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Narcotics = What else works?

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Posted 10/29/2008 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
What else works?
Posted 10/29/2008 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
I'm only on vicodin right now. It helps but somedays it's just not enough. My pain dr said I may need to go on heavy stuff daily instead of just as needed, but he wants me to try a spinal cord stimulator first, which scares the heck out of me.

he told me that since the other fibro medications don't work and if the stimulator doesn't work the last resort is the narcotics. But he worries about my age and how I may need to increase often and then once I'm at the top then there really is no where to go from there, and since I'm young I may not have anything else that will help once I reach that point.
Posted 10/29/2008 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
I take norco and soma. But that doesn't always get it. But I don't want to go to anything stronger atm. I am afraid of running out of options.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/30/2008 5:38 AM (GMT 0)
Some people do require stronger pain meds , I was one.  I dont like needing narcotics but I have no choice , the difference in my pain was immense.  I use norspan patch, but I live in Australia.  Everyone is different in their pain levels  , I see a pain specialist.  sue2z

Posted 10/30/2008 12:55 PM (GMT 0)
I tried Ultram, but it didn't do anything for me. It might work for you. It does for some people. I take lortabs and xanax. Plus, I am also on Lyrica, and I also have Robaxin, which is a muscle-relaxant. If you are depressed, I would talk to your doctor about Cymbalta. In some cases, it has helped up the pain threshhold in the brain. It might help you. I also use Lidoderm patches, which have lidocaine in them. They do wonders for my back. You might want to consider them. Hope this helps.

Posted 10/30/2008 1:06 PM (GMT 0)
I read an article about 4 months ago that said that pain meds do not help Fibro patients because the brain does not process the drug properly. Kinda like ADHD meds are stimulants, but if you give it to someone who needs it, they go to sleep.

Just my two cents.
Posted 10/30/2008 1:43 PM (GMT 0)

I totally understand your concern about taking narcotics. I have been on them for over 20 years, for fibromyalgia and I can tell you that never, NOT ONCE, did I ever abuse them or feel that I was becoming addicted to them. Am I dependent on them? Yes, definitely...they are what help me to function daily. I work an "almost" full time job (medical transcriptionist from home office, so I can schedule my hours according to my day), and I have three dogs, who I exercise "just about" every day. Without Vicoprofen, as I said, I would not be able to function, the pain would simply be too intense. Before Vicoprofen, I was on Vicodin. Those are the only two I have tried. I've been on Vicoprofen since it came out, which was better than 8 years ago, can't remember exactly, and the dosage is the same for me. I do take it daily, about every 4 hours to keep pain levels at a minimum. I was told a long time ago by a pain specialist you should wait until the pain is too bad, because then muscles tighten and it also affects you emotionally.

As far as narcotics NOT working for fibromyaglia? I beg to differ. Just run a search on-line on opioids and fibromyalgia and see all the studies that have been done and have shown how successful they are.

Posted 10/30/2008 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Kris13-
I got a scs in March for lower back pain and nerve pain in my legs. It helps tremendously! My leg pain has decreased by probably 75% and the back pain by 30-40%. I began having the fibro symptoms about three months ago and for me, the stimulator doesn't seem to be very helpful. I experience a different kind of pain in my legs that the stim doesn't touch! Your pain may be different and only your doctor would know if you were a good candidate for it, but I thought I would share my experience with you so you would have more information. Good luck!
Posted 10/31/2008 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
Terrie, yes I worry the SCS won't help because most of my really bad pain is from spondylitis and I've been told it won't help that. They seem to only help nerve pain the most. I've had nerve tests done and all is fine.

I also agree with MT lady narcotics help my fibro pain when nothing else does. It may not help it much, but what it does it makes it so I can function.

One thing that helps me the most is don't let the pain get so bad you can't stand it. Take a pill when you know it's getting bad but before it gets real bad. I've found this out through experience. If i get real bad all I can do is take a pill and go to bed. I have to leave work and go home and try hard to sleep through the pain. But if it gets like it's going to get bad then I take a pill and it never gets bad. Some days it's real easy to know if it'll get bad or not, others I miss it thinking I'll be ok then pay later.
Posted 11/1/2008 1:22 PM (GMT 0)

MT Lady,
I am with you there. I take narcotics, and I don't abuse them. Substance abuse runs in my family, so I am very careful with my meds. I'm not addicted to them, but, like you, I am dependant on them. I am supposed to take my every four hours, but I can't because that would only give me a 15 day supply and I have to make them last a month. I think that if people are careful with narcotics, then they can be very helpful. My lortabs are very helpful to me. But I don't abuse them.

Posted 11/1/2008 2:32 PM (GMT 0)

I'm glad you brought this up.  I have been having migraines on top of increased pain recently and I struggle with what to take and when.  I worry that I'll build an immunity to my pain killer (currently Tremadol).  I take it on an as needed basis, however, I often chase the pain, because I don't take it in time.  Yesterday I had a migrain and pain... I started out taking two tremadol, four hours later an imatrex and then another imatrex later that day and the next.  My migrain sort of took over and my fibro pain took up less of my attention.  However, nothing works well.  I do admit I sleep well with clanazopam (never could spell). 

I feel very willy nilly about my medication.  I really should find a way to be consistant, I fear building an immunity mostly so I reserve meds for really bad times.  I think I live with far too much pain and then have horrible times of trying to bring myself out of it.

The strange thing is I usually feel ok at work, I work 7:30 until 2:00, but I run for a nap if at all possible right after and when that doesn't happen, because family and life, I'm awful at night.  I skip eating and lots of life for a nap.

Good topic!

Hugs,
Tricia

Posted 11/1/2008 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
I also think narcotics help fibro a LOT. I am on fentanyl patches (2 of them), take oxycodone for the breakthrough pain, soma for muscle spasms, imitrex for migraines, and other meds. I LOVE the lidoderm patches - they are great for the back pain I get.

I take lyrica daily and it has been great for me. there is a new migraine medicine called Treximet for those of you who get migraines. It is imitrex and naprosyn (aleve) in one pill. My doc says it is great, has really helped some of her patients. I was excited until I realized it had naprosyn in it. I am allergic to the NSAIDS, and to naprosyn especially.

I hope you can find meds to help you.
Posted 11/1/2008 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
I'm glad for those of you who get relief from narcotics. But for the benefit of new people, I would like to say that I tried three different narcotic meds (darvocet, vicodin, percocet) and they did no good for me at all. Like someone said a while back, I might as well have been popping M&Ms. Apparently some people with fibro do not have good enough or enough opiod receptors in their brain. So we have to find other ways to relieve pain. Diane
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