I saw my rheumatologist yesterday. She is treating me for my DJD, OA and fibro. I asked her about Lyrica but she said the insurance wouldn't cover it unless I tried another med. first. She also said she didn't want to prescribe it because I am already on enough meds that make me sedated because of my bipolar. Any way, she thinks fibro is a sleep disorder. I have to go for a sleep study. I do snore and my sleep is very disturbed. I do think I have a sleep disorder but I don't agree that fibro is a sleep disorder. Why would sleep problems cause fibro? Any other fibro sufferers ever heard this?
You can have a sleep disorder AND fibro - the two often go hand in hand. But I'm not aware of any study that says sleep disorders cause severe pain.
Doctors don't know how to treat chronic pain, so they come up with all sorts of lame excuses not to help you.
The latest theory about fibro, is that it is caused by problems in the central nervous system. Look up some medical articles and send them to your doctor. BTW you doctor sounds like a jerk.
I agree with my dr. being a jerk. But, I am having trouble finding someone who can help me with fibro. My primary dr. says it is symptomatic and you can't treat it. The rheuamatologist claims it is a sleep disorder. The only one who seems to have any kind of knowledge is my psychiatrist but he is limited to helping me with my bipolar and other mental issues not the physical things. He tried to prescribe Lyrica and the insurance wouldn't cover it because he is my psychiatrist not a medical dr.
I understand not being taken seriously - but don't listen to people who tell you it can't be treated.
There isn't a magic pill that is a cure all, but there are medications that can help. There are anti-depressants, anti-convulsants, etc.
Is there a research hospital near you? You can try to participate in a medication study - that's what I did.
Actually, there's quite a bit of evidence that disordered sleep can increase pain, and may be responsible for fibromyalgia in at lest a portion of cases. My neurologist said that sleep deprivations studies were attempted years ago, but the study was stopped because of the horrific side effects (pain, delusions, hallucinations...) He said sleep deprived rats do not survive long -- they die of immune disfunction - infections or autoimmune disease. So sleep deprivation is very serious.
My neurologist also believes that sleep quality is very important for fibromyalgia patients. He said he's not sure whether sleep disorders cause fibro, or whether the fibro causes the sleep disorder, but he strongly believes that fibro patients need to make sure they get good quality sleep. He tends to believe that the sleep disorder actually causes the fibro, because so many of his fibro patients have histories of sleep problems predating the fibro, often having a history of insomnia or "burning the candle at both ends." The latter was definitely my experience, as I had been working 60 hour plus work weeks, swing shifts, extra jobs, jobs with "on-call" responsibilities.... for about a decade before the fibro was diagnosed.
I had a sleep study done when I was first diagnosed with the fibro, and the study showed that I had sleep apnea and for some reason my brain never seems to enter the deepest most restful stage of sleep (also common in many fibro patients). I was prescribed the CPAP (the machine that pushes air gently into your nose or mouth). It really did help quite a bit. After I lost 40 lbs, the apnea went away, but sleep quality definitely plays a big role in my flares. When I'm flaring I need more sleep, and when I don't sleep well I get more flares.
It doesn't mean that restoring sleep function will "cure" your fibromyalgia, but it definitely can be an important part of treatment.
I will say that most of my flare ups also occur around the times i am struggling with my anxiety disorder. I do have disrupted sleep with the GAD and now that all of this has been brought up... i could definitely see a correlation between the two.
Both my GAD and Fibro were much worse when i was diagnosed with the Fibro 10 years ago and not seeking any treatment for the GAD.
I was also having flare ups when my husband and i moved in together (living in sin.. lol!) and he brought his bed into the apartment which was AWFUL and hard as a rock... i was having a horrible time sleeping and then i was stiff as stiff could be and so sore. Since we got a new bed for a wedding present last year, i have been feeling TONS better.
I got the results of my sleep study yesterday. I have moderate to severe sleep apnea and I don't reach all the sleep stages. I have to go back next Saturday the 29th for another study. This time I will be hooked up to a CPAP machine.
I'd love it if this actually helps me get a good nights sleep. It has been so long since I have had a restful sleep - at least 3 years.
I got the results of my sleep study yesterday. I have moderate to severe sleep apnea and I don't reach all the sleep stages. I have to go back next Saturday the 29th for another study. This time I will be hooked up to a CPAP machine.
I'd love it if this actually helps me get a good nights sleep. It has been so long since I have had a restful sleep - at least 3 years.
Good luck! I hope this will help you. I know personally that my fibro flares most often when I'm sleep-deprived, so it would be fantastic if fixing the quality of your sleep will alleviate some of your pain!! Good luck!
My research has taught me that people with fibromyalgia do not get enough of what they call "restorative" sleep. So I tried several prescriptions to help me sleep better, and ended up on trazodone, which gives me restorative sleep. Others I've known who tried trazodone found they slept well but were too groggy the next day.
My mom and sister both have fibromyalgia and had the sleep studies and my sister is now on CPAP. She sleeps so much better as a result. Keep in mind that if the mask is uncomfortable there are other types of masks that can work, so speak up.
People with fibromyalgia are probably far more likely to have a sleep disorder of some sort, whereas people with sleep apnea (for instance) may not have FMS. I have FMS and also have sleep apnea & restless leg syndrome. I use a cpap and take meds.
Last edited by Engel; 04-30-2008 at 10:17 PM.
Reason: mis spell
I'm even more convinced that fibromyalgia is, or at least can be primarily a sleep disorder - particlulary sleep disorders that involve restorative sleep stages.
I'm now taking amitriptyline and cyclobenzaprine to get me into deep sleep. I'm having a lot fewer flares.
Linda, I just read your post and yes, I also have a sleep disorder that was originally believed to have caused my FM. I was diagnosed about 25 years ago with FM and the osteopath doctor I was seeing suggested that my interruptions of sleep patterns could result in the wide spread pain of FM. I owned a business that required me to get up every morning at 3 am...7 days a week, 40 weeks of the year. After 15 years of doing this, I had unexplained pain in every muscle of my body. I saw chiropractors, doctors and finally this osteopath who had just attended some sort of educational thing and he diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia....that was in 1984 when FM wasn't even acknowledged as a condition. There wasn't much in the way of treatments back then either so I took a lot of advil, had a lot of adjustments and indulged in biweekly massages. Since I sold the business 7 years ago, I have had "normal" sleeping hours yet the pain never subsided. That's when I found a sleep disorder doctor where I live (they are usually pulmonary specialists) and had a sleep study done. I have sleep apnea and now sleep with a CPAP machine that keeps my airway open all night so I get a sound sleep. I still have FM and so I am not convinced that a sleep disorder causes Fibromyalgia but I certainly believe it can trigger it's onset. The bottom line here is that I still have FM but at least I get a good night's sleep with it. I am going to assume that because you have a bipolar disorder, Cymbalta was not an option? Personally, I only take tramadol and aleve for my symptoms and just try to stay active. It's when I stop that I have the problems now. Old age??? Who knows but I just try to stay active. The sleep study will help with any sleep disturbance issues that a treatment of might help so I'd say go for it. Good luck with that.
Location: for now in Alabama, but moving back to Florida soon
Posts: 3
Height: 5'5
Fibro
Sleep disorders is one facet of fibro, then you have all the other symptoms, the constant pain in the joints, the foggy brain, the spasms in various body parts, the TMJ, depression and anxiety, and alot of other issues with it, and the cold affects me the worst, I was so much better with my fibro when I lived in Florida, I am moving back there, cause this cold weather makes it worse, I can barely get out of bed with my leg pains and back, and the new thing of being dizzy. I wish I could get rid of it, but I know part of it flaring up like it has, has been eating junk, so dieting and proper nutrition helps it alot. I don't sleep past 4 am, by that time I am so sore I need to get up and move.
fibromyalgia = sleep disorder ?
fms=sleep disorder
