How many of you take any form of narcotic medication for your Fibro?

Hi Miki,

Welcome to the forum. Have you checked out Fibro 101, our 1st thread? It's full of great information about Fibro....you can learn a lot, whether you've had it for 20 years or 20 days.

You raise an interesting question. Many with Fibro, including myself, do take narcotic meds. Many don't.
You're definitely not crazy! Everyone is different, and it's often difficult to know whether pain is coming from Fibro or something else. Do you have any other conditions?

I've been on Hydrocodone for over a year now, but not for Fibro - for pain from Sciatic nerve damage and disc surgery. I'm slowly weaning myself off of it. I also take Gabapentin for the nerve damage.

I can definitely see the danger of becoming dependent, if our bodies gets used to the narcotic effect. But sometimes, that's what we have to do in order to function. My doctor says repeatedly that he doesn't want me to be on H. indefinitely, once the Sciatic pain subsides....and it is, slowly. (I agree - I don't need to be any more of an airhead than I already was! :)

Years ago, he did prescribe Darvocet for my breakthrough Fibro pain...and when that was taken off the market, Tramadol. It's not nearly as strong as Hydrocodone, and there seems to be a question about whether or not it's an actual narcotic. Anyway, I'd like to get back to where I'm only taking a half of one of those at night, instead of H. twice a day.

I hope you're having a low-pain day.

Debbie

At one time I was taking Vicoden around the clock. Then due to an error in my doctor's office I was forced to stop cold turkey. I had a weekend of hell as my pain levels shot through the roof.

After that I vowed to never let myself get back into that position. I still have the prescription for Vicodin and I'll still take it occasionally when the pain gets really bad. But since I stopped taking it around the clock I don't need it that often. But when I do, it really helps. I'm not sure where the idea came to doctors that it doesn't help. I wish that myth would go away, because while it might not help ALL people with fibro, it does help a LOT of people with fibro!

Joy

Hi, Mikicacimon, and welcome! It's my u nderstanding that narcotic medications do not help fibromyalgia that much. I tried Vicodin and Tramadol and there really wasn't much difference in my pain. Also, Percocet can be quite addictive. I personally know people who were taking this for pain and then they needed more to get the same relief they were getting at the lower dose and they did become addicted and had to go through rehab to get off of this drug. It's stories like this that probably has your doctor wanting to take you off Percocet. I'm sure they would wean you off, too.

When I first developed fibro I was told to take Tylenol and ibuprofen. Ibuprofen did help me a lot but yet fibro isn't an inflammatory illness so it didn't make sense to me. But a year ago I developed a bleeding ulcer and was taken off ibuprofen. Intense pain came back with a vengeance. I was getting progressively worse and could barely lift my foot off the floor to take a step.

This was so unlike me so I headed to a rheumatologist to see if they could figure this out. I found out I had ankylosing spondylitis and sacroiliitis along with fibro and that is what was causing the excessive pain. The rheumy said I probably had AS for many years but kept it under control with ibuprofen. Now THAT explained why the ibuprofen was helping as much as it did. I was put back on ibuprofen and given a muscle relaxer that has made a significant difference in my muscle pain and I'm back to daily walking, gardening, etc.

The reason for my story is that not everything is caused by fibro. For you to need narcotics might indicate something else going on along with fibro. Yes, there are some people with fibro that take narcotics but many of them have disk problems and other things that are causing pain along with fibro. But one thing I know for sure....you are not crazy! I was wondering about myself and the ibuprofen for years. It didn't make sense for it to help me as much as it did. It can help some with fibro patients but it was like a wonder drug for me. Now I know why.

If you haven't seen a rheumatologist, you might want to do that...one that treats fibro patients, too. Be sure to ask. Also you might ask about a muscle relaxer. I know I am amazed at how this has helped me. I'm even sleeping better because pain isn't waking me up like it did.

I also take a couple of supplements that help with pain. They are malic acid/magnesium supplements and vitamin D3 supplements. I take 5,500 IU of D3 daily...under my doctor's care. I also do stretching exercises, walk daily, and pace myself when doing things and all of this helps with pain and fatigue.

Be sure to read Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum. There are good links about fibro and you can learn a lot there. I've had fibro for decades and am still learning new things. There are also links about the supplements I mentioned above and how they work in your body.

I'm looking forward to getting to know your better. Don't hesitate to ask questions because we are here to help you. Hope to hear more from you soon.

Sherrine

Personally I am convinced that opioids ("narcotics") can eventually worsen fibromyalgia or even trigger fibro in people who did not have it already. I found opioids to definitely help mask the symptoms in the short term but greatly worsen them in the long-term (although I suppose I could have just decided to be on them for the rest of my life at a constantly rising dose, maybe that would have helped, I'm not sure, but there were a ton of reasons I didn't want to do that). Not to mention that there are a ton of disadvantages to taking opioids, just one being physical dependence. I would not take the decision lightly.

Also to "getting by" - stopping an opioid and feeling more pain doesn't necessarily tell you if it was actually helping your pain. Stopping opioids causes pain. You need to go quite a while without them before comparing how you feel without them to how you felt while taking them.

Mikicacimom - I think your doctor probably read some literature that says something to the effect of "many fibromyalgia patients report opiate analgesics to have reduced efficacy". That does not mean that opioids don't/can't work for fibro! Just that many people with fibro find them less effective compared to an average non-fibro person. Some do appear to have a relatively normal response to opioids, some may not find standard doses to provide as much pain relief, or some may not find opioids to do much for their pain even at relatively higher doses. One possible explanation is that people with fibro have abnormalities in their opioid receptors. Everyone's different and opioids being weaker for many people with fibro doesn't mean they don't/can't affect fibro pain.

If you believe it helps with your pain you are not crazy. Especially if you are only taking it once in a while, then that means that it's not just relieving the pain that it itself causes.

Post Edited (Pelagicdancer) : 5/19/2013 2:04:31 PM GMT

I was in a car accident years ago, which trigger the fibro , I've been on vicodin and then I asked to be switched to norco as norco has a low amount of tylenol and it helps me get thru the day and have a qol, without this medication my pain levels would be very bad, I also hae RA pain, spinal ddd pain and fibro pain and it's been with me for over 12 years now and I really do not expect any of this will go away, it does get better at times, but then flairs again...I had one pm doctor try me on ms contin and I couldn't tolerate its side effects...Lyrica made me throw up to the point I almost ended up in the ER dehydrated..Sometimes we have to make due with what works best for us and if anyone can step into my shoes and do better than I have done, then please come and I'll gladly let you spend time in my shoes as it would mean a relief for me...just my opinion...

-smile-

Lots of different ways to approach pain treatment. Lots of belief systems, lots of choices. No one takes any decision lightly. Ultimately, we all seek a decent quality of life.

Good for you Anstar. I am happy for you for the weight loss and that the Naltrexone is working for you.

Hugs, Karen...

I've taken hydrocodone/apap (or now Norco has less tylenol) for years. Arthritis dx when I was 12. Now, does it help my fibro or lupus? I will only speak of fibro. I believe it does, I believe it doesn't, I believe it can make you experience worse pain then had you not taken it. Now I will explain ..
I believe it does ... When I am flaring, or I know for a fact I have a sick toddler and I have to be up no matter what going and going and I know pain will be extreme. Yes, it helps me. It helps with the break through pain. Of course it does help my arthritis and agree with another member comment that many have disc problems etc .. which is true with me as well, my costochronditis, and inner costal neuralgia (that is nerve pain but my muscles tense so bad they are rock hard and the pain is intolerable) so narcotics help.
I believe they don't ... Take away all my other conditions and leave it at just fibro. Which is nerve pain. Muscles ache and hurt horribly because when you are in pain you tense up..so obviously you will hurt more thanks to the initial pain. For nerve pain, unfortunately non of the fibro meds works for me, I am allergic or hyper sensitive to all of them. Though amitriptline did help a bit. Muscle relaxers are my friends, and I would not still be alive today if it were not for anti inflammatory meds. Yes, they can do damage to your stomach but taken right or even taken in alternative/natural forms..they do wonders. I do take norco, but I wouldn't bother if I didn't take my anti inflammatory with it. So.. if a dx is solely fibro .. I can see why I doc is hesitant to rx narcotics ... also if you have EVER had to rapid detox from them, it makes fibro seem like a mild cold.
Why do I think it can cause worse pain? Okay, part of the population will take norco and get a sleepy effect, those are the lucky ones who are less likely to get addicted. The other part of the population will take a norco and ...suddenly, less pain, and a ton of energy. This is my mother, she takes her narcotic and then she sweeps, mops, vaccums, rearranges furniture ... all because this pill is giving her a false sense of not hurting when all it is doing is masking the pain, not to mention the energy boost is making her go super speed ... I am sure you know what is coming .. the next day, she can't get out of bed. She hurts so bad she wants to die. I do believe there is a danger in narcotics where we will push ourselves and not realize it, which only triggers worsening symptoms after. With fibro, we can't push ... we can negotiate. Pushing through it when your body says chill out only does damage. That is my two cents ... ok maybe three :)

Excellent post, Piper30. My Percocet makes me sleepy if I sit still, but if I wait until about 45 minutes after I take it, I can do a little cleaning and get away with it without suffering consequences. And I take it along with indomethacin (anti-inflammatory med).