Fibromyalgia Support Group

You're not alone in your pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be difficult to diagnose and manage. If you're trying to cope with pain throughout your body, sleep problems, general fatigue, or other common fibromyalgia symptoms, you're in the right place. The community is here for you to talk about therapies and share your challenges.

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Traumatic Event?

kimberh
kimberh
In almost all the reading I have ever done on FM, I see over and over that the symptoms "often follow a traumatic event." That is not the case for me. When I was in the process of being diagnosed, a GP, a neurologist and a rheumatologist all asked me what was happening in my life when all these symptoms occurred. "Nothing special," I would tell them and they seemed surprised. Then they would ask me about my marriage and my job to see if those were okay. They were/are.

So I am wondering how "often" as they put it that FM follows a traumatic event. I'm not doubting that it does or that any of my fellow fibromites didn't experience exactly that. But I am curious whether or not it is actually "often" as they say. So if any of you feel like sharing, can you let me know whether your onset did or did not follow such an event?

Kimber
Cocoa1
Cocoa1
Yes, fibromyalgia can be caused be stressful or traumautic events; however, stress doesn't always have to have a mental component. Stresses like bad falls, injuries, car accidents, infections, nutritional deficiencies, food intolerances, etc. can all contribute to fibromyalgia.

My journey with fibromyalgia began shortly after a car accident in which my car was totally by a semi-truck. The very first symptom that I began to notice were burning patches of skin throughout my body. My symptoms then progressed to body wide pain and disordered sleep. For me, I do believe the car accident triggered my fibro.
bluesun
bluesun
My fibro symptoms didn't come out all at once.

The 1st few strange symptoms came about right after I was exposed to 9/11. A couple yrs later I blew a disc in my lower back during military physical training and a month later came down with mono. It seems like as soon as I got the back injury and mono I got the full blown symptoms of FMS but didn't know what it was. It took me like 6 months to get over the mono but even after they said I didn't have it anymore I continued to feel horrible. Finally got diagnosed with fibro in Oct 2005. And then the Army hospital conveniently lost my medical records. So the dept of VA kept saying I didn't have fibro and refused to compensate me.
srbth
srbth
I was diagnosed with Fibro soon after I was diagnosed with PTSD, after living with a very abusive, and violent man. I was told that that is what brought on my PTSD.
kcrider
kcrider
Mine accumulated over time. It started as a Epstein Bar Virus diagnosis, evolved into Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and became Fibromyalgia. This has been occurring for over 20 years and it's getting worse. Oh well, I feel blessed that I don't have a terminal disease.
I do have a friend that had a log truck dump on her vehicle while she was driving. She is recovered but now has Fibromyalgia.
beclinkay
beclinkay
I had a traumatic and abusive childhood resulting in PTSD. I've had depression and anxiety for over 30 years. My fibro symptoms started in 2006. The only thing I had happen close to that time was a hysterectomy in 2005. It took me quite some time to recover from that.
towngirl2
towngirl2
Mine started after a bad fall! Tripped and took a flying leap over bed and hit head first on dresser! Haven't been right sense!
squeaker1231
squeaker1231
I already commented once but wanted add something. I noticed on reading the replies there was a lot of good replies about incidents before getting fibromyalgia. I was surprised no one mentioned how stress can cause a significant flare up. I have learned that doctor will say pain deserve not change. I do not agree with that but is another can of worms. I have noticed that there are some things that will trigger a flare up. The most significant is not getting any sleep. When I am unable to sleep I frequently will wake up with my joints raising hell before I even get out of bed. Another thing that kicks the fibromyalgia is stress.many people see strees as bad things. Good icare just as stressful. The very best treatment I have found to be the best treatment for me is sitting in a tub of hot hot water. Also burned my heating pad out for using so much. For me heat has been m salvation.