I've had it since the teenage years, Gail. I also have been diagnosed with hypo-thyroidism, Meinere's Disease, Epilepsy (life long), the jaw thingy (I never can remember that one), Spondylitis of both the Cerival and Lumbar regions on the spine among other things.
It's not any fun and light excercise is good, but since I like to walk I sometimes over do it. (But then who doesn't especially when it comes to shopping.)
I have Osteo Arthritis in C 6 & 7, L 4 & 5 plus a T zone disc as well as having it in both hands with it beginning to cause the knots to form in my finger joints and to disform the thumb and index finger knuckles on my right hand. I can't honestly say which is more painful the muscles or the joint pains. Even my left knee screams quite a lot, not so bad since I lost 33 lbs though.
I had problems getting a diagnois, even though their darted test showed nerve damage in both arms due to the pinched nerves in the neck, the neurosurgeon told me it was ALL in my head and to see a shrink. I found a good arthritis doc and finally got a diagnois' but the med he put me on had so many side effects I opted to go medicine less except for tylenol/advil and occassionally asprin. I've had lots of experience with reaction to meds.