Why is it that almost every night, around 7pm, I start feeling my flare-ups? It's almost like my Fibro is on a time schedule or something. This has been going on for a long time. I am starting to feel pain by my shoulder blades (right one especially painful now), neck and middle back. I know for a fact that my hips will be in pain pretty soon too - I can feel it coming on. I just dread going to bed because I just can't sleep. I know a lot of you out there are poor sleepers like I am. To be honest, I truly don't remember the last time I slept through the night. Also, when I do wake up in the middle of the night, I feel so alone in dealing with the pain. Everything is dead quiet, which makes me think even more about what I go through with the Fibro. As you can read this, you can sense I am not in the best mood right now??I sometimes feel so sad because of the quality of my life right now. For the past 30 years, all I have known is being in pain. It's a rare day for me when I don't have any pain at all. I just flat-out live with it.
Well, I am tired and I am going to TRY to get some sleep. Hope all of you have a good night too! Laurie
Mine always like clock work as soon as I get up and as soon as I want to go to bed around 10-11 then of coarse I cant get to sleep my meds do very little to easy my pain . Ur not alone. Im always here just to talk if u need to. It really helps to have someone that nos what u r going thru and feels the same pain.
Laurie, I can relate! It was almost like you were in my head while writing. I hate night. I can't even go to bed in the dark. If I was to wake up in dark room I would just freak out ( I know that sounds how can a 35 year old be afraid of of the dark). I haven't had to live with pain as long as you. But I think there are many more of us out there. Just exisiting in our fibro fog. And think the lack of sleep effects our moods. I feel like I am just rambling on here sorry. I hope soon you have a decent night sleep til then, hang in there.
Gentle Hugs
Berni
I've been doing some research on this, and I read that fibro does tend to worsen in the evenings. I can feel my neck and shoulder muscles start to tighten up and hurt between 5 pm and 6 pm every evening.
Hope you managed to get some sleep.
I truly know how you feel. You are right about your hips sorry to say. Try keeping a small journal of your day time activity and maybe you can figure out why your flair ups happen like they do. Insomnia is a demon. I’m on a 75 mg sleeping pill and half the time I’m still awake. For me pain and insomnia can easily trigger my depression so I try to counteract it by keeping s journal and prayer.
Gentle hugs!
HI Red - I was interested in the fact that you said you read an article that says Fibro tends to be worse
in the evening. I had an idea, do you think that because we might be anticipating (as it happens every night).
that helps to bring it on? I have to tell you, last night, in my 30 years of having Fibro, I have never had such
pain!! OMG! It was horrible - situated on my right shoulder blade and radiating down. I almost passed out
from the pain at about 3am this morning. I had to put my head between my knees to keep from fainting. I
still have it now - but hoping by moving around it was dissipate. It also affects the right side of my chest. I
feel actually the nodules that stick out where the inflammation is. This was absolutely the worse pain I
have ever felt with the FIbro. I hope I don't ever want to get that kind of pain again!! Jeez!! Laurie
Hi Callie - I have sleep meds too - but I f I am in enough pain, it doesn't work at all, because I spend so
much time trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in. I am up for the day now. Had a very rough night,
pain-wise. In fact - in my 30 years oaf having FIbro, it was the worse pain I have ever had, and it's frightening
to think my Fibro is capable of producing this kind of pain. I almost passed passed out from it, but I put my head
between my knees and was okay as far as not fainiting. I have never fainted before when in pain, but this one
was located around my shoulder blade and radiating down....WOW!! Talk about hurting!! Jeez! Laurie
Sorry to hear of your pain, jibes with my experience of the past twenty years. As I read the follow up comments I’m amazed at how similar our symptoms are, especially with inflamed and swollen bones, which I had initially experienced in my skull. My PCP twenty years ago probably thought I was nuts then but treated me for Lyme…wrongo! He now gives people appropriate meds. The inflamed bone symptom is one of the scariest and least tolerable for me, has largely been replaced with the same neck, shoulder, back, hip, wrist, calf, thigh, and tendon pains everywhere that seem universal to us.
I always hope things will get better somehow but the grinding nature of this is disheartening for sure.
I haven’t slept through the night since my dx, though generic Ambien worked a bit for a few years. now I find that the pain breaks through the feeble effects of the Fambien (fake Ambien) and days are not any better. My fibro has gotten worse the last few years and the chronic pain is no joke. Getting tinnitus a year ago is frosting on the cake, a truly diabolical combination, and resulting transient depression…well, what causes that I wonder, as a psychologist? Does it specifically accompany most fibro, due to related misfiring emotional-related synapses near the synapses. Is it a response to chronic pain? Is it complicated bereavement from the unresolved emotional loss that I think caused my fibro? All I know is that this is a rough disorder that my wife is tired of hearing about!
I can relate to you in regards to your Tinnitus. I also have chronic vertigo from the Fibro in my neck. Yesterday the tinnitus was so bad (that awful screaming sound) I thought I would go crazy!! I definitely think you have a good grasp on emotional -related things that go on with us, that we don't resolve. I really think this is how my Fibro started. My Fibro, too, has gotten worse as I get older. Just recently I have discovered that my feet and ankles are now being affected. I do agree with you that the chronic pain we suffer so badly from, is NOT a joke. It's real a we all feel it......Big time! I also suffer from depression - even before I had the FIbro, but now with all the pain that goes on, I have to be careful to not get TOO depressed, as it sometimes is hard for me to pull out of it, even though I am on an anti-depressant medication. My medicine works very well for me, but I also understand that It isn't the answer to other types of Depression that I can get from time to time. I was given Ambien through a prescription from my doctor about 2 years ago. I guess you have heard of the serious side effects Ambien has? On my first night of taking it, apparently I woke up (in my sleep) and cooked a complete meal, ate it and washed the dishes! When I woke up that morning, I had no memory of having eaten anything and It took about 3 hours for me to regain my memory.. Never again! However, Ambien does work great for some people. Now that FIbromyalgia is out in the open and the Medical field is starting to take a serious look at it - I am confident that in our time, There will be something that can really help us out. The quality of life I have right now is definitely NOT something I want to have continued. So I always try to keep my hopes up and be positive. I have to be honest though, I sometimes get into a real funk about all I am going through and being positive at that moment is not on my agenda! LOL Gentle hugs! Laurir
Same here. Neck, shoulders, middle back, and hips. I also have osteo in my hips. So many of my illnesses run together, but fibro definitely causes me the most pain.
Hi tricky - I, too, have pains from other things going on, but the Fibro pain is the worse and it is also the one I have to deal with the most. My most painful areas are my shoulders blades, forearms and my hips. If they all flare up at once, I get into serious trouble. I just flat-out can't move! It's horrible! Sometimes during bad flare-ups, I can run a temperature as well. I can't stand to have anyone touch me either. My trigger points seem to be everywhere these days. Takes care of yourself, as we all need to do. Laurie
You as well. You’re right. We all need each other. Thanks.
IVE HAD SWELLING IN THE TISSUES SURROUNDING MY SHOULDERS BACK OF THE NECK JUST IN THE PAST 1-2 WEEKS LEFT ELBOW BOTH HIPS AND BOTH KNEES SINCE OCT 25TH MY PRIMARY LOOMED AT THE SHOULDERS AND KNEES AND SAID IT WAS ARTHRITIS NO BLOOD TESTS I WENT TO THE RHEUNI AND HE ALSO PERSCRIVED PREDNISONE BUT HE PERSCRIBED 40MGS FOR 6 DAYS THE RBEUMI PRESCRIBED 20MGS FOR 1 WEEK 15MGS FOR 1WEEK 10MGS FOR 1WEEK THEN 5 MILLIGRAMS UNTIL THE DR APPOINTMENT IE U TUL I. OUT OF PILLS HELL EXAMINE ASK QUESTIOBS AND RHEN IRDER A BONESCAN IT HURTS MORE THWN THE REST OF THE SPOTS NOTGING HELPS
Hi Suzyq - I am due for a bone density test soon, along with some blood work I need to get. Be very careful taking the Prednisone, as taking too much can be dangerous. It's a med that's supposed to be taken just for a short while. Over the years, when I had some serious flare-ups, I was put on Prednisone and it really helped, but it was short-term only. I get swelling too, especially where my trigger points are. The sides of my hips even swell up when I am in pain in that area. Neck and shoulders swell up the worse. I also have FIbro in the chest area as well. Just hang in there. Finding meds to help FIbro is still in the 'trial and error' stage. They will eventually find something that works for YOU, personally. If you feel you need to talk, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me. I have had FIbro 30 years. Take care of yourself!! Laurie
Laurie, when you say you have fibro in your chest area, what do you mean? I have horrific pain in my ribs/chest area, more so on the left side than the right. I can be doing just fine and be just sitting around or walking around, nothing strenuous, and all of a sudden it feels like someone has stabbed a hot poker into my ribs. Other times it is a constant ache. Those trigger points on the front of my chest hurt so much. When my new rheumy pressed there, I almost came off the table. I can’t stand it sometimes. Have you found anything that helps alleviate the pain? His, MB
HI LAURIE IM NOT GOING TO TAKE THE PREDNISONE AFTER ITS GONE I HAVE 12 PILLS LEFT THEN CANT TAKE ANY IF ITS GONE I KNOW ITS SHORTTIME USE MY DOCTORS ARE VERY CAREFUL MY PRIMARY HAS BEEN TREATING MY FAMILY FOR 3 GENERATIONS I TRUST HIM AND MY RHEUMI I. ALSO SEE A PA WHEN ITS FOR PAINW CONTROL BUT THE RHEUMI HAS TO BE THERE MY RHEUMI APPOINTMENT HAS TO BE POSTPONED IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TOMORROW JAN 8TH AT 2:30PM BUT THE SISTER BETH WERE I STAY IS HAVING MEDICAL PROBLEMS AND ISNT UP TO COMPANY THE OTHER SISTER CARA IS A NUCLEAR I.AGING TECH AND WILL WORK DURING THE DAY AND SCHOOL AT NIGHT SHE DOESNT HAVE THE SPACE FOR A GUEST STAYING FOR A WEEK ITS NOT A WASTE OF TIME I CUT SHORT MY LAST VACATION 5 DAYS ILL HQVE THAT PLUS 1 MORE DAY I READ IN SOME FIBRO RESEARCH MATERIAL THAT CAPSAISIN WILL DISRUPT THE CHEMICAL OR SUBSTANCE P THATS THE CAUSE OF THE PAIN IT SAYS TO USE IT FOR 6 WEEKS TO SEE RESULTS IT WILL STING FOR THE 1ST WEEK IM CURIOUS TO TRY IT BECAUSE IM CURRENTLY TAKING PREDNISONE AMITRIPTYLINE TRAMADOL ALSO PRILOSEC SO I DONT HAVE WN UPSET STOMACH AND BREAK OUT IN A RASH IM GOING TO TRY IT MAYBE ULL HELP AND MAYBE IT WONT YES YOUR RIGHT ITS TRIAL AND ERROR TO FIND THE RIGHT COMBINATION AND MY DAD AND HIS GIRLFRIEND WILL BE LEAVING TOMORROW FOR A CRUISE AND BE GONE UNTIL MARCH HES A VERY NEGATIVE TOXIC POISON PERSON SO IS. HIS GIRLFRIEND THEY ARNT VERY UNDERSTANDING AND MAKE THE SITUATION VERY DIFFICULT THWNK GOOD 'SS SHES 5 HOURS AWAY I THINK I KNOW HOW THE FIBRO STARTED I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN 1973 I HAD WHIPLASH ONE WEEK LATER THEN
MY MOTHER WAS SICK DISGNOSED WITH. ESOPHAGIAL CANCER IN AUGUST 2009 BUT I COULD SEE SIGNS IN MARCH OR APRIL SGHE KEPT TAKING PAIN MEDICATION SHE FINALLY WENT TO THE DR AFTER MONTHS SHE WENT TK OF TELLING HER TO SEE THE DR BUT THE DR DIDNT ORDER THE PROPER TESTS
Hi MPB - What you are feeling is a flare-up from your FIbro. I, too have pain in the area that you mentioned. Most likely, you have a trigger point there that becomes inflammed. Flare-ups can come right out of the blue too. Sometimes, I may turn a certain way - and all of a sudden, immense pain and/or a spasm will hit me. Like you, if one of my trigger points are touched, watch out!! LOL I just about scream, it hurts so bad! The only thing that helps me is a MOIST heating pad, not a dry one. I have a really nice one that has these special beads in them, and when you heat the pad up in the microwave, the beads trap moisture and that will make the flare-up area feel better. It's not a permanent solution, but it sure helps to calm it down. I don't like the heating pads that are electric, I prefer the one I have that you just pop into the microwave and heat up. The constant ache can occur either after spasm or it''s just an awful ache that stays with you for a while. It's awful, isn't it?
I feel pain every day, somewhere. Our bodies seem to be in a constant state of inflammation! At least, it certainly FEELS that way. A moist heating pad will really make you feel better. When I am watching television, reading or laying in bed, it's great to have. It also calms me down because a flare-up makes me jittery and nervous. Hug! Laurie
Thanks Laurie. I sometimes struggle with the idea that the fibro pain can be so bad in just one little area. I am used to hurting all over; in fact, I feel like I have the worst flu ever right now- my whole body hurts. I told the doc that I could tell it wasn’t the flu because I have no fever and none of the other symptoms. He asks me what it is like and I tell him to imagine the worst flu he has ever had, multiply it by 1000 and then have it every single freaking day. And then get your hopes up because you feel a bit better, only to have it come back even worse. (This is my PCP who is not really familiar with the complexities of fibro but, bless his heart, he is very compassionate and tries to understand what I am going through.) and then to get that damn rib pain on top of all that- yep, pretty much sucks. Anyway, didn’t mean to ramble. Hope you have a great day! Hugs, MB
MBP - I agree with you, it feels like I have a real bad case of flu.....constantly. When everything hurts I try to explain to people the same way you do. "Think of the flu, but maybe 50 times worse!" All they do is stare at me blankly and say, 'WOW!' They still don't get it. But it's not their fault because they haven't been through what you and I go through daily. I try to keep this in mind when explaining to others what I go through. It's always frustrating talking to someone about it. FIbromyalgia is such a complicated and complex disease. So many things are involved in what makes up FIbromyalgia. I learn something new about it almost every day. I love to keep informed and write things down to take to my doctor and nurse when I have an appointment with them. Sometimes I feel like I know MORE about FIbro than they do! LOl Hugs! Laurie