pain management

[Guest guest]

Hi. I've also read many views on pain meds and FM. I

haven't had any luck with pain meds helping my FM, but many

others swear by them.

http://www.sover.net/~devstar/drugs.htm

This site lists all meds that are prescribed for FM both

traditional and alternative. It's a great site and may

answer some of your questions. I take trazadone at night,

and it's helped my sleep a lot. Recently I added Prozac in

the am, but I haven't had any improvements yet. I was on

Zoloft before the Prozac but it didn't do much except make

me feel funny and clench my jaw.

I hope you find something that helps. FM pain really is

rotten. Tomorrow I'll post some abstracts on FM pain

management.

a

-----Original Message-----

From: shortgirl562000@...

[mailto:shortgirl562000@...]

Sent: Monday, June 04, 2001 9:55 PM

Subject: [ ] Pain management

I've been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and I'm in a lot of

pain. I

know that the focus of treating fibro usually centers

around pain

reduction (supposedly anyway) and increasing sleep. At my

last

doctors visit, I was told that I couldn't have stronger

pain

medications because they don't " work " for fibro and that

they're

addictive. I've read all kinds of stuff and it gives such

contradicting opinions on this matter I don't know what to

think. All

I know is that I want a life, and I'm in too much pain to

have one.

Right now I'm on Neurontin and Trazodone. I understand

that the more

you sleep, the better your pain is supposed to get

(although it's

never worked that way for me). My rheumy didn't want to

give me

stronger meds, I already tried darvocet and ultram with no

luck.

Does anyone have any thoughts on any of this?

[Guest guest]

Hi all: I went to the FP yesterday finally I do have a bad URI . She

prescribed Neurontin for the FM which has really flared. Took the first pill

last night and really rested well, the pain didn't bother me but she also

prescribed Tussinex suspension to bring up the gook and Omincef 300 mg. for

the infection. To make a long story short, it made me drunk as a skunk. I had

to hold on the wall to go the bathroom but I HAD NO PAIN. Thank God I didn't

take a Lortab with it or I probably would have overdosed. I am supposed to

take the Neurontin 300 mg. 1 at hs for three days, then 1 tab bid for two

days and 3 tid for three days. I don't think I can could handle it more than

once a day, I wouldn't be able to navigate at all. Anyway, the pain is not

as bad today and the swelling is down in my knees. I can't see the rheumy

until July 19th. My dr. said she just attended a seminar where they are

using the Neurontin more and more for FM and migraines. It really has worked

better than anything I have had so far, of course, it was 10 am before I

could navigate and then very slowly.

Jan

[Guest guest]

Jan,

Maybe you should give your doctor a call. Perhaps the amount of one or more

of the drugs can be lowered and you could work up to a dosage that will give

you pain relief, but not leave you susceptible to the risk that you might

fall down!

Good luck. I'm glad your swelling is down and your pain is less, but I'm

worried about how you're functioning.

----- Original Message -----

From: <burnettaljanb@...>

< >

Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2001 10:41 AM

Subject: Re: [ ] Pain management

> Hi all: I went to the FP yesterday finally I do have a bad URI . She

> prescribed Neurontin for the FM which has really flared. Took the first

pill

> last night and really rested well, the pain didn't bother me but she also

> prescribed Tussinex suspension to bring up the gook and Omincef 300 mg.

for

> the infection. To make a long story short, it made me drunk as a skunk. I

had

> to hold on the wall to go the bathroom but I HAD NO PAIN. Thank God I

didn't

> take a Lortab with it or I probably would have overdosed. I am supposed to

> take the Neurontin 300 mg. 1 at hs for three days, then 1 tab bid for two

> days and 3 tid for three days. I don't think I can could handle it more

than

> once a day, I wouldn't be able to navigate at all. Anyway, the pain is

not

> as bad today and the swelling is down in my knees. I can't see the rheumy

> until July 19th. My dr. said she just attended a seminar where they are

> using the Neurontin more and more for FM and migraines. It really has

worked

> better than anything I have had so far, of course, it was 10 am before I

> could navigate and then very slowly.

>

> Jan

[Guest guest]

: I did call the dr and it is the tussinex that is the culprit.

Apparently it was a shock to my system as I took my second dose of the day

about 5 pm and am functioning normally. Thank the Lord. I was really afraid

of falling , at least I live in a flat. Thanks for your concern. You are so

sweet. She also gave me Lasix 20 mg. as I am retaining fluid badly. We think

it might be some from the Prednisone but I have never been this bad. Sooo we

are setting an appointment for a physical. My dad has CHF and I am concerned

a little about that but my EKG last year was fine. Keep your fingers crossed.

Jan

[Guest guest]

Jan , I also tried Neurontin last month to help with FM...I took first one in

late afternoon and it helped......took one the next morning with my regular

load of pills and within 30 minutes...my heart was racing so fast ,,felt like

it was jumping out of my chest...apparently something else I took reacted

with it....my heart raced for about an hour...scared me worse than an anxiety

attack......now my son's grandmother takes it for neuropathy and it does

wonders for her...I wish I could try it again....but I dont dare. Judy in AZ

[Guest guest]

Jan, did you say you were using the NEURONTIN???

Been there...done that. (on it about 6 months)

Wish I hadn't.

I do not know if weight gain is a listed side effect of this, but within

3 days of taking it, I gained 5 pounds. None of my eating habits

changed.

I have weighed 100 pounds since I was 15...am now 47...

Never had problem with weight.

Within 2 weeks of taking this drug. I gained about 15 pounds.

Sound unreal??? Well, it is true.

And this was the ONLY DRUG I was on. Except for an occasional aspirin.

So I knew it was doing it.

*I retained fluid something horrible. Painful retention.

It made my joints swell even worse than the Arthritis did them. It was

just awful pain from the puffy fluid swelling it seemed to cause.

*I got 2 kidney infections.

*I kept a dry hacking unproductive " cough " ... at times it felt like

Asthma

*I stayed constipated. (never had problems with these before)

*It did NOT help on the Fibromyalgia pain. It did however help on the

pain in my disc and lower back from a fall I had last year. Now it did

do good on that. But not the FM pain.

The Arthritis pain was also NOT effected by it. It did nothing for the

Arthritis pain.

*It killed any sex drive.

The good thing about it...

I could take one at night, and sleep like a baby until the next morning.

But the trade off of side effects was not worth it.

I now weigh 20 lbs. more than when I started taking it. And it will not

" come off " . It really does remind you of how Pred makes you look when

it puts on weight.

I still can not get on my rings. And one ring that was my grandfathers,

is now (I fear) permanently on my finger! It won't come off. And that is

one ring that I won't have cut off!

Susie

burnettaljanb@... wrote:

> : I did call the dr and it is the tussinex that is the culprit.

> Apparently it was a shock to my system as I took my second dose of the

> day

> about 5 pm and am functioning normally. Thank the Lord. I was really

> afraid

> of falling , at least I live in a flat. Thanks for your concern. You

> are so

> sweet. She also gave me Lasix 20 mg. as I am retaining fluid badly.

> We think

> it might be some from the Prednisone but I have never been this bad.

> Sooo we

> are setting an appointment for a physical. My dad has CHF and I am

> concerned

> a little about that but my EKG last year was fine. Keep your fingers

> crossed.

>

>

>

> Jan

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Susie: Ouch! Thanks for the input. I certainly do not need to gain any

weight. I am very close to 200 lbs. now. She only prescribed it for a week,

and like you say I am sleeping like a baby. It did help the pain Monday night

but last night I couldn't tell any difference. I only got three pills because

I have learned not to buy a whole rx and then not be able to take it. Given

your info, and the fact that I am not seeing any difference after the second

pill, I don't think I will get the rest filled. Thanks so much for the

input. This group is really so special because of caring people like you.

Jan

[Guest guest]

Judy: I am so glad I only had three pills filled. Last night, I did sleep

but the pain was still bothersome. I haven't noticed any side effects yet,

but after doing some research, I am not going to get the remainder filled.

Like always, I'll " grin " and bear it.

Thanks for the input.

Jan

[Guest guest]

Hey everyone,

just wanted to let ya'll know that iam taking jesse to see his peds dr. looks

like his right knee where he got the stitches in and out looks infected. the

whole knee is hot to the touch etc.

i will let you all know later.

shelly

[Guest guest]

ok we are back from the dr. jesse has a skin infection where the wound is.

The dr put him on AB cream called Bactroban and or AB's called Cephalexin

500mg 3 times a day. He has to keep it dry which means no swimming and that

is jesse's favorite thing to do. So i got something called tegadrem. looks

like saran wrap that sticks. Now he can swim and keep it dry but he has to

take it off when he is done swimming.

Hopefully we got to the infection before it got into his joint. i will keep

you all posted.

shelly

[Guest guest]

: I know what you mean about taking care of two children. I have a

3 yr old and 4 yr old that I take care of daily.They are really good children

and they take naps so I get to rest in the afternoon. As for getting sleep,

my normal sleeping habits are about 3hrs a night (the manic side of me) but I

am sleeping better this week, probably because my cough is easing up. If I

nap when the kids nap and then sleep three hrs I usually do pretty well.

Thanks for the boost. Hope you are having a great day, glad to see your post.

Jan

[Guest guest]

: Thanks for keeping us all posted. Give my love to . Hope the

antibiotics work. So glad you found the tegarderm so he can swim, will still

you all in my thoughts and prayers.

Jan

[Guest guest]

Jan,

I was just recently diagnosed with FMS and my doctor and everything I

have read so far say that it can take some time for the medication to

become effective and that you have to be getting enough Level 4 sleep

and mild excersise (20 min, 3 time per week). I am not getting any

relief yet either and it has been almost two weeks since I started

the meds. But, I am not excersising (other than chasing after 2

toddlers) and I am only getting 5 to 6 1/2 hour of sleep per night.

That is just not enought to make the meds effective, I guess.

Perhaps others can tell us more. Hang in there kiddo.

> Judy: I am so glad I only had three pills filled. Last night, I

did sleep

> but the pain was still bothersome. I haven't noticed any side

effects yet,

> but after doing some research, I am not going to get the remainder

filled.

> Like always, I'll " grin " and bear it.

> Thanks for the input.

>

> Jan

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Poor . Sounds like woorlpool with epson salts time. Bless his

heart.

Hugs and prayers

> Hey everyone,

>

> just wanted to let ya'll know that iam taking jesse to see his peds

dr. looks

> like his right knee where he got the stitches in and out looks

infected. the

> whole knee is hot to the touch etc.

>

> i will let you all know later.

> shelly

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Okay, the " hot pockets " are great, but not sure how well they're

actually working. Does anyone have a hot tub, spa or Jacuzzi? If

so, how does that work for you? Do they really help?

[Guest guest]

I get in to jacuzzi at the gym the steam room seems to help me a lot too. But Ive noticed if I stay in the steam room too long it makes me tired. Both help with my pain, they also are also good for stress relief.

Rhonda wendyhollander <wendyhollander@...> wrote:

Okay, the "hot pockets" are great, but not sure how well they're actually working. Does anyone have a hot tub, spa or Jacuzzi? If so, how does that work for you? Do they really help?

[Guest guest]

i like mine but don't use them very often. they do feel good if i just take the time to relax with them. they are comforting. they will not cure RA, but they seem to me to relieve some of the inflamation, at least by stimulating the blood flow. i like hot water best, though. i will continue using them when have time as any thing that gives relief, even momentarilly, is a God send at times.i have the wax therapy and that is good. NW... whether or not they are simply a placebo doesn't worry me.. if it SEEMS to help, that's enough for me <G>!!!

love.. granny lee

p.s. when my daughter and i used to go on trips we would get a suit with a jacuzzi or hot tub but they were too difficult for me at the time to get in and out so i got to where i just couldn't use them. i would love to be able to get into a tub and soak! when i get better i will try it again. LOL. i had a shot in each of my arms yesterday to help in a tennis elbow like situation and they seem a bit better today.

i carried some of my exercising a little bit too far and strained my herniated disc, but i am doing the other stretch exercises and the airobatics parts and doing well with them, even though i sometimes look like a cow trying to wallow out of a mud hole...LOL!!! it ain't perty, but it is helping!!

by again.. granny lee

----- Original Message -----

From: wendyhollander

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2004 8:59 AM

Subject: pain management

Okay, the "hot pockets" are great, but not sure how well they're actually working. Does anyone have a hot tub, spa or Jacuzzi? If so, how does that work for you? Do they really help?

[Guest guest]

Joyce,

Sometimes I think you just have to learn how to live with the pain. I have

chronic back pain and I've been on 30 or 40 different meds. Went to a pain

management doctor and for almost 9 years. I still have pain and it's getting

worse.

I'm allergic to the Fentanyl patches and they helped for the 10 hours. I had one

one and was sick as a dog the next day. So I just try to deal with it.

I exercise. I purchased a zero gravity chair plus I'm on Valium 10mg 3x a day

and Soma 4x a day which is a muscle relaxer plus I get Lidocaine injections in

my back every month and and all that

really doesn't help to much so I just try to live with it.

I hope you can find some help don't give up just keep trying I still do and hope

I will find something to help with the pain one day. Good luck.

Tommy

[Guest guest]

Gretchen

How much Elavil? I'm on Cymbalta 30 mg now and a patch. How does one survive the

pain and still be aware up and alive. This disease causes severe pain as the

sheath over the nerve dies, it is chronic I can't be the only person can I? What

do you think? I'm at wits end.

Joyce

[Guest guest]

On a 0-10 pain scale I live with about a 5 everyday of my life. I exercise 3

times a week and I try to keep my mind active it keeps it off the pain if I am

thinking about other things. There are days when i feel like my pain is a 15 but

I try to keep going, I laugh a lot and my sense of humor helps. Like Saturday

evening I was walking my puppy I stepped on a slight dip in the road at the end

of my driveway which slopes down to my house. I was skinned up really bad and I

couldn't get myself up at first. I looked up and in my kitchen window I saw my

hubby in his PJ's getting a bedtime snack. I started laughing and I said to my

puppy " well how about that Larry hasn't noticed I am gone. " I got myself up and

then went in the house and teased Larry for not missing me.

When I fall in the house if my hubby comes in and says what are ya doing down

there I usually say something like oh " just inspecting the carpet. " if I can

laugh I can get through anything.

Cathleen