I have finally been diagnosed and the diagnoses are: Fibromyalgia, Chronic Myofascial Pain, TMJ, and Restless Leg Syndrome (in my arms). I have started physical therapy twice a week for the TMJ and once a week for my back. Today, I had an EMG taken of my arms and learned that my nerves are good to go. Some of the docotrs I had seen in the past were concerned that I may have nerve damage. My doctor told me that my nerves were fine and that there's no evidence of carpal tunnel or anything either. Last night was a pretty bad night for me. I didn't sleep at all having been out of my Ambien CR. Because I was out of the Ambien, I had taken a generic sleep aid with Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) in it. My arms went crazy and the creepy crawly feeling in them got really bad. I also felt it a bit in my left leg. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep...maybe two hours. 
My doctor had suggested a book for me to read "Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain: A Survival Manual" and I am currently on the chapter on medications. Diphenhydramine had been listed in the chapter and the book stated that in about 20% of people, Benadryl acts as a stimulant instead of making them sleepy. I decided to do some research online on "Benadryl + Restless Leg Syndrome", and sure enough, I found a lot of information on how Benadryl can trigger nasty reactions in RLS. So I learned that Diphenhydramine and RLS do not mix. For those of you who have RLS, be very careful with antihystamines.
I'm so relieved to finally have a diagnosis after 6 years of wondering what was going on with me. I now have a direction in which I can go in terms of treatment.
No comments:
Post a Comment