Hi Everyone - I have had days where I have been in a lot of pain. But when I woke up this morning, I have never, in the 30 years I have had Fibro, felt such pain this time. It really scared me badly, as far as what my future will be like with my Fibromyalgia. For the past year or so, my knees have started to give me trouble. I've had some pain with them and sometimes when I am walking, one of the knees will start to collapse, but I am always able to catch in time so I don't fall. My knees don't look like my knees anymore. They look actually deformed somewhat.
I woke up this morning after having very little sleep - which is common for me, and when I slowly stood up, incredible pains shot through both hips, down my thighs, hitting the knees and then down to the ankles. I felt like I had been zapped with a million volts of electricity. I have felt this kind of pain before, but not like this. The intensity of it was just enormous! I was so stunned. I had so sit back down, and think about what in the world happened to me, just now? So, I got up carefully, and felt the pain again. I needed to go to the bathroom - and bathroom calls can't wait - right?? I had to take just one really small step at a time and had to kind of drag my feet on the carpet, because when I lifted then to walk, the pains that were going on would start up at again All day today, hips and knees have been extremely painful and I will need to bring all this up to my doctor soon. I have had these pains, but it subsided a little as time went on. However, not once today have I been able to walk on my own. I have to grab onto furniture or anything that will support me. Bending the knees too is excruciating At this time now, the knees can just barely hold up my weight - and I am thin! I have had these problems like before - but as I said, the pain this time was just incredible. They only way that I could keep my spirits up today, was to think of all of you on the website who could help me get through this. If this is my future - it's going to be an amazingly tough one!! BIG hugs!! Laurie
Laurie, I am so sorry for what you are going through… It sounds so awful and to think you have had this before I can’t imagine how you have dealt with this. Have you any idea what caused this horrific pain ? It sounds like it was coming from your back … I would absolutely not accept this as your future, could the fibro come to this… Why do they insist its not progressive ? I think there is so much the researchers are going to discover and I pray it’s sooner than later.
I have just recently started having pain in my joints, especially my left knee, walking up stairs is very painful, 6 months ago the only joint affected was my elbow.
I really think you should contact your dr. About this… Do you have a rheumy ?
I hope & pray this gets better for you, and that your dr. Can have some insight into this attack of pain
God bless you, take one day at a time and we’ll get through this together !!
Hugs
dee
I noticed that you recently came off of Celebrex. Could this new pain be due to your change in your meds? And were you on Celebrex for RA? Or something else? I'm thinking that maybe something other than fibro could be causing this, although it does sound like nerve pain. I've heard other people on this site refer to it as feeling like "being on fire."
Laurie, my knee pain has become horrific since the weather has gotten colder. The colder it gets, the worse they hurt. I'm wondering if that's what's going on with you too? (I also have the buckling knees issue.)
Have you been tested for auto-immune illnesses? Forgive me if I've already asked but are you hypermobile? Either issue could impact your knees.
I think it's important that you go back and see your doc ASAP and see if he can give you something more for this pain. I've not found anything to take away my knee pain but since yours has that zingy sensation, some of the fibro meds like Lyrica or Cymbalta might work well on it, if it is, indeed, nerve pain.
In the meantime, can you find someone to do your grocery shopping and such for you? It doesn't sound like you'll be wanting to do it for awhile. Having someone else to help you out a bit might be best for now.
In terms of ways to "help" the knee, I wear braces on them that I got from the drug store that my orthopedic doc said is helpful for the collapsing knee syndrome. He also recommended PT for it, and since I couldn't do the excerises recommended through people here (my knee and back won't let me lie down on my back and bend those knees) I'm going to try these exercises. If you want, I'll share them with you. Just remind me about it.
I hope hope hope that this goes away shortly. Sometimes the weirdo stuff like this does go...at least for awhile. And I hope your doc can shed a bit of light on this.
I'm glad you've brought up the "progressive" element of fibro again, and shared your own insight on it. All I can say is, "me too." Last year my back was killing me and I had some minor aches and pains in the left knee and elbow. This year the knees and left elbow are horrific. The docs have got to start looking at what's right in front of their faces and admit it: Fibro is progressive. That doesn't mean that we have to give up hope, Laurie, because we can have our docs change our meds, etc. We can find ways to fight back on fibro. Please don't think that you have to accept what's going on with you right now without talking with your docs about ways to combat it.
I'm so sorry Laurie that you are in so much pain. The way I explain it to my doctor is that I feel like I have been plugged into a light socket. The horrible burning and intense dull aching. I hope you are feeling a little better tonight.
Hi Dee - thanks so much for giving me support!! I am going to be referred to a new Rheumy very soon. I didn't like the last doctor. He was so rude to me and basically didn't really care what I was going through. The new doctor is a woman and very highly recommended. So I am looking forward to meeting her soon! Yes, I have been told that Fibro is not progressive. This is ridiculous!! It absolutely is progressiive! I am sure that you, me and most people on this website have proof of this. I, too, have been getting some pains in my joints as well. NO fun and a little concerning to me. Hugs!! Laurie
Hi Pet - I agree with you. I will never give up and I have told myself many times that there is something out there that will help me. I need to be my own advocate now and pursue this diligently. I appreciate you telling me not to give up hope. There have been a few times in my life, where I really worried about how I was going to live the way I do now. I DO have hope and will never give up!! Love, Laurie
Pet - I am going to be tested soon for auto-immune illnesses as soon as I see my new doctor. She is going to be a complete work-up on me and I feel really good about this, as I need to know everything that is going on with me - even if it frightens me little bit. I have not been on Celebrex for about a year now. It was the BEST medicine for me though. My insurance won't pay for it anymore. So when I asked the pharmacist how much it would be if I paid for it, I just about fainted!! NO way can I afford it. Many of the anti-inflammatories that have been given to me upset my stomache really bad. I was diagnosed 2 years ago with Divirticulosis. So I have this to contend with too. but I remain hopeful. Love, Laurie.
Hi Tawny - you described the pain perfectly!! Burning and intense dull aching! Every single night I go through this, as I know others do to. I am feeling a little better now, but my whole day was not good - as I was limping terribly all day. I am little concerned how my pain will be in the morning when I wake up. I certainly don't want to wake up with the pain I had this morning. I just need to take care of myself, Hugs!1 Laurie