Status
Not open for further replies.

Btoppe

Active member
Joined
Mar 3, 2015
Messages
32
Reason
DX FIBRO
Diagnosis
01/2015
Country
US
State
ID
My fibro pain has been increasing a lot here lately. My doctor has me doing small exercises to keep my body in motion, but I am in so much pain while doing them. I really need something to limit my pain during the day so I can keep active and healthy. The only medications I am on are cymbalta and flexeril. I am not fond of the flexeril(muscle relaxer). I can only take it at night which does help me sleep, but I need something to get me through the day. Plus I do not like the way the muscle relaxers make me feel like a zombie. I really want a low dosage of a pain medicine just for my bad parts of the day, but my doctor seems totally against it. I have not brought it up to her, but she has already mentioned that she wants to stay away from it. I feel like the only reason she wants to keep me off of it is because of how it is abused. I am just in so much pain and I really need something. What should I do? should I bring it up to my doctor? Should I try a new doctor?
 
I would suggest you try a new doctor. I take 1/2 Hydrocodone (5-325) every evening. If I take a whole one I get too loopy. I usually take one when I get home from work and it helps the pain to back off. I have taken it at work when nothing else works. My doctor is ok with refilling the Rx every month although now with the law changes I have to go to his office to pick up the prescription.

I am taking a low dose of cymbalta, but won't increase it due to side affects. At night I take a low dose of Baclofen, which is a muscle relaxer. It makes me sleepy and even if I don't get sleepy, it does help to ease the pain.

If I were you I would get a second opinion. You do have to be very careful with pain medication. I am a substance abuse counselor and we have tons of people who are addicted to pain meds. You don't need to deal with that on top of the fibro.

I hope you get some relief.
 
Btoppe,

you really dont want to jump to the hard drugs if you dont have to..

It sounds like you did not read my post in general discussions "starting a daily log book and why it helps'.

If you are eating, drinking, doing something,weather,stress..etc then your pain levels during the day will increase.you have not found your triggers. you didn't take your log book with you to the doctor and you didn't have your list of questions with you. these things are important to you and the doctor to give you the meds you need. you did not agree on a pain level target. you need to take control of your treatment.

Example, you tell doctor, i'm still hurting in my arm and neck. now with that information what are you expecting the doctor to do for you.

She looked at your chart and saw that you are on one med for fibro and how long you have been on it.(it takes time to build up in your body) one med for muscle spasm as she thinks its working for you because you didn't tell her .

if you would have read the post you would have learned about doctors and why they don't prescribe the meds.

try softer exercises and shorter time frames. i use body blade. one minute sessions. try some aspirin or ibuprofen and see if it helps. sounds like the flexerill is to strong for you. try a 1/4 of a pill and see what happens.

this is my advise. if i can help you more please ask me. thanks for posting and sharing your story with us.
 
I kept a log and we found my major trigger spots. My hips, neck, and knees. I went into the doctor for the first time complaining about my knees. Then after many doctor appointments, x-rays, and some blood test she figured I had fibro. Every single appointment i have been to I still say my knees are driving me crazy. I can't even do a squat because of the pain. I've been on cymbalta for 5 months. I was just put on the flexeril my last visit. I just don't know how to talk about pain management medications with my doctor. I know how big of a problem opiates have been. I actually hate pills, but after I left high school I was less active and then my pain increased a lot.
 
Did you continue with the log book?
Did you find your pain levels.
Did you review the log with your doctor?

your GP cant prescribe the hard drugs for you. you need pain mgt to do that.
Someone that knows and works with folks in pain everyday.
your GP works with colds and flu. your RA should have already sent you to pain mgt.

Did the log book show that the cymbalta is working or not working.
5 months, you should know by now and be asking for something else.

if you tell your doctor that you have been taking the cymbalta and your only getting one hour of relief.(log book for time frame)
The doctor, should then review the dose or change the med. if he/she is not doing that then ask how come?

Tell your doctor that you are at a average daily pain level of ?.(from your log book)
Tell the doctor that you would like to get it to a daily pain level of 2.
Ask, what meds do you think will help me get to and maintain that pain level?

Tell him/her you would like to be referred to a pain mgt doctor to discuss a treatment plan with a specialist with pain levels.

This should get you the referral you need and the drugs you need too.

You will then see how your doctor feels about your treatment plan and how it is progressing.

You are in control of your treatment plan.

Read my post starting a daily log book and why it helps. it's in the general discussions forum.
Do everything thats in there so you can get the help you need.

Write down your questions before you go to the doctor. this way your questions will tell him what he needs to do for you.

Never stop your daily log book or you are just letting a doctor make uninformed decisions about your treatment plan.
as you can see, what you are doing now is not working.

your pain in your knee can be from many things not just fibro.
Get Clear answers from your doctor on what he thinks is the cause of the knee pain.


i hope that i have helped you today.

the post should help you with questions to ask your doctor.
 
Have you been to pain management Dr. .
ALSO, have you considered medical herbs?
 
I can understand your frustration.....

I have yet to be referred to a pain management doctor who believes in pain medication. So far, I have been told that it's all in the foods you eat, I've had to meet with a psychiatrist about accepting my pain and that if I thought different, it would magically go away. The first one only believed in accupuncture. Not one has been willing to prescribe me pain meds. I've had to rely on my primary care physician and I know he's uncomfortable with it.....But he still prescribes hydro 5/325. I have been pushing him to up it or try a different one and he's reluctant. Why can't we find docs who understand fibro? There has to be some efforts out there to try and understand this disease better....It's not fair that we should suffer....

I've been having a horribly bad pain day the past few days. Sorry, rant over.
 
rant heard and accepted by one crazy poster!
 
Yes I have continued using the log book for a while. I talked to my doctor about everything I wrote down in it. I know that I have to be referred to a pain clinic, but my doctor doesn't want to. I just need something little to get me through the day. I was on a medicine that was similar to 5 ibuprofen, but it stopped helping. I think it was called Mobic? The cymbalta helps with my anxiety, but barely helps with pain relief. I'm just feel so tired and worn out all the time. I just want something to help my pain to get through the day. I don't go back to the doctor till may 27th. I don't know if I can make it that long with out something to help my pain. I'm just not sure how to ask my doctor about referring me to a pain clinic. I don't want to come off like I want them for rec. use. I just want something to ease my pain. I had x-rays on my knees and blood work for arthritis and everything came back fine. Some days I just want to chop my legs off. I try to explain to my doctor about my pain. I think she mistakes my suck it up attitude as I'm not in pain.
 
I find Inositol from B Family very helpful, it's a calming supp. Gaba works good for me too, I use them both alternating thru the day and this is in the sleep combo too.

Pain RX is an herbal supp and I use it twice a day.....I use ibuprofen twice a day too.

I would NOT be without DGL for stomach protection. I ended up with an ulcer from a pharma anti inflammatory years ago and searched high and low for a stomach protector...this is a supplement.

Addresses reflux, gerd and heartburn also...but protects stomach lining.

I have chronic pain but I manage it, it never goes away totally, never.

I was on a wonderful inflammation modulator back in 2013 and got 4 great months of wonderful relief. The product was Anatabloc and then thru company mis-management, it's off the market....long political mess. This was a supp.

I took the opiates before and after hip replacement, but am totally off them. The two calmers I mentioned above help and so does MSM powder three times per day, I've mentioned that too....good luck. J
 
Last edited:
Btoppe, i advised you on, what and how to ask your doctor above in my post.

you said: that the cymbalta barely helps with pain relief.

i have not been on that drug.

The gabba seams to not be working on the knives anymore. (310 before noon and stopped counting)

My doctor wants me to try cymbalta or stevia something like that.

I do have some questions for you folks.

when you are on the cymbalta?

Does the number of sharp knives going in you stop?

Does the twitching/static charges like feeling stop or slow down?

Does it reduce the number of knives going in you each day?

Does it reduce to a pain level of 2?

what do you feel that its helping you with?

the drug (cmybalta) is a nerve blocker to the brain. the drug is trying to block the number of messages to the brain that the body
and muscles are sending to the brain to send pain to the requested area.

it's not a pain medication. its not going to stop pain. it just reduces the number of pain requests.

you said:
cymbalta helps with my anxiety.

how do you feel its helping with anxiety?

if it does help with it, i may not have to get the xanex med she wants me to try.

thanks for your answers everyone.
 
To be honest cymbalta only makes my pain tolerance a little better. I have noticed how my pain is not as bad after certain activities. I do experience sharp pin needle pains still and my pain level is still above a 2. It absolutely does nothing for my major pains. On the other hand, it does keep me calm. I do not overreact like I use to. I still have my anxiety attacks from time to time. It just keeps my mind clear during stressful times.

Does anyone have any issues trying to sleep? I have slept 4 hours a night for 2 weeks. I feel so tired, but cannot fall asleep. The muscle relaxers I am on makes me fall asleep, but only for an hour. I feel like my bones are grinding on each other and I can not get comfortable.
I made an earlier doctors appointment for this Monday to address my issues. Hopefully it goes well.
 
Cmetryme.darling the comment It sounds like you did not read my post in general discussions "starting a daily log book and why it helps'.you
Make it sound like a law lol.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top