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Suggest Treatment For Fibromyalgia

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Posted on Mon, 20 Jun 2016
Question: I think I have Fibromialga...
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Answered by Dr. Bruno Mascarenhas (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Fibromyalgia

Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,

Welcome to HealthCareMagic.com

I am Dr.Bruno Mascarenhas. I have read your question with care and understand that you think that you have fibromyalgia. Let me try to help you

Fibromyalgia (FM) will present with
1. Long time musculoskeletal pain and tenderness or “pain all over.”
2. Fatigue,
3. Unrefreshing sleep
4. Anxiety

The Pain will be typically above and below the waist on both sides of the body and will involve the axial skeleton (neck, back, or chest). The pain will be poorly localized, difficult to ignore, severe in its intensity, and associated with a reduced functional capacity. Pain would be present most of the day on most days for at least 3 months.

Based on what you have written till now, I can find that your complaints closely resemble the textbook description of Fibromyalgia.

It has to be also noted that the following drugs will produce features similar to Fibromyalgia
(1) Statins
(2) Aromatase inhibitors
I understand that you are taking Simvastatin 20mg
So there is a good probability that your symptoms are due to Simvastatin

You have mentioned that you have been pretty healthy till you were 50.
If these symptoms had started after you started taking Simvastatin, that pretty much says that this is more likely do be due to Simvastatin. In that case, you have to consult your doctor and ask them to stop / change over simvastatin.

If the pain and other symptoms persist even after you have changed the drug, we may have to do the following investigations

1) Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
2) C-reactive protein (CRP)
3) Complete blood count (CBC)
4) Complete metabolic panel
5) Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

The following may be needed based in the results of the preliminary investigations
1) Antinuclear antibody (ANA)
2) Anti-SSA (anti-Sjögren’s syndrome A) and anti-SSB
3) Rheumatoid factor
4) Anticyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP)
5) Creatine phosphokinase (CPK)
6) Viral and bacterial serologies
7) Spine and joint radiographs

Hope you found the answer helpful.

If you need any clarification / have doubts / have additional questions / have follow up questions, then please do not hesitate in asking again. I will be happy to answer your questions.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Deepak
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Bruno Mascarenhas

Neurologist, Surgical

Practicing since :2000

Answered : 813 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Fibromyalgia

Brief Answer: Fibromyalgia Detailed Answer: Dear Madam, Welcome to HealthCareMagic.com I am Dr.Bruno Mascarenhas. I have read your question with care and understand that you think that you have fibromyalgia. Let me try to help you Fibromyalgia (FM) will present with 1. Long time musculoskeletal pain and tenderness or “pain all over.” 2. Fatigue, 3. Unrefreshing sleep 4. Anxiety The Pain will be typically above and below the waist on both sides of the body and will involve the axial skeleton (neck, back, or chest). The pain will be poorly localized, difficult to ignore, severe in its intensity, and associated with a reduced functional capacity. Pain would be present most of the day on most days for at least 3 months. Based on what you have written till now, I can find that your complaints closely resemble the textbook description of Fibromyalgia. It has to be also noted that the following drugs will produce features similar to Fibromyalgia (1) Statins (2) Aromatase inhibitors I understand that you are taking Simvastatin 20mg So there is a good probability that your symptoms are due to Simvastatin You have mentioned that you have been pretty healthy till you were 50. If these symptoms had started after you started taking Simvastatin, that pretty much says that this is more likely do be due to Simvastatin. In that case, you have to consult your doctor and ask them to stop / change over simvastatin. If the pain and other symptoms persist even after you have changed the drug, we may have to do the following investigations 1) Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) 2) C-reactive protein (CRP) 3) Complete blood count (CBC) 4) Complete metabolic panel 5) Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) The following may be needed based in the results of the preliminary investigations 1) Antinuclear antibody (ANA) 2) Anti-SSA (anti-Sjögren’s syndrome A) and anti-SSB 3) Rheumatoid factor 4) Anticyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) 5) Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) 6) Viral and bacterial serologies 7) Spine and joint radiographs Hope you found the answer helpful. If you need any clarification / have doubts / have additional questions / have follow up questions, then please do not hesitate in asking again. I will be happy to answer your questions. Let me know if I can assist you further. Take care.