Am I the only one that does not have flares but daily ongoing pain?

Posted by eascusa @eascusa, 3 days ago

Am I the only one that doesn't get flares but instead has daily chronic pain in my body? And daily symptoms. In about a 50-day time frame I seem to cycle through my symptoms and pain levels. That will then repeat. I will experience the same pattern of symptoms throughout that time. There will be anywhere from 2 weeks to one month of moderate daily to sometimes severe pain in the same areas, although it can be one leg one time and the other leg the next and then switch. Or be both at the same time. And then about one week or so of a more milder pain. But still there daily. Symptoms such as insomnia will always be there and some of the other Fibro symptoms are every day while some of the other stranger symptoms will cycle throughout that same time period. And it will go on and on like this, never stopping.
Now that I am older, I have other complications such as uncontrolled Diabetes 2 and Degenerative Disk Disease in my back to give two examples, but they have nothing to do with my Fibromyalgia and that can make things more confusing and harder, but I have learned to tell the difference for the most part.
I was diagnosed in 2001 when I was only 25 years old. I was diagnosed by two Fibro specialists. As well as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. And it has always been the same for me. No flares just daily pain and symptoms with only the intensity changing. Or is that what a flare is? But I use the term cycle because that is what it does. It is predictable. Flares I thought were not. And I read or so it seemed to me that when not in a flare people with Fibro feel normal or almost normal. Every day I feel pain it is just where it is located exactly that can be a little different but not always and the coming of some symptoms while other symptoms move on just to repeat the same process and pattern and in the same time frames.
All the research I have done through the years if it is in forums with people or information read on the internet, or in books, by doctors, or things I here, flares are always being talked about. This has always made me feel uneasy about my diagnosis and has me wondering sometimes if I don't have something else. At the time of diagnosis though I was perfectly healthy otherwise. And like I said I was diagnosed by specialists. And not just any specialist but one of the leading Fibro Specialists in Los Angeles names Dr. Silverman who worked at the Mayo Hospital and clinic (still might) and has written books on the subject. As well as another Fibro Specialist and back surgeon that also has a lot of stuff written on the topic and is well known in his area. Can anyone here relate to or experience this same kind of cycling behavior? Do you also not have flares but daily everyday pain? I have been like this for 23 years.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Fibromyalgia Support Group.

I have been the same as you for 42 years. Now as I'm getting older, there are more complications , as you said degenerative disk and also arthritis, torn rotator and bad knees. The only thing better has been migraines stopped at 67. I have no idea what a flare is,, there are just degrees of how bad the pain is. I am very sorry for you.

REPLY

You are not the only one. I see that degenerative disc disease is common among us. Probably the nerves are being excited, exiting the spine. Would be my guess. Relaxation techniques are helpful in my case. After the many surgeries, and continuing degeneration and pain I simply refuse to relax enough. (I want to do my work!) What I have found super helpful is MFR (there is a section here) but you have to find the right MFR therapist. I found one who is self taught. He does a great job on my body. Also, I take low dose Percocet (10/325) one half tab daily (1.5 average per day) for 25 years. I have no addition issues what soever. I have chronic pain tho and it helps me with where the pain is the most. Tried all the nerve/antidepressant meds - they did not work nor could I tolerate them. ( I am drug sensitive). Also - if you haven't checked out the weather: check out the weather! the days that are the worst for me have high-temperature swings and changes in humidity dryness - and certain seasons (December and June) and HEADING INTO a rain. (when it rains I am fine). Weather is my biggest daily trigger. We are water-based beings and I have to be careful about alcohol and salts and maintain an equilibrium. I have to walk everyday and keep my body circulating fluids. good luck!

REPLY
@loriesco

You are not the only one. I see that degenerative disc disease is common among us. Probably the nerves are being excited, exiting the spine. Would be my guess. Relaxation techniques are helpful in my case. After the many surgeries, and continuing degeneration and pain I simply refuse to relax enough. (I want to do my work!) What I have found super helpful is MFR (there is a section here) but you have to find the right MFR therapist. I found one who is self taught. He does a great job on my body. Also, I take low dose Percocet (10/325) one half tab daily (1.5 average per day) for 25 years. I have no addition issues what soever. I have chronic pain tho and it helps me with where the pain is the most. Tried all the nerve/antidepressant meds - they did not work nor could I tolerate them. ( I am drug sensitive). Also - if you haven't checked out the weather: check out the weather! the days that are the worst for me have high-temperature swings and changes in humidity dryness - and certain seasons (December and June) and HEADING INTO a rain. (when it rains I am fine). Weather is my biggest daily trigger. We are water-based beings and I have to be careful about alcohol and salts and maintain an equilibrium. I have to walk everyday and keep my body circulating fluids. good luck!

Jump to this post

I was having lower back pain but have found great relief from the muscle spasms by sleeping with a pillow:
-- Side sleep - place between the legs.
-- Back sleep - place under the legs.
Spasms have stopped.
For neck pain - I am using a contoured Tempur-Pedic Pillow. I had to get accustomed to it but it works. There are different sizes. It supports the neck and head.

REPLY

Hi,
I was diagnosed with FM when I was in my late twenties or so...I'm 84 now and yes, you might now have a chronic condition and not just FM. This is just me, now. I have no way of knowing what's going on with you, but I do believe my FM slowly became Neuropathy as I got older. Check out those threads here. Maybe a Mod might jump in and put up a few threads for you. But, you might ask your Doctor if that could be what's going on.

Good Luck

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.