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Lyrica for Chronic pain? Side effects?

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Posted 2/28/2012 1:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone... I have cross posted this in Chronic pain. I have been here before but not for a long time. First joined Crohn's Disease forum in 2010. Long story short, I have had a difficult two years. First diagnosed with Crohn's and Crohn's arthritis at 40... After many trips to the Mayo and local doctors, they were able to find a drug to work for the Crohn's.. Humira. Mayo could not figure out how to help my arthritis and chronic pain. Rheumy put me on Arava for joint inflammation. Drs agreed that I have a rare severe case of Crohn's in my joints and they are at a loss as to how to treat the constant pain.

Primary dr sent me to pain clinic.. he told me that I am at the end of my road... that he had one idea and after that I would have to live with my pain. They cannot put me on nsaids due to crohn's, narcotics are too addicting and they really don't want to use them anymore for chronic pain. He mentioned Fentanyl but I can't live on that. He mentioned Butran but said that would stop working after year and I am only 42. He said acupuncture wouldn't work and is not covered by my insurance. His only option was Lyrica... he said he is not sure if I now have Fibro or if I just have chronic pain. My rheumy doesn't believe in Fibro...which is frustrating to just hear a dr say that after all the research... I sometimes wonder if that is not my issue.. but just don't know.

The problem is that Lyrica is making me feel stupid. I can't remember things, I am messing my words up. It takes me forever to get a sentence out. I have already been sitting here for 45 minutes trying to type this. I have to correct words and sentences... I am always feeling like I am hungover. I am only on 50mg twice a day. He is talking about increasing it but I don't think I can handle it.

Does anyone have any experience with this?
Posted 2/28/2012 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
First, Welcome Back! Secondly, I have Fibro and I've been given Lyrica 2x, by 2 different drs. The 1st one gave me 25mg per day, it did nothing. The 2nd dr gave me 100mg 2x per day. I had such severe headaches, I couldn't live w/ the pain. It was like a migraine, which I had had before. Thank you, not again. My dr told me that the Lyrica was NOT responsible for the headaches. I said I didn't have the headache till I took the med. I looked up the info sheet for the med, yep, headaches are a side effect.

On the other hand, my DH has neuropathy - among other things. He was dx w/ plantar fasciitis, first by me (I had this several yrs ago) and later his foot dr. The dr put him on Lyrica 100mg 3x per day. He is now able to walk w/o too much pain. The difference has been very noticeable.

I really don't like the way the dr said you were at the end of your road and you would have to live w/ your pain. Is there a chance you might want to change your dr? Then you have the rheumy who doesn't believe in Fibro. You need drs who believe in what is happening in your life. Neither seems to be too supportive. I realize your health issues are not run of the mill, but neither one seems to want to put the ol' brain to good use and at least read a current medical journal. Lazy, at best.

I'm glad that the Humira is helping w/ the Crohn's, that is a blessing.

I wish you luck.

God bless.  Alice.

 

Posted 2/28/2012 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
"Rheumy doesn't believe in Fibro"... That is a problem with a lot of doctors. I have been on Lyrica as well. Took it three times per day at 50mg. It helped some, I did have strange dreams. I also got headaches, accidental injury, seamed like legs quit working. Some people that have fibromyalgia have what is called fibro fog. I know I do from time to time. One thing I did not like about Lyrica is the price gouging . My opinion since it was all paid for out of my pocket at $369 per month. So I switched to gabapentin, which is the first generation of Lyrica. Which was really hard for me, while the cost is low, the side affects I got from it , was just not worth it. Some doctors also get a kick back from pharmaceutical companies. Hope you find a good doctor and some meds that help you out. Westpur
Posted 2/28/2012 2:54 AM (GMT 0)
Could not agree more with both of you !!! I am on fourth and fifth opinions here... I have run the gamut on doctors and it is frustrating. Nobody seems to want to go out of the box. I have friends and family so frustrated because they see the hoops I am jumping through...

The lyrica has given me some relief so I was really hopeful but not sure I can do the side effects...I keep hoping they will diminish.

Thank you so much for the welcome back and for the support...
Posted 2/28/2012 5:05 AM (GMT 0)
Junerainbow- I hope you can find a Dr. That can believe how you are feeling. about 3 years ago I ran out of options myself. I wanted off of the narcotics because I became very dependent on them. I had horrible side effects to other drugs. So I tried subutex. A lot of Dr's are trying it out on their chronic pain patients. I love it. It works well for me. I know reading the info can be scary, but there are wonderful stores like mine. I am down to 1 1/2 tabs now. I tried to stop them all together, but that put me in ER. I didn't realize how much they helped. Don't give up, do some homework on your Dr' before going to them.
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