Fibro and pain medication - newbie

Hello everyone,

I recently began seeing a new rhuematologist in my local town. I was previously seeing one at a teaching hospital 2 hours away. I loved my old dr, but she no longer works for the hospital and hasnt opened her own practice yet. She diagnosed me with Ankylosing Spondylitis. The treatment wasnt helping at all. After I started seeing the new doctor, he changed my diagnosis to Fibromyalgia. This diagnosis seems to fit better. I am on Lyrica currently and it seems to help a little, but nothing impressive.

To the point, my new Dr. doesnt believe in pain medication for Fibro. I have two vertabra that are mis-aligned and arthritis in my hands, knees, feet, middle and lower back. I have two trigger fingers as well (sorry for any typos). He understands me when I tell him the Lyrica isnt helping much yet and is increasing my dosage at the moment. What I dont understand is how he can take me off of the only thing that helps, pain medication. I am currently on Norco. He decreased my dosage by one each day last month, and then another one each day this month. He plans to have me off it completely by two months from now. The pain is not under control in the least bit. Does this make sense to anyone? He says that pain medication doesnt help with Fibro, but I beg to differ. It is only thing that has helped so far and it has been the only thing that has kept me from being miserable and losing my sense of who I am. I have a full time desk job and while my coworker and boss are really understanding, I dont want to have to start missing work because of him taking me off of the only thing keeping me moving.

Is anyone else on pain medication for Fibro? Does it work and what is it? What are your thoughts and your drs thoughts on this subject. My Dr. seems to believe that Ultram is the only thing that will help me and I am allergic to it. He has also taken me off of my muscle relaxers. It was Flexeril and a low dose, but I can tell the difference with being off of it. I never noticed any effects of being on it.

My mom thinks I need to switch Drs., but that is so involved and Im hoping to get advice on this subject before making any decisions.

Thank you all for your help.

I was previously a member of the RA forum, but since the diagnosis change, I have been reading in here.

Thank you Debbie.

My mom wants me to see her doctor, but he has a bad reputation of being one of those doctors who just writes prescriptions for whatever you want. She tells me that he is not like that anymore and that he truely cares for his patients. That he doesnt give you what you want and he gives you what you need. I want a doctor who gives me care and not just prescriptions. He is the only other doctor in my town. I am considering seeing him once to get my own opinion of him, but his reputation bothers me. Tramadol is the same as Ultram. One is the generic name. I dont know which one. I have tried it a couple of times and I have a bad reaction each time. I dont stop breathing or anything. I become constipated with the first pill and it gives me shakes and sweats and labored breathing. I can still breathe though. I deal with enough constipation without any medication causing it and the other effects it has on me...well it just isnt worth it for me to try it again. That is the only medication my current doctor believes in for Fibro, other than Lyrica, Savella and Cymbalta. I am going to talk to him, at my next appointment, about if he gets my messages when I call and what he does for other patients who cant take the medications he believes in. I also want to ask him to try me on one of the other two Fibro meds, because I am not seeing enough of a difference with Lyrica. I dont want to be on pain medication at all, but I am 27 years old and I would like to live a fairly decent life, somehow. I think about how my life would be if I had no assistance for the pain at all. It is scary. I have gone days before without pain medicine, so I know I can do it on good days, but on the bad days...life doesnt stop for me. I have a husband who works offshore and is gone most of the week. I do what I can in the house and he has no problem cleaning it top to bottom when he is home. I ususally make a list of the things I would like done that I just cant do or dont have the energy to do. I also have two dogs to keep up with...one of which, and most people who know him agree with me, either has adhd or autism. We have nicknamed him rainman. He is the stupidest, smartest dog I have ever met, but I cant ever seem to burn him out and I definatly cant take him for a run to do so. That would work, but I would get a flare up if I tried. My saving grace, when my husband is gone, is a laser light. When I have a migraine and he wants to play, the lights go off and I just move the laser light around the living room, burning him out and keeping me sane, while I try to get rid of the migraine. Nothing worse than a whiney dog, wanting to play and bothering you the whole time you are dealing with a migraine and trying not to vomit. I wouldnt know what to do without him though. He is definately entertaining and keeps depression at bay, which we all know is easy to fall into with this wonderful ailment.

Sorry for the long post. I guess I just needed to get some thoughts off my mind. Thank yall for always listening. I am always open to opinions or suggestions. More advice is definatly welcome.

I wander if he is in it for the money though. I thought he was, but he takes insurance and has a therapist in his office so that patients who need therapy can see the therapist at each appointment, at least. He supposedly (I say this because it is only heresay) cares about treating the patient mentally and physically and that is why he has that set up. He is also a strong beliver in Physical Therapy. I am too. It makes all the difference in the world for me. I would be much worse without it. I think I will talk to my husband when he gets back from this job and make an appointment with him. I need to meet him to get my own opinion. I am not going in blindly. I know his reputation and I have heard from a good few people that he isnt that way anymore. I know what to watch for, but I need to get my own opinion of him. And of course, I need my husband with me. He is good at reading people and is so supportive. He hardly ever misses any appointments. He never missed the important ones. I trust his opinion so much, so I think I need to feel him out and then talk to my husband to see what his thoughts are on the guy.

My other option is to stay where I am now or find another dr in baton rouge again. They were good, but they are two hours away. The drive itself is four hours and that is hard to manage. I cant stay awake that long on the road and it really is not easy to manage with work. Its not like having a local appointment that will have me out of work for an hour or so. I run a company, so I have to keep these things in mind too. I need to try to connect with one of the local doctors before I just jump back to baton rouge again.

Thank you both for your advice. Sometimes it just takes talking it out to figure it out.

I take norco too, and yes it does help me. I hope that you find another doctor. One who will continue your medication.


Best wishes to you.

Hugs, Karen

I am finally sleeping longer in the morning. We got a new bed and it really helps. Before I was waking up at four in the morning with an aching hip, now I am sleeping much later. Thank God. It really makes a huge difference. I hope that you are able to get rest that you need.

Take care, keep posting.

Hugs, Karen

Thank you.
I get so frustrated sometimes. Im 27 and this isnt going to away. Thats a lot of years to live with a doctor Im not happy with. Its that rollercoaster ride that happens.....when you just feel like you dont want to deal with anything. When you just need a break from it all.

I will start calling doctors Monday.

Hi, I live in Bay St Louis Mississippi. WQhere are you at?

My advice is find another doctor!!! I am in that process right now. Fibro pts fell pain from 1-10 and I wish some of these docs could walk in our feet-they'd fall after about ten feet-lol;

I wish you luck

Maggie

I am 42 and been diagnosed since last nov. really having a hard time..I cant convince myself its going away i think still in denial..Anyone on here got disability approved?..My life has been taken from me..anyone else feel this way..

Decreasing or stopping narcotics can lead to more pain due to your brain response being altered by the long term use of the narcotics. I think drs are under watch when they write many narcotic Rxs and that's why your dr wants to switch you to something else.

I had used tramadol too successfully. What about trying something like Cymbalta? It's helped my pain more than I thought it would.

Hello there, I think you need another doctor's opinion on the topic "my doctor is taking me off pain medication, and pain medication is helping withe Fibromyalgia!

   I have been to alot of doctors and the only one that dianosed me with was my Neurologist & Rh-

I had one doctor tell me that he doesn't beleive in Fibromyalgia or understand it.

So I finally found a doctor that will listen to me.

  2 months ago he put me on Lyrica & Cymbalta, & Trazadone.

These medicines used in combination have been a LIFESAVER!!!  Lyrica is the best pain medication for Fibromyalgia.

Be stern with your doctor and tell him how you feel.   I really hope you get these meds and go on with your wonderful, daily life, because Lyrica has helped with increasing my mood, less pain, and more energy so I can get out there and enjoy life. (Before Lyrica I was laying in bed with pain, and stiffness where I couldn't even move. I rode a bycicle for the first time in 6 years. Yes Lyrica does have side effects, but it takes a while to get your body used to it, I think the worst one is feeling like a zombie, but then on the pro's side it makes you feel like you're on cloud nine. I'm sure it varies from each person. Hope this has touched the hearts