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PTSD & as yet undiagnosed joint pain, fatigue, muscular pain
I just joined this site. I am working with 4 doctors from various specialties. No conclusive diagnosis. They are all in agreement that I should next see a rheumatologist. Two MD's that I've seen suspect fybromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome or ??
I also live with PTSD.
Its been very hard since lately my health has taken a big hit after a car accident in January and my abilities to do what I could normally do has been greatly reduced since that accident. Other symptoms have emerged. Very frustrating. No clear answers yet...
Anyone out there who can relate or has had a similar experience? I would really value connecting with people who have had similar experiences. What I am experiencing is, at frequent times, very isolating. I am a single Mother of two adolescents. So, support is really quite essential. Overall, I have a great support network. But in terms of the specific health challenges I am experiencing it would be so helpful to connect with others experiencing similar challenges.
Thanks
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If you are without income, can't you apply for Medicaid? That would pay for therapy. The kind of electric therapy I was referring to is not the TENS. It was done to me at a physical therapy clinic. Electrodes or something like that were placed on each side of my neck near the offending degenerated cervical disk. Then a machine passed gentle currents thru the muscle at those two points and it felt like a massauge. Really helped. A chiropracter once told me that a bulged disk can be moved as little as one tenth of a millimeter and then the pain is gone. I don't go to chiros any more though. Prefer other methods. Also, because i am older, Medicare paid for a little machine i use at home. I call it a neck stretcher. You strap your head into it, pump it up and it gently moves your head up, thereby stretching your cervical spine. Then you put it on hold a few minutes to keep it at the comfortable position. I had a choice between that and a cervical collar to wear around the house. Sounds like you really have a few pinched nerves. A neurosurgeon recommended these two things for me. He felt I wasn't bad enough for neck surgery--yet. I hope this info is of use to you. patsy, age 71
PatsyElsie, One can apply for Medicaid, but you should know it generally takes AT LEAST 2 years to get and several applications, and I'm guessing a vague, uncommon diagnosis makes it even more difficult.
I also just joined. I don't see any mention here of Mixed Connective Tissue Disease-MCTD. It involves overlapping symptoms of lupus, fibromyalgia, polymyositis, but has a distinguishing antibody present. My 33 yr old daughter was diagnosed after a bout with Epstein-Barr and then a flare-up several months later--and many tests and 4-5 doctors. She has frequent flare-ups of pain, not feeling well and sleeplessness, as well as some beginning joint damage in her hands. She also has severe migraines-don't know if they are related. The drugs for fibro do not work. Her rheumatologist has her on methotrexate, which helps some, but makes her really tired. She had to leave her job 1 1/2 years ago and subsequently could not afford to live on her own. She gets some disability from her former job, but it all goes to pay COBRA ins urance and med bills. Her COBRA runs out in a month. she has begun application for Medicaid, but wonder if she will ever qualify. Several people who have posted here have described very similar symptoms
me 2. try all medicine. Paxil now