New Question***

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

I was wondering if i can get some opinions on a few things. I have

many questions i need REAL answers to so i turn to those that may be

able to relate.....

1..... The Very First time I went to see my Dr about all that was

going on, she noticed my Knuckles were dry and very chapped. I told

her they have been that way for months.... She said it was Psoriases

and its caused by stress. I thought it was just Dry skin.. Period!!

She gave me HALOBETOSOL PROPIONATE ointment which seems to be

working. Now I know many people have woken up in the morning with

their hands very tight, sore and hardly able to move them. But has

anyone experienced that- along with bright RED knuckles when they

woke up? I ask cause I did and it was just 2 of them (same hand)

These were the same knuckles my Dr Noticed to be dry a few weeks

ago.. Now after a few hours of me waking up it did dissipate and has

not happened since... So has anyone experienced this or similar?

2..... When all this started and I first seen my Primary care DO

following the accident in Dec, My reason for going to see a DR was

about a stiff neck with numbness and tingling in my arms. I also let

her know that i was Feeling tired and i just ached everywhere and

just felt tired and just Blah....! (KEEP IN MIND THAT I ALSO HAVE

BACK ISSUES AND HAD A LAMINECTOMY AT L5-S1 FROM AN ACCIDENT IN

1995) I always blamed that on my back issues along with every other

little pain I felt in my legs and back. She sent me have an MRI of my

Lumbar, Thorax and Cervical areas. The only thing that came Back was

DDD in my L5 area which I Knew and also in my Neck C6-C7 but no

herniations etc.. She then Sent me to Have blood work done to rule

out RA and everything else under sun.. I suggested to test for Lyme

as well as this can cause some of the Pains in my joints that i was

feeling.. All came back NORMAL.. She mentioned the possibility of

Fibro..... But I suggested a Pinched nerve as the reason for the arms

and everything else could be just from the Back. so to she sent me to

a Neurologist for an EMG of both my Arms because of the Numbness and

the Legs as a precaution since i did have pains down both legs Which

again i simply blamed for Sciatica from the Back. I spoke to the

Neurologist and he reviewed my MRI' etc... and performed the

EMG's..... and they were text book normal.. I was shocked as not

only were they normal in my arms but also in my legs. He said it's

not Sciatica and not a pinched nerve... I Believe it to be Fibro..

Now both he and my DO believe it and My Partner who is an Instruction

of Massage Therapy and healing science does as well. However there

is a part of that does not think so...

The reason is because at times I feel so much everywhere and most

times its not <EXTREME> PAIN so to speak.... Yes pain but to me it's

mostly annoyance pain. What gets me is the pin ball effect i get of

pain.. They hurt! because it's like a burst of pain that is not

predictable in location, intensity nor the type of pain. whether it's

a prick, a hot poker, a pull of hairs on my legs or arms and the list

can go on with the types.. Is this because i built up SO MUCH

tolerance to pain over the years with my back??

There are times where I am sitting Still on the couch with minor jabs

in the legs and say HEY... At this moment i feel i can tolerate this

and go back to work and live my life not worrying about not being

able to pay my bills and go into debt! Then i move just a little and

get a shooting ache in my shoulder & forearm the another in the wrist

or the joints of my hand or even in the palm of my hand and It's

mainly my Right hand.

You see, I am right handed and work in Customer Service for a

Corporate Credit Card Co. There is a lot of typing involved (of

course its different at home because your on your time and you can

take a break whenever you need to.) At work i am basically tied to

the chair and Phone 8 hrs a day with a 30 min Lunch and 2- 15 min

Breaks taken when they tell me to not when i need to.. I take call

after call with not a moment to breathe in between. Your measured by

the amount of calls, the speed of the calls along with documenting

each call and it's all tied in to monthly bonus. In this line of work

there is no such thing as pause button if you want to keep your job.

I really need to get back to work but i am afraid........... Afraid

that i will not be able to do my job. This means i will not get my

bonus each month, i will never be able to get a promotion and get off

the damn phones.. I am on STD but that was just cut to 66% for pay

and soon will be LTD and thats 60% of pay.. I dont know if it will

be a mistake to return at this moment. Will these feelings i have

going on in my hands ever go away..?

I know there are many....so many that are far worse then I But I am

So frustrated it's not helping matters.....

Lordy.... I can go on and on with all my frustrations and concerns

because i have many more concerns with my job and also the MANY

HORRIBLE FAILED attempts to find a Rhuematologist to se me and

officially DX with Fibro but i will save that for another email/

rant...... see told you i can go on..

Sorry to bore you all

(Lansdale Pa)

I have a lot of things going on

( certainly not more then others from what i Read.. God Bless you!

> Christi, please remember I'm not that far from you. I don't go out

> much

> during the week as my car is illegal at the moment (needs inspection,

> can't afford it yet) but I'll risk it just say the word. I go to

> Waxahachie several times a week anyway mostly on weekends with the

> hubby

> but if I can afford it I'll be heading that way this week to visit my

> chiro. Most likely on Thursday but I'll go tomorrow if my pain is bad

> enough. They are on Water and Gibson, not sure how far you are from

> there.

> If you need some company just let me know and I'll swing by for a

> visit. Email me privately if you want my phone number.

> You are not alone!!!!

>

> Hugs,

> Melody

>

> Christi Randall wrote:

> > Been here.done that. and DO NOT WANT TO GO THERE AGAIN!

> >

> > Since I went into the hospital for back surgery on Feb I have slowly

> > been sliding into depression. My church has been wonderful in

> helping

> > with food, but NO and I mean NO ONE has come to visit me since I got

> > home. I feel like I have been cut off from civilization and am

> slowing

> > going down hill. I have not gotten out of bed today and was crying

> > earlier due to being lonely and depressed. I go back to the doctor

> > tomorrow for a check up and I am so hoping that he will release

> me to

> > go back to work as I do not know how much more of being trapped

> inside

> > all the time and alone. I am losing my mind. All I do is lay in bed

> > and watch tv. I really have no idea what or why I am writing here,

> > guess I am just trying to connect and figure out why I am so

> alone. I

> > need to go back to work so that I at least have people connection.

> > Thanks for listening/reading my ramblings.

> >

> > Christi in Waxahachie TX

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I know exactly the weird pains you are referring to and they definitely

sound like fibro. pains, They can be anywhere on your body and just kind of pop

up like someone is poking you or hammering on a certain area of your body or a

burning pain, They just come and go.

, Are you on any pain medication? You need to see the rhematologist to

get better controlled with the right meds if you are not already on them, I am

an RN and am still able to work but I have a good doc that has got my pain under

control and that will be your key to go back to work.Also certin supplements to

help with energy and memory, I know COQ10is helpful for energy and gingo biloba

is helpful for memory(be careful with gingo cause it has blood thinning

properties).This is just a bit of advice. The others in this group will be able

to give you more advice and ideas on how to feel better. Try and stay

positive,you may need to be on antidepressant which is very common in fibro, You

must get good nights sleep. Read Read, learn whatever you can, There is also

the med out now,Lyrica that is helping alot of fibro sufferers as long as you

dont get too many side effects. I am not on it at this time, I am on narcotics

for many years and they help me function. Good

Luck! Hope you feel better.

Jodi M.

Wgboi71 wrote:

Hello all,

I was wondering if i can get some opinions on a few things. I have

many questions i need REAL answers to so i turn to those that may be

able to relate.....

1..... The Very First time I went to see my Dr about all that was

going on, she noticed my Knuckles were dry and very chapped. I told

her they have been that way for months.... She said it was Psoriases

and its caused by stress. I thought it was just Dry skin.. Period!!

She gave me HALOBETOSOL PROPIONATE ointment which seems to be

working. Now I know many people have woken up in the morning with

their hands very tight, sore and hardly able to move them. But has

anyone experienced that- along with bright RED knuckles when they

woke up? I ask cause I did and it was just 2 of them (same hand)

These were the same knuckles my Dr Noticed to be dry a few weeks

ago.. Now after a few hours of me waking up it did dissipate and has

not happened since... So has anyone experienced this or similar?

2..... When all this started and I first seen my Primary care DO

following the accident in Dec, My reason for going to see a DR was

about a stiff neck with numbness and tingling in my arms. I also let

her know that i was Feeling tired and i just ached everywhere and

just felt tired and just Blah....! (KEEP IN MIND THAT I ALSO HAVE

BACK ISSUES AND HAD A LAMINECTOMY AT L5-S1 FROM AN ACCIDENT IN

1995) I always blamed that on my back issues along with every other

little pain I felt in my legs and back. She sent me have an MRI of my

Lumbar, Thorax and Cervical areas. The only thing that came Back was

DDD in my L5 area which I Knew and also in my Neck C6-C7 but no

herniations etc.. She then Sent me to Have blood work done to rule

out RA and everything else under sun.. I suggested to test for Lyme

as well as this can cause some of the Pains in my joints that i was

feeling.. All came back NORMAL.. She mentioned the possibility of

Fibro..... But I suggested a Pinched nerve as the reason for the arms

and everything else could be just from the Back. so to she sent me to

a Neurologist for an EMG of both my Arms because of the Numbness and

the Legs as a precaution since i did have pains down both legs Which

again i simply blamed for Sciatica from the Back. I spoke to the

Neurologist and he reviewed my MRI' etc... and performed the

EMG's..... and they were text book normal.. I was shocked as not

only were they normal in my arms but also in my legs. He said it's

not Sciatica and not a pinched nerve... I Believe it to be Fibro..

Now both he and my DO believe it and My Partner who is an Instruction

of Massage Therapy and healing science does as well. However there

is a part of that does not think so...

The reason is because at times I feel so much everywhere and most

times its not <EXTREME> PAIN so to speak.... Yes pain but to me it's

mostly annoyance pain. What gets me is the pin ball effect i get of

pain.. They hurt! because it's like a burst of pain that is not

predictable in location, intensity nor the type of pain. whether it's

a prick, a hot poker, a pull of hairs on my legs or arms and the list

can go on with the types.. Is this because i built up SO MUCH

tolerance to pain over the years with my back??

There are times where I am sitting Still on the couch with minor jabs

in the legs and say HEY... At this moment i feel i can tolerate this

and go back to work and live my life not worrying about not being

able to pay my bills and go into debt! Then i move just a little and

get a shooting ache in my shoulder & forearm the another in the wrist

or the joints of my hand or even in the palm of my hand and It's

mainly my Right hand.

You see, I am right handed and work in Customer Service for a

Corporate Credit Card Co. There is a lot of typing involved (of

course its different at home because your on your time and you can

take a break whenever you need to.) At work i am basically tied to

the chair and Phone 8 hrs a day with a 30 min Lunch and 2- 15 min

Breaks taken when they tell me to not when i need to.. I take call

after call with not a moment to breathe in between. Your measured by

the amount of calls, the speed of the calls along with documenting

each call and it's all tied in to monthly bonus. In this line of work

there is no such thing as pause button if you want to keep your job.

I really need to get back to work but i am afraid........... Afraid

that i will not be able to do my job. This means i will not get my

bonus each month, i will never be able to get a promotion and get off

the damn phones.. I am on STD but that was just cut to 66% for pay

and soon will be LTD and thats 60% of pay.. I dont know if it will

be a mistake to return at this moment. Will these feelings i have

going on in my hands ever go away..?

I know there are many....so many that are far worse then I But I am

So frustrated it's not helping matters.....

Lordy.... I can go on and on with all my frustrations and concerns

because i have many more concerns with my job and also the MANY

HORRIBLE FAILED attempts to find a Rhuematologist to se me and

officially DX with Fibro but i will save that for another email/

rant...... see told you i can go on..

Sorry to bore you all

(Lansdale Pa)

I have a lot of things going on

( certainly not more then others from what i Read.. God Bless you!

> Christi, please remember I'm not that far from you. I don't go out

> much

> during the week as my car is illegal at the moment (needs inspection,

> can't afford it yet) but I'll risk it just say the word. I go to

> Waxahachie several times a week anyway mostly on weekends with the

> hubby

> but if I can afford it I'll be heading that way this week to visit my

> chiro. Most likely on Thursday but I'll go tomorrow if my pain is bad

> enough. They are on Water and Gibson, not sure how far you are from

> there.

> If you need some company just let me know and I'll swing by for a

> visit. Email me privately if you want my phone number.

> You are not alone!!!!

>

> Hugs,

> Melody

>

> Christi Randall wrote:

> > Been here.done that. and DO NOT WANT TO GO THERE AGAIN!

> >

> > Since I went into the hospital for back surgery on Feb I have slowly

> > been sliding into depression. My church has been wonderful in

> helping

> > with food, but NO and I mean NO ONE has come to visit me since I got

> > home. I feel like I have been cut off from civilization and am

> slowing

> > going down hill. I have not gotten out of bed today and was crying

> > earlier due to being lonely and depressed. I go back to the doctor

> > tomorrow for a check up and I am so hoping that he will release

> me to

> > go back to work as I do not know how much more of being trapped

> inside

> > all the time and alone. I am losing my mind. All I do is lay in bed

> > and watch tv. I really have no idea what or why I am writing here,

> > guess I am just trying to connect and figure out why I am so

> alone. I

> > need to go back to work so that I at least have people connection.

> > Thanks for listening/reading my ramblings.

> >

> > Christi in Waxahachie TX

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I would be the first to say you probably do have fibromyalgia

syndrome!

The C6 and C7 you speak of causes the tingling down the arm and

fingers - I have this too. It can get really bad! Sometimes I lose

functioning of my entire arm. DDD can cause this as well - and there

is most likely not a surgery to fix it as you have probably found

out.

The pain you speak of is VERY common among fibromyalgia patients.

The strangests things keep happening to us - so the knuckles with

the skin problem is not at all something I would rule out as a

fibromyalgia symptom. Sometimes we have in my case many syndrome

problems as well - dry skin, dry eyes, dry mouth, dry nose etc...

With fibromyalgia every day is a new challenge as it moves from here

to there. Sometimes lingering in one place for a long time and

never going away and sometimes new places.

Nothing suprises me with this monster!

Rheumy docs don't seem to be dealing much with fibromyalgia

anymore. They may be able to quickly diagnose it - but probably

won't treat it. You will be extremely fortunate to find one that

does, so I wish you the best.

Just don't let docs tell you it is stress or all in your head! It

is not! It is physical, and not always all so invisible!

Good luck and thanks for joining. Welcome!!!

mncjl

> > > Been here.done that. and DO NOT WANT TO GO THERE AGAIN!

> > >

> > > Since I went into the hospital for back surgery on Feb I have

slowly

> > > been sliding into depression. My church has been wonderful in

> > helping

> > > with food, but NO and I mean NO ONE has come to visit me since

I got

> > > home. I feel like I have been cut off from civilization and

am

> > slowing

> > > going down hill. I have not gotten out of bed today and was

crying

> > > earlier due to being lonely and depressed. I go back to the

doctor

> > > tomorrow for a check up and I am so hoping that he will

release

> > me to

> > > go back to work as I do not know how much more of being

trapped

> > inside

> > > all the time and alone. I am losing my mind. All I do is lay

in bed

> > > and watch tv. I really have no idea what or why I am writing

here,

> > > guess I am just trying to connect and figure out why I am so

> > alone. I

> > > need to go back to work so that I at least have people

connection.

> > > Thanks for listening/reading my ramblings.

> > >

> > > Christi in Waxahachie TX

> > >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Well Cj-

My Neuro says that the EMG would show anything nerve related and

thats including the DDD in the neck area..

I no longer have too much the tingling/numbness but today it feels

like my arms and hands are submerged in a bucket of ice but yet they

are warm to the touch by anyone else!!

> ,

>

> I would be the first to say you probably do have fibromyalgia

> syndrome!

>

> The C6 and C7 you speak of causes the tingling down the arm and

> fingers - I have this too. It can get really bad! Sometimes I lose

> functioning of my entire arm. DDD can cause this as well - and there

> is most likely not a surgery to fix it as you have probably found

> out.

>

> The pain you speak of is VERY common among fibromyalgia patients.

>

> The strangests things keep happening to us - so the knuckles with

> the skin problem is not at all something I would rule out as a

> fibromyalgia symptom. Sometimes we have in my case many syndrome

> problems as well - dry skin, dry eyes, dry mouth, dry nose etc...

>

> With fibromyalgia every day is a new challenge as it moves from here

> to there. Sometimes lingering in one place for a long time and

> never going away and sometimes new places.

>

> Nothing suprises me with this monster!

>

> Rheumy docs don't seem to be dealing much with fibromyalgia

> anymore. They may be able to quickly diagnose it - but probably

> won't treat it. You will be extremely fortunate to find one that

> does, so I wish you the best.

>

> Just don't let docs tell you it is stress or all in your head! It

> is not! It is physical, and not always all so invisible!

>

> Good luck and thanks for joining. Welcome!!!

>

> mncjl

>

>

> > > > Been here.done that. and DO NOT WANT TO GO THERE AGAIN!

> > > >

> > > > Since I went into the hospital for back surgery on Feb I have

> slowly

> > > > been sliding into depression. My church has been wonderful in

> > > helping

> > > > with food, but NO and I mean NO ONE has come to visit me since

> I got

> > > > home. I feel like I have been cut off from civilization and

> am

> > > slowing

> > > > going down hill. I have not gotten out of bed today and was

> crying

> > > > earlier due to being lonely and depressed. I go back to the

> doctor

> > > > tomorrow for a check up and I am so hoping that he will

> release

> > > me to

> > > > go back to work as I do not know how much more of being

> trapped

> > > inside

> > > > all the time and alone. I am losing my mind. All I do is lay

> in bed

> > > > and watch tv. I really have no idea what or why I am writing

> here,

> > > > guess I am just trying to connect and figure out why I am so

> > > alone. I

> > > > need to go back to work so that I at least have people

> connection.

> > > > Thanks for listening/reading my ramblings.

> > > >

> > > > Christi in Waxahachie TX

> > > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Also, a rheumatologist would probably diagose you with psoriatric arthritis.

It's similar to RA in that it has autoimmune component, plus the psoriasis right

there on you knuckles where you have pain is a dead ringer.

Jeanne in WI

[Guest guest]

,

I'm so glad you checked with your Neurologist. You may want a

second opinion, and also talk to a Chronic Pain specialist, and a

physical therapist. Also talk to the radiologist. Sometimes an EMG

shows what a neurologist thinks is " normal " but can ultimately cause

problems. They did see DDD in the C6 and C7 correct? That does not

mean " normal " . Do you have stenosis as well - narrowing? This can

cause problems too.

Also, pinched nerves sometimes don't show up on EMG's. Did you have

a MRI with contrast dye? This will show even more than and EMG.

The PT, Chronic Pain specialist, and radiologist may all disagree

with your neurologists opinion. That is why I'd talk to one more

person before discrediting yourself on your feelings. There is

something wrong and you are best to know that. Keep fighting for an

answer. You may need trigger point injections to get it under

control or radiofrequency denervation. These things plus PT helped

me regain some use.

Again, I'm not a doctor, but I have a very similar problem.

Google in C6 and C7 and any of the C's in the neck with DDD and

tingling and numbness, and you will find thousands of hits that have

similar problems with arm and hand tingling and numbness as a

result. My PT and even OT say this is fairly common with DDD. And,

they see alot of patients like us!

The DDD and injuries you have had of course lead to the fibromyalgia.

So you are definitely on the right track.

Good luck. I hope this was somewhat helpful to you.

CJ

> > > > > Been here.done that. and DO NOT WANT TO GO THERE AGAIN!

> > > > >

> > > > > Since I went into the hospital for back surgery on Feb I

have

> > slowly

> > > > > been sliding into depression. My church has been wonderful

in

> > > > helping

> > > > > with food, but NO and I mean NO ONE has come to visit me

since

> > I got

> > > > > home. I feel like I have been cut off from civilization and

> > am

> > > > slowing

> > > > > going down hill. I have not gotten out of bed today and was

> > crying

> > > > > earlier due to being lonely and depressed. I go back to the

> > doctor

> > > > > tomorrow for a check up and I am so hoping that he will

> > release

> > > > me to

> > > > > go back to work as I do not know how much more of being

> > trapped

> > > > inside

> > > > > all the time and alone. I am losing my mind. All I do is

lay

> > in bed

> > > > > and watch tv. I really have no idea what or why I am

writing

> > here,

> > > > > guess I am just trying to connect and figure out why I am

so

> > > > alone. I

> > > > > need to go back to work so that I at least have people

> > connection.

> > > > > Thanks for listening/reading my ramblings.

> > > > >

> > > > > Christi in Waxahachie TX

> > > > >

> > > >

> > > >