call-back.
Your doc isn't likely to be bothered since muscle and joint pains tend to disappear and reappear when they want. It's not likely to be a unique situation.

I hope you receive some relief soon!!! :hug:
Kay

Ohkay, and Everyone thanks

Ohkay, I have fibromyalgia, and have been told I have areas in my back
and neck that have arthritis. I also have had neck relief in the way of
a shot system. Sorry I can't remember its name.

I take prescribed Neurotin, zanaflex, and hydrocodeine 10-325 when needed.
I don't usually need the hydrocodeine, so its been odd taking so much
of it. I take 1800 of the Generic neurotin, which was upped not this time
but last time I saw the doc. I also take cymbalta for anxiety and it helps
the pain. I take magnesium, calcuim, iron, multivitiman.

The magnesium I have right now, has zinc and calcuim in it. So I am taking
zinc also. I don't know if I am taking another medicine that is counteracting
things.

I am working on it. My husband also gave me another massage tonight, it
helped too. Really nice. But just for a while.

Donna

Will be looking into the feet and ankle issues too.

Hadnt' thought of that.

Donna:grouphug:

Dear Donna,

please see a doctor about this.

do you notice any other symptoms?

- swelling in the painful area or near it
- changes in skin color (paler, darker, ...)
- changes in skin temperature of that area (cooler or warmer)

if any of these or other symptoms are present, i think you should go to urgent care.

the fact that massage helps temporarily suggests something muscular OR circulatory to me, but the causes can be quite varied. the fact that hydrocodone in large doses is not helping much is kind of concerning. as is your mention of "feet and ankle issues."

if you have no other symptoms..... and if it is safe for you to use anti-inflammatory drugs, with blood-thinning side-effects, eg aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen sodium... i might try that. i would stick to fairly low doses taken regularly for a few days, and see if it helps.

but see a doc no matter what - at very least call on monday and tell them the symptoms.

~ waves ~

Donna,

For arthritic pain, they can also do injections in the back that may prove useful!
Since you have pain in that area, the arthritis may be the culprit...
Do you normally get bilateral or unilateral flares up of fibro?

I'm happy that your husband is willing to give you massages to help. He sounds like a good husband.

As others have mentioned, please follow up on Monday. I hate to hear that you are suffering :hug:

Kay

I am also having problems in other areas. Just not as bad. I guess I didn't
think it was as much to mention.

I always have issues in my neck and shoulders so that didn't seem to need
to be mentioned. But the massages there help the headaches.

I take either tylenol regular or ibprofen with they hydrocodeine its according
to how bad the pain is. And how soon I took the pain medicine. I spread
it out so it might have relief longer.

I also did heat for a while but I didn't on Sunday at all. And stopped part
of Saturday it seemed to make little difference.

I would call the doctor's but it wouldn't honestly make a difference. Because
there isn't anything they can do.

But I see a end to the tunnel today. Its better. I slept lots better last
night. And I have a appt with my massage therapist today.


Ohkay, I know its muscular, because my muscles are all hard as rocks all the time. And it doesn't help the pain. And the ankles I'm not sure I'm working on that one.

Donna:grouphug:

Dear Donna,
Perhaps the mdoc cannot do anything, it is not up to you to decide.

There is a chance that this is serious.
Please call. It would be good for the doc to take a look at you and examine you.

M.

Donna,

I totally agree with Mari.

Don't throw in the towel and assume you can't find relief. You'll be doing yourself a disservice. It can't hurt to call, but it may get worse if you put it off.

I'm glad you slept well last night! :)

Kay

Went to my massage therapist. And she says, its all tight muscles
as it is usually. If it gets worse again. I'll call the doc.

But I think its going to start getting better.

Thanks for the concern though. I just don't know what else he would
be able to do.:grouphug:
DOnna

p.s. As of right now I don't have insurance, till I can get my checks sent in.

Dear Donna

thank you for the update. :) i am reassured by the fact that your massage therapist saw you and feels the problem is limited to muscle tightness.

i had some concerns that the muscular symptoms might be of neurological or vascular origin, but if that were so, there would be other symptoms your therapist would likely have noticed.

nonetheless if it does continue i am glad you will see the doc. as for what he can do, well, for starters, he may want to run some tests, especially if he is unsure if this is due to your fibro or other known conditions.

i hope you can get the insurance straightened out soon so you can get care if and when you need it. :hug:

~ waves ~