Fibromyalgia Support Group

How many of you have severe muscle stiffness?? This is one of my main concerns with fibro lately. I have to constantly stretch every half hour or I tighten up and it causes pain. I am most stiff in my neck, shoulders, back of my head, and the muscles that attach under my chin. Anyone else have this issue???

I have also started to get really stiff ankles and shins. Does anyone else experience this? It gets stiff and then my ankles ache!! I just need to hear that others get this way because I am scared because muscular dystrophy is in my family history. My great uncle and aunt had this disease. They did a muscle enzyme test and EMG which are two ways to diagnose muscular dystrophy and both tests were normal. I could use any advice from others!!

Imcclure~

I have terrible stiffness, I wind up walking around like an old person It is the worst in the morning and at the end of the day. But, it also starts if I have been sitting for a long time.

Mandy

I have it and I don't like it. Car rides are a pain in the ........

Post edited by: svavarn, at: 04/06/2013 07:05 AM

I get the same things, I have had shoulder surgery that has helped some but my neck is really bad some days. I'm glad you mentioned the ankle stiffness, I was beginning to think I was losing my mind. When I get up from the chair or get out of bed, the pain and stiffness is so bad, I can't walk for a few minutes. My doc told me it was all part of the fibro. I tested negative for ms and went through all the nerve studies too. I hope you feel better soon....check with your doctor just to be safe.

Connie

I have extreme stiffness and pain. Mine is caused from RA. What I do to help relieve this is: Do light stretches while sitting, moving around some, keep painful body areas heated using an electric lap blanket and heating pad, plus swearing socks and sometimes gloves, sometimes I turn on my one room heater. Hot baths help. I or hubby will massage painful body part(s). Pain lotions, I use Stop The Pain, and for me, pain meds. In fact, I don't think I could stand it without pain meds. The best thing I have found to date is my heating matress pad. I turn it on high about 1-2 hours before bedtime, lay a heavy folded quilt on my side (hubby keeps his side off) of the bed,this gets bed hot. I sleep on it all night and now when I get up it is with little pain or stiffness. However, after being up for about 30 mins, my pain and stiffness are back. In my case this tells me heat is the number 1 symptom reducer. But I can't (nor want to) lie in my heated bed all day.

Yeah, I get stiffness and pain in my ankles and shins. My ankles are so stiff and they ache. I will try to using the heat to help loosen my muscles. I just get worried that my muscles get so stiff and tight and I always seem to think that there is something else wrong with me besides the fibro. Thanks for all of your help!!

Yes, I always have issues with stiffness. My doc told me that if feeling up to it, sometimes exercise like a small walk, or even yoga is helpful. I've found that it can be, obviously it's different for everyone. My neck, shoulders, and hips usually are the worst. I also have horrible jaw pain, I seems with Fibro anything is fair game. Sometimes a good ol' fashioned heating pad or hot shower is a nice cure for the moment. Take care, get well!

I stay very stiff. When I do anything or don't do anything. Right now, my neck is so stiff it is numb in places and this is after I have taken a muscle relaxer. My stiffness is very bad in my neck, fingers, ankles and knees. I like heat on them it feels very good and I also like a hot shower. I think it would feel good to get in a hot tub but I don't do it because of my back it is hard to get comfortable in there.

The RA keeps me stiff if I don't move and the OA hurts me the more I move. Seems like a no win situation. But not so. I have learned ways to help myself. I hope all get relief. Hugs