Once upon a time, I was a vibrant, youthful teenager... My First Encounter
During my first pregnancy, I had contracted chicken pox from my young nephews and niece. Though it made for an irritable time in my initial trimester, I hadn't given it much aforethought. In
last part of my pregnancy, I noticed some weakness in my legs and arms, but naturally assumed it was part of gestational effects.
It was after I gave birth, that I began having more frequent physical difficulties, but again, attributed these nuisances to normal post-partum effects. As time progressed, I began losing balance & coordination; and even dropped everyday household items such as glasses, keys, and other things as well. I had finally had enough when my rib cage began to feel broken and I couldn't stand pain any longer. Over a decade later, and after numerous doctor visits, MRIs and multiple lab tests; I was finally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.
What is Fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain illness that can cause musculoskeletal pain in various areas of body, is characterized by fatigue, and is often associated with Restless Leg Syndrome, Migraine and rheumatism - to name a few. Additionally, attacks of fibromyalgia seem to spontaneously come and go.
At first, I was treated with multiple 'pain aids' that did help with pain, but made me even more tired than I was before I took medicines. Eventually, I went off medications and focused on my work and simply 'ignored' illness. I figured if I had to live with it, I might as well accept it.
What I Didn't Know
What I didn't realize was that Fibromyalgia can weaken a person so much that sometimes, individuals can be more quickly injured or more prone to other conditions than those without Fibromyalgia. That's when I experienced my first real encounter with its lethal effects. While at work, I wasn't doing anything too terribly physical. However, it was day in and day out repititions of physical labor that not only added to my condition but wrecked further havoc on me as well - and left me susceptible to injury.
On Job Injury
There I was, performing my normal work activities when, 'Ouch!' and 'Oh my God!' entered my mouth. The pain was excruciating. Numbing and impairing. With a simple maneuver, I was incapacitated. Pain and tingling numbness ran down my right side. It was unbearable. Not only that, I could barely make it to office because I had to drag my right leg to get to where I needed to be.
When I got to hospital, I was told that "...you sprained your back..." That was it. No MRIs, just a quick once-over to tell me that all my pain, my lack of feeling - according to workers compensation' doctors - was merely a 'sprained back.'
I knew I had fibromyalgia, but it had NEVER acted in this sense. Not because I was 'weak,' but because my right side had gone totally numb. It was frustrating to say least. Nearly 9 months after my injury, and even working on light-duty while taking heavy pain killers, doctors FINALLY found that my right shoulder had been subluxated (dislocated) and scheduled me for surgery. After surgery, I went through months of agonizing physical therapy to get my right arm back into its proper range of motion. But numbness, back pain and lack of feeling in my legs still came and went without any signs of remorse.
Shocking Discovery
By time I had went through my rehabilitation, my employer 'let me go' because I was obviously unable to work. I attempted to go back to work as an office manager for a wonderful & understanding employer, (I figured it was light work.) and performed fairly well for a few months. Suddenly, I was in a hospital emergency room - this time, I came out in a wheelchair. Not only did MRI tests confirm I had a herniated disc at C-3/4, but I also had a spinal lesion (myelopathy) at C-1/2. Strange that workers compensation doctors coudn't find it, but numerous MRI tests this time, confirmed it.
