Confused and diagnosed with fibromyalgia

whimiscally, you aren't the one confused.
I'd start with an MRI of the ankle. Imaging sometimes doesn't recognize a hairline fracture especially x-ray imaging. But while looking for alignment the MRI will also image the tendons and ligament.
It is probably the IBS that led him to the diagnosis. IBS and fibromyalgia are thought to have a common axis. You might look at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10296515/
I can't see it, but I'm only a lay person, glad you don't have fibromyalgia.

@whimsicallyinpain -

Being on crutches and in a boot for 3 months can cause an imbalance in strength, gait and during that time of muscle weakening can cause distal musculature to take over that otherwise wouldn’t. This can cause a lot of bracing, tightening and stiffness. That you become accustomed to without realizing it. One issue in an area of the foot/ankle can cause referred pain into back shoulder etc…

Don’t be fooled by a “fibromyalgia” diagnosis. Go with your gut as you know yourself best. MDs also have to document something in chart for billing purposes. A “diagnosis code” to get paid. And MDs don’t like to say to a patient “I don’t know” which most of the time they don’t. But a loose umbrella like diagnosis can protect their ego and a bad review from a patient whom reports they went to a doctor appointment and the doctor has no idea.

It’s a shame but this is how it works most of the time.

Trust your own instincts, above all else.

@whimsicallyinpain
Do you feel you have control of your right ankle? Do you know what is causing you to repeatedly sprain the same ankle? Do you have weakness in addition to the numbness and pins/needles?

You may want to see a neurologist for EMG/nerve conduction studies of your lower limbs. You may have compression of your spinal cord/nerve roots and radiculopathy. You may also have a vascular/blood flow issue in your right leg.

honestly this is extremely insightful! i am probably going to see if i can get an MRI of my ankle/leg since i wasn’t aware that x-rays probably wouldn’t help me figure out what the problem is.

on the topic of IBS, i did find the study interesting and honestly i don’t really have pain anywhere else aside from my ankle that spreads up to my leg. i only once had back issues but that was because i had to admitted into hospital and i didn’t have energy to move so my back muscles ended up tightening. however that was in november and im all good now!

i do have control of my right ankle thankfully! i did ask the first and second doctor about that and they said possibly the ligaments are too stretched out and i might have muscle weakness or at least muscle issues. they also might think i might have a pinched nerve but they don’t sound/seem confident in that. i’ll see if i can get an appointment or see if i can get any neurology appointment for an EMG.

i never thought of this if i’m being honest! though i think i don’t have fibromyalgia since it feels like a blanket term for not exactly knowing what i have. i don’t have any pain in any other part of my body (ie: back, shoulders, joints, etc.) it’s simply just my right leg and even then i have this “theory” that it’s not really my leg that’s hurting it’s just my ankle pain spreading due to not exactly doing the best to take care of this.

@whimsicallyinpain -
I’d check with a Physical Therapist. And again only you know yourself best.

Overtime with many breaks to this area the surrounding areas compensate to make up for all the uneven strength from a break/fracture.

Just precautionary to address the entire body as you can tell what your strength and agility levels are before anyone else.

Until we as people (not patients) give the power back to ourselves to intuitively guide us rather than another regular human in a white coat, we will be far more healthy and better off.

Good luck to you!

whimsicallyinpain, from my reading of the article, it isn't about you. When you've had an obvious injury to the ankle, that would be the place to start looking. You may have even had a torn tendon or ligament that didn't quite heal. Those tendons do take forever.
On the other hand it's fine to look into fibromyalgia But always listen to your doubts.
I really like your post and think you should keep posting whatever you find out.

seekinginfo,
I agree with your text but would add the we sometimes mistake a differential diagnosis for a diagnosis.
There is theory in the research that with that imbalance of gut bacteria with IBS allows toxins to leak into the bloodstream causing the migrating pain of fibromyalgia. Whimsically's doctor is aware of the research https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/10/2594 and may see it evidenced in their practice. The diagnosis seems whimsical, but could prove a valuable awareness of possible connection.

I've known someone with Fibro for years and one thing she insisted was that like most people those with Fibro are helped with what helps with life-in-general: fit body with daily physical exertion w/some strenuous activity , simple nutritious food, generally positive mindset, and importantly, paying work to feel a contributing member of society if not retiring age, and having a clear Purpose or direction in life. But what I know now (81) is that Genuine Friends are MORE important than general healthcare. I can attest to that with more research/evidence than any other thing in life.

For myself, I don't use any meds, nor did any tests, nor seem my doctor for over ten years and talked only once. I try to walk on uneven surfaces wherever I find such surface and do turns and twists of various parts of the body to keep joints nimble. I think it has helped me to get back up after having slipped on icy sidewalk this winter and being lightly hit by a car over a year ago, And yes, I get my highest pulse rate of over 130 (which is twice my at rest) by walking up ten floors in my bldg.

Life seems to demand little for health if we keep up with what it endows us at birth: curiosity, play, human connection