Yes, yes and yes!
I have no doubt that my 4 surgeries are what triggered my Fibromyalgia. I have done extensive research and talked to a local specialist and firmly believe that is what happened in my case. It's amazing how I was just looking to "get better" so I could live my life and now I am living a nightmare!

Where have you turned for research on surgery triggering Fibromyalgia? I feel the same way you do, I did the surgery to feel better now its become my nightmare and my family's nightmare.

Where have you turned for research on surgery triggering Fibromyalgia? I feel the same way you do, I did the surgery to feel better now its become my nightmare and my family's nightmare.

having the epidural steriod shots can trigger myalgia, something about the steriod can cause the nerves to be thinner, like it wears the covering away. I don't have a website or anything, just remember reading that on the net. Also, the dye used for myelograms that is injected into the spinal fluid.

My ortho doctor says that osteoarthritis can make folks ache all over. I was asking him why I hurt all over. He wouldn't mention fibro. When I had PT last in July, the PT said I seemed to have fibro. The biggest thing for me is my chest wall, above my breasts, is always sore, like I've been to the gym and did wing exercises. I do have widespread arthritis, knees, shoulders, hips, but my chest wall??

I think it's something to check out. I wonder if they put anything into our spine/fluid during surgery to see what's what better.

My spine surgeon was the first person to mention Fibro. to me and then he made a call to my primary physician, the two of them discussed my history and diagnosed me with this evil, nasty disease. From there, I started digging in and doing my research because I was determined to win this battle. I had a local support group recommended to me and they highly recommended a book called "What your doctor may not tell you about Fibromyalgia". I then went to my pain management specialist a couple weeks later and he brought up the same book and was 100% behind the protocol the book promotes. It just makes sense to me. I am determined to beat this, I can't live like this...period. The commercials you see on Lyrica/Fibro. talk about all over body pain, but there is so much more to this, I couldn't possibly put into words how this has changed me forever. The pain, fatigue beyond belief, memory loss, irritability, depression, IBS, blurred vision, restless leg syndrome, insomnia, numbness and on and on and on. And on top of all that - the chronic back pain. Even with all that, I can and will do this.

Hi,

I haven't had surgery and haven't been diagnosed with fibro BUT since the start of my sciatic problems last year, I have had several bouts of disabling fatigue, blurred vision, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, nausea, etc.

This last year has been quite the adjustment. I've been to all types of doctors for the fatigue issue only to have all the blood tests come back okay. The only doctor I haven't been to is a rheumatologist. I'll definitely get the book you mentioned as I, like you, am hell bent on getting my health back so I can get back to work.

I think the bouts of fatigue and fuzzy headedness get me more down than dealing with the sciatica. Please feel free to PM me with anything you'd like me to know about.

Laurie Ann, yes, I think there's some sort of connection -- it must have soemthing to do with the nerves being out of whack.

Take care,

Judy

Yes deltalady, the fatigue is horific - so overwhelming. Something you can't put into words, I'm sure you know what I mean by that. Don't stop until you find out for sure what you have and find something to make you feel better, don't give up. Fibromyalgia is a difficult one because there are so many people that think it doesn't exist. I am fortunate because my doctors do believe that it exists and they know how horrible it can be. They respect the fact that I am not willing to let this beat me and I want them to help me fight the fight. Sometimes I just want to curl up in bed and stay there with all of this crap - but I can't - one day at a time, that's all I can do. Feel free to PM me too if you have any questions etc.

My surgeries and injections with my back were also my cause of this horrible demon also. I am now on 120ml of Cymbalta for it and it has helped with the fatigue. But I had tried many other things to get to this point. I have terrible leg pain from the nerves and siatica, radiopathy and all. It is hard to tell which is the nerves and which is the fibro but I know they all go hand and hand.
And like you all, I went into this minor surgery to get my life back and all I have done is go downhill since. Lost my job and have been on disabilty for 2yrs now. I know my family is sick of listening to me complain and I never wanted to be that person.
I know some people don't believe it exsist but they obviously don't have it. My arthritis dr is the one who diagnosed me and I also have ostioarthritis so I'm just wandering at this point does it ever stop?
Now I am up for another back surgery and if that does not help my legs then I will be up for a stimulator....I know life will never be the same, but I would like to beable to be apart of society again and apart of my families life without pain.

Good Luck and God Bless

I had ALIF/PLIF in July 08 (L4/5) and have, in one respect, been very fortunate in that my back is virtually pain-free since surgery. However, what continues to make me crazy is fatigue (and some balance/equilibrium issues when I get tired). I have had all sorts of tests done and no one has found any explanation for the fatigue. Sometimes it is simply that I get tired much more quickly than I did pre-surgery (a stamina issue) and other times it is this huge wave of fatigue that seems to come out of nowhere and just crashes me. It is hard to explain but it feels like someone has pulled a plug in my feet and drained out all my energy. The balance/equilibrium issues are that sometimes my vision seems blurry, I am very light sensitive and it is as if I am walking on a slightly rocking ship. Again, MRI/MRA, blood tests, etc. all come back normal. I really try to ignore it and just move on but sometimes just can't. Does this sound at all familiar to you? I had wondered briefly about fibro but really never thought about it being brought on by spine surgery. It will be interesting to see if others have had a similar experience.

Sounds familiar to me-- I've never in my life had fatigue keep me from going to work BUT that changed when I started with the sciatica problems, the fatigue has come and gone since November of last year. No amount of caffeine can get me through this fatigue -- Just have to lay down. Then after a few days it lifts (and no I'm not depressed).

Anyway, Just wanted to chime in that I've had the same symptoms.

Judy

I read somewhere that a physical trauma can cause fibro.

Faith M

Hi Meg-
Oh my yes, the things you are describing can all be Fibro. related. It's important to get those things checked out individually, which it sounds like you have done. I have all those things, the fatigue beyond belief, balance issues (kinda scary with a bad back/neck), the blurred vision (that alone will drive you crazy) and light sensitivity, I also have a hard time driving at night, the headlights of other cars make it hard for me. I will list some other symptoms I have just to let you know what else this evil thing can do. All over body pain, it can feel like you have the flu - that achy feeling all over plus aches and pains all over. Your sleep patterns aren't right, they say that is one reason for the fatigue. Skin problems, IBS, female issues, irritability and on and on. The one thing that people have to be careful of is to not blame everything on Fibro. there may be certain things that need to be checked out by your doctor. I'm hoping with this protocol I can get mine under control. I'm so determined!! If any of you have any questions please let me know, this is not an easy thing and it requires a support system.

I found this thread!! I've been researching fibro ever since my pm mentioned he thought it may be one of my problems. One other interesting thing I found is that fibro has been found to be tied to post traumatic stress. Just another thing to add to my list, I guess... I do have a lot of the symptoms you all have mentioned. How do they differentiate the symptoms from being caused by fibro, spinal issues, or other diseases like MS? They are all so interchangeable. I'm getting pretty frustrated and just want to know what exactly is causing all these problems and pain I have, so that we can get a definite action plan, instead of all this trial and error.

This is becoming an interesting thread. I know absolutely nothing about causes of fibro - for example, is it considered a nerve disorder, a muscle disorder or ???

This is all so confusing. How do you know when to give up on a "cure" or fix and turn to pain management?

I know there is no single answer. I am just a little depressed as I start on another long day of house cleaning and laundry, knowing that i will be in horrible pain tonight.

Sorry to hear you're having a rough day. Pain management isn't giving up. In fact, I think it's the opposite of giving up, it's taking the step forward in order to live your life in a better way. I hope that the housework wasn't too hard on you.

Kelly

Thanks for your concern. Actually it wasn't as bad as I expected. Guess something is working I was sore all day but didn't have the horrid pain tonight.

I know pain management is a good thing. I am just very frustrated by the lack of urgency on the part of the health care community when it comes to finding an answer. Come back in a few weeks, try this medication, now up the dose, do this in PT, don't do this, and on and on.

Well I've vented for tonight. Thanks for listening.

Nite

I was told my fibromyalgia was caused by my injury. I was prescribed Lyrica but didn't like THE WAY IT MADE ME FEEL. I TOO, HAVE DE-GENERATIVE DISC DISEASE, BUT I try not to complain about to much...try to stay positive, I know it can be very painful...best of luck to you.

I was told my fibromyalgia was caused by my injury. I was prescribed Lyrica but didn't like THE WAY IT MADE ME FEEL. I TOO, HAVE DE-GENERATIVE DISC DISEASE, BUT I try not to complain about to much...try to stay positive, I know it can be very painful...best of luck to you.

think that i have fibro too since my last surgery {2 years ago today} i have just been so tired and all the other symptoms that i have read on hear ,i am due another MRI this sat {7 nov} as i am in so much pain ..but like many on here i have had many spinal injections and the consultant wont do any more as she says that my spine is so congested with scar tissue that's its very hard to give any more injections without the possibility of damaging me even more .i just want to rest as i am so tired and have no energy and ache all over .do you think that i may have fibro too?
STRAKER

Hi Everyone,

I absolutely agree that this thing called fibromyalgia is caused by the surgery or nerve damage. My fusion was a real success story. I had a wonderful neurosurgeon. I had new bone growth in record time and went back to driving a school bus and to the gym in nine months with the Dr.'s o.k.

Then two summers ago I got hit with this horrible pain. It was so bad that I couldn't use my finger to flip on a light switch. I was sent to many Dr.s for tests and blood work, which got expensive as I had no health coverage. I couldn't walk, sleep or sit comfortablly at all. I also had short term memory loss and loss of balance. Then after nine months it just disappeared! Now all of a sudden it is coming back. I don't know what to do! I've ran into Dr.s that wanted me to seek physiciatric help. He thought I was imagining it all. This has been my worse nightmare, that this would come back and it is. Today the knees, tom. the wrists or ankles.This is truly a nightmare. I had a horrible night last night just crying with sharp pain, night-tine is the worse. Thank God my significant other is kind and very helpful and believes something is really wrong.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to where to go from here. I just got the DDD and nerve pain under control and now this is back. I am not a weenie, but this pain is more than I can handle. Plus you can't see anything so I think even my kids are skeptical. Yeah right, Mom just doesn't want to cook again tonight. I hate living like this, I was always so healthy and strong, I even have a gym in my own house. It hurts to go near it.

Thanks for letting me vent, Donna

hi donna my neuro doc finally nailed it all down to fibro and i know your pain and frustration..
thru all the tests and docs i found someone to take the time and listen to me..
i just found out last friday..my fusion on back was in march of 06 and i just started a world of pain and other issues in may..
and had 2 esi injections in july an aug
and got so worse and finally i got fed up with pain mang and ortho and pcp and got new neuro who sent me thru world of tests and exams..
i just went to library today and got some books on fibromyalgia alot of good books..
i tried lyrica for months was on for nerve pain..
didnt work and side affects for me no good
doc tried my on cymbalta tried once and was so sick for 2 days..i can put into words to describe to my family..this is a evil thing fibro
you can pm me anytime i'm just readin and learnin alot of info out there..
hang in there and talk soon
mary

Laurie Ann and Faith,

Thank you all for your posts -- Now I know I'm not nuts -- every day it's wake up to find out what my body going to do to me today -- Frustrating doesn't cover how I'm feeling lately. I've made an appt. for Monday with my primary care doc to let him know I need a diagnosis because if I can't get better to be able to go back to work and provide for myself then I'm applying for SSDI.

I've spent a fortune going to doctors and having tests and like someone else posted -- it's always try this and come back in a few weeks -- it's been a year since this fatigue, blurred vision, foggy head, pain started -- I need a solution -- how can I go back to work if I'm going to lose my job because I can't function -- All the years of working to be able to have a better salary by gaining experience and it's all shot to hell because the doctors in 2009 don't know how to handle this "syndrome" called fibro or possibly chronic fatigue. Sorry, I'm ranting right now cause I'm mad as hell. I'm not this person that I've become due to my body wigging out and I want the me my brain thinks I am back.

Okay, rant over, just please keep posting about your experiences and I will let you know how I fare out.

Take care,

Judy