Anabrock
Active member
- Joined
- May 6, 2025
- Messages
- 69
- Reason
- DX FIBRO
- Diagnosis
- 02/2012
- Country
- UK
Hi Everyone, looking for ideas, empathy and shared experiences.
I was diagnosed with fibro a few years ago after a bout of severe viral arthritis which never seemed to go away. I also have hypermobility syndrome, which has added to my joint issues. 2 years ago I was also diagnosed with osteroarthritis in various joints, particularly shoulders and elbows, whilst going through treatment for breast cancer - at the time, I was told this OA diagnosis with a cheerful doctor who said "Good news! It's just OA, not bone cancer". Still not sure that counts as 'good news'.
My Fibro comes and goes but stress seems to make it worse. Dealing with a seriously ill child in the family, whilst recovering from cancer, it's come back with a vengeance. My worst symptoms are incredibly painful feet which makes it hard to walk. When I was first diagnosed I had to use a wheelchair, but that brings its own issues so I'm trying to stay mobile this time. I have generalised joint stiffness and pain, very stiff and painful hands. I also have IBS, migraines and I suffer chronic fatigue which I generally manage OK. I was warned that my anti-cancer drugs can cause fibro symptoms even in people who don't have fibro, so the exacerbation of my symptoms might be that too, who knows?
I have pretty much tried everything anyone's ever mentioned to me for my pain, without success. I spent a fortune on a specialist podiatrist who admitted my issues were hard to treat but gave it his all - without much success. I've seen various rheumatologists and an osteo surgeon. I was on gabapentin for 6 years which made me fat and then stopped working
I can't tolerate Amitriptyline but tried SSRIs for a while. Had to stop taking them due to side effects (low platelets). I've never found things like paracetamol do anything at all for my pain, which is mostly bad when I weight-bear.
I've spent hours online trying to find out about my foot pain but nothing seems similar to my issues, which include Achilles tendonosis and a horrible burning sensation on my sole when I weight-bear or try to walk. The more I walk, the worse it gets until my feet become so swollen I have to elevate my feet for hours until I can hobble. I wish someone could explain to me why I have so much pain and issues with my feet - most doctors have been sympathetic but no one can really explain it, much less treat it. Other doctors just think I'm pill seeking or lying for attention - I've even had a doctor shout at me in front of other patients that I was 'doing this to myself', whatever that meant. I recently had a battery of tests and scans, but that was mostly to exclude RA and lupus and they were all negative. Which is good, but... I don't want some horrible disease which eats away at my joints but at least it would be clear. I think one of the reasons I coped so well with the cancer was that I got a clear diagnosis, treatment plan, prognosis, psychological support and absolutely no one gaslit me. Apologies for the moaning.
I was diagnosed with fibro a few years ago after a bout of severe viral arthritis which never seemed to go away. I also have hypermobility syndrome, which has added to my joint issues. 2 years ago I was also diagnosed with osteroarthritis in various joints, particularly shoulders and elbows, whilst going through treatment for breast cancer - at the time, I was told this OA diagnosis with a cheerful doctor who said "Good news! It's just OA, not bone cancer". Still not sure that counts as 'good news'.
My Fibro comes and goes but stress seems to make it worse. Dealing with a seriously ill child in the family, whilst recovering from cancer, it's come back with a vengeance. My worst symptoms are incredibly painful feet which makes it hard to walk. When I was first diagnosed I had to use a wheelchair, but that brings its own issues so I'm trying to stay mobile this time. I have generalised joint stiffness and pain, very stiff and painful hands. I also have IBS, migraines and I suffer chronic fatigue which I generally manage OK. I was warned that my anti-cancer drugs can cause fibro symptoms even in people who don't have fibro, so the exacerbation of my symptoms might be that too, who knows?
I have pretty much tried everything anyone's ever mentioned to me for my pain, without success. I spent a fortune on a specialist podiatrist who admitted my issues were hard to treat but gave it his all - without much success. I've seen various rheumatologists and an osteo surgeon. I was on gabapentin for 6 years which made me fat and then stopped working

I've spent hours online trying to find out about my foot pain but nothing seems similar to my issues, which include Achilles tendonosis and a horrible burning sensation on my sole when I weight-bear or try to walk. The more I walk, the worse it gets until my feet become so swollen I have to elevate my feet for hours until I can hobble. I wish someone could explain to me why I have so much pain and issues with my feet - most doctors have been sympathetic but no one can really explain it, much less treat it. Other doctors just think I'm pill seeking or lying for attention - I've even had a doctor shout at me in front of other patients that I was 'doing this to myself', whatever that meant. I recently had a battery of tests and scans, but that was mostly to exclude RA and lupus and they were all negative. Which is good, but... I don't want some horrible disease which eats away at my joints but at least it would be clear. I think one of the reasons I coped so well with the cancer was that I got a clear diagnosis, treatment plan, prognosis, psychological support and absolutely no one gaslit me. Apologies for the moaning.