A Pain in the Butt
One of the joys of Fibro is the "pain in the butt" feeling.
Apparently, tender points are the cause. But, what causes tender points?
According to Dr. Stuart Donaldson of Myosymmetries tender points and other pain associated with Fibro is ’caused’ by "bad messaging" between the brain and muscles [my words]. As I understand it, the pain associated with Fibro is due to brain wave slowing. Apparently, some initial cause (often an MVA) will create a bodily disruption which starts flooding the brain with pain signals. Eventually the brain just shuts off — but not really. Cause it becomes super sensitive to stimulation. Hence, pressing a ‘tender point’ creates great pain for the Fibromite.
This site, the home of a massage therapist, suggests that the cause is utimately due to poor nutrition effecting the junction between muscle and myofascial tissue.
My theory?
I suspect it’s complex, as is the condition. And, I think the prime cause is different for different people. I’m one of those lucky Fibromites who experienced many of the most frequent ’causes’ of FMS. I smucked up my neck in a body surfing accident. I had a bad reaction to aneasthetic and nearly died. I had a sinus infection for a year and was treated with massive doses of anitbiotic. And, I was sexually and physically abused as a child. That’s enough to make anyone sick.
I’ve talked to many Fibromites and others who experience chronic pain. One common theme is how the pain impacts us. And, what works to make it better.
I’ve managed to find a simple but powerful way to eliminate the crushing pain I’ve experienced for the last 3 years.
But, this pain in my butt stymies me.
Any ideas?
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Hey Lyle, didn’t know you struggled with chronic pain. I have been walking this “joyous” f’ing path for 15+ years now, but the additional diagnosis of fibro these past couple of years is a major pain in my arse! Thank god I have one cushion on my couch that seems to nestle my posterior. When I have a major tendor points day, I can’t sit in my office chair, lay down in bed… this means that for the past two years you can find me on a regular basis sitting on my coach.
My new dilemna? How to stop being a couch potato! God does it ever end? My personal favorite irony? I have Ulcerative Colitis that doesn’t go into remission hence my “tender points” get to visit the porcelain setting in my house multiple times a day.
Hope you get a laugh from my post. Do you have troubling sleeping as well? I rarely sleep at night anymore…
hugs, julia