Is it all in my head?

[ShaBBy23]

since becoming an rn at the ripe old age of 46, i feel like i've been put through a meat grinder. i now have a torn miniscus on my left knee, 3 herniated disks, probably some type of arthritis because there are times when my joints are so tender and hurt, and finally osteopenia to the lumbar section as well as to my left humerus.

what can i do other than taking painkillers to deal with my pain? i was diagnosed with fibromyalgia but i don't know if this is considered a new condition made up by doctors to mask something unknown. if you throw depression and menopause into the mix, well then i have those conditions as well.

any suggestion from my experienced colleagues out there?

[BEDPAN76]

Wow, Najah! Did any of this happen on the job?

You might want to consider a desk-type job.

I have mild fibromyalgia and Lyrica has helped tremendously.

Been on Zoloft for years.

But, the main thing you need to do is take care of yourself by seeing an MD or NP as soon as you can. Keep us posted, please! :flwrhrts:

[Davey Do]

Disclaimer: This comment is not intended to treat, diagnose, or go against any rules of AN.com. So there.

With that said, Najah23, I would like to tell you how I deal with my many discomforts, from riding myself hard and being put away wet, in one word: Exercise.

I have torn, fractured, or generally messed up just about every bone and joint in my body. To give you some specifics, I have a plate and 12 screws in my right femur, a plate and 4 screws on my right ulna, have fractured both hands and wrists, right acetabulum, torn left ACL, right shoulder pain, etc. etc.

At the age of 35, I remember saying that I felt like an old man. Now, I've always been a physical kind of guy. You know- intermittent jogging, bicycling, wt lifting, etc. But about 13 years ago, I got into a routine, and pretty much kept with it. I joined a gym, seriously got into bicycling, and now have a home gym and eliptical in my basement. I do at least a basic routine EVERY DAY.

At the age of 54, I still have chronic aches and pains, but they're tolerable. I rarely take ibuprofen. I read in a bicycling mag that 1 t0 2 gms of fish oil a day helps with pain, and that's what I take. It seems to help.

An 82 year old gentleman once told me, "I work out every day because I'm afraid of what will happen if I don't." I know that I feel "all stoved up" if I get out of my routine.

My comment is intended to give you a little hope, Najah23. There are all sorts of information out there on dealing with pain. We all need to find something that works for us. Exercise does it for me.

Good luck to you, Najah23.

Dave

[Simba&NalasMom, LPN]

Awe, Najah...I feel for you. I know from personal experience that fibro is a very real condition, although I'm sure that because of its nonspecificity and our inability to measure it in a lab that some docs throw their pts. a dx when they don't know what else is wrong.

I have found a lot of relief by doing really mild yoga videos (it is possible to do yoga and not be a total contortionist!) and just paying close attention to my limits. It's amazing what just a little stretching and breathing can do!