QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Heller,
I am suffering extreme muscle pain and bodywide weakness and fatigue. I also have manic depression that is causing a horrible depression and serious suicide attempts. The fibro is making it so I can't tolerate the medicine for the bipolar. what can I do about the pain and the mental illness. Neurontin was to strong and I just feel like there is no hope left . Please respond back I need help desperately.
ANSWER:
You probably have fibromyalgia, which I believe is a combination of pinched nerves,
posture problems, anxiety and depression. It's extremely unusual for an individual
with fibromyalgia to not have the generalized anxiety disorder.
While posture is extremely important, treating all the psychiatric diagnoses is very
important. The
screening test I use for my patients will
likely be of great help. If you have the BPD, the first FAQ question will be of
assistance.
There definitely is hope!