Is this common?

[allih]

I was doing my normal household chores this weekend which included lugging my laundry down to the laundry facility and back. I was most likely :o carrying too much weight and after I was done I noticed that my right wrist HURT when I bent it downwards. I put a splint on it to sleep that night and when I woke up in the morning was even worse. I can't bend it in any direction and even using my hand is painful. Needless to say it is still in the splint.

Is it normal to have a joint freak out like this after heavy use when having a flare up of Fibromyalgia? This is my first really bad flare up that is affecting my whole body and I am still learning my limitations, which now includes getting one of those little rolling baskets so I don't have to carry anything. What a pain in the you know what!!

Alli

[deettah]

Hi Alli, while I have not been formally Dx'd with Fibro, this happens with my wrists also. Quite often if I lift too much or am on the computer too long.

[Fayelle]

I often have strange things happen with my body parts.....

Just over the last 2 days I have been having serious issues with my left knee, it started having muscle spasms and the joint hurts like crazy....The worst thing is I have no idea what could have caused it......I simply do not remember doing anything to have hurt it......

Hubby tried to rub the muscle and every time he put minor pressure on it it started to jump around with major muscle spasms that were incredibly painful....

This is just one in a long line of problems my body has created out of thin air......Its like my body over reacts to everything.....So my short answer is yes these things happen to me too and it is related I guess to my fibroland funtimes.....

Fay

[Tootsie]

Hi Alli,
Welcome to the club. Things like your experience with the laundry basket are the story of my life...and probably everyone else who posts here! My latest implement causing an achy wrist is a crochet hook ! I just need to monitor my time spent crocheting and not do it all evening while watching TV.

It is frustrating, but eventually you will learn to treat your body like a china doll, and drag out your chores in reasonable segments so you do not hurt yourself. I sit for a while, stand for a while, walk for a while and manage to get everything done. There is no more of this tearing into projects and burning the midnight oil to get it all done. Pain and frustration gradually teach you that there are no extra brownie points to be had, just for doing things the way you've always done them. AND, you will find that that is all OK. Life goes on and those chores may or may not get done. AND, it really doesn't matter all that much. Cheerio.

[allih]

That seems to be the consensus with migraines and fibro. Between the two it's amazing that I get anything done! Right now I'm still battling the effects of a migraine that completely laid me out yesterday. I couldn't even move my head without intense pain. I was on ALL my migraine abortive and resuce meds and still in pain and THEN the fibro pain starts up! Geez! Enough is enough! I would think that I wouldn't feel anything with all the pain meds I was on, but this Fibro pain just seems to be resistant to them and that just sucks!!

But, I am doing slightly better today. I am at least up and moving.

Alli

[Cry Tears]

I'm sorry you have to lug the laundy down....get a granny cart!
AKA Mt Luther King Winnabeggos! (Homeless people carts!)
Or even one of those luggage carts you see in airports....if low on funds...thrift stores have piles of them now that luggage usually has built in wheels.
I had a laundry shoot put in so I don't have to lug all the stuff 2 stair cases down...darn this house! Hey...anyone wanna buy this dump on the hump?
Now houses are built with laundry rooms up where the rooms are, not half mile away....house plans usually made up by men, go figure!
I thought this place was so cool with all those levels and stairs!
That was my pre-fibro days. Now I hate all these levels...but can't sell...I love our setting here.
Anyway...just make sure you don't hurt yourself as it could take YEARS to fix (If thats possible) damage done in by just carrying something the wrong way.
You've got to keep in mind that your body is no longer able to function normally like it once did. You've got to ensure you take drastic measures to keep yourself from injuries.
Having FM you have a tendancy to have tendonitis and bursitis.
My first problem pre FM diag was "Tennis Elbo"...funny I didn't play tennis!
But I did have a lot of bursitis type problems popping up in different joints whenever I either carried to heavy a load or bent my arm the "wrong" way.
It would take months, if ever, for the joint to stop hurting.
Trigger point injections! Oh I love them! They work wonders for this!
Perhaps see a pain releif specialist for a few of those!
They do this under light sleep so you're not aware of pain or discomfort the injections.
NEVER allow them to do this while you're awake! If they do then they may , NOT professionals, but this statement is not 100% true in each case, just don't allow your regualar doctor to do this. Sure they may be a wonderful doctor, but don't do them on a regular basis and could miss the bursa as this takes practice and skill....
This should be done under floriscope to make sure the med is put in the right spot and you are perfectly still!
The only hard part in getting these is having an IV put in...the rest is easy as they 1st give you some pain meds....awwww...then a vile of white stuff. Next thing you know you're dressed, ready to go home!:D
I can never figure out how I get dressed...I don't remember doing so.

One year I slipped on some ice in the doctors parking lot....spent 2 years hobbling around . I had pulled a tendon in my groin. But I kept refusing to have an injection my Doc promised would help me!:eek:
I had a phobia of needles...and this doc wanted to inject my hip while I was awake. I can give them, not take them! I had been a Medical Phlebotomist, fancy words for blood sucker! I'm the person you hate to see come in and wake you in your hospital room! I poked 35 to 50 people a day! Just don't do it to me!
He spent 2 years trying to convince me to allow him to inject my hip.
Finally I couldn't tolerate the pain any longer.
He gave me a "Chill pill", waited for it to work, a pillow over my head, sobbing like a 3 year old baby. It was over before I knew it. Really didn't hurt "That" much.
I pulled my pants up after he walked out of the room....unbeleivable!
I could use my leg and bend my hip without any pain.
I gave this doc a hug and left his office smiling...wondering why I allowed myself to suffer for so long.
This doc was a seasoned Rhuematologist...when he retired there were a lot of upset patients.
When my shoulders freeze up and can't raise my arms over my head I know its time to go in. Or when my hips hurt all night long and cannot sleep it hurts so bad...even the strongest pain meds do little for the pain, its time for the injections.
I do hope you find releif for you pain...I know its no fun!
Blessings, Cheryl

[allih]

Thanks.. it's been two weeks and my wrist is mostly better. I've been using a splint whenever I start feeling any kind of pain or stiffness so it has been healing faster than I usually do. I used to try to tough things out, now I finally know better. My Rheumy has suggested trigger point injections for my neck and shoulder if the pain there doesn't sudside soon, but I just started working part time vs full time so I am going to wait to see if the shorter hours and more consistent exercise will work first.

This has such a learning curve! I'm telling myself that it is ok to be "lazy" and take longer to get things done. I've really noticed an increase in migraine attacks when I get over tired so besides the body pain and strains, avoiding those migraines is paramount. That is really a waste of a few days.

Thanks for all your replies. It helps to understand that I have limits and that it is part of this syndrome and not me being lazy or a hypochondriac.

Alli

[Cry Tears]

Some where in past readings about Fibromyalgia, I read that people who have FM usually are/were type A personality's....always an acheiver, go getter.

No matter how hard we try, we are no longer able to function as we once did.
Its hard to come to terms with this fact and until we do, we only hurt ourselves.
We tend to be harder on ourselves than others because of our personality type and often feel guilty and fear we're only seen as lazy and hypochondriacs.
We who have FM are NOT lazy, drug and attention seekers...hypochondriacs, malingerers, malcontents and the long list of ugly names often used in describing lazy people who have pain.

We hurt and have horrible unrelenting pain "niggling" at us 24/7! Like a monkey on our backs...we just can't "shake" it off no matter how much we try.
And often suffer debilitating fatigue and can no longer able to be the person we once were prior to "falling" ill.
In dysfunctional families the person is often shunned, shamed and ignored, as members either are uneducated or just plain evil, having no compassion for those suffering any type pain.
I've found not many people understand long term suffering and illness.
They see you looking perfectly healthy..."whats wrong with you"? is the way they think...perhaps if only you put on a little make up, get outside your "shell" then you'll feel so much better!
You need to smile more! Have a different attitude! That will help you!
All these stupid sayings do nothing but make you feel worse.
Gentle hugs, cheryl

[Tootsie]

Alli,
You will find that any time you injury yourself with strains or sprains, it will take longer to get better. That is part of the fibro challenge also. Using the splint has saved you from further injury and protected your wrist while it heals. You are learning.

If you need permission, to be what you call, "lazy," or "unmotivated," I, and many others will gladly relieve your guilt. For me, that was one of the hardest things to overcome. At the time of my initial diagnosis, I had just graduated from college, and was sure that my role in life was to save the world! Ah, the optimism and naivettty of youth. Sure wish I had some of that energy now...but we all can dream. Cheerio.