pain relief suggestions

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 3 years ago. Before that I had a sudden onset of low back pain that just continued to get worse over time. I have had x-rays and MRIs, which are all essentially normal. I have seen an orthopedic surgeon, rhematologist, general practitioner and pain specialist and none of them can figure it out. I have the usual fibromyalgia symptoms including pain in all 4 quadrants, fatigue, fog, etc. but my worst symptom is the low back pain 24/7. I have tried almost every medication out there for fibro and none help or give me bad side effects such as Lyrica, Gabapentin, antidepressants, muscle relaxants. Seriously I have probably tried over 15 different medications. I also take Magnesium and malic acid daily. I went to physical therapy for months and continue to do stretches daily. I have tried going to the chiropractor without any relief. While I don't actually exercise besides walking I keep pretty active bringing my kids to different activities, etc. I also use heat or ice and it only helps a little. Advil, Tylenol and Aleve don't touch the pain. The doctors have even tried giving me prescription strength anti-inflammatories, which don't help at all and cause severe stomach upset. The only thing that has given me any relief is Norco, which I take 3 times a day. I take the lowest dose which is 5 mg. of the hydrocodone and 325 mg. of the Tylenol part. I used to get a lot of relief but over the past month it has stopped giving me relief. If I don't take it I'm in agony but now I'm getting to a point where even after taking it my pain levels stay at a 7.

My rheumatologist doesn't really believe in giving pain medication for fibromyalgia but I've tried to explain to him that the back pain is what is really bothering me. I still think there is something else wrong with my back besides the fibro but they can't figure it out. Fortunately I have found a pain specialist who is usually pretty understanding. He has also stated that he would like for me to get off the Norco eventually. I've been on it for over 2 years and can't seem to find the cause of my back pain or something else to help it so I've remained on it. Now I'm worried about calling to see if there is anything else they can prescribe. I don't want him to stop giving me the Norco since it at least takes the pain down a few degrees, without it I am up pacing the floor all night in pain. Is there something similar to Norco that might help me? I'm sure it has just stopped helping since I have become used to it. My other alternative would be to ask him for a stronger strength of the Norco since I am only taking one of the 5 mg. tablets. I know that it is prescribed up to two of the 10 mg. tablets. Of course I don't want to take that much but I'm wondering if I should see if I could go up to the 10 mg. at least at night or if I should ask if I can take it every 4 hours instead of every 6 hours when the pain is really bad.

It's also difficult since I won't take it when I have to drive. This varies from day to day. On the weekends my husband usually drives so I usually take it around 9 am, 3 pm and then again at 9. During the week if I have to run errands or bring my kids to sports I have to be sure to allow at least 4 hours after taking it before I can drive. During the week if I end up waiting to take it until the afternoon or evening my pain is so bad that I usually am up during the night and have to take another dose. I've also heard of longer acting medications but I'm not sure of those would make me too drowsy to drive.

I would appreciate any suggestions.

also, my pain is predominately in my neck, base of skull, shoulders and shoulder blades. do have lower back pain also.
I too was found to have "slight arthritis" on my right side of my neck and nothing else.

I am not familiar with Norco, but if it works it probably does need to be increased because like almost all pharmaceuticals, after time, they lose their ability to keep working at the same dose. Our bodies get used to them.

I am weaning off Zoloft because it stopped working for me all together, was contemplating trying Cymbalta along with Gabapentin...but not until I am off the Zoloft completely

hope I was some help to you, kinda rattling on brain fog pretty bad today

Hi, hpymomof3. I really feel for you. I had a lot of back pain for many years, too, and it's awful. You just can't get away from it!

My worst was constant pain and numbness in a very distinct area of my left-lower back (my butt, actually) that would be aggravated by everything - everything I lifted, every bump in the road (literally) - and then it would spread up and down on that side. But on the MRI it just looked like "moderate degeneration, pretty normal for your age." I was told that I just feel the degeneration more because of my Fibro. So I tried to go with that and just went about my business.

Then I had a disc rupture (L4-5) in January '12, and in that exact same area, pieces of the disc lodged - right on the Sciatic nerve....a bunch of them. Eeeeow!! I had a discectomy (they removed those pieces, but the disc is not fixed, and I have a lot of nerve damage.) I asked my surgeon if some of the pieces could have been breaking off for years, and that's why I'd felt it for so long.? He said nope - a disc rupture is a sudden, isolated event.

I'm not so sure, though - it seems too coincidental. Something was going on all that time! Doctors don't know everything, even good ones. In your case, too, there's got to be a reason why you're having so much pain.

Anyway, I'm on Hydrocodone (generic Norco) also, and have been since the rupture. I haven't increased the dose, I've decreased it, because the pain is not nearly as severe. For several months after surgery, I was taking 4 10-325 tablets a day, and believe me, I needed all of it. I now I take 3 5-325. I guess I'm lucky, in that I'm able to drive while taking it. I'm also on Gabapentin for nerve pain, and the combination really helps me, but I guess the G. doesn't work for you...that's too bad.

In this day and age, there's no reason you should have to suffer so much. There are so many different meds out there. My brother and sister-in-law both have terrible chronic pain, and have gone to a pain clinic for years. They take much stronger meds (I really wish they didn't have to, but that's another story) and when I tell them I'm worried about being on Hydrocodone so long, they say, "that's not even on the radar," as far as being a drug to worry about...and it wouldn't even begin to touch their pain. It's all relative.

Our bodies are all SO different in our pain levels, what helps us, side effects, etc. I can't remember if anyone has referred you to "Fibro 101," our 1st thread. It's very good.

I hope you find something that works! Remember, we are here for you....

Debbie

I dont have Fibro, but have suffered from Arthritis pain for several years. I wanted to post here not to share my story, but to share with you my wife's Fibromyalgia story and how she has changed since finding Zeal.
Here is her story in her own words: "I have had issues with depression and anxiety for years--beginning in 2000 when my son was dx'd with Type 1 diabetes. It just really did a number on me---it was just 4 weeks before he turned 2. I have dealt with the depression, anxiety, migraines, insomnia since then. I have always had issues with joint pain and never really knew why--my knees especially and I always found it odd, b/c I never played any kind of sports or anything. In 2008, I had a total hysterectomy, which resulted in complications and I had immediate emergency surgery. After surgery I ended up putting on over 30lbs. Just 3 days after my hysterectomy, I began to experience a horrible burning feeling in my mouth. None of my doctors knew what that was about or what to do for it. They had me on a swish and swallow script for a couple of months and that didnt do a thing for me at all. In 2009 I began seeing a Rheumitologist for all of the pain issues. They did fully body xrays, and said that I had no arthritis in my joints. They said all of the pain in my joints and muscles was fibromyalgia. I was first put on Lyrica and didnt like the side affects--I noticed more weight gain and swelling--my hands were so swollen I couldn't wear my wedding ring. I was then taken off the Lyrica and put on Cymbalta. I couldn't tell any difference from the Lyrica or the Cybmalta. I was also put on a variety of pain pills. They told me to double up on my Vitamin D intake b/c those were 'low normal'. They had me taking 10,000 mgs of Vitamin D each day. The burning in my mouth has been a constant thing since it began in 2008. I have pretty much just dealt with it and suffered because I couldn't find anything that helped it. I had a biopsy done to rule out Sjogren's Syndrome--that test came back negative. The ENT I went to said he'd seen my condition a lot. The result was Burning Mouth Syndrome(BMS). "double up on your Bcomplex and that should relieve the symptoms"
I was at my wits end and willing to try anything to get some relief! Though I was very skeptical, I started Zeal Wellness about 7 1/2 weeks ago now and I am happy to report that I feel GREAT!!!!!!!!!! Since I started taking Zeal, my mood is better, I have more energy throughout the day, and I am no longer taking any of the medications that I have taken for so many years. They did nothing for me really, but make me feel more run down. I am no longer suffering from insomnia and relying on Ambien to help me sleep at night. The migraines that I suffered with for so long are gone.
The medication I was taking for the depression and anxiety--gone. I have not felt as good as I do now in a LONG time. I feel like I have my life back!
Since Zeal has changed her back to the young woman I married 18 years ago, I have set out to share her story in hope that I can help others get some relief from this awful disease.

I know we are all different and different meds affect us all in different ways...I was in hydrocodone for years cause of multiple surgeries ...anyway it was the Tylenol in this medication that actually became an issue it caused a lot of problems with my liver. I can no longer take any Tylenol products. For pain I take dilaudid. There is a maximum amount of Tylenol you should take in a day. ( I forget what it is right now sorry) but I know you can look it up. Just wanted to share my experience. Hope u feel better soon. Best of luck!