Fibro pain ever bad enough to go to ER?

It's really not helpful to go to the ER, at least in my experience. All they can really do is give pain killers, and they mostly won't, so it's a wasted trip.

IMO, start the medication. Sleep is important, and necessary. I have been taking ambien for a long time now, because without it I do not get restorative sleep, and therefore am useless, in serious pain, and have no energy the next day. Sleep, for me, is important for controlling fatigue and pain and fog. A year ago, my rheumie prescribed a muscle relaxant, taken at night, and it made a huge difference for me. Just a thought.

Unless you get to the deep sleep part of the night, you won't feel better. In light sleep, the muscles keep moving and the nerves never really stop sending signals. Most people with fibro have sleep problems, at least at first. It doesn't resolve itself by sleeping more, but sleeping deeper. Sleeping more just increases the pain from the body being in the same place for so long.

And, yes, it's a pain to be unable to take OTC painkillers, due to the crohn's. Have you ever tried tramadol? It works well for some.

Hi SCifigal,

When I first developed fibro, I had no idea what was happening to me. my lower back and leg pain was excruciating. I sat in the backroom of the Hot Topic store I was managing and cried. It was bad I wanted it to stop. I went to urgent care and explained what was happening and they said they did not know what would cause that type of pain. They gave me Xanax and told me to see my family Dr. I had just found a new family doctor a week before any of this started.

I did get an appointment with my Dr. the next day, Only to find out that Urgent care had called him and told him that they thought I was a drug seeker and he agreed and dropped me as a patient. WHAT??!!! Really? I didn't ask for ANY drugs at urgent care. I asked for answers. They gave me Xanax I did not ask for it!!!!!! I didnt take it because I knew it was for anxiety and not pain. Needless to say I gave that DR. a piece of my mind that I am sure he still remembers.

In my Opinion. I am with Myself09 . Big waste of time and they may call your Dr. and you will have an experience like I did. I tried the nuerontin (Gabapentin) and did not like the side effects. However I know many that take this med. just fine and swear by it. Remember we are all so different. It is trial and error to find something that works for you. the important part is you keep trying til you get it under control where it is just a dull roar in the background instead of screaming in your face.

Hopefully you checked out Fibro 101 the first thread. Lots of great info there. Hope to keep hearing from you, keep posting and let us know how you are doing. We are here to help.

I went to the ER one time because I had been in a bad flare for an entire week. We had to drive into town to see two of our grandchildren in a school function, and I cried the whole time I was there, I was in such pain. Hubby and I decided to go to the ER because some of the pain was in my chest area and we live 30 miles outside of town. They checked my heart out and kept me overnight so I could do a treadmill test. While I was in the ER, they gave me an IV bag of Robaxin. It worked and my pain was greatly reduced.

When I was in the ER, the doctor brought an intern in to interview me. What a joke. You know what the doctor wrote in my note? He said I came in with complaints of pain and anxiety and that it all resolved itself without any treatment. HELLO! They gave me a whole IV bag of Robaxin! My pain went from an 8-1/2 down to a 3 after the Robaxin drip! I had to do a treadmill test the next day, and it was normal. I barely got through it. I was then released.

I was spitting mad when I read that ER note. That is the one and only time I have ever gone to the ER for fibromyalgia pain. They won't take you seriously. They will label you as a drug seeker. Even though the doctor did the right thing with the Robaxin drip, he didn't even acknowledge that it worked. What an ###.

The ER really won't do anything for you, been there done that before I was able to get to a regular doc and before I was diagnosed (insurance reasons). I felt the same way though, about them assuming I'm out for drugs or something when honestly I don't care what it is so long ad the pain stops. The meds I'm on now only take the edge off, but I still have a lot of discomfort and lingering pain. Norco made my stomach upset too much to take so as far as pain killers I take tramadol. I also take lyrica, zanaflex, mobic, vitamin d, fish oil, and iron. Non-meds, I soak in hot water or showers or use a heating pad. I recently saw an ad for a new type of sleep number mattress thing that you put on your bed and it lets you adjust the temp. If I come into enough money I would totally invest in that.

I'm so sorry, Scifigal! I hope you start to feel better soon.

Sherrine