New and confused

margot87

New Member

Joined : Dec 2009

Posts : 1

Posted 12/1/2009 9:29 PM (GMT 0)

So.. here's my deal. I was recently diagnosed with Fibro a few months ago, and truthfully, I'd never heard of it or knew about it. Nor was I in any pain, really. If I was bumped in a place here or there, I'd get a shot of pain which would last a few minutes (at most 1/2 an hour) and then dissipate. When I went to the doctor, he hit specific spots on my body (my shoulders, thighs, mid-back, etc) He referred to these places as "trigger points". After this, he put me on and NSAID - which I was to take once a day in the morning.

Now, here's my newest issue. Before I started this med, I was relatively pain free. Family would tell me I looked swollen in places, but outside of that - nothing major. Now, after almost 6 weeks on the NSAID, I am in much more pain, on the occasion that I forget to take the medicine, or forget to take it with food. It is as if every one of my joints is on fire, and a low grade pain lasts me all day.. pain that makes sitting, lying down and standing uncomfortable (to say the least).

I guess my questions are these:
1 - Knowing what I was like before the meds, and after - would it be wise to just go off the meds... seeing as it will virtually reduce the pain?
2 - Is this a typical manifestation of Fribro?
3 - If there anything I can do, outside of the medicine, to reduce the pain?

getting by

Forum Moderator

Joined : Sep 2007

Posts : 45296

Posted 12/1/2009 11:04 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Margot87,

Welcome to the HealingWell fibromyalgia forum. Do you have fatigue? That is a symptom of fibromyalgia. And the pain could be just starting for you. I can't recommend that you stop your medications, that should be between you and your doc.

Check out the fibro101 thread. It is the first thread on the fibro forum. It has a lot of helpful information. Know that you are not alone with this. We are all here to share with you. I hope that you feel better soon. Keep posting and let us know how you are doing.

Best wishes,

Hugs, Karen

Dagger

Veteran Member

Joined : Apr 2008

Posts : 1522

Posted 12/2/2009 12:24 AM (GMT 0)

I'm not sure why you were put on an NSAID if you didn't have a lot of pain. How is this med supposed to help you?

I'm a big believer in second opinions. I suggest you get another opinion on your diagnosis, especially on your treatment.

Good luck.

Chutz

Veteran Member

Joined : Jan 2005

Posts : 9477

Posted 12/2/2009 12:24 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Margot!

And welcome to our Fibro Family. I sure can see why you are confused. I would be with what you are sharing. Can we get a little more information?

Why was the doctor checking for your 'tender points'. (these are very often mistakenly called trigger points. I called it that until I learned differently ;-)) Did you have some complaints of pain? The reason I'm asking is because toward the end you asked... "If there anything I can do, outside of the medicine, to reduce the pain?" Are you referring to the new pain from the medication or original pain?

I agree with Karen. Talk to your doctor about the medication and you do not need to wait until your next appointment...EVER! If any doctor puts you on a new medication and you have a bad reaction to it, the first phone call is to the prescribing doctor...unless it's a life threatening reaction in which case you call 911. You can also call your pharmacist and ask if they have any idea if the new medication may be reacting to something else you are taking.

I will share with you what I have done in the past when new medications didn't agree with me. That was when I stopped! I'm stubborn though and if a pill makes me feel incredibly worse that before I took it them I won't take any more, unless I talk to doc and for some rare reason I do need it. I have tried many, many types of medication for fibro and so far the only thing that happens to help me are narcotic pain meds....unfortunately.

Back to the NSAID...I take Celebrex and have for years. For many people it feels like it's tearing your stomach apart but for me I have no reaction except some relief in stiffness. The NSAIDs reduce inflammation which may or may not help some people with the fibromyalgia. Fibro is not a condition of swelling or swollen muscles. The NSAIDS (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxine are all OTC) do help with pain relief as well as swelling. They work by inhibiting prostaglandins. Our bodies have several types of these little guys but one in particular sensitizes spinal neurons to pain. Not nice, huh? But NSAIDS try to stop that from happenings so it will reduce or stop the pain. We sure don't need anything else increasing out pain levels. But I don't know why this medication should increase your pain but I'm not a doctor so all I can do is share what I've learned. You DO need to find out what's going on though.

But as with all medications, they work differently on everyone. Over a short period of time you will see that the members react very differently to all kinds of medications whether it's OTC or prescription. Please keep us posted on how you are doing and what you find out from your doctor. We sure don't want you to suffer any unnecessary pain!

Warm hugs,
Chutzie

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