Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) describes a sense of exhaustion and post-exertion malaise, even when you have gotten enough rest and sleep. The disease is characterized by six months of incapacitating fatigue experienced as profound exhaustion and extremely poor stamina, and problems with concentration and short-term memory. The cause is unknown, but it is a...

1,560 Members
7,095 Posts
0 Online
Muscles & Bones
/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group

Chronic Pain for 3 Years

Storm13
Storm13

I have dealt with chronic pain for over 3 years and haven't been diagnosed even though I struggle with horrible back, neck and leg pain on a daily basis.  I wonder if I may have fibromyalgia or maybe myalgic encenphalitis because I sufferfrom chronic fatigue and have to push myself to do the smallest activities that used to come so easy to me. Can anyone tell me how you found out/ were diagnosed by a Dr. and was it a specialist? Plus if you have any tips about how to manage the pain, have more energy- I would greatly appreciate it.




 



 

 

247pain
247pain
Hi! I'm sorry you're going through this. Mine hit 3.5 years ago and at first I didn't take it seriously. My PCP didn't really believe me until my parents got involved then I was refer to a rheumatologist and got a diagnosis.

I would advise you to go to your primary with a list of your symptoms and ask them to run tests if your current PCP doesn't take you seriously and go to someone else.

Have you had any tests done yet? And do you have any other symptoms?

For back pain physical therapy has helped a lot and for fatigue try not to take stress, don't take on too much and rest as much as you can. I'm still struggling with fatigue and pain so I may not be of much help.
Storm13
Storm13
No diagnosis so I have never been to a rheumatologist so I will ask my primary care about it. I appreciate your response 247pain, any advice is helpful to me. I'm glad people on this site are so supportive of each other. Take care and I hope things get better for you.
triunfadora
triunfadora
Hi, and welcome to the group. This is a great group. I went to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. I don't know where you are located, but I would suggest going to a place were they are studying ME/CFS. Most local doctors will just blow you off and say that you are depressed and it's all in your head. Let me assure you that it is not in your head. You are experiencing the kind of pain that often goes with ME/CFS. It sounds like you really need that diagnosis. There are not agreed-upon treatments, but different people find help with different things. I wish you all the best. We are here for you. Friend some people and read some of their journals. Many blessings.
2DanceAgain
2DanceAgain
Here is my two cents worth. A lot of my initial tests were ordered by a nurse practitioner at an alternative medicine health clinic. The goal of these tests were to rule out other illnesses. Then I was referred to a rheumatologist (I actually saw the only 2 in town) and they diagnosed CFS. I don't have much pain. Occasional headaches, little aches and pains that come and go. The big indicator for me was the big difference in my level of fatigue/exhaustion after doing normal every day simple tasks (i.e., running errands) before (Jan/Feb 2003) and after (May/June 2003) the period of time (March/April 2003) when I had repeated cold/sore throat/flu symptoms. Things were just different. It took over a year and a half with lots of tests, trying supplements and shots, etc before I was able to take all those records to the rheumatologists and they diagnosed the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.