Post-Concussion fibromyalgia?

[Anonymous]

Ever since my concussion, I have had soreness in spots not injured. I just checked in at the doctor!a office and the medical assistant asked me to fill out a form for fibromyalgia.

[Anonymous]

If you had a whiplash injury, you will have a cervical strain. This can happen even if you just bumped your head, the neck is very much affected. You should be on an anti-inflammatory and in PT. Also, you could be experiencing post-concussion depression and your pain tolerances will be way down. Consider an anti-depressant and discuss with your doctor. Treat this aggressively and early. You don't want to become a chronic pain person. It sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you had a whiplash injury, you will have a cervical strain. This can happen even if you just bumped your head, the neck is very much affected. You should be on an anti-inflammatory and in PT. Also, you could be experiencing post-concussion depression and your pain tolerances will be way down. Consider an anti-depressant and discuss with your doctor. Treat this aggressively and early. You don't want to become a chronic pain person. It sucks.

Thanks for this advice. During my appointment. the doctor did a depressions screening but didn't reveal my results. Have you had a positive experience with an anti-depressant?

[Anonymous]

fibromyalgia is considered a catch all for things that can't be detected. This is also why it is controversial as something that is either all in the mind or fake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:fibromyalgia is considered a catch all for things that can't be detected. This is also why it is controversial as something that is either all in the mind or fake.

Does this mean that the doctors use it just so they can avoid admitting they don't know what is wrong?

Or do they use it to give patients a placebo?

I don't feel depressed. I feel frustrated that my symptoms haven't totally disappeared. I'm sore enough that sleeping is uncomfortable and sleeping is one of the things that seems to improve my other symptoms.

I was told to come back next week, but wasn't given anything so I suspect that the prognosis is good.

Now I'm worried that I have something new or that my doctor is going to slap a label on me to be done with the case.

[Anonymous]

I have fibro. Don't worry. You probably just have symptoms from your concussion and the fact you can't sleep well can cause pain and fatigue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have fibro. Don't worry. You probably just have symptoms from your concussion and the fact you can't sleep well can cause pain and fatigue.

Thanks. That is reassuring. Sorry that you have fibro. Many wishes for relief!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:fibromyalgia is considered a catch all for things that can't be detected. This is also why it is controversial as something that is either all in the mind or fake.

It is something of a garbage pail diagnosis: patient complains of pain, a few tests are done that find nothing, so the label of fibromyalgia is slapped on.

The problem with this is that FM is very hard to treat, and in some cases that is because the patient actually has something else that doctors failed to diagnose.

The usual is to recommend physical therapy, perhaps a nutritionist, and maybe cognitive behavior therapy coupled with antidepressants. The latter will be couched as helping the patient find a way to deal with chronic pain, but often it is prescribed on the theory that the patient has a somatoform disorder that can only be addressed through psychological treatment. You might also be given neurontin or Lyrica but the side effects can be very difficult for many to handle.

Here is an article on a research study that found half of the patients with FM actually had another illness:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130730163138.htm

That said, patients who actually do have FM seem to have something very peculiar going on with neurochemical balances in their central nervous systems that is not well understood.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21878603

[Anonymous]

Have dr check if you have POTS which is often misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia. and can come on after injury Dr can do poor man title table test. If you feel better after increased salt and fluids, high likelihood. The good news is that if came on after injury it goes away

[Anonymous]

Fibromyalgia usually exacerbates other problems. So, let's say someone with fibro falls and hurts her back. She's going to feel more pain, and for longer than your average person who doesn't have fibro. A lot of times fibro is a coexisting condition - it amplifies pain of other problems. Fibro is probably a central nervous system disorder that amplifies pain and other symptoms.

I'd dig a little deeper here given you are post concussion. Not sure what kind of doctor you want to go to. Neurologist maybe?

I wouldn't worry too much about one questionnaire a medical assistant asked you to fill out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have dr check if you have POTS which is often misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia. and can come on after injury Dr can do poor man title table test. If you feel better after increased salt and fluids, high likelihood. The good news is that if came on after injury it goes away

Thanks. I will ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fibromyalgia usually exacerbates other problems. So, let's say someone with fibro falls and hurts her back. She's going to feel more pain, and for longer than your average person who doesn't have fibro. A lot of times fibro is a coexisting condition - it amplifies pain of other problems. Fibro is probably a central nervous system disorder that amplifies pain and other symptoms.

I'd dig a little deeper here given you are post concussion. Not sure what kind of doctor you want to go to. Neurologist maybe?

I wouldn't worry too much about one questionnaire a medical assistant asked you to fill out.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Wait-- OP, do you mean spots on your head that were not (immediately) hit? There could be a lot of things going on, in that case, including neuralgia issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait-- OP, do you mean spots on your head that were not (immediately) hit? There could be a lot of things going on, in that case, including neuralgia issues.

Spots at base of skull, base of neck and mid-shoulder.

[Anonymous]

I should note that I was told people with fibro can't stand to be touched, but my partner gave me a neck massage that was painful but bearable.