Hi, Kim!

OK, first off? FM is usually what they dxx after all else is ruled out b/c a LOT causes neuro-muscular pain---which can be more neuro (burn burn) or muscular (ache ache) or some combo thereof (burn-ache-whimper).... I was put through tons of bloodwork, X-ray, CT scans, to rule out metabolic (like thyroid), auto-immune (like RA), dietary (like celiac, which causes nutritional deficiencies), anatomical (injury or deformity or slipped discs etc)....

That said, many docs treating FM now are neuros, so researching that as a referral option may be best.

Also, I've never had weakness with FM, and I was dx'd in 1995.

Others will be better able to answer. We have some great folks who have both RA and FM, so they'll know more about your situation, but I wanted to say WELCOME & let you know my experience.:-)

Leo

It isnt for me i want to be checked from head to toe but some drs dont do that. I got RA first before the fibro im not on any RA meds just things for pain Cymbalta, tramadol and zanaflex i do feel pain still. So i would tell your dr that you feel that he did not properly examine you. I did one time and then they did.

Hello and welcome! It is not uncommon for people with Fibromyalgia (FMS) to have underlying conditions such as RA and a host of other problems. I have FMS, severe osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis. There are many people on this board who also have very complicated health profiles. I was diagnosed with FMS after a disc failed in my back. That was the last straw for my central nervous system.

FMS is a diagnosis of exclusion. If everything else has been ruled out via extensive blood work and other testing based upon the patient's complaints then FMS is the culprit. We all exhibit different problems with this illness. That is what makes it so difficult to diagnose and treat. Some people like me just feel like they have the flu 24/7 - I ache. Other people feel like they've been badly sunburned and may experience stinging. Then there is the group that has both. FMS is recognized by the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization and the National Arthritis Foundation. It is very real and a medical mystery. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of doctors who don't believe it exists. We've all met at least one..

The three primary medications used to treat FMS are Cymbalta, Savella and Lyrica. Only certain certain classes of prescribed medications work for the type of pain caused by Fibromyalgia. OTC medications such as Tylenol, Alleve are not usually effective. You also need a medication for sleep. FMS interrupts the deep sleep cycle with short bursts of high intensity brain activity. Your muscles require deep sleep in order for them to repair themselves from the days activities. No deep sleep means higher levels of pain. Hence the prescription for Elavil which is one of many choices used to treat this problem. Managing the sleep issues associated with FMS is a critical part of treatment.

When starting medication to treat FMS, don't expect instant results. It can take a minimum of two weeks or even up to a month before you begin to notice a difference in your symptoms. The longer a chronic pain cycle continues, the harder it becomes to manage or stop. There is no set formula for treating FMS. It is a trial and error process when it comes to medication. What works for me, may not for you. Pain management is all about preserving some quality of life. It is never about getting rid of the pain entirely.

I agree with Leo that you should see another doctor for a second opinion. My choice would also be a neurologist. You can call your local hospital and ask for the physician referral department. See if they can match you up with someone who has an interest in FMS. You might also want to consider getting a pain management specialist as well. Can you ask your primary care doctor to help you with the referrals if you need one?

Good luck to you Kim. If you have other questions, please let us know. Take care.

I was also diagnosed and treated for RA before being diagnosed and treated for fibromyalgia, in my case, I think it has been an appropriate diagnosis.

Thank-you for the replies.
The Rheumy and I have not seen eye to eye since I began seeing him.
He did send me to a Neurologist a few months back, I was sent for numbness and tingling and memory problems.
They did an EMG and MRI's on neck and head. Nothing of any significance was found.
I ended up with dueling opinions, Rheumy says I don't swell, Neuro said swelling is causing the numbness and tingling...go figure.
I think the Rheumy is stumped with me, so Fibro it is. My concern is that there was really no testing that has happened. In 2.5 years, he has done a knee x-ray and told me I have Osteoarthritis in my knee, I already knew that much.
The Elavil, isn't doing much by itself. Taken with the 1/2 flexaril at night, I sleep through my alarms...ugh.
I will try to up the dose to 2 at bedtime like he suggested and see if that helps any.
Again, thank-you,
Kim

What your dr gave you is normal. I take some of that. The pain can be both sore and burning. I have fibro and arthritis so i get different meds for each condition. But if you dont feel comfortable talk to dr and asks more questions. Hang in there honey. Love LLL