Hello,

I'm brand new to this site, and from several posts I've read this seems to be a very friendly and helpful place. My hope is that someone will be able to help me, too.

I'm very confused about some recent tests that I've had, and my research has only added to my confusion. For example, I thought that my B12 test was normal according to what I was told was "normal," but after doing a little online research I'm not so sure.

I hope you can help me make some sense out of these test results and my symptoms and maybe even give me some advice on what my next steps should be, if any. I thank you in advance for your help.


A LITTLE BACKGROUND:

My name is Michele, and I'm 38 years old. For the last 8 years I've suffered from a severe chronic pain condition called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) which has become centralized. I was injured at the school where I taught 4th grade, and those injuries were what eventually developed into RSD. I was rated 100% permanently disabled. As a result of the pain and all the ways in which my life has been affected by the pain, I also suffer from depression.

I take a TON of medications to deal with the pain and the depression, some of which make me sleepy. Despite that fact, I have rarely slept more than a couple of hours at a time, if at all, for the last 8 years, primarily due to pain and sometimes just due to plain ol' insomnia.


RECENT SYMPTOMS:

Fatigue- The fatigue has been growing in intensity over the last six months. The last month or so I'd say it's become extreme fatigue, to the point where I'm asleep more than I'm awake. I'm sleeping through alarm clocks, sleeping day and night, falling asleep while watching TV and reading, etc. I feel VERY sluggish, as if I'm moving through mud, and I find it difficult to finish any task I set out to do. Of note is that this fatigue is different than the type I feel from my medications. This reminds me of what I felt like when I was taking a HUGE amount of Methadone for pain about 2 or 3 years ago.

Pain- This pain is different in feeling and in location from my RSD pain. The new pain is in the back and sides my neck, in my shoulders, upper back, elbows and sometimes, more and more frequently, through my entire arm on both sides. It is of an achy nature and varies in intensity but is a constant pain.

Frequent Headaches- Every once and a while the headache will turn into a migraine, but typically it doesn't get to that point. I'd say I have headaches daily at this point.

Shaky and Jerky Movements- This symptom started in both hands but in just the pointer fingers and thumbs. It started as just random shaking for no apparant reason. Over the last few weeks, it has intensified to jerky movements that cause me to "throw" things. For example, I was trying to spoon some sunflower seeds onto my salad, and all of a sudden, my hand jerked so hard that the seeds went flying across the room.

Vision Abnormality- I'm not sure if this was just a fluke or not, but I was watching TV, and all of a sudden it was like I was looking through bi-focals. The top half of my vision was completely blurry, but the bottom half was fine. It lasted a few minutes and might have happened once or twice more but with much less blurriness.


BLOOD TEST RESULTS: I just had a bunch of blood tests done, and most of them came back normal, though I'm wondering if one of them is really abnormal after reading through some information regarding B12. Below, I've listed the B12 test results for your opinions, as well as the three other tests that were not within the normal range.

B12- My value is 451, and I was told that anything above 200 pg/ml is good.

Folic Acid- My value is 22.8, and I was told that anything between
3.0 and 17.0 ng/ml is good.

Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy- My value is 21, and I was told that anything between 30 and 100 ng/ml is good.

Glucose, Fasting- My value is 102, and I was told that anything between 60 and 99 mg/dL is good.


There were a bunch of other tests, like a CBC, but I doubt you want me to list every single one. If you need more information in order to help me, please let me know.

Thanks again for taking the time to read through all of this, and an even bigger thank you if you're able to offer me some advice. I'm extremely appreciative for any and all comments. Thanks so much!!!

Hugs,
Michele

Welcome to the group.

With the all over pain you are experienceing, that could be Fibromyalgia. It comes with RSD often. You might want to see a Rheumetolgist to see if that is what you are dealing with. Eye problems often comes with Fibro. I deal with seeing close up or far off. A friend of mine who has Fibro went to her eye Dr. and he told he she has what they call Fibro eyes. That's one reason I hadn't bothered going. I need glasses to read close up and I can't read signs until I am right up on them no matter how big.

As far as the fatigue, that could be Cronic Fatigue Syndrome which comes with Fibro most often also. I deal with that also. I have gotten better though. You have to sleep off the symptoms. It's not a short process either. You kind of go into remission from the CFS like other illnesses.

The shaky and jerky movements come with RSD a lot of times. Bill use to say I jerked all night in my sleep and I drop everything. Drives me nuts. It's like I am throwing things. They don't just drop at my feet.

Headaches can also come with Fibro due to tenderpoints. With Fibro there is 18 tenderpoints that are very sore at the touch. Again a Rheme can diagnose that and CFS if that is what you are dealing with.

I'm sorry to hear that you are going through this. It's like a rollercoaster ride that never ends.

Ada

I agree totally with Ada. I just returned a book to the library in which it states: on average only 5% of the entire population that has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia will ever experence RSD; however, 100% of those with RSD will develop fibromyalgia.

I was first told this last summer when I visited a neurosurgeon friend of mine who had just written a book on the mind, body, brain connection. He focused mostly on chronic pain and both medical and alternative ways to heal. Most of the info. I received from him can be picked up by reading quality websites on the Internet regarding fibromyalgia. I also learned a lot from 3-4 good books from the library. I can't think of the name of this last one I just returned, but it was good. From your desription you sound hit on most problems this author addressed regarding those "unfortunate patients" who suffer from RSD and then (or prior) fibromyalgia.

I hope this gives you a direction to investigate further with your doctors and in your research. Please remember to report all new or different symptoms to your doctors, it is so important to keep them informed.