Painful lumps all over body - what could they be? Fibromyalgia?

[MrsH1983]

I've had constant pain since I had my Covid booster jab in Jan 2022 which is mostly concentrated on my upper back, lower back and it's spreads all round my ribs.

On my torso, I have very painful patches and when I press or squeeze those areas, it feels like I can feel something under, like harder fatty tissue sort of thing. It moves around and there are also little lumps in the area.

I already have a large lipoma in my lower abdomen which has been looked at and no concerns so far. I am seeing the GP about this though as it is getting buffer and I'm getting another one next to it.

I suspect that I could have Fibromyalgia. Could painful lumps be related to that? Has anyone had anything similar?

I'm thinking worse case scenarios such as cancer etc but I do have health anxiety.

Bigger not buffer

Fibromyalgia don't have lumps but there are painful pressure points. Get yourself checked out.

Does it feel a bit like grains of rice under the skin/in the fatty tissue? If so, you could look up lipodema, it might be that? - I have other autoimmune things and only realised recently that I also have some lipodema, and the lipodema flares up (feels more sore/grainy/lumpy) when I'm overdoing it or my immune system is activated (eg after covid jab). Sorry if I'm on completely the wrong track but just thought I'd mention it in case

I have the doctors this Wednesday but I've been worrying about this for so long.

It's so hard to describe, it's not like a mass or anything but you can feel something it there. It feels more flat but it's really sore when pressed. I have quite a few areas like this all over.

It so hard to describe what it feels like. All over my body (even the non painful parts) it feels like tiny pea sized fatty lumps under my skin. It hasn't always been like this - only the last year or so.

I looked up what you said and a lot of the symptoms apply apart from the swollen and enlarged legs.

I don't know about fibromyalgia, but know someone who has Dercums disease, which presents with what appear to be lipomas over the body. They had it for years before being diagnosed (were told they were just harmless lipomas initially). It's really rare but might be worth a mention at your appointment? Hope you get some reassurance/resolution quickly.

I was suspecting this too. I read how it's usually alongside Fibro. I have numerous other symptoms of fibro, such as fatigue, pain all over the body, even feel pain if someone puts pressure on my skin slightly. I feel unwell a lot of the time too, no energy.

It's more the lumps that I'm worried about. Does the person you know get pain all over, specifically on the lipoma area?

I haven't quizzed them too much - they talked to me more about finding it unsightly so their confidence dipped (some were quite large, and they do now have surgery at intervals to have some removed). Tenderness and tiredness both feature though.

I can relate to your friend, I have one on my lower stomach and it's about the size of a lemon. It's getting bigger though so I'm going to have it looked at. That one doesn't hurt though.

Hi MrsH, I have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia and get these lumps so know exacting what you mean. They sting like mad when you press them! I especially notice them on my ribs. I've never found out what they are, other than maybe muscle knots/toxins in the muscles. Let me know if you get a diagnosis, hope you feel better soon.

I have fibro and have an awful lots of small hard, sore and painful knots just under the surface of the skin. This is from the stress that the muscles and tendons are under. Massage does help with mine, though to tbh I've so many now I feel over run with them.

Yes! That is like exactly what I have. It feels like it's severely bruised when pressed in that area but then another area nearby can be fine to touch. The little lumps under the skin feel like little peas but some are more elongated. They move around under the skin too when pressed.

What do yours feel like? Are they like little lumps under the skin? Do they move when pressed?

Sounds exactly the same as I get - definitely fibro I'm afraid.

I would be relieved with that diagnosis as I'm terrified it's something more serious.

Aside from the lumpy bits, I have pain everywhere, even twisting to get the toilet roll off the holder 😳. Then I will be in agony for hours. Sometimes difficult to walk too due to the pain in my back.

How does a GP go about diagnosing fibro?

They diagnosed me by testing pressure points. They firstly do tests to rule out other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Yep I'm always pulling muscles too just by moving suddenly! 😩 otherwise it's just something I live with, I just get tired easily and have to pace myself.

Me too. The other day I was putting a jumper on and I did something and I couldn't move for a couple of hours. I also wake up in pain and sometimes I can't sleep due to pain all over the body.

I too have these lumps just below my rib cage , on my abdomen. Some feeling longer in length , always assumed it was some kind of muscle /tendon . Last year I got them scanned and was assured they were lipomas and nothing to worry about.
They can sting and one area in particular I feel more often . I'm pregnant at the min so quite aware of them almost daily.
Did too wonder about Lipoedema but I have No other fatty lumps anywhere else other than on my abdomen .
Hope you get answers at the doctors Wednesday x

@MrsH1983 Yes, I always say knots but lumps fit the bill too. I do try to keep up with the massaging to break them up but after 20+ years it's become a bit overwhelming.
The knots are mainly just under the skin, but some do go deeper - as there are deeper muscles too.

Also yes to the knots moving when pressed/massaged.

I hope you get some answers from the GP.

Thanks everyone. Can I just ask to those who have fibromyalgia, does it make you feel quite unwell at times?

I have fibromyalgia (over twenty years) but I don't have those lumps everyone has mentioned.

The best way I can describe my fibro is to say (in a flare phase) its like the beginning of flu. All over body pains, unable to move, cant think, sheer exhaustion where even breathing is tiring, electric shocks and sweats/chills and im usually bedbound. When coming out of a flare up its similar to the end of flu. Still have pain and exhaustion but you can potter around for a couple of hours before having to rest again.

Yes it does, usually when I have been over exerting myself with work, gardening, housework, just anything really. In the beginning it was very bad - I could only walk a few yards at a time. But with daily effort over the years I can now walk a mile - or 2 on a really good day . I also take vitamins, massage arms, legs, any painful spots as needed, don't eat sugary foods, and am self employed so that if I have a bad day I can work around it.

Also as @Pixiedust1234 says, there is a massive amount of weird and wonderful symptoms, including the electric shock sensations, sweats & chills, floating, dizzyness, etc, etc.