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Posted 6/15/2013 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I'm new here and I have a question. I've only been diagnosed with fibromyalgia for two months now but have been dealing with it for years. My question is what happens when you're in so much pain your medicine or pain meds or over the counter meds are just not helping at the moment? Do we just wait it out or call our doctor for an early visit? What do we do for those very painful moments, days or weeks?

Hi there, I gave your thread a title so you would be more apt to get more responses.

 

Hugs, Karen...

Post Edited By Moderator (getting by) : 6/14/2013 7:05:51 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/15/2013 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome Clair,

If I were you, I would make up a dramatic story to get myself first inline. But then again, Im a drama queen.

In all seriousness, if you can't bear the pain anymore, go to your doctor first thing. Hospital is probably useless. But if you have locum or after hours service, also try that. You sound like you're in a lot of pain.

BTW, welcome to the forum.
Posted 6/15/2013 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Clair,

Welcome to the forum. I am sorry you are in so much pain right now. I find that putting heat to the muscles helps me when I am in a lot of pain. I use a bed buddy. It is a fabric tube that is filled with grain that you heat in the microwave. I put that around my neck, after I wrap it in a towel. That really helps as it gives off moist heat.

If you are really bad and the pain is unbearable, I would definitely call the doctor. I often try to push through it. But it isn't easy. I do have my pain under control pretty much at this point, but you never know when you are going to get a flare, which it sounds like you are going through. And we never know how long a flare is going to last.

Do check out the first thread on the forum called "fibro 101". It is full of so much useful information.

I hope that you feel better soon. Hang in there if you can... If you can't, it never hurts to call the doctor.

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 6/15/2013 4:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Clair,

Welcome to the forum! I'm really sorry that you're in so much pain :(

The doctors never gave me any strong pain meds until the other day, when I staggered into the doctor's office in the middle of a flare-up. That made the doctor sit up straight and realise that I was in a LOT of pain, because when I'm having a flare-up I don't have that "used-to-it" look on my face anymore - but rather the "I'm-dying-here" look. So the doctor wrote a prescription for me.

Anyway, I guess I'm saying that calling your doctor for an early visit is a good idea if you want to be able to have medications on hand for later flare-ups as well as this one.

I hope you're feeling better soon.

Jasmine
Posted 6/15/2013 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Clair & welcome.

For myself I have done different things when in pain: the last couple of years I have been fortunate enough to be with a pain management dr. Cannot see him more often than once a month but I have called & left messages a few times re: increased pain.
Until appointment time I used heat, TENS unit , rested & cried.

Before I found this dr I spent many years in varying degrees of pain.. am still in pain but with meds I don't care as much, if that makes any sense ..

Lidocaine injections, acupuncture & physical therapy have helped cut down the frequency & intensity of the terrible 'charlie horse' muscle spasms.

Many on the forum will you give great advice on these and other treatments options to discuss with your dr. Hang in there & keep telling them your symptoms !! Some people keep pain diaries - at the very least write down how you feel everyday - this will also help you determine what self treatments as well as prescriptions help you.

Looking back I think I was not the only fibro patient that had to jump thru hoops until med profession was satisfied that my pain was real.. despite problems documented my MRI, nerve tests, xrays & so on.
Posted 6/15/2013 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Claire. Welcome!

Glad you found us, though of course sorry for the reason you had to go searching. As Karen said, take a look at Fibro 101. I learn so much from there, even after years of being here (maybe because I don't retain anything ;) But seriously, it's such a big help to understand more about our strange condition.

I'm kind of going through the same thing at the moment....hoping the pain will die down and I won't have to contact my doctor, but I don't know. I just saw him a week ago, but didn't ask about different or stronger meds then because it wasn't this bad. Figures!

I tend to wait too long, hoping it will die down, which probably isn't too great an idea, especially when what's at the root of it isn't changing. In the meantime, I'm paying attention to how I move, of course....using ice....watching my breathing.

How is your relationship with your doctor? I hope you have one who you can really level with. I'm lucky, I do. He says that it's too bad some people abuse painkillers, because it makes it harder for those who need them (like me) to get them. So, if I absolutely need to, I can take a little extra and deal with that later.

I hope you'll keep posting, so we can get to know you better.  We are here to help.  Good luck!

Debbie

Posted 6/15/2013 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome!!

When my pain's the greatest, I draw up a nice hot bath, then I rest. I do think if you can't get any relief, though, call your doctor. Gentle ((HUGS))...
Posted 6/16/2013 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Clair, and welcome! I don't have a lot to add since our members did a wonderful job already. I take hot showers and sometimes cry in the shower. That helps release the stress from the pain and that can help with the pain. Moist heat from a Bed Buddy feels good, too.

Even though I feel miserable, I still try to keep moving. I might forgo my daily walk but yet will walk around the house, do some gentle stretches, etc. because if you sit or lay too long, you will be stiff as a board and have more pain.

I also will try to focus on something else. For me, genealogy does the trick. I get engrossed in that and the pain fades somewhat in the background.

If the pain doesn't subside somewhat, then I would suggest you call your doctor. You can get medication to help for these really bad times.

I'm really sorry you are going through this.

Be sure to check out Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum. There are links to good info about fibro and you will learn a lot there.

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

Sherrine
Posted 6/16/2013 4:28 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much everyone! I already have an appointment on Tuesday, I'm guessing he will increase the dose of my Lyrica. All of your suggestions are very helpful. I'm looking forward to getting to know you all better and learning more. Again, thank you!
Posted 6/16/2013 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hope your appointment goes well, and you get some help. It really bites to be in pain, and to not be able to find relief.

Welcome to the forum! And I hope you have a good, less-pain day today.
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