I’ve had several people ask what my fibromyalgia & Lupus pain is like but the problem is it is very hard to explain because it can vary so much from day to day and person to person. I decided using my blog was probably the best way to respond to those that have asked. I decided I would try to explain just the basic part of the pain of living with Lupus and Fibro without going into all the other problems that are a part of it or any of the other health issues many people have in addition to them.
Today and for the last few days mine has been more in the muscles which means it has been more from the fibro than the Lupus. One way to describe it is think about what it is like when you have a muscle spasm/cramp in your foot or calf (sometimes called charlie horse) now imagine that in your arm, neck, back, when you breath you can have them in your ribs. I’ve been having them around my ribs and lung area along with my stomach area around my spleen/liver area as well as in my feet, legs, hands, neck and back. This also leaves you with a great headache usually as well. The problem is with these they can’t be massaged out. If someone is available they can help with the hands, arms, neck or leg area, but with the internal ones around the heart, ribs, lungs, etc…there isn’t anything you can do….muscle relaxers can help some but they rarely eliminate them completely they usually just help with the intensity of them. Now add in the Lupus pain and inflammation in the joints and the pain levels jump around every day. The pain can be tolerable one minute and excruciating the next depending on if it is a good day or bad one.
I’m just so grateful I am surrounded with fantastic, loving family and friends that try to understand something that is very hard and difficult to comprehend, if you have never dealt with it before. I’m also blessed to have medications that although it doesn’t take it away, it does help with the symptoms enough to make life worth living. Finally I serve an AWESOME GOD that is there with His strength, love and guidance with every breath I take and that is the ONLY way I can make it thought the nights like this one…PRAISE YOU, JESUS and Thank you for being with me.
