Re: Longtime fibromalgia sufferer...having trouble adjusting to limitations.

[Guest guest]

It's really sad the way doctors refuse to help people with chronic pain. They

toss a few pills at us that does little to help. It's no wonder you suffer with

depression so badly.

Have you seen a doctor who specializes in treating fibromyalgia? You need to do

that but also you need to see a pain management doctor who does use medication

to treat pain. Some like to treat pain with injections that are fairly useless

and damaging (they make a lot of money doing this). Steer clear of these

doctors.

You are in need of round the clock pain relief, a pill that gives timed release

medication. Not an over the counter medication. There are many medications

that could help you in doses that probably will allow you to continue working

your part time job. I realize that is an issue.

Fact is you probably need a different antidepressant as well.

Maybe time to find some new doctors who will give you a fresh evaluation and try

to make your life better.

I'm 55 and take pain medication and have fibromyalgia. The antidepressant

Cymbalta helped me tremendously with my fibro but the copay got too high for our

monthly budget. I don't like our health insurance at all. We pay too much for

too little.

Much hope for a better day to come your way.

Jennette

Penny wrote:

Good evening,

I have had fibromyalgia for the past 17 years along with depression. I spend

about a third of each year depressed. I have had 13 years of

therapy and I take an antidepressant to keep the depression from

becoming severe.

My question is: How much pain can I realistically expect to have relieved by

pain medication?

[Guest guest]

Dear Penny: (another long winded post from in PA)

I'm so glad you've emerged from your depression.  It really is difficult,

especially when the pain levels are so bad.

I've been having a lot of trouble with adjusting, too.  I've been going to tons

of doctors since we moved to PA last April, but keep being told over and over

that there is nothing that can be done,it will just continue to get worse. 

I sort of hit the wall on Thursday after my last test.  I had an upper EMG to

determine what was causing part of my left hand to be numb and some arm pain

that I've been having.  Well, the doc that recommended the test thought it was

because my neck is messed up, and if it was, he might be able to do a minor

surgery to fix the herniated discs.  But, come to find out, the problem is

coming from my left elbow that I broke in 2008.  There is a lot of nerve damage

from that which is causing half of my left hand to tingle and feel weird. 

There's carpel tunnel in my right wrist, too which causes that occasional dead

hand that I get on that side.  Then, as with my lower legs, I have peripheral

neuropathy from the diabetes.

So, once again, " sorry,there's nothing that we can do other than possibly to

re-break your elbow, and even that probably wouldn't help. "   So, that was just

the tiny little straw that broke my back.  I don't know why I continue to allow

myself to hope that I can be fixed.  The very worst thing is that the doc doing

the EMG was dismissive (until after he got the results).   He said, 'Well, maybe

you have hyper sensitive nerves that cause you to interpret any nerve signal as

pain (this was after I complained that his testing my left arm...with

electricity and needles...was hurting me). 

He said he'd given that test to 100's of patients and most don't interpret that

shocks as pain.  Of course I know he's a liar.  Every person I spoke to who had

had one (about 10 people) likened it to torture.  But it hurt my feelings to

have this snotty nosed kid dismissing my pain (even though it was just the pain

from the test).  Made me want to bludgeon him with my cane and then say, 'well

if you just change your thinking, maybe it won't hurt as much.'

So I got home and sunk into despair.  My fingers holding on to the edge of the

pit finally slipped and I couldn't make my way out.  I was a crying mess. 

Thinking those terrible thoughts that I usually try to never let myself think. 

Considering suicide.  But then my husband would be in even worse straights and I

couldn't do that to my daughter either. 

I have just enough religious faith left to worry that I'd go from the frying pan

right into the fire, too.  So, then I'm thinking, 'what now?'  and couldn't come

up with an answer.  My husband stayed home on Friday, too because he didn't want

to leave me alone in that state. 

For his sake I'm putting on a pretty good show of not letting him see the

despair, but it's lurking in the corner of my mind. 

As for your question about how much relief you can get from your medication, it

depends on your doctor.  There are so many that can get good relief from their

meds and have doctors that keep trying to find the right cocktail.  My pain meds

relieve enough of the pain that I can at least function, which is better than

nothing.  Then I have a ton of distraction tactics that I use to try to get

through each day. 

Thanks for allowing me to vent my own issues.  To all of you out there on the

brink, please don't let my post depress you about hope.  All of our situations

are different.  Even though there isn't much for me, I just can't allow hope to

die, although right now my own hope is in intensive care. 

- PA

Penny wrote:

I just came out of a six month depression about Jan 20, so I am

adjusting. I am 60 years old and work 20 hours a week as a bank teller.

My question is: How much pain can I realistically expect to have relieved by

pain medication?

[Guest guest]

Hi Penny,

I have had Fibro for at least 15 years. I also have c-spine neck problems

with tons of pain and a body full of arthritis.

I had had surgeries to control pain. I am use to having to tell doctors.

If you tell them that your pain is off the chart, like pain from 1-10, that

is what you have to do. 10 being crying, throwing up, etc. If you tell them

you are at 12 or above, they will blow you off. Plus as you are trying to

determine, you have to deal with a certain level of pain for the rest of

your life.

The pills will not take all of the pain away and I'm sure you

know that. I have told my doctors that I can live with a 3-4 and be ok.

When I start living at a 5-6 everyday, there is no way I can even get rest,

an 8 is very bad and yes, 10 is crying and I am there from time to time even

with the medication.

So, reasonably 2-5 pain (5 is really pushing it). I take Norco 10mg ever 6

hours and I have Tramadol of which I can take 2 at a time, but I usually

only take that when my pain isn't too bad. If my neck kicks in really bad

and I have a none stop pain & migraine, I give myself a toradol injection

plus my muscle reslaxer.

I was on Oxycontin once upon a time, but I hate narcotic medication (yes, I know

Norco is one and Tramadol is a synthetic one), but I try to stay away from the

biggies. I lost a cousin to a pain

pill overdose. It was not intentional. She did not chart her medications and

put down a time as to when the last pill was taken, so under the infulence, she

couldn't remember and just kept taking them when she hurt. I miss her dearly.

I hope this all helps.

Bren

" Body on market for trade, new improved body please "

Penny wrote "

I have had fibromyalgia for the past 17 years along with depression. I spend

about a third of each year depressed. I have had 13 years of

therapy and I take an antidepressant to keep the depression from

becoming severe.

[Guest guest]

Hi Penny,

Living with chronic pain is so very difficult! With RSD in my foot there have

been times when I've thought that amputation had to be a better solution than

living on pain meds and yet still facing such a high level of pain every day for

the rest of my life. So, I understand the depression and my heart truly goes out

to you!

Do you feel like you have a good relationship with your pain mgt doc? One in

which the communication is comfortable for you and that he/she understands what

you live with every single day? If so, then it seems to me that the conversation

about an increase in pain meds should go well. If the current dosage isn't

increased perhaps there is another medication option that you and your doctor

could consider.

Working 20 hours a week must be incredibly difficult!! I really admire you

knowing that there's no way I could work like that any longer!! I'm on

disability and contacted them about trying to work a temp, very part-time job

(9-10 hours/week) that ends in March which was a 2.5 month commitment.

Disability has very specific parameters in which you can work while receiving

your benefits. It's been great for me mentally and emotionally to get out of the

house and feel somewhat productive . (I sit at a desk and make phone calls so

am able to keep my foot elevated the entire time. A far cry from what I was able

to do in my former career which I greatly miss.)

Those who are on disability can understand that it's hardly enough to cover the

bills!! So any little bit that I can do (and believe me this is VERY little)

does help us financially. But I do find that the pain is worse as a result of

trying to work. And I've needed to discuss the changes in my pain with my pain

mgt doc.

How long have you been working? Are you finding that the job is increasing your

pain and, therefore, your depression? Hopefully your doctor takes the same

approach as mine...he/she wants you to be as comfortable as you can be in order

for you to have a better quality of life. We've explored all kinds of options

(procedures, acupuncture, massage, TENS unit, heating pad, etc.) to help keep

the meds at a reasonable level if at all possible. Do you have some options that

could help you other than meds? Knowing you've been dealing with this for so

many years I'm sure you've investigated a wide variety of things to help you

feel better!!!

I wish you the very best!! Hang in there and I do hope you and your doc can come

up with some potential solutions to help improve your depression and level of

pain :).

Carol

Penny wrote:

I have had fibromyalgia for the past 17 years along with depression. I spend

about a third of each year depressed.

[Guest guest]

Just because your brain is what's processing it as pain doesn't mean it doesn't

hurt!

Carolyn Eddy

" Sweet Goat Mama "