FM is not joint pain, Re: new video

[Guest guest]

The doctor in the video explains FM and joint pain are synonymous and

that FM is no diagnosis since patients, when told they have FM asking

what does it mean, are told joint pain which is what the patient told

them in the first place.

It's easy for him, the doctor, because he doesn't have it, doesn't

understand it and is heard anyway.

It's ok. We have all talked spoken from our ignorance as we grow

toward more and more understanding. It's possible he had a nugget or

two of encouragement to offer FM patients but I don't know because I

couldn't watch once he showed how ignorant he is.

One of the research criteria for CFS is joint pain without swelling.

CFS and FM and OI overlap. My own joint pain was only in my fingers.

Thought it was arthritis, but, it's not. Muscle pain, first

experienced in forearms, profound and strange pain, is clearly not

joint pain. Since then, I have experienced pain in hips and legs which

is also not joint pain but fitting the descriptions I have read and

heard of FM.

I have been diagnosed with CFS, FM and OI/POTS. Haven't been diagnosed

with NMH but I clearly have all those symptoms at various times.

Diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos but I have major doubts about it. I have

Reynaud's since my hands take forever to warm up after touching frozen

food and such which, in my mind, is tied to OI which causes major

circulatory problems.

I don't consider any diagnosis a life sentence but only a clue for a

direction to follow for understanding, help, relief and healing. Most

importantly, a diagnosis offers possible community which may lead to

support and encouragement.

toni

maryland near annapolis, 'twixt baltimore, DC

Music of our past, often forgotten, is not lost; it lives in our

experiences.