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Here's to Your Health: another fibro question |
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homemom1fl
True Blue Farmgirl
76 Posts
Chris
Palm Harbor
FL
USA
76 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2008 : 09:49:27 AM
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Hi all, I have fibromyalgia and then back in April I started having incredible pain in both hands. Sometimes hot like fire, sometimes stabbing pain, sometimes throbbing, sometimes it feels like someone slammed my hand in a sliding glass door. My Dr. tested me for RA (negative thankfully) and told me fibro doesn't usually effect the hands. Is that true? It comes and goes in severity and right now it is really taking its toll. I can't write very much at all without having intolerable pain and sometimes can't type much. I tried explaining to my Dr. that a couple of times the pain was so bad that I felt as though my hands didn't belong to my body and that my body felt like it wanted to reject them. It literally made me shudder. I think he thought I was a bit touched in the head but it was the best way to describe it. So, do any of ya have this problem? Thanks Chris |
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DaisyFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
1646 Posts
Diane
Victoria
BC
Canada
1646 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2008 : 10:01:03 AM
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Chris do you take any medications? This can be a side effect of some. I'm sorry you are suffering, my Mom has fibro and associated CFS. She has had some pretty rough times. Di |
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electricdunce
True Blue Farmgirl
2544 Posts
Karin
Belmont
ME
USA
2544 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2008 : 11:43:02 AM
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I've had fibro for many years and used to get horrible pains in my hands, attributed to carpal tunnel syndrome, also severe thumb pain, Reynaud's syndrome I think that one was. I've had three operations on my hands, and they have helped, but there are still things I can't do any more, like knitting or wiritng for more than a couple minutes without pain. And then their is sometimes fasciatis issue too, when the fascia around the muscles becomes really inflamed and extremely painful. Perhaps you need to visit with another doctor....some doctors are much more informed on the subject. Good luck...
Karin
Farmgirl Sister #153
"Give me shelter from the storm" - Bob Dylan http://moodranch.blogspot.com http://domesticnonsense.etsy.com |
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eskimobirdlady
True Blue Farmgirl
700 Posts
connie
fairbanks
ak
USA
700 Posts |
Posted - Sep 21 2008 : 11:25:42 AM
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hi chris. i have severe fibromyalgia and have had that sme problems with my hands! i do have reynauds also which is a circulatory issue and will cause them to burn like fire when they change temps quickly. i dont believe what you are describing is a reynauds issue. usually i get some relief by using my heating pad alot! also try soaking in epsom salts. neither give alot of relief but better than nothing. i cannot get treatment for my fibro anymore and sure hope you can! i would try to find a dr that will listen more to what you say, just dont give up the first dr until you ifnd the next one! good luck! peace connie in alaska |
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Tapestry
True Blue Farmgirl
1223 Posts
Cheryl
Wisconsin
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - Sep 21 2008 : 9:53:54 PM
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Hi Chris....I've had fibro for 13 yrs now and there are times when my hands have hurt terribly. As a licensed practical nurse I can't tell you what to do as that would be considered prescribing medication however I can tell you what has helped me. Please understand that just because it helped me it might not help you. It seems there is no standard treatment that ALWAYS works for anyone with fibro. I don't care what medication or therapy you try. The thing that has helped me the most when my hands hurt is to put Vicks Vaporub all over them like hand lotion then put on a pair of gloves before I go to bed. You don't want to get this in your eyes. Usually by the next morning they feel better. Heck, I've put Vicks all over me when I hurt sometimes....wear nighties you don't care about cuz it leaves a stain but if I can reach it it has prolly had Vicks on it..laughin'.
Happy farmgirl sister #353
Look for rainbows instead of mud puddles
http://tapestrysimaginings.blogspot.com/ |
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Jeanna
True Blue Farmgirl
267 Posts
Jeanna
Franklin
NC
USA
267 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2008 : 8:05:30 PM
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I have had fibro for 12 years now and in the past 3 years my hands take times when they hurt so bad I just sit and rub them. The truth is that doctors are learning right along with us. This is new territory for them. Yes it has been around for a while but they are just now realizing that it is real and not all in our heads.
Jeanna Farmgirl Sister #41
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. Henry David Thoreau |
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homemom1fl
True Blue Farmgirl
76 Posts
Chris
Palm Harbor
FL
USA
76 Posts |
Posted - Sep 23 2008 : 2:34:58 PM
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thanks for the responses. I'm not on meds except for Armour thyroid. I really hate prescription drugs and try not to take them. I usually get nauseous when I do. At this point I am taking Aleve when it is really bad or doing nothing. I have completely overhauled my diet which started with a 3 day fast and then I introduced fruits and veggies and now lean poultry. I LOVE cheese and dairy but I know that I get VERY congested when I eat it and get a lot of mucous from it. I always ate it anyway because I love it but I've even cut that out. Talk about desperate LOL! I went to the library and got a book on Yoga for Arthritis as I read that that helped some folks. One good thing that came out of it is that it finally made me seriously assign chores to my kids and to check up on them. My kitchen has never looked so good! I can't scrub very much and after one melt down where I was pretty tearful about the things that I can't do without a lot of pain, I think they decided to do their best because they were really needed.
Karin - I did have one carpal tunnel operation. It did help with that but now the whole hands hurt. I'm sorry that you can't knit, I know that must be hard. If you are like me, not being able to do something that you want to because you are physically unable is VERY difficult.
Connie - I will try the epsom salts, thanks.
Cheryl - I read somewhere about camphor spirits rubbed on the painful parts helps. I can't find any but I did get camphor oil so I may try that. I will also find the Vick and gloves trick! Thanks for sharing.
Jeanna - I know what you mean about sit and rub them! Sometimes I ask my husband or kids to pull on each finger really hard and long and then my whole hand. Sometimes it feels like my fingers are jammed down into my hand and my hand is jammed down into my wrist and pulling on it helps relieve that feeling a little.
My family Dr. referred me to a rheumatologist who was from another country and very, very cold. I went to her once. I then decided to try to fight it with diet and whatever else (besides drugs) for a while. I'll find a new rheumatologist if I go the Dr route again.
Thanks all for sharing.
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EnchantedWoodsGirl
True Blue Farmgirl
959 Posts
Kathy
New Jersey
USA
959 Posts |
Posted - Sep 29 2008 : 7:47:50 PM
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Chris I have had fibro for many years and the pain with fibro tends to migrate to different body areas - one winter I could hardly walk for having heal pain so bad that I was having cortisone injections in them. Then, I had tennis elbow for about a year. I would have to say that yes, it could be from the fibro. There are times that I cannot squeeze the side of my mid finger joints they hurt so bad. Does your pain migrate?
Kathy of the Enchanted Wood Farmgirl Sister #59 http://enchantedwoodmusings.blogspot.com/
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Here's to Your Health: another fibro question |
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