In 2001 I was diagnosed with PMDD. I was treated with Prozac. It helped tremendously. Eventually I went off the Prozac for a few years and did well until late summer of 2010 when I asked my doctor to put me back on it. I asked her if it would help with the physical issues I was having that seemed to be cyclical. They were not typically listed as PMDD symptoms but they did seem to come and go with my menstrual cycles. She said it should because they were probably a psychosomatic response to the mental/emotional symptoms. Stop the mental/emotional and you will stop the physical as well. And this worked...for some of them. But, I was still having the 'strange' physical symptoms. I didn't understand why and started to briefly entertain the idea of fibromyalgia as a possibility.
It was shortly after this I found myself at the chiropractor (due to the nature of our business we were able to barter services with them.) I have mild scoliosis- I was diagnosed as a child but was told I would likely grow out of it (most do). I never really thought about it much after that and since it is mild it wasn't noticeable and I didn't realize what even an 11 degree curve can do to your nervous system. I have also suffered from migraines since I was an infant...before they even had a name I think lol. So, in the fall of 2010, I began treatment with a chiropractor for both of those issues. She was confident she could cure my headaches and that she could help my scoliosis as well. But after a couple of weeks, the adjustments were becoming excruciatingly painful. The chiropractors at the office couldn't understand why they were so painful for me. They said that was not normal...that some pain as your spine is manipulated is expected but the degree of pain I was experiencing was rare. I began to dread going and would put it off until eventually I stopped going completely. I do have to say, that the migraines have in fact decreased- I still get headaches but not the migraines like I used to. Unfortunately the pain has continued and my symptoms are random now- no longer cyclical and the "flares" are much worse in severity. It is almost like the adjustments "triggered" the fibro and made it so much worse.
After doing more reading and research, I am even more convinced that I do in fact have fibromyalgia. And I found out my grandpa was diagnosed with it just the other day adding to my confidence it is the correct diagnosis. I believe it is caused by the scoliosis because it messes up the spinal cord and nerve transmissions. (Fibromyalgia is a syndrome caused by an underlying disease process.) I have probably had it for a long time and it used to be triggered by hormones. Since the chiropractic adjustments- I don't know what triggers it now, if anything, but I have a lot of pain in my neck (my scoliosis is in my lower back and also up in my neck) and the fibro symptoms are more severe on days when my neck is in pain than others so I am guessing I strain my neck somehow- sleeping wrong, turning to far, too fast, etc- who knows.
Regardless of the definitive diagnosis, if you read the symptoms of fibromyalgia, that is what I deal with. I suffer from at least 90% of them. So, I guess I figure the true diagnosis is insignificant- the symptoms and the struggles are the same.
I probably should interject something here about the chiropractor. My husband has a spinal compression in his neck (I think at the C5 vertebrae). He has many similar symptoms as I do. He has continued with the chiropractor and feels he does find relief and improvement in his symptoms. So, I do not mean to say here that chiropractic care is bad...it is just bad for me. =)
As far as pain...like anyone with this...I have good days and I have bad. And the bad ones range in severity from simply needing an extra nap that day to being in such severe pain that I am almost brought to my knees and am completely debilitated.
I will probably not stick to just the pain issues...so let me tell you a bit about myself. =)
I enjoy reading, writing, rubber stamping (though I haven't done that much lately) and making jewelry. My husband and I own a business and I do graphic design work for that. I also work from home assembling crafts for a company in New England.
I am a mom of four- and will become a grandma in the fall. I also have three 4-legged furry kids...two dogs- golden retriever and mini poodle- and a Maine Coon cat.
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