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Dear Doctor, Regarding My First Question: I Actually Went To
Dear Doctor, regarding my first question: I actually went to my MD and he ordered a complete urine analysis with blood tests for my vitamin D levels. It showed I was in normal range for all tests involving my kidneys as well as no Squamous Cells indicated. Whew what a relief. I am 56 years old and my next question is something that I really do need help with as I have been rejected by doctors and family for my for years and now I am seriously unable to work and suffer from symptoms that I believe are "Fibromyalgia" related. I have read up on the disease and every symptom I have is on that list. I do know that it is a hard one to diagnosed however I am someone who has a legitimate cause but I am having a hard time convincing anyone of it.
At age 11 I was chased by school kids into the street and was hit by a car. I suffered severe left sided blunt force trauma as well as a compound fracture in my right tibia, a broken pelvic on the left side and multiple injuries in my back and neck. As well as asphalt wounds etc. As you can imagine I was pretty broken up however through the years I have tried to get records of the accident and because of the year there is no longer any record of it at all. Only my pain, scars and a picture of me in my full leg cast. I have had a very hard life meaning we moved a lot and was I was in physical and emotional situations that created Post Traumatic Stress. As well as many stitches creating painful scar tissue. To say the least I have had a very painful life. I never complained about it and always tried to do my hardest to work and take care of my family. In 2000 I finally sought treatment by a pain specialist for "Chronic Pain" however I believe I have developed "Fibromyalgia" which my I live in an area where doctors do not treat for and my family do not believe in. I suffer from severe migraines, deep muscle and joint pain mainly on my left side especially now in my shoulder & neck. I also have torn my left rotator cup which has to be from left sided weakness which the weakness seems to be getting worse especially over these last few years. My last two years of working were extremely hard for me. I found I needed to take longer lunch hours and rest just to make through the day and was absent quite a bit. One morning I woke to severe Left sided paralysis in my left shoulder/neck area. I was treated with Injections that seem to loosen the muscles up a bit and learned physical therapy techniques to strengthen my left side, however I am not completely healed and still have headaches, muscle pain, joint/nerve and scar tissue pain. I also really do suffer from the "Fibro Fog" that I have read is also a symptom of Fibromyalgia. I finally had to make the decision to stop working and seek disability as my symptoms are getting worse. It has been a long hard struggle because my PCP nor my Pain Specialist wants to take on the responsibility for my disability - I am at my wits end. My question to you is this: could "blunt force trauma" be one of the "main" triggers for Fibromyalgia? And could this one reason be overlooked by medical professionals?If so how can I talk to my physicians and family without sounding like I am complaining and they thinking I am a hypochondriac (most of my family think I am making this up) as well as making me feel guilty for seriously needing to stop working and take it slower. I so badly want to have some quality of life that is beyond this illness that I struggle with constantly. I feel as though I have been put in that "over 50" category of women who just want to complain and be on disability. All of the women I have talked to that are on disability have never experienced "Blunt Force Trauma" like I have, and honestly have never worked as hard as I have. I promise I am not a Martyr, just confused as none of this makes sense to me anymore. I really do need help. I have filed for permanent disability with a company to help me and now have to see a judge because my pain dr. will not support my disability or release my medical records. So with just my word and the list of the many medications I am on I continue to have to prove to everyone I am to ill to continue to work. I feel I do deserve to use my Social Security Benefits I worked so hard for and do not demand it but have an honest reason for asking for it. Anyway...Thank you for your time and concern if nothing else it was good to be able to express how I feel and hopefully you have professionals that believes in Fibromyalgia as true illness that could lead to disability.
Shelly Ramay.
At age 11 I was chased by school kids into the street and was hit by a car. I suffered severe left sided blunt force trauma as well as a compound fracture in my right tibia, a broken pelvic on the left side and multiple injuries in my back and neck. As well as asphalt wounds etc. As you can imagine I was pretty broken up however through the years I have tried to get records of the accident and because of the year there is no longer any record of it at all. Only my pain, scars and a picture of me in my full leg cast. I have had a very hard life meaning we moved a lot and was I was in physical and emotional situations that created Post Traumatic Stress. As well as many stitches creating painful scar tissue. To say the least I have had a very painful life. I never complained about it and always tried to do my hardest to work and take care of my family. In 2000 I finally sought treatment by a pain specialist for "Chronic Pain" however I believe I have developed "Fibromyalgia" which my I live in an area where doctors do not treat for and my family do not believe in. I suffer from severe migraines, deep muscle and joint pain mainly on my left side especially now in my shoulder & neck. I also have torn my left rotator cup which has to be from left sided weakness which the weakness seems to be getting worse especially over these last few years. My last two years of working were extremely hard for me. I found I needed to take longer lunch hours and rest just to make through the day and was absent quite a bit. One morning I woke to severe Left sided paralysis in my left shoulder/neck area. I was treated with Injections that seem to loosen the muscles up a bit and learned physical therapy techniques to strengthen my left side, however I am not completely healed and still have headaches, muscle pain, joint/nerve and scar tissue pain. I also really do suffer from the "Fibro Fog" that I have read is also a symptom of Fibromyalgia. I finally had to make the decision to stop working and seek disability as my symptoms are getting worse. It has been a long hard struggle because my PCP nor my Pain Specialist wants to take on the responsibility for my disability - I am at my wits end. My question to you is this: could "blunt force trauma" be one of the "main" triggers for Fibromyalgia? And could this one reason be overlooked by medical professionals?If so how can I talk to my physicians and family without sounding like I am complaining and they thinking I am a hypochondriac (most of my family think I am making this up) as well as making me feel guilty for seriously needing to stop working and take it slower. I so badly want to have some quality of life that is beyond this illness that I struggle with constantly. I feel as though I have been put in that "over 50" category of women who just want to complain and be on disability. All of the women I have talked to that are on disability have never experienced "Blunt Force Trauma" like I have, and honestly have never worked as hard as I have. I promise I am not a Martyr, just confused as none of this makes sense to me anymore. I really do need help. I have filed for permanent disability with a company to help me and now have to see a judge because my pain dr. will not support my disability or release my medical records. So with just my word and the list of the many medications I am on I continue to have to prove to everyone I am to ill to continue to work. I feel I do deserve to use my Social Security Benefits I worked so hard for and do not demand it but have an honest reason for asking for it. Anyway...Thank you for your time and concern if nothing else it was good to be able to express how I feel and hopefully you have professionals that believes in Fibromyalgia as true illness that could lead to disability.
Shelly Ramay.
