Hi Lisa - Welcome to the group! You have a long list of health issues. Sadly, they all look pretty familiar to me.

Have you tried Cymbalta, Savella or Gabapentin for Fibromyalgia? Malic Acid is a supplement that can be used to help relax muscles. It is found naturally in the skin of fruit. You can find this supplement in health food stores and online at Amazon. I use it to help with muscle twitching.

I've had an annular tear and it is horribly painful. I have degenerative disc disease with stenosis too. There is a NON narcotic pain patch called Flector. It only works where it is applied. You need a script for this patch. It is my go-to solution when my back pain really gets out of hand. I also use Arnica Gel which you can purchase at Walgreens or the Vitamin Shoppe. It helps with muscle pain and that bruised sensation. Lidocaine patches are another option. They don't work for me as the medication doesn't go in far enough to be effective. They also "creep" which I don't like and need extra tape to keep them in place. Cold and slimy too - lol.

Arnica gel also comes in pill form. I use the brand made by Borion. These are tiny tablets which dissolve under your tongue. No eating, tooth brushing, smoking or drinking a half and hour before and after using them. Very helpful for muscle pain and soreness.

The lumps that you are describing are likely trigger points. These are muscles that have contracted and will not release on their own. Your current rheumy should know this. You can have them injected with Lidocaine but that is not for the faint hearted. If you can find someone to do it, take a driver and an ice pack with you. I've had it done on muscles in my lower back and it worked. Breaking the pain cycle was such a relief even if it took me a week to recover. You could also try acupuncture which I've done or a technique called dry needling. Acupuncture may initially make your symptoms worse but if you can manage, it does get better. But, you have to keep going. I couldn't because I could not afford it. Some people like massage too. Hot stone is the way to go anything else is too darn painful (at least for me).

Epsom Salt baths can really help with muscle tightness and pain. Some of our member soak in the tub before bed to help relax and hopefully get a decent nights sleep.

Don't discount the yeast overgrowth diagnosis. Over 80% of the immune system resides in your gut. Candia can cause a lot of problems with IBS, stomach issues, headaches, feeling foggy etc. - anything you can do to offset that is huge. I recommend that you use a high grade probiotic every single day to support this area.

Do you wear a bite splint for TMJ? That can cause headaches with migraine like intensity, pain in the neck, arms, shoulders and upper back. It can also contribute to vertigo problems.

I have Plantar Fasciitis too. I have a set of orthotics for my shoes which help a lot. Wearing open backed shoes, sandals and going barefoot will all set it off. I know how painful that can be too.

The skin sensitivity in the shower is called "Allydonia." I have it and it makes wearing clothes difficult. On some days, pressure on my skin is the last thing that I want. Most of us hate bras. If togas ever come back into fashion, we will be all set.

Chest pain and discomfort in the rib area can also be Costochondritis. Also, very painful and can come and go without much rhyme or reason. I use a heating pad, Arnica gel and a supplement called "Curamin" made by Terry Naturally which is available at Amazon or any decent health food store.

We recommend the book "Fibromyalgia for Dummies." You can purchase it on Amazon. It will give you a comprehensive overview of this complex illness and a lot of ways to try and manage it. Also, good for educating family members and sometimes doctors too.

A lot of rheumys these days are washing their hands of Fibromyalgia patients. It is a disorder of the central nervous system which is not their bailiwick. Neurologists are seeing more and more of us. I would also recommend a pain management specialist. And, I particularly like functional medicine specialists. They are sometimes called integrative medicine specialists. They are trained MDs with an interest in holistic medicine. I used one and got more help from this doctor than anyone else. The tests that they run are much more detailed. They usually take insurance.

Join us on daily check in. Our lovely spokemodel Leo the Powerful Puma hosts it every morning. She treats us to great trivia in the form of a myriad of subjects including history, sports and science. And, usually a tale or two involving the neighborhood wildlife. Just look for the day of the week heading. It will help us get to know you better if you participate but lurking is fine too.

Bottom line is that you have to be your own best advocate and keep searching to find solutions that work for you. We are all different when it comes to medication cocktails and pretty much everything else. I hope that my comments were helpful to you. You are not alone. Take care.

THe lovely spokesmodel (LOL!) advocates: If you have a bad feeling something is amiss other than or in addition to fibro? Persist. ONe of my favorites is a Physiatrist, which in my case is an MD who is also a DO and looks at structure/function more than an MD usually does, very similar to the functional medicine specialty (you can sometimes sniff them out under "sport medicine" if you live near a university that has a sports team).

BTW, the largest organ in your body and immune system is actually your *skin* (sorry, Fantod!) but current research indicates that our cohabitants in our guts reallllly need to be happily balanced and thriving to maximize nutrient absorption and waste removal, ergo, huge impact on health, including (ta-da!) immune system! The little guys on your eyelashes, scalp, skin, all that, are part of the ecosystem that is *you*, and I swear my fibro would be tons worse if I didn't grow up on a farm and ignore antibacterial products. It's a standard principle, well-demonstrated, that benign bacteria strains (or curable ones) thrive just fine if we don't try to kill everything into submission, thus leaving on the worst, meanest, etc., ....

All of which is to say.... my best fibro strategy continues to be basic healthy lifestyle choices, avoid processed foods and exerise verrrrry gently and so forth and so on, because that's just good no matter what's wrong. Test, trial and error, persistence, and NEVER forget the doctors work for YOU!

On the strucutral issues... That. Is. Horse. Manure. It's not each one, but the *cumulative* effect, and that can affect each individual differently. They're going by the textbooks. We aren't textbooks.

I can't top Fantod (sorry to lecture about th eimmune system, btw, I was premed in the day, I nerd out), and WELCOME to the FIbroMighty forum:-)

No worries Leo - I stand corrected. LOL

Thanks for the info. I have been on all those meds, except the pain patch. They either had horrendous side effects(the anti depressants) or they didn't work. I have a laundry list of allergies, most are prescription meds, including opiates. They tried lidocane. It had no effect on me. Those lumps on my lower back are hard and they move some when touched. They used to be squishy. The bigger one often feels like it has a hot needle stuck in it. When I get a flare, my lower back swells around those lumps. I have to wear yoga pants because my jeans are tight on that area. The lumps are always there, even when not having a flare. The one by my rib under my right breast doesn't move, is hard, and seems to be growing slowly. I don't wear anything for the tmj because sometimes I sleep with my mouth open. My hubby says I make a clicking sound when sleeping with mouth open. He has told me I sound like a chicken. HAHAA!

I take a lot of supplements as recommended by my pcp. I don't think they do much for the pain or fatigue, even fall asleep after taking concerta. I drink Shakeology, lots of probiotics there (I also get a coach discount, it's expensive but worth it). I take B complex, Cal/Mag with D, fish oil, multivitamin with minerals, CoQ 10, ginseng, turmeric, C, E, 5htp (great for sleeping at night), and alpha lipoic acid. I hate pills though, because I gag and choke on them sometimes.

I had my first painful flare in 2014. They first said I had lupus because a few tests came back positive. The rheumatologist said the numbers weren't high enough and called it fibro.

I try to avoid needles as much as I can. They hurt so bad, even just having blood drawn, I scream and cry because they hurt that bad.

Does going over bumpy roads in a car make you hurt more? It kills my whole back.

My pcp suggested I go to Mayo Clinic because he is running out of ideas. Wish I could afford it. Just the trip there is more than I can afford.

It doesn't help that my pain tolerance seems to have decreased with age. How did I have kids without drugs? LOL I wish bodies were like cars, when it breaks down just trade it in for a new one.

Addition: my pcp's specialty is sports medicine.

I have multiple sensitivities/allergies to medication too. I keep an updated print out on my computer to take to the doctors office. I use the lowest dose available and have even had a compound pharmacy reformulate medication.

Lupus can be very difficult to diagnose. It can take 5 years or more to get a firm diagnosis. Like Leo the Powerful Puma said, you have to keep going and continue to advocate for yourself. I've fired at least 2 doctors since this whole mess started.

Ketoprofen is a another option. It is a pain killing cream that has to be formulated by a compound pharmacy. I get mine made up with 20% Lidocaine. You apply it after a warm shower or use rubbing alcohol first on your skin. Never layer it - always use it on clean, warm skin. The best way to use it is to apply the cream and put saran wrap over it. Keep the saran wrap on for NO more than 2 hours. That way the cream really gets absorbed. A lot of doctors are not familiar with this stuff. If you decide to try, make sure they write the script for more than a little tub as you have a lot of ground to cover. Mine comes in a tub. There are compound pharmacies everywhere. If one is not convenient to your home, the script can be submitted electronically/ by fax and mailed to your home.

Trigger points will be there whether you are in a flare or not. Once the muscle contracts, it pretty well stays that way.

You should be wearing your mouth splint mouth open or not. It sounds like your jaw muscles are in a continual state of spasm. If you do happen to close your mouth while sleeping, the splint ensures that your jaw is in a neutral position. Have you had a sleep study done?

I'm sorry that you have so much medical stuff going on. And yes, a bumpy road can be murder on some days. I stand by my suggestion to see a functional medicine specialist. Take care.

I've seen a physiatrist too and he was the one that injected the trigger points in my lower back. After months of intense suffering, it was so worth it.

Still noodling this - another option for chronic pain is infrared heat. It goes about 3 inches into the skin which is a lot further than a heating pad. The results are usually felt the day after using infrared and will last a day or so. Some health clubs or spas have an infrared sauna that is available to use/rent. I have an infrared lamp with a mineral plate on it that I purchased on Amazon for about $150. It is on casters so that I can drag it around the house with me. Works on the same theory as a Korean Migun bed. The minerals in the plate all vibrate at different frequencies to promote healing. I find it very useful particularly in the winter when I am really achy.

The last thing that I want to talk about (you are probably saying "thank God") is Quell. This is an FDA approved device that works like an external neuro stimulator. It was developed by some folks associated with MIT. You wear it around your calf and it sends a mild electrical pulse into your skin which in turn stimulates your brain to produce natural pain killers. If the pulse is bothersome, cream can be purchased to dull the sensation. I've had my Quell since it hit the market last summer. I am extremely happy with it. I am not a person who normally reacts to any promotion of curing or improving chronic pain but this device made total sense to me. About 81% of the people who purchase Quell have good results. (It does not work for migraines.) There is a 60 day money back guarantee which they will honor. It is $250 for the unit and a supply of electrodes. The electrodes are about $30 a month if you wear Quell all of the time. I don't unless my pain levels are bad which reduces my cost to use it. I have it synced to my iphone to track usage with their app and it can be worn at night to sleep. This device is one that I highly recommend: quellrelief.com

Take care.

And this is why we love our FM board, b/c we'll keep at it until we feel we've helped all we can!

OK, sports medicine may have been a bad suggestion. Supplements in that amount make things worse. Yes, I said it. Worse. (Kiss my ass, Dr. Oz!) If you can prove you're deficient consistently via bloodwork, fine. Otherwise, a good multivitamin/mineral supp should be all you require, and AVOID the cheap ones. Why? They can be pooped out almost whole. Yep. Seen it. Centrum is the worst brand-name offender for that one. Ugh. Chewables are vailable for adults now, too, however, and you can always drink something like Pedialyte or Ensure if it might help. Hey, worth a try. I hate prescriptions, and try to eat my nutrition, but do need to take a supp b/c my epilepsy med screws up something. I did a lot of testing on those blasted supps.
As for your lumps, get them tested. I know you hate needles, but please, get them tested. You may just have cysts. You may have something in those lump sthat can be treated and fixed. It has to be done, because lumps aren't fibro in my experience.... and I never regret getting my little lumps checked out. Or the chicken-egg cyst on my thyroid a few years ago, which turned out to be nothing but a random cyst and self-resolved after they drained it. Ta-da! Scary? Yes. Painful? Heck yes. But think long-term, okay? Heck, ask them to do a local anesthetic where they draw the blood if you need to, but *get it done*. Without information? Nobody can be sure what's going on. And if you pass out? Hey, fine, you pass out! My late sister passed out every time she had to have blood drawn or a flu shot, and we actually would wait for her to pass out before the doc/nurse would administer the needle. Made life easier for everyone. Sounds horrible as I read it, but it's true. She had no awareness, and they didn't ahve to deal with a screaming octopus. (Just run with that image.)

The reason I advocte is that I had a cyst the size of a US nickel on my ribs, on my back, and I was freaking out. It was horrible and itchy and I was sure it was some alien pod worm or something... Nope, jsut an under-skin bit of infection. Zing! Done! Antoher time, hwoever, the lumps in question ruptured, and it turned out I had flesh-eating bacteria. I was lucky that my body manifested it so weirdly as to "cyst-encapsulate" the sites, but I delayed... and it was *not* worth it. At all. I was sick as he** for a month, and it took 3 months for the skin to even start feeling okay. And it was on my *butt*. Believe me, b een there, done that.

OK, now I too will hush up!

I can relate to a lot of what you describe. I hope you find a myofascial therapist. The central sensitization that occurs in fibro is probably making the disc-related pain very much worse, I think. Great options discussed by Fantod and Leo. A useful cream and the only one recommended by the rheumatology board is capsaicin (it's hot peppers and distracts the nerves from pain signals). I use it daily on my back and it turns the pain way down. Good luck to you with all this and welcome.

Couple more mentions: I had PT for TMJ where I was taught to apply heat and then cold to the cheek muscle and massage it with fingers inside the mouth, repeat x3/x3 per day and it worked. I made a cheap mouth splint from those sold over the counter which you can trim a little on the farthest molars to make it comfortable.
I read a lot about trigger point injections since I suffer from painful knots and spasms. They are difficult to do and a bit dangerous because of the risk of damaging nerves or hitting blood vessels, depending on the site. If you find a doc who does them, please research her/him and the procedure carefully.

I also wear hard plastic inserts for plantar fascitis. Got them cheap at a running shoes specialty store, as recommended by my doc.

I wanted to reply that when I took Lyrica I noticed it made my nerve pain worse and I had to keep popping pills and increase the dose to get minimal relief. Then I talked to my neurologist and re-read the side effects. Lyrica can also cause nerve pain. When I decided to stop taking that medicine, I had the worst nerve pain of my life as my body adjusted. I still have bad nerve pain, but for me Lyrica did make it worse. I hope you find this helpful and look at all of the side effects to your meds. Good luck, it's awful dealing with this I know.