I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia back in early 1977. I took care of my mother-in-law who had cancer for about 4 months - I lifted and turned her in her bed in resulting in a bulging disc and had to have a discectomy in 2000. In 2002 I was in a head on collision which resulted in 4 spinal fusions - 2 cervical and 2 lumbar.

I live with constant debilitating pain, I feel burning, tingling, buzzing, stinging, deep, numbness and sometimes my muscle just goes into spasm and swells and stays stuck for days. And on the right side of my right leg I get a feeling of several hot, super thick sharp bent needles are being stuck through my quad muscle especially when I lay down in bed to sleep - which makes it sooo hard to go to sleep! I also have a strong buzzing electrical feeling from my left elbow shooting to my fingers, my baby and ring finger are the greatest affected but I feel it in all.

I also have skin pain, sometimes it feels like a sunburn. If my husband rubs the back of my neck and stops, I still feel an electrical sensation in that exact area for some time after and it's very uncomfortable! I have trouble with swelling too, in my hands and feet and right leg. My right knee is bone on bone due to Osteoarthritis. I've had migraines since 1977 when I was pregnant with my first son. I have asthma - my pulmonologist has diagnosed me with COPD. I feel like I am falling apart at the seams and I'm only 56. In my heart and soul I am hyper and want to be busy all the time but reality is, it seems to take me forever and if I'm not careful I will suffer the consequences.

My FM has worsened greatly, I wake early every day with excruciating pain. I talk my morning medicine with a cup of coffee and sit in my recliner with the lights out and wait for the medicine to soak in to my aching body. After awhile I open my Bible app on my cell and read the verse of the day and meditate on the Word.

Honestly if it weren't for Jesus I just don't know what I would do! My husband is really good at listening and trying to help when he can. My neck often goes into spasm and just locks up and causes my head to get stuck and I can't move so he rubs on some ointment before I go to bed in hopes that I will wake and it will release - sometimes it takes a few days.

He was a Chiropractor until he just couldn't handle his pain any longer  - he was born with spondylosis and had his first back surgery in 1982- he has had a total of 5 lumbar surgeries so he knows what pain can do.

I read all the stories of people who suffer with chronic pain, Fibromyalgia, RSD -etc..... It just breaks my heart to hear the suffering - its strange but I feel like I just ran into all my relatives - you know - people you look like or have similar traits. Being adopted and being raised in a family of 4 children, it was hard to see everyone looked like each other accept me. I didn't find out I was adopted until I was 16 - and what a shock! I found my birthmother when I was 29 and met at 30 and what joy it was to meet someone who looked just like me!

Well, even though I would love to be cured of this agony - if not then at least it is nice to be able to know others who feel the way you do and can help you in some way to feel somewhat "normal"

I just know that the Lord is in control and that gives me great peace!