Strange day

This is the first time I have posted a discussion. Today started out pretty good. I woke up fairly refreshed and headed to work. I was pretty absorbed in work and sitting at my computer most of the day which is a bit out of the norm. Suddenly about 3 pm I stared having pain. I could tell it was quickly progressing and can't miss tomorrow so emailed my boss and said I needed to leave a couple hours early (I usually work 10 hour shifts). It hurt to walk to my car, felt like I was walking on glass. It hurt to drive home with cramping in my hands, legs and back. I got home and took a vicodin and sitting here trying to grasp what happened. Normally my bad part of the day is in the morning and I feel the best in the late afternoon. I take at the most two vicodin a day (on the weekends) and one a day on work days in the evenings after work. Could I been having withdrawals from Vicodin (325/500). I also take neurontin 300 mg three times daily and Cymbalata. I worry about getting addicted to vicodin but it is what helps me the most and I really try to monitor how much I take. But even right now I am in a great deal of pain everywhere even after taking a dose. I feel that I may be a bit in denial about my diagnosis. I have a few good days and I think - "I don't have fibromyalgia", then I have a day like today and I am overwhelmed with the thought of dealing with this the rest of my life. I am not depressed and know I am still so lucky to be 56 and never had a life threatening illness. Just spewing my feelings. Appreciate any feedback.

I hope the pain has subsided, sorry it sounded like it pummeled you out of nowhere. Maybe you should talk to your doctor about your meds…from my experience, the sudden bursts of pain stem from either bad sleep patterns, change in weather/diet or stress. Feel better soon!

Hello Liza

I think your pain was as a result of sitting too long in one position at your computer. That happens to me quite often when I spend too much time at the computer. It also happens whenever I have been in one position for too long. When you get up from a long spell at your computer or something else, try to do some gentle stretching and bending to help get your body ready for moving.

The next time this happens I believe you will be better prepared and not in such a panic.

Thank you. Yes, I think it may have had something to do with what I ate for lunch and sitting too long. I am going to start keeping a journal so I can start identifying triggers. I guess the medications don't fix it. Do you take medications?

Generally I try to walk for 30 minutes at lunch and I guess it helps more than I realized. I will not sit at my computer so intensely without breaks again (or try not to). Just shocked me of the results. Thank you for your encouragement.

Hello Liza and welcome.

I am unfamiliar with side effects or withdrawal effects of Vicodin but I DO know that fibro nerve pain feels like what you're describing. For me it's more like having fireworks stuck in the affected spot, but I am suspecting that your "feels like glass" is also fibro nerve pain. Obviously, not being a doctor, I can't say for sure. I would call your doctor's office tomorrow to see which it might be. My vote is on the fibro, but again, I'm not a medical person. Yes, fibro can start up at new times, new places, new/different pain. Most definitely so.

I am also wondering if your stressed state over the diagnosis might also be causing you more fibro pain? Or else the weather, especially really cold spells, snow storms and rain storms. They can play havoc with fibro.

I'm really sorry about your experience with fibro. To use an old saying, it's certainly no cake-walk! It made my working days a living h#ll after a while. The harder I tried to best it, the harder it tried to best me. And finally it did. Fibro reeeeeeeeeally likes to dig in on people who are Type A's who work hard and gogogo. It also thrives on stress.

I hope tomorrow goes okay for you. It was very wise of you to go home early and rest for tomorrow. Pacing is everything with fibro. Work some, rest some, work some, rest some more. It's possible to get things done when you pace yourself on chores that might be impossible if you use older methods of getting things done.

Gentle hugs,

Petunia

Oh yeah, you're right, Janscriptz, bad sleep patterns will also do it! You got all of the causes! I feel like a duck should come down from the ceiling and offer you a golden cigar or something (old Groucho Marx thing.)

Yeah I’m on tramadol, gabapentin & heart meds too. Was just diagnosed a month ago.

Haha! Thanks - I just know all to well how lack of sleep or change in sleep patterns affects me. Leaves me in an irritable, fatigued, achey state for the rest of the day, for sure.

Is that combination working well for you?

Yes, I would think the walking for 30 minutes at lunch would be a very good idea if your job is rather sedentary. Perhaps your body was trying to tell you that you needed to take a break and walk a bit and stretch and then go back to your computer.

Of course I can understand how shocked you would be to be hit with such intense pain.

Please keep us updated.

Yes, I do take medications including pain meds. I take Gabapentin, Cymbalta and Tramadol and the muscle relaxant Flexeril. I have osteoarthritis as well and that is really painful at times. I never have been one to exercise or even do a lot of walking, but I am going to try walking each day when winter finally lets go of its grip on us.

Liza,

If you have a smart phone there is a free app called My Pain Diary that allows you to track your pain and it will allow you to print out reports of your pain. Its helpful for me because I would never be able to keep up with a journal.

Stacey

Liza,

It could be because you were sitting for most of the day. I know when I'm busy at work and moving around a lot I leave work feeling really good but if I'm at my desk most of the day I hurt. It hurts to get up and go to the printer or bathroom because I'm so stiff. In February I got a heated throw blanket that I keep at my desk that I have on low if I'm sitting at my desk for a long period of time. If I start feeling pain in my shoulders or lower back I turn it up a bit higher. This has helped my pain tremendously. I used to go home HURTING and tired but since I got the throw blanket I'm not hurting as bad and my feet and hands are warm where they used to be freezing all the time.

Sorry you are in such pain hopefully this weekend you can rest and feel better.

Gentle Hugs,

Stacey

Hi Stacey;

I don't have any experience with vicodin so I can't help you there.

However,I have been in denial. Accepting this disease has been extremely challenging and is really pushing my limits to new hights. Re-accepting and re-accepting....and when you have more than 2 good days in a row,our minds are quick to return to the thought that this might just go away.

I'm glad you shared. You have been great support to me and I want to do the same for you.When my emotions hit the bottom I try to remind myself that just because today is a really bad day, more than likely tomorrow will be better.

Be gentle with yourself. A warm bath in epsom salts helps to take the edge off for me. I use organic essential oils...a few drops of Roman Chamomille and lavender helps settle my nerves.

Warm thoughts and Hugs

Carolyn

Hi Stacey;

I don't have any experience with vicodin so I can't help you there.

However,I have been in denial. Accepting this disease has been extremely challenging and is really pushing my limits to new hights. Re-accepting and re-accepting....and when you have more than 2 good days in a row,our minds are quick to return to the thought that this might just go away.

I'm glad you shared. You have been great support to me and I want to do the same for you.When my emotions hit the bottom I try to remind myself that just because today is a really bad day, more than likely tomorrow will be better.

Be gentle with yourself. A warm bath in epsom salts helps to take the edge off for me. I use organic essential oils...a few drops of Roman Chamomille and lavender helps settle my nerves.

Warm thoughts and Hugs

Carolyn

wow , ten hour shifts seem very long for me.. but i agree with what the others said about stretching and walking when you can is a good thing.. i wish you well and send you love.

HUGGGS

suzie