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Is it normal for pain meds to not help the pain?

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Fibromyalgia
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Posted 3/4/2013 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
OTC, tramadol, vimovo (500mg), cymbalta (120mg), lyrica, elavil - I've tried all of these and none of them take the pain away even the slightest. Now, if I have a sinus headache or pms cramps, pain meds do take the edge off of those, but nothing touches the fm pain. I've tried all sorts of diets and natural supplements, too. I have not tried narcotics though.

I just want to know if this is normal? I have had a terrible "flare" for almost 2 years now, so I am questioning everything! I have made an appointment at the Mayo Clinic in FL, too.

Oh, I've also tried muscle relaxers, too. They don't help either.

Post Edited (jessicatyler) : 3/4/2013 12:15:32 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/4/2013 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
I've found that the fewer pain killers I take the less the pain is, if that makes any sense.
I believe that the body gets adjusted to the pain killers and they become ineffective.
I take a combination of tramadol, gabapentin, and tylenol. I take the gabapentin every night, the tylenol when pain starts, if pain continue then the tramadol. I rarely have to move on to tramadol.

The problem with fibro is you will never be fully pain-free. You just manage to get adjusted to a tolerable level. The pain I have now would of sent me screaming to the doctor years ago. Now, I can tolerate it because my body has adjusted to it.

Everyone has to determine their pain tolerance level. If you're misirable maybe the doctor can find you a solution.
Posted 3/4/2013 8:27 PM (GMT 0)
I sometimes have days (like today) when I know that meds are just not going to help. I take tramadol and hydrocodone for pain. On bad days I know after the first dose if either of the meds are going to work. Through trial and error I have found that sometimes I just have to endure the pain and hope that tomorrow is better. cry
Posted 3/4/2013 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
There is always some pain. It is just a question of whether it is manageable or not.

I take lots of supplements daily, tramadol in the morning only, and half a hydrocodone at dinner. I cannot have aleve or ibuprofen due to IBDs. For the most part this life possible. If I have lots of breakthru pain, I take a whole hydrocodone.
Posted 3/4/2013 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
I've tried Vicodin and also Tramadol and these didn't help with my pain at all. We are all different as you can see from these first three posts. The supplements malic acid/magnesium and vitamin D3 have helped me with pain, along with ibuprofen with food, and extra strength Tylenol. I do take a muscle relaxer that really helps. Maybe try a different muscle relaxer and that could possibly help you.

I also walk daily and pace myself when doing things. This help me with my pain also. I do hope you find what helps control your pain in the near future.

Sherrine
Posted 3/4/2013 8:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jessica,

We're all so different. My rheumatologist told me I'm medication sensitive. She's tried me on a variety of meds for my different fibro conditions. None of them helped me, they only made me feel worse and they caused me a lot of side effects.

What has helped me is my chiropractor and my neuromuscular massage therapist. I find this type of massage therapist is much better than other massage therapists I've gone to. If you want to try this latter route, I've heard the school for learning this type of therapy is in Clearwater, Florida so I would think there would be neuromuscular massage therapist offices located there.

My therapist is costly but when I add up the minutes she works on me, 90 to be exact, it comes out at the same price as other massage thearpists I've tried. My therapist was the first to tell me in my long life that one of my legs is shorter than the other and one of my hips is smaller.

So I now wear orthodics in my shoes (my arches are somewhat fallen due to the unevenness) and I sit on a small sliver of a sit lift under my left hip. Due to my uneven legs, I also have had lifts put in the soles of my left shoes. It really seems to help but just to let you know I'm still very limited with what I can do. At least I don't experience as much severe pain.

The unevenness between my legs caused years of my muscles becoming tighter and tighter to compensate.

She also works on my tight muscles. It does give me some relief.

Posted 3/5/2013 10:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Jessica,

As was said above we are all different, but I have had some relief with Savella (for FM). I do take tramadol and a M.R. but they didn't help alone before, but do help with the Savella. But there are days like the last week, where I wonder if I need to change the pain meds (not the savella)but we are having cold front after cold front and my husband says even though the pain is so bad for he can tell it isn't has bad as it was before the savella. When I spoke to the Dr about it, she told me that November - March is my bad time of the yr but should start leveling out some around April... *sigh* I am going to miss her LOLOL... Hope this helps :)
Posted 3/6/2013 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Jessica,

I just recently was diagnosed with Myofasical pain syndrome (stage 1 of fibro)

I too have been prescribed Tramadol and Pericot 10M. The Pericot works really well for days that are beyond even getting out of bed. I have found another solution that i think people should know about. I have not found many doctors who can do this but if you have the time call around.

THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE AND TRAVEL 2.5HRS every 2 weeks for this treatment.

Its called a meyers cocktail. Its a IV treatment with Magnesium, Calcium, Vitamin D and C, b12, b6, and B complex. It gives me energy and releases all my back and rib pain for at least 5 days. I have A LOT of chronic join pain and popping and this treatment relieves this for me. When i know i have a vacation or something that I can not afford to be down for this is made a priority for me 24 hrs before. I find when i do get this treatment i dont need any meds for almost a week.

Lately ive been extremely busy and unable to go down south for this. I went to a GNC and purchased all these vitamins and have been taken them 3 times a week and have greatly improved.

I wanted to share with everyone and hope someone will try it as well and lets me know there response to it.
Posted 3/7/2013 4:03 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Jessica,

The 3 things that have successfully helped improve my fibro pain:

Acupunture - from a NCCAOM Certified Acupuncturist (I had a serious phobia to needles but no more!)

     *it changed my life in many ways - period problems, fibro pain, mental stress, nerve damage...etc

Warm Water Pool Therapy - find a local sports / physical therapy location in your area that provides classes

     *one of the happiest days I have had since fibro began was discovering the genuine freedom of weightless,  warm water that allowed my body (and me!) to feel normal while in the pool!!!  And the huge benefit - of being able to actually do cardio while in the pool.

     *the cost is nothing (47.50 per month - 3 days a week) and all I had to do was have my doctor approve it for the sports/physical therapy place.  It has nothing to do with my health insurance.

It is simply a warm water pool class the facility offers at a very nominal fee.

Hydration - as much as I do not appreciate a glass of water - it helps.  And, ironically as it is (because I like my beverages with Ice!) it goes down quicker if it is at room temp.  Before I eat, take meds or drink any other fluids I drink 1 full glass of water.  It is just an easy way I came up with to keep track without having to keep track at all.

Fibro is a journey, not a destination....  and these are the things that have given me the most consistant results to date.  Yes, I am on meds also, however the impact of them seems less than significant in comparission to the results I attain from the above resources.

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