I've noticed over the past year or so that the outside of my upper arms, the sides of my torso and the outside of my thighs (where the IT band runs) are very tender to the touch. To the point where if I scratch one of those spots, it hurts and I can feel the touch for literally 1-2 minutes after. IT band stretches on a foam roller are unbearably painful, and when I go to the chiropractor, if he uses the pulse gun thing on my outer legs I come very close to tears and if feels like I'm being shot. I know the pulse isn't that hard because he uses it on other parts and they are nowhere near as tender as this. One of my little guys poked me in the side of my torso this weekend and it hurt so much it took my breath away. Tickling is very painful.
I have no pain in these areas unless they're being touched, and I'm not generally a wuss about pain. I work out, I run, bike and swim and do yoga and pilates and get regular aches from a good workout, but nothing chronic or debilitating.
Has anyone had pain like this? Was it a sign of something miserable like fibromyalgia or was it treatable and what did you do to treat it? Because it's only along the sides of my body I'm hoping that it's something that chiro or acupuncture could help with. I've mentioned it to my primary care physician but it was in the course of a physical and she wasn't concerned. It's certainly not debilitating or even interfering with my life, but if it's a possible sign of something chronic I guess I'd rather know sooner than later and will actually seek out a diagnosis and/or treatment.
Don't you love how we moms just live with pain for years before thinking "hey, maybe I should do something about this?" but we'd have our kids checked out much sooner?
Thanks everyone! I'll probably start with the chiro/naturopath and then move on to my PCP if he can't help. I did mention the leg pain when I was being treated for a lower back injury but he assumed it was from tight IT bands relating to the injury. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it's a dietary inflammation, that actually makes sense to me. I really hope it's not fibro...my mom has that and CF and I dread the possibility of dealing with the same issues. Thanks for the info!
Have you asked the chiropractor about this? I don't know if there is a condition with this symptom but it seems that a chiropractor with his experience and skill in body dynamics would know.
I've been screened for fibromyalgia and have a cousin with it. I doubt, very much, that it's fibromyalgia. Their are specific pain sensor spots used to diagnose it and they are on the back.
If you see a chiropractor anyway, why not mention it to them? Did you just endure the pain from the activator gun without saying anything to the chiro? I would bring it up with them as a first course of action.
Hope you find relief soon!!
Okay, this may sound crazy, but I went through a ton of testing for MS because I was having a slew of symptoms that included pain like this. The tests were not conclusive, but the doctor was pretty sure I have MS but wanted to wait a year and do more tests. In the meantime, I realized the pain was bad on days when I consumed a lot of diet soda or crystal lite. But when I was out of it and drinking just water or plain tea, the pain went away. I eventually cut out all artificial sweetener and all the symptoms basically went away. Now, even if I just have a stick of sugarless gum, the symptoms come back. And I know other people who have gone through this. The doctor never even addressed diet or environment with me -- just jumped into a lot of invasive tests and the next step would have been medicines. Just a thought -- before you jump into my shoes, you might want to consider if this is a possibility.
I get a very similar reaction if I eat nuts. The pain isn't in my joints but my skin. Torso feels like I have been beat with a 2x4. Arms hurt to just touch. Start keeping a food journal. Simply learning to avoid a food is a small price to pay to go pain free.
First thing I thought when I started reading this was "fibromyalgia." This is BEFORE I got to that part of your post. One of the main "symptoms" of fibro is chronic pain. It's generally believed to be the result of hypersensitivity of the nerves. USUALLY, the pain is joint pain, but I believe (since it's hypersensitivity of nerves) that it CAN occur anywhere. It would definitely be worth getting checked out.
This sounds like my mom, who does have fibromyalgia. I think pain when being touched was one of her first symptoms along with tiredness. Now, 10+ years after diagnosis, she has chronic pain all over even when she's not being touched. She also has extreme fatigue, brain fog, irritable bowels...and so on.
I have fibromyalgia and it sounds really familiar. I don't always experience pain and/or tenderness in all or many areas at the same time, either. When I do that's a bad day for me, today is one. I woke up feeling like a huge hand is pressing on the middle of my back where my bra back is and had to take a Tramadol. It's wearing off and the pain is still there, another sign of a bad day.
If you continue to experience pain or other symptoms I sure would address it again with your primary physician.
http://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-fibrom...
~ Just read your SWH, if you don't know already - because your mom has fibromyalgia and CF you are more at risk tor developing them or other auto-immune disorders. Sorry, but it's a fact. Mention this when you go for answers.
My first thought while reading this was fibromyalgia. Someone already mentioned, but aspartame (any artificial sweeteners or msg, autolyzed yeast, torula yeast, etc) is a huge trigger for any neurological disorders. Lyme disease is also a great imitator and is often misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia or ms. That's something to think about since you are living in a high risk area. A PCP that brushes off symptoms as insignificant is a bit insulting if your instinct is telling you there's something going on. Hope you find all the missing pieces to this puzzle.
It is my theory that all non-germ induced illnesses are due to the body not getting what it needs. And the body is not being able to defend against germs because of not having what it needs. All are due to diet mostly and environmental factors.
I'd suggest viewing these:
You probably don't have MS, but this is helpful to everyone:
http://www.terrywahls.com/about-Terry-Wahls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLjgBLwH3Wc
http://www.terrywahls.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic_diet
http://www.mercola.com/article/carbohydrates/paleolithic_...
http://neanderthin.com/site/index.htm
Once you remove offensive foods from your diet, you'll discover other things that bother you. Just keep eating what makes you feel healthy, energetic, and good, and cut out what makes you feel sleepy, and lousy.
Good luck!
