Re: Another Trip to the Rheum -- No Answer, More Drugs (Flexeril & Medrol)

[Guest guest]

Board:

I was in so much pain today. I started crying at work.

Yeap. That's right. A grown man, mid-40s, father of two, former

competitive boxer / mixed martial arts fighter / jock was pouting

like a baby. I WAS the most competitive person on earth but I've

had enough.

So, I called my Rheumie and begged her to see me today. Normally,

it requies 6 months advanced notice to see her. We talked for about

7 minutes. I think she's very nice and very smart. However, her

response to my complaint was stronger anti-inflammatory drugs. I

was prescribed FLEXERIL 10 MG. I was also given a prescription of

Medrol Pack just in case the FLEXERIL did not work. I've never

heard of this stuff and I'm a bit scared about what I've read on

then internet (i.e. lowers immune system .. should not be taken w/

an infection...etc)

Anyone ever hear of or use this stuff? Any and all feedback is

greatly appreciated.

If this doesn't work??????????????? I am scheduled for a MRI on

Friday. Will have results on Monday. If no inflammation is

seen... I'm will have a Bone Scan on Tuesday. I can't bend.. twist

or turn. My hip / lower back is killing me. Along w/ all my

other " symptoms " .

It's killing me.

Regards,

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

Use thus URL and it will tell you the purpose of of Medrol..It's a

form of cortisol and is used to combat inflammation..So is

Flexeril..It appears just at a glance that your doctor is giving you

everything to slow down, then reverse, the inflammation in your

body..Flexeril may make you a little sleepy so test it out before

jumping behind the wheel of your car..I'v taken it over the years and

it's mainly unwound my tissues where the inflammation is at the

worst, thus giving you back some of your range of motion,,I'm hardly

in a position to offer an opinion but i'll do it anyway, " Stick with

her "

You might have to copy and paste this if it doesn't all get picked up

http://www.webmd.com/search/search_results/default.aspx?

sourceType=all & query=medrol

Also, you might want to ask her if there is a Pain Management Clinic

at her Hospital where you could get some real pain relief !!Something

stronger than Tylenol or Ibuprophen..You might try Neurontin if she

agrees..It's used mostly for soft-tissue pain...

jeff

[Guest guest]

My rheumie gave me Flexeril too. It seemed to help when taken just before

bedtime. It is a muscle relaxer. I did not seem to have any side effects. In

fact, I was just considering requesting a refill as my muscle/tendon pain has

escalated in the last few days.

[Guest guest]

I took one Flexeril last night. I slept all night.. all morning...and

walked around all day tired. My body seems to not like this drug. I

was useless all day.

Good night.

[Guest guest]

Hi

Sometimes it seems like a crummy choice between getting some

sleep and feeling like a zombie next day, or lying awake in

pain. Although, lying awake could mean you're more

sleepy/tired the next day anyway

Give the Flexiril a bit longer - sometimes you need to be

patient and wait a week (or several) for drugs to work.

----- Original Message Follows -----

> I took one Flexeril last night. I slept all night.. all

> morning...and walked around all day tired. My body seems

> to not like this drug. I was useless all day.

>

> Good night.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks .

I'm going to hold off on the Flexiril and all drugs until I learn

the results of my MRI and Bone Scans .. just a few more days.

Right now I'm loading up on Advil and Protonix.

[Guest guest]

Interesting comment on Flexeril. When I woke up the day after I

took one single pill, I was looking rather yellow in check bone

area. I don't have a liver problem. Though at one point I did

have high AST / ALT levels which returned to normal. Pancrease

ultrasounds were done. Everything seemed OK.

Do you also have Acid Reflux? This seems to be getting worse

also. Again most people (including my " Best " ID doctors) never seem

to want to connect the conditions / symptoms.

[Guest guest]

I have to say that every drug we take, prescription, non-prescription, or off

the street, takes a toll on the organs of our body that filter out the remnants

of what we took. Those being the Liver and Kidneys and many glands or organs

that also help our bodies digest our food. We do them no favours taking

medications.

Our doctors have to weigh the risks of taking a medication to help us with those

that hurt us. When we take over the counter medications on top of prescription

medications, we could be hurting ourselves. Doctors do not like to be sued so

in these litigigous times they are careful some times to the detriment of our

health.

When I was first diagnosed with Parkinson's the Internist prescribed Doxepin, a

strong Tricyclic Anti-Depressant to slow the tremours down. Hah!!!!! I went

home, took one and lost three days out of my life when I finally stuck my head

out the apartment window. When I went back to see the doctor, he did not show.

Evidently, his Arabian Horse Breeding Business had borrowed money from the wrong

folks and he fled the country.

Fr. Dave

[Guest guest]

,

Re the acid reflux-- I recently went through a gastritis thing caused by

long-term use of Naprosyn. The Protonix did absolutely nothing for me, but

another, similar drug called Aciphex worked wonders. It only took a couple of

doses to start working. Your doctor probably has samples of all this stuff--this

type drug is pretty expensive; guess it's new...

I also wanted to give you my two cent's worth on the Flexeril: I imagine you

have been sleeping badly for a while now, with the pain you are in, as well as

worrying about the whole situation. Even though Flexeril makes you groggy, you

really need to sleep. Doctors talk about " breaking the pain cycle " as part of

getting better; you can't do that if you don't sleep deeply enough to rest.

Often we don't realize how little quality sleep we get because the pain either

wakes us all through the night once we get to sleep, or brings us so close to

the surface we miss out on the REM sleep we need... so think about the Flexeril

or maybe something else that will let you get some good rest.

I hope things get better for you soon---

Pat

[Guest guest]

sage advice dave..... on the taking of medication front, not on the investment

front however.

james

dewi@... wrote: I have to say that

every drug we take, prescription, non-prescription, or off the street, takes a

toll on the organs of our body that filter out the remnants of what we took.

Those being the Liver and Kidneys and many glands or organs that also help our

bodies digest our food. We do them no favours taking medications.

Our doctors have to weigh the risks of taking a medication to help us with

those that hurt us. When we take over the counter medications on top of

prescription medications, we could be hurting ourselves. Doctors do not like to

be sued so in these litigigous times they are careful some times to the

detriment of our health.

When I was first diagnosed with Parkinson's the Internist prescribed Doxepin, a

strong Tricyclic Anti-Depressant to slow the tremours down. Hah!!!!! I went

home, took one and lost three days out of my life when I finally stuck my head

out the apartment window. When I went back to see the doctor, he did not show.

Evidently, his Arabian Horse Breeding Business had borrowed money from the wrong

folks and he fled the country.

Fr. Dave

[Guest guest]

Pat:

Thanks! I've tried Aciphex did not work form me.

I have not been sleeping (slept about 4 hours last night). Dry

mouth / stomach pain. I'm on vacation and plan to take a .5mg of

Xanax to help.

Again - thank you.

>

> ,

> Re the acid reflux-- I recently went through a gastritis thing

caused by long-term use of Naprosyn.

[Guest guest]

,

I was experiencing a lot of muscle discomfort so I decided to try Flexiril

again. I took a 5mg pill the first night and it wiped me out the next day. I

tried half a pill and slept well but still was a little tired. Last night I bit

off about a third of a pill and got a good night's rest and feel pretty good

today. Might want to try a lower dosage.

Doug in Md