How Long Do Fibromyalgia Symptoms Last After Being Glutened?

[Sarah8793]

I think I may be getting fibromyalgia. I know many here have this or had it until they went gluten free. If your fibromyalgia only occurs after being glutened, how long do all the aches and pains last for you? I'm trying to figure out if my inflamation and muscle aches are still here from being glutened a week and a half ago, or maybe I am still getting some gluten somewhere. I'm so tired of feeling like I am in my 70's.

Thanks.

[Ursa Major]

How long have you been gluten-free? I found that initially my fibromyalgia symptoms (excruciating muscle, joint, backpain and headaches, weakness, no energy at all and others) were greatly improved. I had, two weeks into the gluten-free diet, cut out all lectins as well, which were causing the joint pain, and the buckling of my knees and ankles. But then, after three months gluten-free and lectin free, the muscle aches were slowly coming back, and getting worse every day. That's when I figured out that the salicylates were causing most of the muscle pain.

When glutened, the symptoms will subside within two weeks, so, it could be gluten. But unfortunately, you may have other intolerances as well. You may want to follow the links in my signature to find out more about it. Because I think that the causes of fibromyalgia are always food related. As far as I am concerned, it is either gluten, lectins, and many times the salicylates that are the cause, or, as in my case, a combination.

[ravenwoodglass]

For me the muscle and joint pain last about 2 weeks.

[thenamesbabe]

i have fibromyalgia and it hasn't gone away yet, THO i haven't been doing a good job at what's gluten and what's not and the whole CC thing. So don't really go by what i so on this on LOL

I know for a fact that i was glutened saturday and my body thinks it's dying with bone pain,

[kbtoyssni]

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia before I went gluten-free. Initially it took about two months for my symptoms to lessen to the point where I could function again and probably six months for them to go away entirely.

Now that I've been gluten-free for nearly a year, I find that I only get mild joint/bone pain when I get glutened. My symptoms of glutening are pretty mild, though. This mild pain lasts maybe a week or two weeks at the most.

[Sarah8793]

Ursula,

I have been gluten free since May of this year. But I didn't really have fibromyalgia symptoms until after going gluten free. It is kind of odd, but my celiac disease came upon me rapidly, so even though I went gluten free in May, I think the damage was still in the process of happening even though I had cut out gluten. Does this make sense? I'll give it 3 weeks and then I am going to pick either the lectins or the salicylates. I'm thinking of starting with the lectins first, because I have been suspecting for awhile that eggs are a problem, and it seems to be the shorter list of restrictions from what I could tell by visiting the link in your signature.

Thank you ravenwoodglass, thenamesbabe, and kbtoyssni for your info.

Question for all of you:

Does your fibromyalgia cause aching in all of your muscles at the same time or does it seem to shift around into different arms or legs? For me, the muscle pain is located primarily in my right arm, but sometimes goes down the left arm, and occasionally the hip, knees, and ankles and toes. Thanks!

[hineini]

This conversation is fascinating to me, because I have had severe fibromyalgia for years and been led to believe that while going gluten-free could help... If your symptoms are just form glutening, it's not really fibromyalgia.

As you all probably know, fibromyalgia is not a wastebasket diagnosis but it is partly a diagnosis of exclusion... And it has its own etiology that is being discovered slowly but surely, including endocrine and neurological differences that eventually they'll be able to test for. So most FMS specialists wouldn't DX you with fibromyalgia if your pain only occurs from celiac disease, similar to them not diagnosing you with FMS if your pain is from RA, lupus, or any other condition. In my experience most also look for other symptoms of FMS before diagnosing, not just pain in 11 of the 18 triggerpoints and 3 out of 4 quadrants for a certain number of months. If those symptoms disappeared from going gluten-free, I don't think my doc would maintain a FMS diagnosis. But maybe not all docs have a similar attitude and some might use FMS as a wastebasket diagnosis for any unexplained pain.

Going gluten-free has not yet helped my FMS at all. It's helped my IBS, my brain fog, etc... But the intense neuropathic and muscle pain is still there. I fantasize that I will find out it's all just celiac disease, continue being gluten-free and IT'LL ALL GO AWAY! But I know that's not happening. I have pretty classic fibromyalgia, with crippling pain in dozens of tender points, brain fog, fatigue, muscle spasms, IBS, twitching, TMJ, dizziness, numbness, tingling, chemical sensitivities, anxiety, and a host of neurological symptoms.

I am waiting to figure something out that **POOF!** makes all the pain go away. I love hearing stories of going gluten-free helping peoples' pain, even though I don't know that this will happen for me.

To answer the question, during a real bad flare I have pain in ALL of my tender points at once. That is, most of the connective tissue and muscle in my body. When I'm not in a flare, I may have pain in just 2 or 3 areas at a time.

I have a few injuries but the type of pain that is FMS pain is very specific in nature - For me a stabbing, burning pain deep down (or a bruised feeling closer to the skin) that is not akin to my repetitive strain injury pain or sciatica.

Does your fibromyalgia cause aching in all of your muscles at the same time or does it seem to shift around into different arms or legs? For me, the muscle pain is located primarily in my right arm, but sometimes goes down the left arm, and occasionally the hip, knees, and ankles and toes. Thanks!

My pain is almost always worse on my right side but is usually bilateral.

[Sarah8793]

To answer the question, during a real bad flare I have pain in ALL of my tender points at once. That is, most of the connective tissue and muscle in my body. When I'm not in a flare, I may have pain in just 2 or 3 areas at a time.

Thank you. I haven't had pain in every place consistently, but I always have pain in about 3 places. Your post was very informative. You haven't been gluten free for very long, so there is definately hope that your fibromyalgia will lessen. I think the non-digestive symptoms take the longest to go away unfortunately. And, as Ursula mentioned, you might look into lectins and salicylates.

[barbara3675]

My fibromyalgia was diagnosed a year before the gluten intolerance (two years ago for the gluten). I take Mobic (an anti-inflammitory) for the fibromyalgia and a good dose of magnesium with malic acid each day and I think between all that and the gluten-free eating that the fibro is much better now. I had a very hectic summer and I was just waiting for a bad flare. Had a slight one lately, but nothing like what I have experienced in the past. I would (self-diagnosing here) say that, for me, I think eating gluten-free, may have helped in the long run. Although one of our previous people isn't sure these two are related, there are many of us that think they are. There have been several threads over time discussing the relationship of fibromyalgia and other autoimmune conditions and their relationship to gluten-free eating on this message board. There is enough evidence through these threads to convince me there is definitely a connection.

Barbara

[GFAngel]

Hi Everyone. I'm wondering what your symptoms are like for FMS? What are tender points? How hard do you have to press? How do you tell a sore "tissue" from a sore "muscle"? Can I do it to myself? I was dx celiac disease Feb 1 and have been gluten-free since. My depression has lifted quite a bit-the world has colors and I want to fix up my house again. How do you tell the difference between depression, hypothyroidism, and FMS symptoms? Doesn't depression hurt?

Also, I think I have been glutened only once. My only "tell" was a sharp pain in my gut below my stomach which lasted about 5 hours. Is that familiar? Pre-dx I was too "dull" to tell ANYTHING about myself; I wasn't constipated anymore, but no diarrhea either. Just going into the "stat" stool phase with bad gas, and quietly suffering with the rest of my ailments, thinking I was just getting old .

Anyway, back to FMS: I garden - well, pull weeds a lot, and it ALWAYS takes me a long time to recuperate just from that. I'm so sore! I got a personal trainer last year and I never felt like my muscles recovered (this was pre-celiac disease dx). I don't know what to expect anymore. The trainer couldn't answer my question. The doc hasn't answered it. I'm looking for anecdotal reports now! Well, now I'm up to walking 1-1/2 mi daily - but then I sit at the computer all day. Sore hip joints. But muscles still seem achey and sore; both legs/arms. I am 125+ lbs overweight. I used to be a cheerleader and limber and active ...

Sometimes I ache a bit at night. My RLS has subsided since going gluten free (it was really bad pre-dx). But your posts about your aches make me wonder if I have FMS. I also have trouble with my left hip sciatic nerve from sitting and planting pots on the driveway for hours 13 years ago. My doc said he knows a lot of people who get that injury from sitting on bleachers at kid's games. I had an MRI on Thursday and am awaiting the doc's call re results.

Also, I love it when people write their bios at the end of their posts. It really helps me understand others' experiences. Am I just nuts (my B-12 is low ) to write so much? Someone tell me to edit or something. I'm feeling "out there!"

Is anyone doing their own science experiment with their kid re: diet? Like, should we expect that person to be ailment free by the time they grow up (bar virus's and such) from being a vegetarian or gluten-free, or whatever else (lectins, etc)? Has anyone read any of Marilu Henner's books, or seen her show on Fit TV? She's very interesting; you'd think she'd have a lot of connections, and she looks amazing. I wonder how her kids are?

[Ursa Major]

Okay, I think I'll do a little explaining.

From the time I was three years old, I'd get awful, horrible pains in both of my legs, especially after walking any longer distance. Was told those were 'growing pains'. By the time I was seven, the awful backpains started. The doctors tried physio, and eventually gave up on me. I was always skinny as a stick as a kid, no matter how much my mother tried to 'fatten me up', of course, with flour and milk products, which achieved the opposite.

Things were slightly better for a bit during my teen years, but had been steadily getting worse all my adult years.

Six years ago the pain got so excrutiatingly bad, that I was put on codeine contin 24 hours a day, and much of the time needed extra strength Tylenol on top of that, just to manage. All those painkillers only took the edge off the pain, if I would have taken enough to take it away, I would have been a complete zombie, unable to drive or function.

I tried piano lessons a few years ago. Just practicing half an hour a day would give me such excrutiating pain in my hands and lower arms, lasting up to a week, that I had to give up. Writing a letter or Christmas cards would give me pain so bad that I wouldn't be able to use my hand for days, without feeling like crying. My legs were usually so painful that I had trouble walking and driving. My back hurt terribly all the time. I had a constant headache. I also had TMJ (which was helped quite a bit by braces from the ages of 43 to 47), unexplained toothaches, extreme fatigue and weakness and many other problems.

When I did the elimination diet, the pains went away. When testing lectins (rice, eggs, grains, nightshades especially), the joint pains, of course gastro problems, and the fatigue came back. When testing salicylates, I felt like I was on fire! My muscles and my skin was just burning and aching so bad, it took my breath away, and I had to take codeine again for a couple of days, until it was out of my system.

Now that I am gluten, lectin, salicylate and nightshade free, I am off ALL painkillers, and have been since February, since I figured out the problem with salicylates. It is a rare thing for me to need painkillers now, really only when I have eaten something I shouldn't have, or have been glutened.

I would urge anybody with fibromyalgia to try an elimination diet, because I truly believe that fibro is caused by food intolerances. Apparently not always the same ones, everybody has to figure out what it is that makes them sick.

And by the way, when tested for fibro, I didn't just have 11 tenderpoints, but all 18. My massage therapist is trying to eliminate my tender points, I must have a million of those. She says she has never worked on anybody with so many knots and tender spots in their muscles. I guess she is earning her money when looking after me!

[Sarah8793]

I tried piano lessons a few years ago. Just practicing half an hour a day would give me such excrutiating pain in my hands and lower arms, lasting up to a week, that I had to give up. Writing a letter or Christmas cards would give me pain so bad that I wouldn't be able to use my hand for days, without feeling like crying. My legs were usually so painful that I had trouble walking and driving. My back hurt terribly all the time. I had a constant headache. I also had TMJ (which was helped quite a bit by braces from the ages of 43 to 47), unexplained toothaches, extreme fatigue and weakness and many other problems.

When I did the elimination diet, the pains went away. When testing lectins (rice, eggs, grains, nightshades especially), the joint pains, of course gastro problems, and the fatigue came back. When testing salicylates, I felt like I was on fire! My muscles and my skin was just burning and aching so bad, it took my breath away, and I had to take codeine again for a couple of days, until it was out of my system.

Now that I am gluten, lectin, salicylate and nightshade free, I am off ALL painkillers, and have been since February, since I figured out the problem with salicylates. It is a rare thing for me to need painkillers now, really only when I have eaten something I shouldn't have, or have been glutened.

Ursula,

I'm so glad you figured out what was causing your fibromyalgia and that you are sharing this with us. I see my symptoms in your post. Mine aren't as severe as yours were but I do notice that any activity causing a repetitive movement gives me pain for a long time afterward. And if I move just the slightest bit wrong, I get what feels like a pulled muscle. I eat a lot of the lectin family (except eggs because I noticed recently that they aren't affecting me well). I took a painkiller last night. It took the edge off the pain in my arms but didn't completely get rid of it.

You mentioned that you don't need pain killers now that you don't eat the offending foods. Has all of the pain gone away, or is there still some residual pain that isn't bad enough to take a painkiller?

[kbtoyssni]

hineini - I agree with you that if the fibro symptoms only appear when glutened, you don't have FMS. Now that I'm gluten-free, I don't think I have it, but I figured I'd still reply since I was diagnosed with it. I guess I'm a FMS sucess story - got diagnosed and figured out the root cause of it. For a long time I referred to joint pain from glutening as fibro flares, although I now know better.

My pain usually moves around. Right now I have pain in my forearms and legs, right hip and right elbow (got glutened last Thursday). But yesterday the pain was in my knee and ankle and left elbow. I have joints that tend to hurt more than others (like my elbows and forearms, they nearly always hurt when glutened), but joints like my hips and ankles only hurt occassionally.

I also take mobic for days when the pain gets really bad. Ibuprofen doesn't seem to help me (this might have something to do with me taking it for two or three years for a bad knee - I think I've built up a tolerance). I've tried a few other drugs, but mobic is what works best for me. Unfortunately, it does not come in a generic form, so it's a bit more expensive than other drugs.

The FMS diagnosis is what lead me to celiac disease. I read a ton of books on it and many of them suggested an elimination diet. And when I ate wheat again, oh man, was I sick! I'd heard of celiac disease before, so I tried eating barley a few days later. I went gluten-free five days later without even bothering to go through testing for celiac disease. It made that much of a difference to me.

GFAngel - I also like to read everyone's medical history. It really helps me understand where they're coming from and what experiences influence their advice.

[marciab]

I was diagnosed with CFIDS / FM back in 1990 and I have all the trigger points too. Actually, my body was just in one big spasm from head to toe when all of this started. I had been in two car accidents six weeks apart the year prior though. Double whiplash

Since going gluten and trigger food free, I have noticed I am not is as much pain. I actually sat in a movie theatre seat a couple of weeks ago and was never in pain. They used to kill me.

So, I think that the only reason a diagnosis of CFIDS / FM has not been related to celiac / other food sensitivities is that the medical community is not testing for it.

I'm healing in leaps and bounds NOW !!!!

[Ursa Major]

Ursula,

I'm so glad you figured out what was causing your fibromyalgia and that you are sharing this with us. I see my symptoms in your post. Mine aren't as severe as yours were but I do notice that any activity causing a repetitive movement gives me pain for a long time afterward. And if I move just the slightest bit wrong, I get what feels like a pulled muscle. I eat a lot of the lectin family (except eggs because I noticed recently that they aren't affecting me well). I took a painkiller last night. It took the edge off the pain in my arms but didn't completely get rid of it.

You mentioned that you don't need pain killers now that you don't eat the offending foods. Has all of the pain gone away, or is there still some residual pain that isn't bad enough to take a painkiller?

Okay, I'm trying to answer, lying in bed with my husband's laptop. I am having one of those days, when I am so dizzy, that even moving my head might make me vomit. I've been having this problem since giving birth to my fourth child 21 years ago. Good thing it only happens once every couple of months or so.

No, my pain isn't gone. It's just not bad enough now to bother with painkillers. To me it's almost like it is gone, because I am so used to pain, that I am capable of ignoring a lot of it. For me to consciously take note of pain, it either has to be so bad that I can't function, or I have to consciously stop whatever I am doing to think about it. I've been in pain for 50 years, it seems normal, since I can't remember what it is like to be painfree. I have no idea what that would feel like. I would love to find out some day (before I get to heaven)

[mylady4]

Boy, this post hits close to home. My hips feel like they are on fire alot of the time. I did have brucitis in them a while ago but that is now gone. This pain is deeper and seems to be worse on some days then other. I have been pretty good about not eating wheat or gluten, that has not been that big of a deal. I am curious about the lectins and salicylates. I was told I have some arthritis in my hips already (I am only 33). I go to the doctor next week and will be bringing this up to her. I do workout by biking 8-12 miles and walk 3-4 and lift weights so I stay active. I just want to make sure that I am not damaging anything by working out. I can live with the pain better if I know it is not doing permanant damage to my hips

Ursala, what can you eat then? All of the fruits that I love are on there and I like having my fruit. I too am tired of feeling like I am 70 years old. I will check into this.

I am so glad I am not alone with this.

Nicole

[Ursa Major]

Ursala, what can you eat then? All of the fruits that I love are on there and I like having my fruit. I too am tired of feeling like I am 70 years old. I will check into this.

I am so glad I am not alone with this.

Nicole

Nicole, I used to love my fruits, too. But now when I give in and eat fruits other than peeled pears, and occasionally peeled golden delicious apples, I pay the price. I ate an orange two nights ago, and I am in pain. My arms and legs are aching quite badly. Imagine, from just ONE orange! It really wasn't worth it.

I eat meat (including fish) and vegetables for every meal. I can have some lime juice, and make salad dressing with freshly squeezed lime juice, cold pressed sunflower oil (the only safe oil), maple syrup (the only safe sweetener, other than white sugar) and sea salt (the only seasoning I have left, since all spices and almost all herbs are extremely high in salicylates). It's really nice salad dressing. When I get sick of cooking, I will eat salad (only iceberg lettuce is safe) with a can of tuna and this dressing for one of my meals.

Of course, the safe vegetables have NEVER been my favourites. The ones that are virtually free of salicylates are cabbage, rutabaga, celery and iceberg lettuce. On days when I am aching already (when I have cheated ) that's all I eat. Other days I will have limited amounts of low salicylate foods. Never usually ones with high levels (other than the orange the other day, I love oranges!).

It can be done, but I won't pretend it's easy. Really, it sucks, especially because it isn't safe for me to go out to eat at all any more. When I do, I know I'll end up aching or feeling sick by the next day.

[hineini]

Cool conversation, you all...I look forward to updating when I"ve been gluten-free for longer and I know if it's helping.

kbtoyssni wrote:

"I guess I'm a FMS sucess story - got diagnosed and figured out the root cause of it."

I am so happy to hear that. I think that's key - Not all people have the same trigger for their FMS. Most of the recent research shows genetic predisposition sets us up for it, but it doens't get triggered until trauma happens. I can see celiac disease or other food intolerances being the trauma that sets it off, but for most people it is more likely to be injury, stress, illness, surgery.

"I also take mobic for days when the pain gets really bad."

I am very confused about this. Mobic is an anti-inflammatory, right? Fibromyalgia is NOT an inflammatory illness. So what is the mechanism by which Mobic helps? All recent research has indicated that our pain has no relation to inflammation, although injuries or other conditions that cause inflammation can trigger FMS pain. So why would a doc put you on mobic for FMS? Do you also have RA or some kind of inflammatory illness?

I'm always interested in learning about new meds. Currently Ultram ER is what's giving me a life but I've tried lots of others.

Barbara wrote:

" There have been several threads over time discussing the relationship of fibromyalgia and other autoimmune conditions and their relationship to gluten-free eating on this message board"

Except Fibromyalgia is NOT an autoimmune disorder. This has been known for years now and any doctor that says otherwise has not read any of the recent research ;-P It does, however, present much like many autoimmune diseases.

BTW, I, too, find Magnesium w/Malic Acid *super* helpful.. Probably the most helpful supplement I've ever found. Mind if I ask what dosage you take?

If you all are interested in reading the recent fibromylagia research check this out:

Open Original Shared Link

I run this community, where I post all pain-related research studies that come out. On the left hand side you can click on any of the "labels" (one of which is fibromyalgia) to filter for only the entries related to fibromyalgia.

And here is a link to one of the more comprehensive respected FMS resources, talking about what FMS is and is not:

Open Original Shared Link

"Fibromyalgia is not just widespread pain or achy muscles. In the general population, adults who meet the ACR definition of FMS appear to have distinct features compared to those with chronic widespread pain that do not meet those criteria (White, Speechley, Harth et al. 1999a). There are many conditions, which cause widespread pain besides FMS. CMP can cause widespread pain due to trigger point cascades, for example. Side effects of some medications can do the same. Widespread pain is also common in Lyme disease, HIV, hypothyroid and other endocrine abnormalities, and some genetic diseases (Soppi M. and E. Beneforti, 1999)."

I don't mean to seem like a know-it-all... I respect that each person has their experience of their health (and I do think we all have a slightly differnet illness caused by slightly different factors). It just seems there's an awful lot of misinformation out there about fibromyalgia and I worry that folks aren't getting the medical care they need from people whose info about fibromyalgia's been updated for the 21st century! I know I've had a hard time finding a doctor who actually bothers reading the journals ... So many of them dont' even seem to know that a) it's basicaly now considered a neuroendocrine pain disorder (hope I'm remembering that term right) that is a neurological disruption that causes no inflammation and no autoimmune reactions and it's about more than which trigger points one has. Fortunately I go to a Pain Management CLinic and a Rheumatologist who specialize in this so I no longer have to get misinformation from a general practitioner or chiropractor who don't know what they're talking about.

I still believe one day we're going to find out that we don't all have the same illness, but rather a set of common symptoms that were all lumped together to make it easier for doctors & researchers to not actually have to get to the root of neuropathic pain.

Hi Everyone. I'm wondering what your symptoms are like for FMS? What are tender points? How hard do you have to press? How do you tell a sore "tissue" from a sore "muscle"? Can I do it to myself? I was dx celiac disease Feb 1 and have been gluten-free since. My depression has lifted quite a bit-the world has colors and I want to fix up my house again. How do you tell the difference between depression, hypothyroidism, and FMS symptoms? Doesn't depression hurt?

My symptoms are basically all the classic symptoms seen here:

Open Original Shared Link

And here:

Open Original Shared Link

YMMV. Everyone is different. Tender points are painful areas where connective tissue pain exists and is tender to the touch. There are classic ones, and then there are others that some have and some don't.

You can't test yourself for them - You need to see a Rheumatologist or pain management specialist or neurologist who can do the exam. Here is info about how they diagnose it: Open Original Shared Link

The tender point exam hurts like hell :-( For me personally, FMS pain doesn't feel like a sore muscle... It feels like intense burning and stabbing in connective tissue. Depression can hurt, but from what I know it doesn't hurt THIS bad, or have all of the other associated syndormes. Being depressed or tired or achy does not equal fibromyalgia.

There is a huge incidence of comorbidity of fibromyalgia with hypothyroidism and depression, but we don't quite know "why" yet and what comes first, the chicken or the egg. If you want to know if you have FMS, see a knowledgeable rheumatologist or neurologist. I hope to heck for your sake that you don't have it.

And I'm so happy to hear your depression is lifting. That is great news!

[jenvan]

I have the tender points--back and head and hips are worse. If certain parts of my body get poked...sends me through the roof. As has been described here, can be a burning pain in part for me, or like digging into an area that is bruised. For those with symptoms after glutening...could your symptoms be low-grade and then get noticeable worse after gluten? Mine has improved some since being gluten-free (1 1/2 yrs), but I still have the issues, just to a lesser degree. All over fascial tightness/soreness too. Sarah--if your pain is only on one sign, have you thought about seeing a neurologist? Hineini-You put some good info here for us. What dose are you taking of mag/malic acid?

[kbtoyssni]

"I also take mobic for days when the pain gets really bad."

I am very confused about this. Mobic is an anti-inflammatory, right? Fibromyalgia is NOT an inflammatory illness. So what is the mechanism by which Mobic helps? All recent research has indicated that our pain has no relation to inflammation, although injuries or other conditions that cause inflammation can trigger FMS pain. So why would a doc put you on mobic for FMS? Do you also have RA or some kind of inflammatory illness?

I'm always interested in learning about new meds. Currently Ultram ER is what's giving me a life but I've tried lots of others.

I was always really confused by this, too. Mobic is an anti-inflammatory so I never understood how it helped my pain. I asked my doctors a few times and they weren't able to give me a good answer. All I know is that mobic works. I had to break down and take some yesterday, and I went from being miserable and barely able to walk and considering leaving work early to being fully functional and able to do my job again.

[GFAngel]

Hineini - GREAT info. I'm going to take some time to read all your links to be well-informed. Thanks so much for all your time to explain.

Jenvan - thanks for your input/sharing also. I'll keep reading your posts to learn.

I'm having a burning sensation in my left shoulder ... am I on a witch hunt?! (I swear I am my mother reincarnated in a more outgoing shell! -- she has many of these symptoms, but doesn't research anything; only lives with pain and misery and complains. I feel bad for her really.) Anyway, I really don't want anything else wrong with me ... I used to tell my husband in our early years to "think it away" -- like a cold or what have you. Used to "p" him off! We laugh now and bring it up to be funny. Well, I want to think away all this! Esp the extra weight which can't be helping!

[Sarah8793]

Sarah--if your pain is only on one sign, have you thought about seeing a neurologist?

I have seen a neurologist twice now. He keeps telling me he doesn't think it is neurological and to try putting heat on it. Well I did that and it made the pain worse. Sunday night the pain began in my other shoulder in addition. I went to the ER and got a doctor who said she thinks I have an inflamation that is pressing on the nerves that run down into the arms. She gave me prescriptions for ultram (works nicely on my whole body, except only takes the edge off the arm pain) and Lodine (an anti-inflamatory). I decided to skip the lodine for now (based on the insert listed potential problems) and am taking the max. dose of otc motirin right now. She said if I gave it 2 weeks on the anti-inflamatory and things did not resolve, then I would have a case to go back to the neurologist. So I'm giving it 2 weeks and then if not better, demanding an MRI.