I have PTSD and fibro, but I don't know if the two are related. I think it's just a coincidence that I have both.

My PTSD is from my childhood. I got fibro at the age of 44. I control my PTSD with medication and therapy.....my fibro with medication and aqua therapy. I do depend on God to see me through each day.

I'm sorry you have both disorders too.

I have both plus a dissociative disorder as well. Ive had ptsd and the diss. disorder since childhood as well and I was dx'ed with fibro at 26. Good question though. I know some docs think fibro is a symptom of depression. I don't buy that though.

I was diagnosed with PTSD and Fibro at the same time in 2002, however I still have Fibro, but not PTSD.

from the sounds of it I cope the same as you, today I have been in bed all day...the was unbearable yesterday and today I am just for lack of a better term...........blaaawwwwwwwwwww...........I have anxiety with fibro. fibro on its own is a pain in the everything...fibro with other conditions just makes some days none functioning....I have started daily therapy, which I missed today, trying to deal with ways of coping with it all.

I have both but do not believe they are related. For the ptsd I have just had to deal with, like making myself do things that will bring on a panic attack and doing it enough so that I dont react that way to it any more, think maybe they call that behavioral therapy. I have had it for 20 years tho so getting to know what caused it has helped and I took meds as needed. I am also on lexapro for the last 6 years and it has helped a great deal. It is the only anti depressant I can tolerate and it was made for women with anxiety. Good luck! It will get better!

kimmylee - I have been on lexapro for a year, and it has helped me so much.

I have both, and I've found that counseling weekly and psych meds have helped with both tremendously.I don't think my PTSD caused my fms alone, but I do think it was a contributing factor. The fact that I didn't deal thoroughly (meaning I quit when I felt a little better) with my mental health issues didn't help any. When the fms symptoms started I thought I was losing my mind.

Hi. I'm new here. Dx'd with fibro in 2009. I also have ptsd. I have anxiety quite bad. I'm quite a hermit too. I think they are all related. I left my job in 2007 to care for my elderly parents who are both gone now. During that time I got my fibro dx. After Dad passed, I was dx'd with extreme ptsd and the anxiety has always been an underlying problem. I use antidepressants, lyrica, anti-anxiety meds and vicodin if I have to amp up to get something done or get to an event. Massage and chiropractic care along with counseling have helped me the most though.

A lot of professionals and its written in a lot of the books Ive read, that fibro is brought on by a trauma or at the very least, fibro symptoms increase when there has been a trauma. That trauma could be physical like a car accident, illness, etc or it could be from abuse like childhood abuse, molestation, mental abuse, rape and etc. I believe in this. I have also heard that fibro is related to depression but I dont think thats true. Yes your body can hurt, everything hurts, when you are depressed but that doesnt mean its fibro. Fibro however can bring on depression.
I have a huge cocktail of meds that I take for depression, ptsd, and fibro. It has taken many years to find the right cocktail. However this does not mean Im cured from anything, I still have my super horrible days where I dont get out of bed. It does help me have more better days tho!

My symptoms of fibro go back to childhood, my PSTD caused by a bad marriage that ended when the physical started when he ended up giving in to addiction. I was then left with four children alone and later had to help them deal with the death of their father. After years of all the pain I ended up with extreme anxiety.

My feeling is the fibro had me worn down and all the other events added to it. Good Dr., therapist & Physc is what keeps me going along with my Faith.

lalab

An emotional trauma can trigger Fibromyalgia in some people. Other tirggers are surgery, childbirth, an accident or high levels of stress. It is not uncommon for people with PTSD to have Fibromayalgia (FMS). Take care.

I was diagnosed with fibro around 1989, I was diagnosed with PTSD in 2002 after an extreme criminal assault.

Now when something high stress or traumatic occurs the Fibro flares, and the PTSD kicks up. They love to double team me- which is quite the handfull.

I go to weekly CBT therapy, and am on meds for both managed by my PCP. I have medication hypersensitivity so take mostly off label stuff.

It's surprising to read that so many here have this particular double trouble. My heart goes out to you all.

It sounds from the posts that one may increase vulnerability to the other but in no particular order and thank heavens not all the time.

I also obtained PTSD in 2007 while working with battle damaged vehicles coming back from Iraq. I just got diagnosed with fibro in Oct of this year.

I too have read and been told by my doctor that there is a link between PTSD and Fibro. However, I also read that they think there could be a link between fibro and a lack of oxygen to the brain too. So I am not sure the experts really know and I am still looking for answers.

I do know that stress and lack of sleep make both conditions worse.

Take care of yourself and know you are not alone.

The 'lack of oxygen to the brain' is something I hadn't heard before but its interesting. My sleep apnea has gotten worse through the years right along too. And that, of course, causes lack of oxygen to the brain.

YES I HAVE BOTH AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
YES YES THEY ARE RELATED
i have a lot of websites that document this....will
post them later.