Hon,

I know I am only 29 years old. I know I have only had FM for a year. However, I have been having the same problems as you. My hips, knees and legs are so stiff, in so much pain, and are so weak. I am having to use a cane now when I walk most of the time except around this house (not as much, i have furniture to hold onto lol). Anyway there was a thread a week or so ago about whether us fibromytes felt that FM was degenerative. Here is my thought. Doctors say it isnt degenerative because the muscles and joints are not loosing integreity. However, with all new symptoms popping up, the pain getting worse and the older symptoms gettings worse, there is no reason NOT to believe that it is deteriorating. It is deteriorating because it is taking away our life. It is taking away our various roles we play ie.mother, wife, etc, it is taking away our ability to work to function normally. For me and my personal thoughts and feelings FM is degenerative. And i worry i wont be able to walk, be able to take care of my daughter, or finish school and be a teacher. I do think as you get older and your body is starting to have more problems coping etc, that it does get worse in that sense too. Even everyday people are having problems because of their age, with FM it is even more rightly so. I hope this helps you. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I hope that your pain is managable and that your symptoms are tolerable.
We love you hon. We are here for you. Keep us posted on how you are doing! Love ya star

I am 52. I have fibro like forever. It is not progressive. The other pain is coming from other problems like connective tissue disease or arthritus. Myofascial is another problem you could have. Sounds like that one is what your dr is thinking you have. Good Luck

Do you have any injuries or neurological diseases that would account for this??? Have you had an EMG to rule out nerve and muscle damage???

Assuming you don't have anything mentioned above, chances are you have chronic myofascial pain syndrome [CMP] in which you get knots in your muscles that refer the pain elsewhere and have to be broken up or deactivated for the pain to subside for long.

CMP can cause numbness and tingling, balance problems, weakness in a limb, carpel tunnel syndrome and a whole host of other symptoms.

The knots are known as trigger points and can be successful deactivated with trigger point massage that you can do on yourself. It's painful until you get them under control, plus it can be extremely time consuming, but given the alternative, it's worth the effort.

I have it big-time and spend up to 3 hours a day [off and on while watching TV] doing TP massage and have been able to pretty much control my pain 90% of the time.

I use a two-headed percussion massager and the book featured at triggerpointbook.com. This book has made my life bearable and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Here's a few links in case you're interested:

triggerpointbook.com

http://www.latrobe.edu.au/podiatry/myofasc/myofasc.html

http://round-earth.com/HeadPainIntro.html

http://www.ultimatewatermassage.com/massage-types-trigger.htm

Also, check out Kellybean's journal entry from a day or so ago where she discusses how much trigger point massage has helped her. She started doing it a few weeks ago and it has really reduced her pain. I'm thrilled for her and hope others will take the time to look into it.

Do yoga! Or water exercise. Don't just sit back and do nothing. Attack your disease by taking good care of yourself. That includes eating well and some exercise. Listen to your body.

I am 29 and have suffered for 20 of those years. Mine too has gotten a lot worse over time. Mine is my legs too. I have always been told not to worry that I won't be wheelchair bound but I am not so sure. There are those days where all I can do is make it to the bathroom and back to bed. I think a lot of docs just don't know. It is so misunderstood that who knows what our futures really hold for us. I just try to think positive. Best of luck! Marie

MINE HAS GOTTEN VERY BAD OVER THE YRS ALSO.BUT I HAVE ALOT OF OTHER THINGS GOING ON ALSO.SO I REALLY CANT SAY ITS ALL FROM THE FIBRO.I WILL BE IN A WHEELCHAIR SOON .I KNOW THAT AND I HAVE ACCEPTED THAT .ITS MY LEGS AND HIPS AND FEET AND KNEES.GOOD LUCK AND DONT GIVE UP.WE ARE ALL HERE FOR YOU...LOVE MARIE

I have had fibro for a very long time..cant say for sure how long... I went on disability for it in 1993 and I would say 1993-1997 were my worst years.. I was really doing well, much better for at least five years after that..2002 to the present have been rough but I do know that this thing seems to go in waves so I am hoping that the next five year span is better again..
And yes I do think that we have to consider that alot of what we are feeling , would have developed as we aged anyway..I was about 45 when I went on disability and am almost 60 now.. so some of it may be age related..
Hugs, Micki
www.fibrowelcomepackage.com

Hi ladies, I'm sorry to hear how you all hurt. I just want to say that you should do some reading and find out how to take care of it with proactive health. I amanged to "cure, for lack of a better word" mine a couple of years ago, and rarely now have pain or stiffness. But it will take some change. If you smoke, quit, you have to get rid of sugar and junk food, eat lots of protein, get exercise. It's all because of what goes in. There are good sites on the internet to teach you. Wishing you all the best. rutheford

I agree with Cappy, Don't give up.
I live in the water...
I am 46 and have been on Medicare since 40.
My insurance paid for water PT.
Join the local YMCA, there pools are pretty warm.
I know it is hard to do exercise, but you have to try.
anything helps, stretching,lite yoga,go to PT.
Find out what your insurance will cover,and take advantage of what ever you can get paid for.
But I Stress to you....GET IN THE WARM WATER! I swim all year round, the pool has saved my life.

All of your stories culd have been written by me. I have had fibro since I was 30, I will be 48 on Sept.7th. I also have CMP, nreve damage from botched back surgery and now the docs are pointing towards MS!!
My sx are getting worse as I age. And it scares me. I walk with a cane now.And i don't know if anyone has mentioned htis but my cognitive abilities and coordination have been affected.
I have tried water therapy and it does help. I stopped for a while but am starting up again next week. I would love any advice.

DOES FM GET WORSE? YES! I AM IN SO MUCH PAIN THAT I FEEL LIKE KILLING MYSELF SOMETIMES. I WAS DIAGNOSED BACK IN '96, THOUGH I HAD SYMPTOMS YEARS BEFORE. IN ADDITION TO THE FM, MY BACK IS GETTING WORSE, ALONG WITH MY NECK. I HAVE ENOUGH SYMPTOMS TO FILL A BOOK! EVERY PART OF ME HAS SOME KIND OF PAIN. PAIN MANAGEMENT? A JOKE. ANYONE HAVE A DR. WHO ACTUALLY PRESCRIBES SOMETHING TO STOP THE PAIN? IS THERE SUCH A MED?

Hi I have the same opinion as you. I believe it does worsen.I can't walk far my feet hurt like crazy,my hands hurt to the point that I can barley use them.So how can a Doctor tell any of us that it does'nt worsen when it's my opinion that I honestly think they have know idea how to really deal with this disease.I could be wrong but if they really knew we would be on the right meds not trying everything else.They can tell us anything because we have'nt got a clue.I'm glad if some of you have great docs.Mine is great but I also believe he's a bit in the dark about this also.I totally believe That everything thats going on with me is due to the fibro.I could be wrong about that also but again thats my opinion.

I was told that FM doesn't progress with age. For me, when I started having more problems we discovered it was actually because another undianosed disease. You may want to get that checked out because it's very common to have FM along with something else.

OBVIOUSLY THERE COULD BE OTHER AILMENTS WITH THE FIBRO. MY HAND WAS WHAT GOT ME TO A DIAGNOSIS YEARS AGO THINKING I HAD ARTHRITIS. NOW, 11 YEARS LATER MY HAND IS GIVING ME PROBLEMS AGAIN (8 MONTHS, PAIN, SWELLING, TINGLING) DOC AND I THOUGHT CARPAL TUNNEL. GOT TESTED, NOT CARPAL TUNNEL. MUST BE THE FIBRO DOC SAID. I JUST COULDN'T BUY IT, SO I ASKED FOR AN X-RAY. TWO "CALCIFIC DENSITIES". WHAT IS THAT?! GOING TO A HAND SPECIALIST. ALSO, KNOW MY BACK IS A SEPERATE ISSUE. WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER, THEY BLAME IT ON THE FIBRO. SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO KEEP LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER. AS FAR AS MEDS GO...UNTIL THEY KNOW FROM WHERE NEUROLOGICALLY THIS IS COMING FROM...AND HAVE A PILL TO TARGET THAT AREA...WE ALL WILL ONLY HAVE MINIMAL RELIEF. SIGH

Thanks so much for all the comments/suggestins. I do have degenerative disc disease in my back and neck. So, I suppose that could be contributing to the additional things popping up, who knows. And some of you mentioned the cognitive prblems...oh yes, that would be me too. Mine are also getting worse. I kinda think that when the fog gets worse, it might be because of the increased pain. As for the docs, mine is awesome. He works very hard at trying to keep me comfortable as possible. I get very tired of the tests he has me do, though, and the cost of them! I realize he is just making sure that there is no other diseases that might be trying to pop up, or that the problems I do have aren't progressing. I have insurance, but there is the copay that has to be paid too. This is a very expensive health problem! As for not giving up, I promise that isn't going to happen. I have lots to live on for. Sometimes tho, I think all of us feel like the person who said she sometimes feels like killing herself. I know I have wished I could die a few times, but then you think about how bad everyone in your life who loves you would feel. That is what keeps me going. I don't want to go until the Good Lord decides it's time for me to come home. Thank you all again for the help, it is very much appreciated! Gentle hugs to you all.