Question

12 years ago, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia . I use to have good days and bad days. For the past few years, no more good days. I hurt all the time. I wake up in pain, and I go to bed in pain. I'm worried that it could be something else. For those of you with fibromyalgia, did your pain progress the same way and now you have pain 24/7?

Thanks,
~Amy~

Amy,

I'm so sorry you are going through this. But I know exactly what you mean. I was dx'd in 1997 and after I had a major surgery in 2003, I started having pain almost nonstop. Now 9 yrs later and I am constantly in pain. I can't even get a good nights sleep because I hurt so bad. I have taken every type of med they could think of for fibro and it hasn't helped. Nothing helps!

Again so sorry you are going through this.

Missy

I'm with Missy on that, unfortunatly it seems the older I get the worse the fibro gets! I'm like you guys pain 24/7, I take narcotic pain meds but it still hurts all the time. They help enough so I can get around but still hurt! At least you aren't alone!

I can't find a doctor that will prescribe anything stronger than tramadol. It does absolutely nothing. Doesn't help with the pain and doesn't help me sleep. All they want to give me is different brands of antidepressants, meds for neuropothy and NSAIDS. They don't help, either. They just cause other problems with the horrible side effects. I am at wits end, and it is weighing on me mentally and emotionally. I just got the results of a bone scan and MRI, so in addition to the fibro, I have degenerative disc disease starting in my neck all the way down to my lower back. Two herniated disks in my lower back, and the nerves in my lower back are inflamed. I have arthritis in my lower back, both knees, left foot and ankle. I can't take it anymore. I work full time and I do not want to lose my job. I'm scared to death that I am going to have to quit work.

That's horrible!! No one should have to suffer like that! I would look for a pain specialist or rheumatologist, someone who specilizes in that type of pain. Maybe even a neurologist might be able to help. I know before my primary would comletely accept the diagnosis of fibro he sent me to  rheumy for testing and my primary also ran a gamut of blood work before sending me there to make sure it wasn't something else. Also if you were diagnosed that long ago, who knows it could be something else going on besides just the fibro. You may have to search and contact a fibro assoc. to steer you to someone who can really run the battery of tests and determine what exactly is going on. So often we are accused of being drug seekers when all we want is relief!

I use a fentanyl patch, cymbalta and oxycodone for break thru pain. This doesn't make the pain go away totally but at least it gets me to where I can still function. I recently started seeing  neurologist for neuropathy and she is finding that my muscles and nerves don't respond like they should and she is digging to find out what exactly the problem is, that's what a good doc should be doing, not dismissing your pain. If you are having back issues you may need to see an orthopedist, maybe they will give you something for the back pain. It doesn't matter who gives you the pain meds as long as you get some relief.

You also wouldn't be the first one to have to leave their job because of pain related to fibro. Some people are even able to apply for and get disability because of it. We just have to push to get what we need and not let the docs dismiss us. If I can help with anything or you have other questions I'm glad to help if I can. Good luck, you deserve to be treated better!

See a pain management specialist  if you haven't tried this route.  Mine gives me injections in the back for the herniated disc and sciatica.  I'm going to talk to him about my knees when I go in August because the present injections by an ortho isn't doing anything for me.  He suggested at the last treatment that I may want to see a pain mgmt spc.  for the knees.  When I can keep my knees, back and neck pain under control the FMS is less.