good meds for my pain

I posted this on the Chronic Pain area, but will post it here since I may have Fibro.

Well I am hating asking this question because I don't want to be referred to as a drug seeker, but here is my back ground first...

Four-and-a-half years ago I was involved in what I thought was to be a minor car accident. Basically I developed a migraine along with neck and I guess shoulder pain that pretty much lasted a year. You named the therapy, I probably tried it. Physical therapy, chiropractor, multiple types of injections, massage, and medications. I was immediately put on Topamax, then later Cybalta. I took muscle relaxers and hydrocodone as needed. Eventually I was also put on Ultram. My doctor believed I had fibromyalgia, but I never had any tests.

I eventually healed,but never completely. Every now and then I would get the neck and shoulder pain, but only a few times a month. It was something I could handle. I kept the prescription for the muscle relaxer and downgraded to a prescription for tylenol with codeine.

Back in June I started getting migraines so my Primary Care put me back on Topamax.The migraines have tapered off, but my neck and shoulder pain is back. Well it's going on two-and-a-half months and I am back to nonstop pain. It is not as severe as before, but it is definitely bad. The bulk of my pain is in my neck, and I have constant tension in my shoulders, thus causing tension headaches. Massage helps, but only for a day or two, then I am back to the constant tension. I feel pain almost immediately upon laying down, and even sitting down on my couch irritates my neck and causes pain.

I have an appointment to see a rheumatologist, but I can't get in until October. I have a follow-up with my Primary Care on Monday, so I am wondering if there are any good meds that might be worth trying to help me with the type of pain I am experiencing. I work full time, so I don't want anything that will impair my thinking, but I really want, scratch that, I really need a break from this pain. So anything y'all can suggest I would really appreciate. Perhaps something different than I have already tried.

I have been more fortunate this time around and able to stay away from depression and keep a positive attitude, but I am not going to lie, this sucks being in constant pain.

Not at all. The only pain I had before was menstrual migraines. I'm sure sitting at a computer all day contributes to my pain now, but something from the accident definitely jarred something and ultimately started all this.

Sorry you are having more pain, but its always best to have your Dr and you decide what medications you need. I find cold and heat packs work to relax some of my sore spots and I do enjoy a soothing bath with a few drops of essential oil. I hope you get some relief and pain management soon.

I use a bed buddy a lot. Do you? It gives off moist heat. For those who don't know what they are, they are a tube made out of fabric filled with rice or beans. You put them in the microwave and heat it up. Wrap it up in a towel and put around your neck. Or wherever the pain is. They give off moist heat. And if you can't find one, you can make one out of a tube sock. Just fill 3/4 full with long grain cooking rice. They really come in handy in the winter.

Ohhh massage. Sounds good right now. I will have to take a muscle relaxer instead. lol... Darn...

Hugs,s, Karen

For an herbal muscle relaxer try beta-alanine which is an amino acid. I use it with
true calm for the nerve endings. Super Cissus RX is also good for rebuilding muscles,
tendons and ligaments and has a built in painkiller. Bromelain is a good anti-inflammatory.
I just started using L-Citrulline which produces oxidation to the muscles a few days ago
so I will see how this works with the rest. Right now I'm beginning to think the vit-d may
also be a key to pain issues as the other day I was in the sun for around 5 hours and had
very little pain. Today I push mowed for 5 hours and I feel fine (tons of sun). So the D
may be part of my issues too. I don't do many dr drugs only hydrocordone when I can't
kick it herbally and ambien if absolute needed. I can make 30 pills last forever.

Have you tried Yoga Holmesla? I find it's one of the exercises my body truly thanks me for. Even when I'm in pain, I do it. It's the fatigue that bogs me down lately:( If you wanna try that at home, there are some FABULOUS videos for 10 minute Pilates to relaxing Yoga that you can get online *'Yoga Zone' is my pic of the litter*. There's also this Pilates with the balance ball that works on your flexibility. BEST...FIND....EVER!!! :D

Good luck hon, I hope you get your answers. We've all been in your shoes and it's hard. I hope you get all the support in the world once you do find out;)

Homesla, with the type of pain you are describing, you might want to consider seeing an orthopedic doctor.  They specialize in the musculoskeletal system.  They could probably really see what is going on in your case.  Taking medications just covers up the problem but doesn't take care of it.  These types of doctors could possibly help you. 

I'm not a doctor but this sounds like a problem with the neck and possibly the spine.  I know I'd see an orthopedic doctor if this were happening to me.

 

Please let us know what you do and what help you receive.  We really do care about you.

 

Sherrine

Your PCP should be able to give you orders for a cervical MRI, then when you receive the radiology report your doctor should be able to help you decide what the next step should be.  Osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, bulging disc, herniated disc, facet irritation just to name a few could cause the symptoms you are having but without an MRI you won't know.  Any nerve irritation can cause your symptoms.  My biggest problems are muscle spasms in my entire back that are caused from nerve irritation from facet syndrome and bone spurs.  When the nerves are involved the pain can radiate all over the place not just one spot.  Depends on which nerve is affected.  

I was wondering too what dosage of the Ultram (tramadol generic) you tried?  I was taking 100mg 3xday but just had it increased to 4xday by my PM doctor.  I do take mine along with tylenol though and it does help.  Just be careful that you don't go over 4000mg tylenol daily to save your liver.  Some people prefer an nsaid but these you should take with food to lessen stomach problems.  But the Ultram does show better results when taken with a anti-inflammatory of some sort.

I too use baclofen.  I had tried alot of other muscle relaxers including flexeril but they just made me too sleepy to function during the day.  The baclofen doesn't do this but everyone is different.

Good Luck and do consider an MRI to get to the bottom of what is really causing your pain.

My doc prescribed Ultram, Elavil, and Flexaril. I haven't gotten them filled yet, because I got the prescription on Friday and later in the day realized I need them to write the Rx for a 90 day supply to fax it into our prescription drug plan. I had all my questions/concerns written down, but when it got to the prescription, my brain was not there & I totally forgot what we had to do with my prescription. But now that I read these responses, I'm not so sure these meds are even going to help. Rheuma doc seems to think they will. I am feeling somewhat disgusted and depressed this morning.

Unfortunately this disease is not one that can be treated with something universal like antibiotics for an infection. You've got to play with the meds, despite your fears. Mine were humongo because in 2006 I did have a med that ended up leaving me with a terrible case of IBS. My IBS went un-diagnosed for 6 months!!! By the time we got to the bottom of things, my gut was a mess. I ate yogurt like the specialist told me, and though it helped, it looks like the end product was my Fibro. The pain was too much for me to bear and I could not walk because everything was aimed at my hips:( I had to cave-in an try something, ANYTHING.

In the end, I found an AWESOME specialist who's helped me a lot. His caring nature mixed in with the fact that he's gotta be compassionate to his patients makes him just PERFECT, and now my I'm slowly regaining my life:)
~V~

I know this may seem strange, with the tendernitis in my shoulders the GP gave me Voltaren and with using that my neck pain and head ache eased off.

After going off it several weeks later the headaches etc came back.

I suffered from whiplash several years ago which left me with the constant neck pain. I will be going back on the meds in a week or too.

Kathy

FMS, CFS, IBS, MIGRAINE,MENAPAUSE