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Posted 7/5/2011 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
Do any of you take pain medication for your Fibro and if so what do you take and what dosage?

I am currently on 600 mg of Lyrica per day and my doctor refuses to give me anything else for pain relief when I am having a flare. He says it doesn't work for nerve pain to take Vicodin, Darvocet or Morphine.
Posted 7/5/2011 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
He's right, for some people. NSAIDs usually don't work, and narcotics work for some others. Darvocet (no longer on the market) only worked for me by putting me to sleep. I take Tramadol as do a few others here. It's not a narcotic or an NSAID. It might be worth checking into.
Posted 7/5/2011 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Neeters,

 

I am not sure if I have had the pleasure of saying hello to you? I may have so if I did excuse me, I'm in Fibro Fog City these days.

 

Everyone is different, some people that do that pain medication from their doctors don't report any relief, and some do. A good amount of people here use natural vitamins and minerals, warm baths, soaks, heating matress pad, those types of things to ride out the flares and pain. Some people feel really strong about not wanting narcotic medication, I really commend the ones that can go it without. Personally, I delt with my rheumy until she just did not seem to be able to manage my pain very well, she sent me to a Pain Management Specialist, and he has worked out a combination that works for the most part. I'm no doctor, that is for sure, but around here, it seems like a large amount of primary doct's and rhuemy's don't like to give a lot of pain medication. I did have a PM (Pain Mgmt) doctor that said I didn't need any pain meds because he felt that fibro patients don't benefit from it.

Well, he obviously was not talking to me. With out med's I would not be able to work every day. But again, that is just me.

 

-Hope you can find relief soon!!

-Hugs,

 

Monica

Posted 7/5/2011 8:11 PM (GMT 0)
Tramadol may very well help you, I did take that for almost two years, it was somewhat helpful on regular days, but flares, it really never did anything for the pain.
Posted 7/5/2011 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
I am using Tramadol as well. Im in a fLare now and it is doing absolutely nothing but on a " normal" day, it seems to help.
Posted 7/5/2011 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
There are meds that are designed to block the receptors in your brain. They do not actually go after the pain and ease it, they just block your brain from feeling the pain. So, I would say, YES, there are meds that can give that extra little help when you are in a flare.

My medicine of choice is Tramadol. I take it as a maintenance med as well as flexeril, a muscle relaxer. I also take iron, b-12, vitamin D and magnesium. Being low in any of these can bring on symptoms similar to a fibro flare. I would recommend getting your levels checked if you have not already.
Posted 7/5/2011 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
if you have very sharp piercing pains, it may be nerve pain in which case narcotics don't do that well. You would be better off with a med for neuropathic pain, like gabapentin. IMHO

Take care

Maggie
Posted 7/5/2011 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Neeters; Your doctor is telling u the same thing my PCP & the Pain clinic doctor told me. Apparently; they are trying 2
change the protocol for how Fibro is treated. I too am n the same boat u r. I cannot take "any" of the 3 meds they r trying
2 say helps Fibro. Cymbalta / Lyrica / & Cymbalta. I do take Ultram on a daily basis but it doesn't help. But it's all I have. If
u r not pleased with your physician, keep searching. If u will listen 2 what's being said on some of the posts , u will see that
there r doctors who do beleive that Fibro and it's pain is real. But there aren't many (apparently) and u may have 2 go thru
alot 2 find one u r happy with. I have an appt. 2morrow with yet another new Dr. I will post how it went. My advice; don't
give up! I know just how hard it is 2 keep going when u have doctors telling u that u don't need certain meds. I don't get it.
Doctors take an oath 2 help.But they aren't doing it. And if u push 4 something(like I did) u get dismissed no matter how long
you've been their patient.My Dr. had been my PCP for over 12 yrs. & he still let me go. And just 2 give u a bit of info; I found
an article written about Chronic Pain In America.I'll try 2 find it again and let all know where they can look it up. Hang in there
and Blessings! :)
Posted 7/6/2011 7:45 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all so much for your responses. I will mention the Tramadol to him when I see him on Monday. I am having a horrible flare of my disease right now and just want something to help me at least function a bit nomrally. I can't even fold my laundry due to the pain in my arms.

I had a hysterectomy back in December and some Vicodin left over. When my disease flared, I used the vicodin and it DID help me. So, maybe I am one of these that can benefit from the NAISD's but he won't give it to me.
Posted 7/6/2011 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
Vicodin isn't an nsaid. But a lower level narcotic. I hope that you get some pain relief.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 7/6/2011 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
Greetings All : Yesterday I mentioned a link u can go to & read about Chronic Pain in America.
It's: HealthMax.com. This is an article talking about the "116 Million" people in America that
chronic pain affects. I hope u will take the time 2 read it. Very interesting article. If 4 some
reason u can't locate it; shoot me a post & I'll check the link 4 u again. Blessings! :)
Posted 7/6/2011 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Well, he prescribed me Skelaxin. Which I already have anyway that he gives me and doesn't help. I am at my wit's end. I am so tired of this and doctor's who aren't willing to give you something in hopes it will ease your pain and suffering.
Posted 7/6/2011 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
Moat doctors don't prescribe anything stronger than tramadol for pain anymore. And I think tramadol is a controlled substance too now.

I hope that you can find a doctor that can help you. Keep moving and don't stop, because if you do, it will catch you.

Best wishes Neeters.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 7/6/2011 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
Muscle and bone pain respond to narcotics. Sharp piercing nerve pain only responds to meds for neuropathy(like diabetics) like neurontin. See if he'll give you neurontin if you have nerve pain. It is not controlled.

Good luck

Maggie
Posted 7/7/2011 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
They are really cracking down on our pain clinics in Ak. They are being watched over by the DEA. Closer then ever. I suffer from depression also and they wanted to make sure I had some medical records on my chart that I am being treated for it. Never before was I asked. More DR's covering their butts. They are finding out that narcotics are really not helping in the long term with Fm. When your in severe pain it does help, but for everyday use for tolerable pain is where I had to find something else. It's hard to find the right combination treatment at first, but after many years I think I found out what works for me.
Posted 7/7/2011 11:03 AM (GMT 0)
I have other conditions besides fibro and was on many narcotic meds prescribed by my pain management doctor.  I was on the narcotics for a year but they never seemed to help so I asked to be weaned off of them so I could try tramadol.  After 3 months I was off the narcotics and now use tramadol, tylenol, and baclofen.  I'm also on prednisone & methotrexate for another condition but it does not help fibro.

The mix that I am on now does help keep things in check but I still have some very bad days when I know enough to just lie down and take it easy for the day (I am not working so have that option).  As far as the skelaxin not working for you, I've tried pretty much every muscle relaxer in the book but they all made me too sleepy to function during the day.  I'd read about baclofen and asked my doctor if I could try it and finally I found one that does help and doesn't knock me out.

I couldn't take the side effects of lyrica but do use gabapentin (generic of ultram) and my body tolerates it well.  Gabapentin is for nerve pain and is an older form of lyrica.

I'd speak with your doctor about tramadol though because it looks to be the drug of choice for alot of us.

Posted 7/7/2011 1:01 PM (GMT 0)
There is a muxcle relaxer called soma. It works well, but doctors don't like to prescribe it.

I hope that you find what works for you.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 7/8/2011 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
neeters,

I am just starting back on the boards again, so hello.......

I do take pain meds, and have since before I was diagnosed with FM. Was taking vicodin until that stopped and then it was changed to percecot. I would not be able to funtion without it. I do have a lot of pains that cymbalta does not help with (low back, knee, arms and wrists, feet). At the age of 36 I feel more like 106 when I get up. I also try to keep my activitie level busy if a can: the meds help. I can;t do nearly what I use to be able to do before FM, but they do help me move and function. I would be bedridden without them
Posted 7/8/2011 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Neeters,

I am taking Percocet for my pain. That is the only thing that controls the everyday aches and pains but when the flares hit nothing helps. I am having a flare up myself right now. Having alot of neck and shoulder pain.

I have tried Cymbalta but I could not tolerate it. I have read all of the possible side effects of Lyrica and the newest drug on the market Savella and I am just to darn afraid to try these two.

I have heard physicians are using flexeril to treat FM. I have taken that. It helps me sleep some at night but the next day is when it really hits and I am a zombie all day, that is assuming I can stay away long enough to be a zombie.
Posted 7/8/2011 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
I changed my antidepressant from citalopram to cymbalta at the recommendation of my dr when my abdom pain would not disappear (I have Coeliac disease, IBS and had a hysterectomy in the past 2 years so it's anybodies guess why I have pain). It was also hoped it would help my neck, hand and head pain. This is well before I had even heard of fibro.

I went on cymbalta and my Ab pain reduced but at the time I thought - well the GF diet is working. So I switched back to citalopram (much cheaper and less difficulty weaning off it). My Ab pain increased immediately! So I went back on cymbalta. I still have the neck, head, hand pain and all the tender spots and other skin sensitivities but I think it's worth it.

I haven't been dx fibro or Cfs but I think it's likely I will be dx both. Am seeing a rheum in a couple of weeks. I have heard that lyrica is the ad of choice for fibro.

NSAIDs don't touch any of my pain.
Thanks for hint about tramadol.
Posted 7/9/2011 8:44 AM (GMT 0)
I get 120 soma 350 mg a month as well as 120 roxy 10's a month for my pain. I don't know if it's just because I found a good doctor or if it's because I have 5 or 6 conditions with fms. Idk I'm only 21 as most of you know but the soma helps more at night....very relaxing....definately the best muscle relaxer out there and I've been told it's the only one with narcotic properties? But anyways to each there own. I know my body and my tolerance and everthing else, I've been dealing with everything for a little over 3 years now and everyday is still a constant battle....good luck to you
Posted 7/12/2011 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you again everyone. I saw the Dr on Monday and he still will not give me anything even when I mentioned Tramadol, he said no that I am on so many things already.

He suggested we take me off the 600 mg of Lyrica a day as it doesn't seem to be helping if my Fibro is still this bad. ???

Maybe just time for a new doctor.
Posted 7/12/2011 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
Neeters,

It's so hard to get the right combo. Maybe try going without the Lyrica like the doc said, since it's not helping anyway.

Can I ask what you're on Lamictal for? My daughter takes that for seizures....

Debbie
Posted 7/13/2011 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hi guys,

I'm on 300mg of Lyrica daily, 1 mg of Cesamet daily, 60 mg of Cymbalta, and Marcaine injections into my neck and lower back bi-weekly shocked. I tried going off of these meds (trying to get preggers), but my body did not take well to the weaning. I immediately started going back down hill to the point of where I was 2 years ago without the meds, so I went right back on everything and BAM!! I'm alive the next day!! Sad eh??

Regardless, this combo works for me, but remember that no one individual is exactly the same as another. Each of us Fibromites is like a snowflake, different symptoms, different drugs, same dang condition turn Also be aware that even with proper meds, sometimes it only 'turns down the volume' on some symptoms. I still have down days where I decide 'today is a relaxation day'.

Cheers smilewinkgrin
Posted 7/13/2011 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
Acheybody - I take the Lamictal and Saphris for Bipolar Disorder. A diagnosis I got about a year ago that hit me really hard after being told I was just dealing with depression for 13 years. I am still learning to accept it. In my own experience, Bipolar Disorder makes someone sound a bit more "crazy" if you will. I hope to come to terms with it soon though.

I realize we are all different and what works for one is not what works for another. I have been on meds for my Fibro for 2 years and the combo seemed to be working but then guess what.....Fibro has a mind of it's own and it doesn't anymore so I have to find the right combo for me again. I just wish I had a doctor that was willing to try other options for the days when my Fibro is nearly unbearable. Believe me, I know what a rest day is and take them when I need to. This is not the kind of pain that I am looking for something like Tramadol or Vicodin to help with. Just wanted to clarify that so you all knew I am not trying to avoid my symptoms entirely. I know that I can't. And I am OK with that and came to terms with my Fibro diagnosis long ago. I have adjusted my life around it and will continue to do so so as to minimize my side effects. However, some days are just so horribly unbearable lately that I just needed some advice about alternative meds that may (or may not) help me. Doctor doesn't always know best and I believe that many of us here will attest to that. I believe those of us out here suffering have the most valuable advice as to what can help each other.
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