Thank you for the info. I have always used 600mg of ibuprofen a couple of times a week when I had to, but my new doc put me on diclofenac & tylenol and is resistant to anything else. I have taken trazadone for ages to help me sleep soundly to control the fibro but he says I have to go to a pschiatrist to get that. This is a very painful adjustment. I don't seem to have many choices at the moment except to curl up and ride it out.

Just when I start whining, I talk to someone like you, who really has it rough. I hope one of your choices leaves you pain free.

Update. After 8 days I got in to see a neurologist who believes I have a pinched nerve in my shoulder. NOT the chronic pain that I have with fibro. THAT I am used to controlling. I am still in pain but was given Tramadol which is taking the edge off. I can't get an MRI until Wed. I am very disappointed in my new PCP for not listening to me instead of reading my chart.

Have you seen a rheumatologist? My rheumatologist diagnosed me with Myofascial pain syndrome and gave me Tramadol for pain. I stopped taking it when my family dr prescribed an antidepressant. She said That I couldn't take them both, so I have been trying self Myofascial therapy to help. It does help some, bout does not really help enough. Do you relate to any of this.

I understand what you are saying but have no knowledge of Myofascial therapy. Since the ER doc sees no sign of arthritis, I am waiting until the MRI results come in. The pinched nerve can be treated easily once diagnosed. If the arthritis is there, I will be researching every method I can find to bring peace! Thanks for the info.

My xrays don't show arthritis either, but apparently the fascia underneath our muscles causes pain when overused and gets knotty in some areas causing pain that feels like bone pain. I just read a book called "Integrative therapies for Fibromalgia, Myofascial Pain and Chronic Fatigue" by Celeste Cooper that was very comprehensive and explained a lot. It is a tough read but helpful. Are you taking an antidepressant along with the Tramadol? If so, do you have any side effects? I wonder if my dr is just being overcautious.

Last year was a truly bad one, (all has passed, than God) so my then PCP put me on 20 mg of Prozac a day. My new PCP promptly took me off. As I said, I can't even get the trazodone anymore without seeing the shrink. I am waiting on an appointment. I feel great other than the current pain and don't want more antidepressant. I am retired and, now that my life has calmed down, I sleep about 6 hrs a night and nap when I want. The chronic fatigue no longer bothers me. I just want this persistent pain to be dealt with.

I had been on Lexapro for 3 years because of post traumatic stress disorder and went off of them last summer. I didn't think I needed them anymore, but was told that some of my muscle pain could be related to going off the antidepressant, so I reluctantly started them up again. However, I do believe, after 2 months of being back on them, that it helps a little bit. What is a PCP?

primary care physician. an insurance label. My fibro is so well controlled that I seldom need anything. At most, some ibuprofen once or twice a week. I have always felt lucky that mine was controllable. That's how I knew that this time it was something else. I tried all of in my book of tricks and nothing worked. Even the Tramadol barely touches it. I tried vicodan in desperation. Nothing.

My mom suffers from that to she has more trouble with the left knee and it gets swollen real bad durin this type of weather when it cold or raining. She went to this doctor in Hondo, Tx and got a shot on her knee it helped a little, but the medicine wore off and she is in terrible pain sometimes she can't even get out of bed. She can't travel to San Antonio, Tx and been tryin to get an appointment with the doctor here in Hondo, Tx but to be honest the doctor that comes to Hondo is nice but the nurses are such ??? well can't say it on here. I've gotten into it with them and try to explain to them my mom can't not travel to San Antonio so my mom got upset and told me to jst stop calling and now she is in pain. I hate to see my mom like this and it makes me cry with her, what else can I do for her I saw something bout baths where can I go to, to find out more Please thank you.

Yes, it's typical for changes in weather to impact the discomfort of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. My best guess is that the doctor who came to Hondo gave your mom a shot of cortisone. If there's any way she can do it, she probably needs for him to refer her to an a orthopedic specialist who deals with knee replacement surgery. A friend of mine had a problem with her weight which made her arthritis problems and the deterioration of her knee joints that much worse.

She went on a weight loss program before she was able to safely have the surgery. Following the knee replacement, she underwent physical therapy which helped her strengthen her muscles around the knee joint. She's now able to work again, though she gets around with a cane. The last four months were very hard, but losing the weight was really helpful and she's determined to get some more off. She can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and is on her way back to improved health and a lot less pain.

Weight loss is really important. I've been trying to get weight off, myself, but it's hard to do when pain is slowing you down. I think the key is getting exercise, even if all you're doing is sitting in a chair.

If your mother is on Medicare, she should be covered for those benefits. In addition, if you call the local agency on aging, they should be able to provide information about transportation for disabled persons. The much-reviled Dept. of Health & Human Services has a very helpful web site where you can get a ton of information. For starters, here is the link to the Federal Administration on Aging: http://www.aoa.gov/

If your mother does not have health insurance, hope like heck that the Tea Party folks and the health insurance industry don't wreck the Affordable Health Care Act. Write your congressman/woman or call up the district office to let them know what your family is going through. Good luck!