I hope this isn't a dumb question but I have achines in my joints. I'm only 28 and its been going for a bit (year or so). Especially at specific points in my upper to mid back, hands, and arms. I figured it is just stress, but I wasnt sure. any ideas?

[dottie]

I would share my ongoing symptoms with my family doctor..and take it from there. There are ways to reveal if it is truly Fibromyalgia or stress.

[CedarS]

I agree, get checked out by your doctor. Fibromyalgia does have specific criteria. You can get screened for things like Rheumatoid Arthritis and other possibilities too.

Hope you feel better soon!

[ozzie]

Hi esther. I've just been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I thought it was my arthritis and old age. My GP sent me to a Rheumatologist who made the diagnosis.

I'd talk to your doctor about this. One of my sisters was diagnosed with it about 5 years ago and she is quite a bit younger than I am. I don't think age matters much.

[Perzephone]

Aching joints can be symptomatic of sooo many things, even not getting enough sleep. It's best to take it to a professional, or a coupla professionals.

[jennie]

Fibromyalgia usually very debilitating.

Most likely you just have stress, poor posture, poor sleep, etc. which cause those common areas to be sore. Try stretching. Try taking 15 minute walks. Pay attention to any habits you may have which prevent healthy circulation of blood . . . like poor posture, sitting too long, leaning head on hand with elbow on table, crossing legs while sitting, poor neck posture, etc.

Noteworthy, there is a link with childhood physical abuse and fibromyalgia.

Today I got a massage to see if that helped. The lady said that I had trigger points. Is this related to a back injury?

[CedarS]

Might be, might not be, can you ask the massage person more?

[jennie]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
esthersvirtue said:
Today I got a massage to see if that helped. The lady said that I had trigger points. Is this related to a back injury?

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sure! you could of strained your back in past. i'm happy you went for a massage!! that's something positive for you to keep doing if you can.

whenever i am depressed . . .
i tend to slouch excessively. it's so hard to sit up or keep my head up. walking takes so much energy; i find excuses not to leave my home. i'll spend too much time on the computer and not stretch; my muscles become stiff and spasm whenever i try to stand up. i sleep too long and in a fetus position.

so, whenever i'm depressed, i get sore in almost all those regions, but i don't have fibromyalgia. i have poor posture habits.

i did injure my back 5 years ago. keeping MOBILE and stretching and preventing further injury are the things that help me the most.

[(JD)]

Hi everyone has "trigger points"... there are some umteen official ones on the body.

It's when your muscles are spasming, or at least very tight that those trigger points are sensitive to touch. Yet, they must be worked... with pressure... you can use tennis balls to gently begin to work out the "knots." If they are not "released" they can begin to swell/knot worse and affect/press upon the nerves (so then, a cervical trigger point can cause nerve pain down your arm...)

Working trigger points is painful... the tighter you are, the more pain you'll experience both from them ,and from working to release the knots... TC

There are also "tender points" which are not quite the same thing, and are in different places.

[Zorah]

This link is really good for information on the symptoms of fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia Info

Hi all,

Just an update and question. I went to the doctor. She thinks that I may have rheumatoid arthritis. They are doing some tests next week. That is the only possible diagnosis that we discussed. Should I bring up what the difference between rheumatoid arthritis and Fibromyalgia are?

friendly bump... does anyone know this question (above)

[(JD)]

Hi didn't realize it was a question.. about the two but whether or not to ask the doctor. Both are considered inflamatory ailments..and while fibromyalgia confuses many physicians... the arthritis foundations include it under their scope. http://www.arthritis.org/resources/g...ed/default.asp

[dogtanian]

i have FM and not RA but couldn't tell you the differences!