Chronic Pain/Fibromyalgia PTSD link?

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone. I ran across this article and wondered if anyone else

in this group has PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder - flashbacks,

nightmares, etc. related to a traumatic event in your past)? And did

you have it before your chronic pain or fibromyalgia? I have PTSD.

I had it before my chronic pain (some from car accident injuries -

back, neck, shoulders, knees, headaches) and before my fibromyalgia.

I also have PTSD related to my car accidents and related to some of

my painful traumatic medical treatments like my horrible discogram.

When I get treated badly at the doctors offices, it seems to make my

PTSD worse. Just wondering if anyone else has run into anything like

this or has PTSD?

Another thought, has anyone else had a particularly stressful life

before getting fibromyalgia? I remember taking stress questionaires

when I was younger that listed stressful events in a person's life

(including positive stressors like promotions or moving) and it would

ask you to give points for each one you had experienced in the last 6

months or year. I remember every time I was ever given one of those

in my life, I would get a very high score and it would say something

like I was at a very high risk to develop a health problem within a

year, but at the times I was completely healthy and just shrugged it

off. I also remember back in 95-96 reading that most people with

fibromyalgia were type A (overachiever) personalities. I always was

before the fibromyalgia. Just curious if any of these things apply

to anyone else? Thanks in advance for sharing. I just feel like

many of my health problems are inter-related and I'm trying to figure

some of it out so hopefully I can feel better / try to find causes

and cures. Thanks a bunch!

Mara

-------

Chronic Pain Condition Seen in Half of Veterans With PTSD

By Salynn Boyles

WebMD Medical News

Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD

on Thursday, June 10, 2004

June 10, 2004 -- The mysterious chronic pain condition fibromyalgia is

widely thought of as a woman's disease, but new research suggests it

is

also common among men with posttraumatic stress disorder.

In a study of male Israeli war veterans, half of the men with

combat-related PTSD also had the tenderness and pain characteristic of

fibromyalgia. The findings were reported today in Berlin at a European

rheumatology meeting.

There is a growing body of research linking posttraumatic stress and

chronic pain, but the Israeli investigation is the first to limit its

study

population to males.

" A consistent relationship has been seen between PTSD and chronic pain

conditions like fibromyalgia, " says psychologist D. Otis, PhD,

who is

also studying the link in veterans. " The fact that the pain is often

independent of the traumatic event leads us to believe that there is

something else going on. "

Pain and Trauma

While the cause of fibromyalgia remains unknown, the condition often

occurs

following physical trauma -- such as an illness or injury -- which

may act

as a trigger. In 1990, the American College of Rheumatology developed

a

standardized diagnostic evaluation for fibromyalgia, which includes a

history of widespread pain for a minimum of three months and

pressure-associated pain at 11 of 18 specific sites on the body.

The ACR standards were used in the Israeli study to evaluate 55 war

veterans with severe PTSD, along with 20 veterans with major

depression and

49 veterans with neither condition.

About half -- 49% -- of the PTSD patients met the criteria for

fibromyalgia, but only 5% of the patients with major depression did.

None

of the men who had neither condition had fibromyalgia.

In his presentation to the European League Against Rheumatism, lead

investigator Amital, MD, notes the fibromyalgia-PTSD link was

much

stronger than that for PTSD and major depression, despite the fact

that the

severity of the two psychiatric conditions was similar.

" Psychiatric illness is (not) necessarily correlated with

fibromyalgia, but

PTSD certainly is, " he notes. " The symptoms may overlap, but the

degree and

the intensity of these disorders are so closely related that it

cannot be

just a coincidence. "

Integrating Treatment

Roy-Byrne, MD, who is chief of psychiatry at Seattle's

Harborview

Medical Center, has also studied the association between posttraumatic

stress and chronic pain and fatigue. He tells WebMD that patients with

fibromyalgia should be evaluated for PTSD, and PTSD patients should be

evaluated for the chronic pain condition. Roy-Byrne is also professor

and

vice chairman of the department of psychiatry at the University of

Washington School of Medicine.

" Even though the pharmacological treatment of these conditions may be

similar, the behavioral and cognitive approaches to treatment may

differ in

patients with both, " he says.

Otis says his own VA experience also suggests a very high incidence of

unexplained chronic pain among veterans with PTSD. He is evaluating

the

effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for the treatment of

patients

with both conditions.

" Our thinking is that that we will do a better job of treating both

conditions using an integrated, behavioral approach, " he says.

____________________

SOURCES: Annual European Congress of the European League Against

Rheumatism, Berlin, June 9-12, 2004. Amital, MD, Hadassah-

Hebrew

University School of Medicine, Jerusalem. P. Roy-Byrne, MD,

professor

and vice chairman, department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences,

University of Washington School of Medicine; chief of psychiatry,

Harborview Medical Center, Seattle. D. Otis, PhD, director of

psychology pain management, VA Boston Healthcare System.

© 2004 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.

Web Source:

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/88/99964.htm?

z=1728_00000_1000_1n_04

[Guest guest]

I got all the symptoms of PTSD after two car accidents within 3 months (not my

fault) while caregiving my dementa/Alzheimer's, job accident victim, multiply

diseased, domestically violent, verbally abusive late husband. That's enough to

give anyone PTSD.

I already had chronic fatigue & spinal pain problems of my own as well for years

prior & seeing doctors, taking Rx pain drugs plus antidepressants, muscle

relaxors, etc. & seeing my chiropractor & /or physical therapists 3x a week.

The PTSD worsened horribly later when his sons (my married stepsons who lived

elsewhere) broke my arm, locked me out of " our " home, put restraining orders on

me & then I couldn't get back into my own home until my husband died a year

later. Then, for two years they tried to kill me off financially, emotionally,

mentally, etc. with legal proceedings against me to rob me of everything I'd

ever earned in my life. During that time I had to move/relocate 7 times in 2

years.

So yes, I surely did have nightmares, insomnia, manic-depressiveness, all over

body pain & all the rest. I was in the psyche ward during that period of time

for a while as well. Though I was never diagnosed for either PTSD, CFS or FMS, I

still have most of the CFS/FMS symptoms.

But about 15 years ago before any of this happened, I had a bad fall down stairs

(falls/accidents happened almost annually to me), ended up a charity patient in

the hospital as I was jobless & indigent at the time & staying at my daughter's

in another state.

After that I had the worst PTSD ever which went undiagnosed then as well. I was,

in fact, living in a state of abject terror. I was in the psyche ward in yet

another state after that too. Then it was that the chronic fatigue set in for

the first time along with thyroid dysfunction and the all-over body pains as

well associated with FMS.

So I've no doubt had & still have most or all of that, though not the PTSD

anymore since I moved far away from all that & live alone in a quiet country

area now. But I've always been a type A overachiever too (tho never thought I

was) & always wondered why people thought I was Superwoman or Ms Perfectionist.

I've also taken those life's most stressful experiences tests & I've been

through all or most of them on the list several times in the same year or two

many times in my life. My life has been massive upheavals, traumas & /or deaths

of loved ones with super stresses to the max for most of it in fact, since my

childhood. It's enough to make anyone super exhausted with chronic pain/fatigue.

My dr., back in the city where my late husband & I lived said several times I

was physically, mentally, emotionally exhausted. I could add psychologically &

spiritually to that list as well.

Since my husband died & a year later after many traumatic moves & court battles,

I recall myself saying " All I want to do is find a nice home to live in where I

can just relax, do nothing, have some peace/quiet & get some rest & sleep &

plenty of sunshine & fresh air. " Well, I've finally got that now, especially

this past year.

Only now I'm super lonely & bored a lot with just my own company & being shut in

a lot because of my illnesses & spinal related incapacitations. However I now

sleep like a log & could just do that most days if I allowed myself too. So yes,

many health problems & life's circumstances are definitely related. No doubt

about that in my experience.

Caroline

lakelover125 wrote:

Hi everyone. I ran across this article and wondered if anyone else in this

group has PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder - flashbacks, nightmares, etc.

related to a traumatic event in your past)? And did you have it before your

chronic pain or fibromyalgia?

[Guest guest]

Hi, my name is Amy and yes, I had been dignosed as having post tramitic stress

disorder. That diagones was given before my dx of fibro. The countless number

of psy hosiptals as a teenager was something that still creeps up. I remember

before I got the dx of fibro it was summer. It was early morning and the grass

was still wet, but I went in the back yard barefoot to set up a tag sale. When I

sat down in the chair, I had unbeleivable pain that went all through my body.

They called the ambulance and everything even blood tests were normal. I am

thirty two now and there is not a day that goes by pain free.

from your friend Amy

[Guest guest]

How unusual that you would mention your diagnosis as some people don't

realize what a burden this is (post traumatic-disorder) I too have been

diagnosed

with that as well as ADD so now I am taking Strattera which is for adults (no

stimulant_) I cannot believe how much that has helped me.. The symptomsre:

forgetting appointments, starting many things then not finishing them, poor

concetration extreme energy and depression. I was first diagnosed with

Bi-polar.They have some similar symptoms.

Now back to the Stress disorder. Mine started with being the oldest in an

Alcoholic home. Dad was a weekend drunk, my Mother was beaten many times and we

l;eft in the night more than once. I too was the victim of physical abuse,

and many times the verbal was even more painful. Then Mother stood by and

watched it and I actually think she got satisfaction from it.I was told

repeatedly

that I wouldnt amount to anything...and of course I followed the edict for a

long time but now after intense therapy for over 10 years I have done alot of

forgiving and letting go but I still react to people yelling at me and

threatening me with unfair criticisms and a man who is a control freak for a

Husband..this is the second spouse and the first one was worse and he had added

the

physical abuse after a while.

I did go back to Colleg to get my Degree. Lo and behold I developed many

problems with my joints, spine and cervical..fusions after 10s searching for and

answer.

I cannot get this fool of a Husband to see his part in the problems. He tends

to blame others on a regular basis for his mistakes..he thinks he can control

me but no more.

Now I only have to learn to not react to his stupid argumentrs and judgments.

I think he was disappointed that I was not able to go back to work and I had

one surgery after another so this was hard on him, oh I forgot to mention I am

16 years older than he but I am told I look younger than he. I have

confidance in t hat way and am mostly careful with my appearance.

Now I see my disorder in many areas. I cannot easily take criticisms from

people in authority over me or a friend who thin ks they are helping me. I

noticed finally how much my pain increade especially in my back, where I had two

fusions and laminectomies, it is still a problem and another developed with my

Periformis Syndrome that is really painful and limiting. I just want peace at

this time of my life and if I have to I may have to leave a sweet man who has

serious mental and emotional problems and diabetes to boot, high blood pressure

etc.

I just trust God to intervene as 18 years is wasted if not. The last marriage

lasted 17 years and I married Bob to live with him until death.

Good luck to you and thanks to this group for allowing me to leave suck a

long message. I usually am fairly succinct.

Alice wseone56@...

[Guest guest]

Alice,

I just had to reply to this one. The physical problems can't compare to yours

but much of the life experiences do. I was married 16 yrs. and 2 kids to a

drunk and drug abuser. Even my priest told me to hit the road for the sake of

the childern. The second one was 7 yrs. younger than myself. Of course he

really liked my youngest daughter since she developed at a real young age. Sans

marriage #2. Long, long story goes with that one.

The reason I am writing to you is to try and help you understand that you can

not help this wonderful man that has so many problems. You have to take charge

of your life and help yourself. You are #1 whether you realize it or not.

Everyday you spend with a man who belittles you is another day off your life.

And life is too precious to waste it on someone who will not or can not help

themselves. You will never be able to. Do you understand that. He has to step

up to the plate and find the strength to help himself. It takes too much off

you to try.

If you would like to talk more, I am here. Just use my private address.

I wish I could help you. donna