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about to start Cymbalta, how long till it could help?!

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Posted 1/13/2010 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
I have SLE (lupus) and i have been seeing my doctor for the past week because there has been pain in my legs that is just unbareable, i have issues sleeping and getting every day tasks done. Everything form the waste down feels so weak and when i stand or walk it hurns into a bad pain and continues to get worse with movement. I tried steroids but they have not helped at all.

Today my doctor gave me Cymbalta to see if it helps although they have not told me that it is fibromyalgia they tend to keep me in the dark about everything. When did anyone start to see any kind of noticeable relief while taking cymbalta?

Posted 1/13/2010 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi DaniJav, I started taking Cymbalta recently (60mg) and noticed a slight lifting of depression and better sleep about 6 days after starting it.
Posted 1/13/2010 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
im more worried about the pain in my legs, the pain is so bad that i can not sleep. its driving me totally nuts!!!
Posted 1/13/2010 6:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Danijav, I have MCTD (lupus, scleroderma & RA) along with fibro. Steroids(prednisone)
has no affect on fibro because fibro isn't an inflammatory disorder even though it sure feels
like it. I knew I also had fibro because when I was on a prednisone taper, the visible
joint inflammation and pain was better, but the deep pain and achiness remained. A tender
point exam confirmed it.

My legs get a bone crushing feeling. I take Savella which is a SNRI like Cymbalta. I also take
a muscle relaxer Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine). The muscle relaxer really helps with taking the
edge off, and I take it when I am flaring only. I can't drive while I'm on it.

Soaking in a hot bath also helps with the leg pain. Any heat source will help.

Hope you feel better soon. Hugs, Robin

PS  It took about 7 weeks before I had noticed any difference on the Savella, we all

tolerate meds differently and hopefully you will find relief soon

Posted 1/13/2010 6:35 PM (GMT 0)
I dont know how to tell if there is a tender spot in my muscle pain, but it feels kinda like a aching weakness and it is more irrating then anything. I wish my doctor would give me something for imediate pain so i can stop sitting around waiting for all my meds to kick in. I have noticed that my vision is real blured now that i am starting the cymbaltia, so maybe it will work sooner then i expected!
Posted 1/13/2010 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
Danijav, Ask your doctor to do a tender point exam. There are 18 designated places on the body that are checked for tenderness. If you go to the top of page one, check out fibro 101.
You can check out all the symptoms of fibro, there are many that overlap with lupus.

Hugs, Robin
Posted 1/13/2010 7:36 PM (GMT 0)
it took 3 weeks on cymbalta to help me. works great on my depression, an a little with the neuropathies.

I also do hot soaks in the bath a few times a day. you can add some epsom salts to the bath about 1-2 cups.

also try taking b12 and magnesium if you are not already. run it by your doc make sure its ok.

I take b12 and magnesium shots and they really help. I would alos reccomend seeing a pain management doctor if you can.
Posted 1/13/2010 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
My husband is being stationed somewhere else(miliraty), so when we get there im going to see about getting pain mang. Ill talk to my doctor about trying all the vits, she tends to not tell me anything about my blood work i know she tested my muscles threw my blood but hasnt told me anything about it, just wants me to talk to someone about chronic pain......just a few months ago i was not in this kind of pain its strange how everything goes wrong all at once.
Posted 1/13/2010 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
Ive been on cymbalta,and I just shook all nite.Tremors like bad.Ive been diagnosed with fibro,b12 deficiency,hypothyroid,rls,but theres lupus in the family.I went to see a pain man. doc a few days ago...and shes probin from head to toe.They really need to check everything first before they give you something you dont need .Like I ve been on gabapentin for over a year,and before that it was lyrica.Maybe thats not what I should have been given at all.Maybe its ms,or lupus...But make sure they get results before they thro meds at you.
Posted 1/14/2010 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
im on so many meds right now, so ill deff talk to my doctor before i take anything else. thats horable that you have to go threw all that :(
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