I have Fibromyalgia symptoms-have not had the symptoms for 3 months. I could still have the disease, right?
According to what I have read out on the internet, I have many Fibromyalgia symptoms. A woman out here (who otherwise gave a very intelligent answer to a question that I asked) told me that she didn't think that I have Fibromyalgia because you have to have had symptoms for 3 months in order to be diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. All that means is that (for me) it hasn't yet been 3 months! I would rather have Fibromyalgia than to be dying of or afflicted with some other aweful disease (like Cancer or MS), but don't want to have Fibromyalgia. I want my life to go back to the way it was before this injury/illnes/whatever struck me down. The pain started in my right hamstring muscle (2 months ago), but the pain soon spread to my whole leg-foot and butt-then to the other whole leg and foot. The pain has not gotten any better. It has stayed the same or gotten worse.
From what I have read, I have a lot of tests and blood-work to look forward to, right?-tests to rule out whether I have a different disease with symptoms similiar to Fibromyalgia symptoms. I just NEED to know what is wrong with me-before I lose what little sanity I have left. After seeing 2 doctors on two different occasions-I'm not any closer to the truth! (It puts me in terrible pain to sit and type different questions out here for very long, but Y/A people have helped me tremendously-even via email-so I endure the pain.)
Public Comments
1. Do you have pain in at least 11 of the 18 trigger points? Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose because it mimics other diseases. Talk to a rheumatologist about this.
2. It could be, have you gone to the doctor yet? If they are testing you for Fibro they will do an exam and bloodwork to find out for sure. They actually have some good medications that help if it is. Go see a doctor & good luck!
3. The only way to know for sure is to see a doctor. I am going to a doctor tomorrow . I went to my primary physician a few weeks ago with severe shoulder pain after exrays showed no swelling or other injury, I looked on the internet for other possible causes. When I read about fibromyalgia, I realized that I had many of the symptoms. When I went back to my own Dr. he went over my med. record and realized that I did indeed show many of the symptoms over time and referred me to a dr.who specializes in fibromyalgia. Don't guess, it will only make you crazy and stress you out. That's exactly what I did. I want to know even tho I am nervous. Good Luck
4. to find a doc truly knowledgable about FMS
email kindness@fibrobetsy.com
many docs diagnose ANY pain as FMS--but it is a specific condition (believed to be a disorder of the central nervous system)
most docs including the majority of rheumatologist are NOT competant to assess FMS
Since you can ID a starting point-you need a good work up for possible injury/illness to your right hamstring--
an injury to one part of the body can cause the rest of thebody to overcompensate--causing the otehr parts of the body to hurt-
the pain itslef can be distratcing and causing fatigue..
by the time you get all the rule out tests done--it will be long enough to make diagnosis of FMS if that is what it is.
5. Fibro symptoms can come and go.
You can go through a lot of tests that won't really help you, or you can read and understand FMS for yourself.
Unless you have a real reason to think you have some other, more serious illness, you can try this path.
One is Thyroid test. If your doc tested this and didn't see a problem, then test Saliva pH.
If you have heartburn / reflux and FMS you can be pretty sure you have the Overly Acidic Version of FMS. Saliva pH needs to be 7.4
6. It really doesnt sound like fibromyalgia. Have you seen anyone who examined your spine? Since it radiates down your legs from your spinal area it sounds more like a spine problem. Has anyone mentioned sciatica to you?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sciatica