For people with fibromyalgia, pain medication is an important element of managing the disease. As well as dealing with the debilitating pain, medications can also help sufferers with fatigue, muscle spasms, and depression.
Before taking any new pain medication, it’s important to speak to your health care provider to ensure it’s safe for you and won’t interfere with any other medications you may be taking.
Here are seven of the most common medications used for treating fibromyalgia according to practicalpainmanagement.com:
Antidepressants
In addition to treating depression, antidepressants can also be used to help block pain signals to the brain. There are two antidepressant drugs which have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of fibromyalgia—duloxetine (Cymbalta) and milnacipran (Savella). Patients can also be prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac or Paxil or tricyclic anti-depressants such as Pamelor and Elavil.
What happens when someone has had allergic reactions to all of these poisons?? Some severe enough to land me in ICU. I am not at interested in narcotics nor any legal Mary Jane.
I have turned to the teachings of those now deceased. This warrior’s war cry has been heard!!!!
I have been there too reflexology really helped and changed diet drastically no caffeine no sugar no process foods no so no gluten no dairy,have went from 4x to medium and no pain meds worked reflexologist retired no struggling with new one but almost desperate to go back on drugs for relief but try might help
“I have turned to the teachings of those now deceased.” WHAT? Thanks for the helpful comment
Well Em cannabis first of all is not a poison!Secondly it is an herb given by God Almighty to be used with wisdom and prudence.I have 6 diseases that i have to deal with and fibromyalgia is by far the worst!I found some top quality Cbd oil that by the way has no thc in it .THe thc or Tetrahydrocannabinol if you please is the part that makes you feel the high in cannabis use.I do not condone recreational use.But I do for medical especially when it comes to homeopathic medicine.I found when i purchaseed a 10 ml bottle of this Cbd from Dutchnatural.com for about $38 including shipping.I mix the 10 ml with 2.4 oz of extra lean extra virgin olive oil.You can use what ever to supplement does not have to be olive oil.So far I have not used any narcotics or pain meds from pharmaceutical makers. Hope this helps.I still have some pain occasionally but very minor amounts of pain as long as I do not over do it that day.God bless and Hopes this helps someone from suffering.John
I am 84 years old and have had a diagnosis of fibro since the late 1990. However, I had fibro symptoms many year before. I also have perferal neuropathy which is also painful. THE BEST I HAVE FOUND IS CBD OIL, LYRICA, and CYMBALTA! They work well for me w/out opiods,etc. Try these 3 and see if they work for each of you.
Fibromyalgia is a horrible disease that is not terminal. I am always looking for the normal life I once had. Not a life of pain, fatigue and all the other weird ailments that pop up here and there.
I myself have had almost all of the poisons listed and have had my own close calls. I wish they would find cure. In the meantime I want my symptoms treated for quality of life and continued testing.
If it means putting poison in my body I will do it. It’s called desperation and hope!
I am taking some of the ones that help my symptoms the most prescribed by my Primary care and supplements which he has deemed ok. Narcotics are not off my books, I take them occasionally.
I have been taught first hand too for over 20 years. Son and DIL, Meth and opioids. Destroyed their lives 3 times over and it could be more. Friends of theirs have also lost their life. Depends on the personality of the person for abuse and some doctors over prescibing from patient manipulation.
This does not deter me. I tell my doctor no most times when offered a narcotic and others he persuades and talks me into it.
The hunt still continues with hope for other options and one day they will find a cure. I want my life back!
My fibro started after I went to war which left me with PTSD and a spinal injury, then I watched my wife die slowly from breast cancer and ALL of my family die including my little sister from cancer, I am the only one left alive, but being alive with this terrible disease is hardly living. I am on medication with Morphine sulphate tabs, anti depressants etc etc, nothing seems to work. I moved to southern Spain as the climate is better in the summer months I have a little reduction of pain, but when winter hits I’m in pain. I know I have to live with this but I want people including doctors to try to visualise what pain and depression we go through. I am grateful that it’s not a death sentence, but hell it hurts.
Hello Dennis,
I would first of all like to say to all of my family of disabling Fibromyalgia sufferers that I unfortunately sincerely feel your pain. I like yourself Dennis, have PTSD from the Vietnam War, depression, anxiety and an extensive number of surgeries. I need to add here ladies, that I am definitely not trying to take anything from you ladies in this comment, but those of us that have this terrible disease(that not many men have), but when they do, the pain is usually worse. I have derived this information from various studies, and a significant amount of other data. In this enormous amount of material, it refers to muscle mass as being the culprit. This of course would not always be consistent, because there are some ladies that are very muscular, so this would have to be taken into account. I have found that I suffer much worse in the colder and more humid climates, and in some instances that I get an upset stomach, because of the pain.
Dennis I know your frustration as well as everyone that deals with this disease and normally with no relief! I have also taken a number of different medications to no avail. When you have this disease and get no relief, then of course the anxiety or depression set in. It’s the war all over again with no end in sight. I am taking Oxycontin and have been for many years, so they are of very little benefit at this point, so like the rest of you, I suffer!
I cannot take Morphine, because unfortunately I get zero relief from it. They have given this to me before and I kept telling them it was not working and after two more booster shots, they said you are right. I think I am starting to ramble, so I will just kindly ask if you men first have any suggestions, please let me know and I am definitely not ruling out the ladies, so your input would also be very sincerely appreciated. God Bless you all, and may you find relief to your terrible pain.
Another story that “criminalizes” the use of opiates. “Narcotics should only be used for a short time; can be addicting.”
Does the author of this article understand that Fibro is a CHRONIC disease and can never go away? I’ve been on opiates for 50 years. I have taken the same amount of Oxycontin (20 mg three times a day) for nearly 20 years! Never abused it. Never increased it.
One is “dependent” on opiates NOT addicted. For those of us with constant unrelenting pain, oxy never gets rid of the pain..but does lessen it so that we can work outside of the home or inside. Since Oxycontin is a sustained release tablet, there are no peaks and valleys–just consistent, reliable pain relief. We get no “high” or “euphoria” with narcotics. It just makes us able to handle the pain better.
So please! Stop using terms such as “addicting” or “only using for short term use” as it makes us feel like druggies, abusers. It’s hard enough having this disease without editorial comments such as these!
That is SO true!!! I’ve been on Norspan Pain Patches for 8 yrs now, & yes I know I’m obviously addicted to them…however, the pain I suffer is so great, that I must have them. I hate this life of Autoimmune Diseases. I have Fibromyalgia, Hashimoto’s Hypothyroidism, & now being tested for Sjogren’s Syndrome…plus have Greater Occipital Neuralgia for 29 yrs!! I am fed up to the eye teeth of not being able to go to work…to not being able to even work in my own house anymore, even to shower everyday cause it’s just too exhausting, so I clean myself with wet ones wipes. I hate the loneliness of living alone most of the time, except I am now blessed to have my ex husband visit me for a few days every couple of wks to look out for me. ( we’ve been good friends since our separation 18 yrs ago, but he lives & works in another City 4 hrs flight away!) zthough I have 3 dogs that make me get out of my bed at some point in the middle of the day, to get to the lounge chair to sit & watch telly in. I can no longer cook meals for myself…I can stand & prepare like I used to 5 yrs ago. I’ve got an extraordinarily bad lower back & am having some nerve burning procedure on them in 2 wks to try & kill the pain, which I am so looking forward to…but I just, overall, seem to be getting worse? I go along ok for a few days…which is about 45-60% of my old self, & then I just drop like a tyre tube that just suddenly loses all its air & goes flat. Is anyone else house & bed/chair ridden most days like me?? It’s pathetic. I used to almost be filled with energiser batteries all my life with a touch of OCD, now it’s like I’m dead & still breathing ??
I totally agree with you and nobody including doctors understand except the people thats going through the hell
This illness is hell, everyday I wake up with pain, I go to bed in pain, I can’t sleep, it is hell.
I too have many of the symptoms you describe. My vision has been affected as a result of Fibro. Which has made me housebound. I may get a day or so every week that I can function. The bottom of my feet feel like someone took a flat board and slammed them over and over. The pain and tremendous tingling makes walking So difficult. I can go on and on about how this has debilitated me. I just wish people would stop saying that it is not real.
Hello,
I just got a diagnoses of fibromyalgia today, and more tests are being done. But I have been feeling like you describe. Sometimes I’m so exhausted and want gravity to just suck me right into the ground. I fear using my muscles. I haven’t tried any of the medicines yet.
My story is almost identical to yours. I’ve always been extremely active and a little OCD. I’ve always worked and wanted to work until I decided I was ready to retire. Instead, I am now 46 years old and no longer working. The uncontrollable pain put a stop to that.
I’ve tried cymbalta, lyrica, neurontin, several antidepressants and muscle relaxers and still I feel like I’m fighting a losing battle. I want my life back.
I’m with you honey. I’ve had it for over 17 years. I don’t know how I made it this far. I’m 47 and about to give up. I was planning to work forever but not now. Can’t find a doctor that will regulate my pain better. I guess I quit work and crawl up in fetal position in bed til I die.
Hi. I’ve had Fibromyalgia since 1997 when they told me it was all in my head. I had a horrid reaction to lyrica, and gained over 50 pounds of water in 3 weeks. NSAIDS trigger Asthma attacks. the only thing that helps are opiates. Doctors in my state, Illinois, are more and more reluctant to prescribe them.My pain is getting worse. I gave up full time work 4 years ago. I work part time, but it takes me 3 hours to get ready for work. I have migraines, muscle spasms that wake me from my sleep screaming, and I’m a musician, so hand muscle spasms make work difficult and frighten my students. I’ve been treated like an addict at countless ER departments, which is infuriating. There is a huge difference between tolerance, physical dependence, and addiction. These doctors need to experience this disease for themselves. Maybe then they’d realize how horrific it is to live this way. I take opioids to the extent
I can get them, which is low dose only and as a result, not effective enough. Living in constant pain is debilitating in ways doctors have no experience. And anesthesiologists are the worse. Try to find a pain specialist who is NOT an anesthesiologist. They seem to be more compassionate. And after 32 years, my marriage failed due to this illness. Thank you so much, modern medicine.
I’m in the same boat as all of you too. Fibromyalgia is so crippling.People have no clue as to all the effects it has on your body.I’m so sorry that we all are going through this.
All I ask for is some pain free moments. Right now the stabbing pain in my fight rib cage area has been relentless for 2 weeks now. No sleep as a result has totally disabled me. I beg for mercy from the torture of pain I have been going through. I think the worst part is, is that no one understands, or believes you.
My wife has fibro. It has changed her life damatically. She can hardly get to the bathroom most days. Major depression. She and I separated 11 years ago, but I now spend most days with her. She can’t stand for very long, so she can’t cook. I try to have food for her to warm in the microwave. She has a homemaker one day a week. I miss the person she used to be, but I see her getting worse.
Tom you are so good. I am almost totally useless as a person now….me as I used to be has long gone. I’m just in so much pain I can’t do anything. I used to be so extremely House proud…now my house looks like a dump. I eat rubbish cause I can’t stand to cook, & I hate the taste of all the good foods I used to love for 50 yrs(???) The people who don’t have this disease, but are with people that do have, have NO IDEA how debilitatingly painful it is, & how one loses their lives having this. But good on you for making meals, that is such a great help. Massage is a great help too if you don’t mind doing that either. All & any house cleaning is great too. 🙏❤️
Omg yes!!! I feel like death warmed over all the time I’m 42, I have fibromyalgia, undifferentiated spondylo arthritis, hashimoto, hypothyroidism, IBS, severe allergies that I’m getting shots every week, geographic tongue, osteoarthritis,3 more to the list! I also have bulging disc in my lower back and between my shoulders! It’s so painful to be alive, I had my disabled license plate on my car since my late 30’s! My ankles swell and hurt because my arthritis inflames all my tendons that I can’t walk! It’s so horrible 😢
I know exactly how you feel, as I am in the same boat. I used to be full of energy, hardly ever sitting down. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue in 2001. I almost forget what my old life used to be like. Fibro also caused my divorce. I also now live alone most of the time and have lost many friends. Most people just don’t understand what we go through. My “good” days have become less frequent. I’ve been wearing Fentanyl patches for the past 12 years. These do help with my pain and don’t cause the highs that I’ve experienced from other pain meds. I think that I’ve given up hoping for a cure.
Kathleen Jack,I feel exactly the same,use to be a homemaker before I got Fibro in 1980,I was only 30 at the time,use to make all my meal’s from scratch,now can’t even cook for myself. Hard too bath & washing my hair causes terrible pain,no lifting my arms.Fatigue is terrible,I also live alone,have no car because can no longer drive without being in pain.Miss having my kid’s over for Sunday dinner’s,that’s what I miss the most.I’m one of the lucky ones who get help 2 day’s a week to clean & do all my housework.Also had blood clots 3 times, one in my lung,2 times in my leg.Also feel like I’m dead & still breathing. Wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy***
I’m with you. I’ve been on opioids for 16 years due to fibro and crps. I also have muscular dystrophy. Opioids are not the answer for some but for those like you and me, who suffer every day, they take the pain to a somewhat tolerable level (until I have an crps flare and then nothing helps but wait it out). I admire those that can tolerate their pain without medicine. There’s all kinds of “new” pain treatments out now that the CDC has placed a war on opioids. Maybe, just maybe one of them will help with our suffering.
I have the same diagnosis as you. Fibro and crps. They have just pulled me off my oxy with no alternatives! I don’t know where to go or what to do. My Dr. retired and no one will continue prescribing for me. They are all scared to death of being sanctioned.
This just happened to me as well. My Doc abandoned me when I moved to a new city. I was fine with travelling to see him but I got a little ahead on my pain medications and he cut me off BAM, no discussion, no history of anything like this. I was basically forced into a suboxone program because I couln’t find a doctor to continue my treatment. This media witch hunt on opioids is criminal. There is no opioid crisis. The only people dying from these drugs are junkies and others WHO WERE NOT EVEN PRESCRIBED THEM. So the rest of us have to suffer.
So the suboxone has stopped the horrible withdrawal but does absolutely nothing for my pain. I have gone now from being pretty active to not even being able to take a long hot shower as the water hurts my skin.
On top of the Fibro I have a herniated disc at L5S1 and a wedge compression fracture higher up in my spine. Even with the Fibro and these injuries apparently I still do not deserve proper pain medication.
The last doc I saw my wife had to literally strong arm me out of the office as when he suggested CBT and “Music Therapy” for my pain I was about to rip him to shreds. I’m 6’3 300lbs and normally level tempered and easy going. I worked as a bouncer for over 25 years and have taken many courses in conflict resolution so for me to be that out of my head angry just tells you the state I am in.
And nobody cares!
Those who do not suffer can not understand. They look at what a book or a study says and makes their determination. I promise if those writing their opinions were to succumb to this disease they may change their minds and in a hurry. I have had Fibro for about 20 years. I am not on narcotics today but I have been and most likely will be again unless their is a cure found.There is an all consuming amount of Ignorance When it comes controlling pain not just with Fibro. There are terrible side effects with today’s current drugs and some of us will become addicted to the medicine that keeps us from jump off a building to end our pain.So what is at stake here is we either do everything we can to allow a person to have a sliver of a life, and yes it takes a lot of time the doctors won’t or can’t commit to. The constant treatment of someone with Chronic pain. (It Never Goes Away) Nothing more heartbreaking than (I’ll see you 3 months) with no help in sight.They more accepted approaches let’s make sure they do not have access to a drug that may give them some relief but may cause problems for them.That should be criminalized to withhold help because its has a potential of causing problems. Let’s withhold chemo it’s got some really bad side effects with very little proven benefits.Many Cancer treatments are not very effective but they are prescribed because there is a sliver of hope they may extend someone’s life no matter the cost to their bodies or pocetbooks. Its simple really we as a society pick who will be treated and who will not because of the lack of our medical community’s ability to understand what’s at stake for our brothers and sister on this earth. God Bless
I have been there too reflexology really helped and changed diet drastically no caffeine no sugar no process foods no so no gluten no dairy,have went from 4x to medium and no pain meds worked reflexologist retired no struggling with new one but almost desperate to go back on drugs for relief but try might help I am stuck in wheelchair from pain meds needs nexium and weekend my bones broke femur 3 times ribs if even lean on armchair to pickup something.
Thank you so much for speaking out about these negative comments concerning opiates. I’m on 30mg Targin twice daily and without this I’d never cope. I do need other meds like Phnergan that help me as well. I’m hoping to drop back his month to twenty mg twice daily. I have very severe lower back disc degeneration n upper midd as well. I have never been able to tolerate any antidepressants,but am able to use 2.5-5mg Valium when needed to help. It’s so hard when your doctor leaves or as in my case no longer afford a doctor. Just trying to find someone who doesn’t want to give u these run of the mill meds that cause me more harm than good is very stressful in the extreme. Most just don’t want to listen. I’ve asked if they are prepared to take the time to keep notes on type of cycle I get n what works but they have actually said they don’t want to do it. How bad is that. You take what works when u find it.
May God Bless you n keep you.
I’ve been on a merry go round for at least 10 yrs . I’ve gone to several doctors trying to find out what was going on. They always chalked it up to degenerated disc, hypothyroidism, and anxiety/depression. The doctors either want to cut on me or label me as an emotional lunatic. I finally got a true diagnosis from a rheumatologist. I have scoliosis, degerated disc, Hashimotos Thyroiditis, and fibromyalgia. I haven’t been able to tolerate the medications for fibro so at this point I do not know what to do to get some relief. Something has got to be done because there hasn’t been enough research done for the doctors to know how to treat it effectively. It is my opinion that this disease is a form of MS.
S.I.w have you tried acupuncture?
I actually was looking up symptoms of MS. I thought for sure tha reason i was cripple walking was due to MS. but no. its fibro. wow. so closely related. an fibro fog is no fun either. i could get lost in a round room with no doors. some days are good but when they are bad oh boy they are bad.
Thank you! I take an opioid. I can’t do morphine, it’s too much and all I do is sleep. I can function and keep pain to a level that I can function with if I take my norco 3X’s a day. Only problem is I do get the peaks and troughs. You are exactly right, I don’t get “high”. I don’t misuse, sell or abuse them. I just want to be able to do what I need to. Very frustrating disease. I miss me!
I have had ME (also referred to as CFS, CFIDS) and fibromyalgia since 1999. I have experienced an awful, totally disabling relapse in July of this year. I was able to manage my symptoms for nearly ten years and now I feel that I’m worse than ever🙁. The only thing I did wrong was to push myself too hard. I honestly thought I was “out of the woods.” I was way wrong. Has anyone experienced this too??
I have been reading your stories and am amazed at how almost identical the problems are. I too have Fibro, Hashimoto’s and degenerative disc Disease. I had to have a partial thyroidectomy in 1977. I also have a blood type of A RH negative (which can lead to auto immune problems blood problems). Pamela, I have had this diabolical condition since 2002. I was given a drug called Viiox (spelling is wrong). But it was taken off the market because of heart related uptakes. It really worked for me and I didn’t have alot of stomach pain as I do now. My fibromyalgia started after I was in a car accident. I read a few years later that there was some connection especially if you had whip lash and since this was very unnerving my anxiety and nervousness started getting worse. But I’ve been fortunate, After that first episode, (took about a year) the pain was starting to lessen. I thought I was crazy but I must have gone into remission. However I have osteoarthritis, and had knee surgeries for meniscus tears. I was told 15 years ago I needed knee replacement instead I had a gastro bypass and lost 136lbs my knee pain really calmed down, now I’m 71 and all hell has broken lose as you said all I did was overdo and wham! It is just like the very first time. I just want to cry (and I am not a cry baby) but I look at my husband, he has always been comforting and kind but he suffers from COPD, and has been relying on me for most of the physical things around our home. But I told him last week that is going to change, I just can’t do it as you all have said I can’t get out of bed some days, no friends, some of them just thinks its a mental thing. I had hoped for a quiet retirement, but Its not because I am always yelling about the pain. In the past I fought the pain like a real soldier, but I’m running out of gas quicker than I had hoped……..Thanks for listening.
Preach. I hear you. But, hey. I’m a single mother of three in my late 20s with a shaved head, tattoos, and piercings. I fit the bill to be a drug abuser. I also live in a granola state that is cracking down hard on narcotics. All the odds are against me.
This disease is the second worst chronic pain syndrome I’ve ever had to deal with. Number one being endometriosis. My doctor’s are too busy playing fuck-fuck to actually focus on my medical care. So, here I am, running in circles with no pain relief.
Well said!
Hello Polly,
This was a great post at a very opportune time. There areally a tremendous amount of articles out there today being published by news broadcasters that do no have a clue much less the ability to buy one. Yes, we do have an opioid epidemic in this Country today, but it is not those that need it for diseases like Cancer and Fibromyalgia, but for those who just want to get a euphoric feeling. This is no different than the President’s problem with the fake news and people getting one side of the story. Well the problem has arisen once again, because of corrupt politicians making money at the American people’s expense. I do know a significant amount of information in this area, because I was a Manager at a very large company and it just so happens that I was ask to attend a campaign fundraiser and when ask to endorse this individuals run for office, I had to decline, saying I am sorry, but I do not mix Business with Politics. So, in retrospect crooked politicians have created the opioid epidemic, because of high dollar speeches resulting in the large pharmacy companies having to push their opiods more, resulting in more written Rx’s and on and on. In the meantime those of us that truly need something for our pain are having problems getting it. Unfortunately those of us that have this disease, do not get the help we need. I had to undergo surgery approximately 16 weeks ago and received a bacterial infection, because of (I am guessing to a small degree) dirty instruments. Temp., went up two days after surgery, went to the ER and new what would happen ahead of time, but got the right Doc’s. I knew there would be a problem when I told them I was in severe pain and needed something. These Doc’s had already looked over my charts, evaluated my pain threshold, and ordered a shot ASAP. They admitted me of course, and the head ER Nurse went up to the floor with me, explained my past problems and told them to give me a shot every four hours or when needed. Needless to say I was amazed “the system actually worked”. Maybe, just maybe if they will start looking at Medical Marijuna a little closer (which is a class 3, where Oxycontin, Percocet, etc., are class 2 pain meds). We are back to politics, and the Rx companies and the fact they might not make as much money. I have talked to several Doc’s that are definite advocates of medical marijuna. We that are suffering need to lobby for medical marijuna, so we can be comfortable like normal people. I have relatives and friends in states where medical marijuna is legal and like us need it to function on a daily basis. I have not had one negative remark when it comes to them taking it, in terms of side affects or anything else. I am going to pursue this after the first of the year. I actually believe this is what Fibromyalgia patients, will see a tremendous improvement in their quality of life. Thanks for your comment and reading mine.
You know your own body and I totally agree not prescribing narcotics is a damn shame when most people can control it they are in terror I think it is in the dialogue with your Doctor
Thank you! I have fibromyalgia and oxycodone is the only drug that takes away pain significantly with no side effects. It allows me to keep working and have some semblance of a life, even though I am in bed a lot when I am not working. I have to work 40 hours a week to support my family. I can’t clean my house and I had to stop exercise, except walking my dog once a day. I don’t cook much for my family anymore. Most nights I come home and go straight to bed. If it weren’t for oxycodone I couldn’t work and we’d have to sell the house and probably claim bankruptcy! yet still when I tell people what my pain med is they freak out, even the doctors assistants act concerned and bothered about it. It makes me feel like a criminal, when all I am doing is trying to survive 🙁
agreed, i too have it, and for so long didnt know what was wrong with me, had a severe next injury at 20 and then Suffered a life altering loss which caused PTSD 3 years ago, lost my only son in a motorcycle accident and slowly got sicker and sicker, weak, muscle pain all over but mostly in the neck shoulders and thighs, and i have never done drugs ,smoked anything, and the only thing that has provided some relief as stated above is the percocet, (lowest dose) but i take it when needed, and i have never gotten no high or eurphoric feeling from it, it only eases it slightly,
Finally! Have thought & known for years the same. Over 35 years of opioid use. Dependent as well. No euphoria also, just an easier time dealing with life & the physical pain I live with.
Thank you & God Bless
Dear Polly I have just read your comment of March 31 2017 regarding oxycontin which I have been taking for about ten years. The dose I take is 60mgs oxycontin twice a day and that is about 120mgs each day over 24 hours. In this time I have never upped my dose but I have tried to reduce it and my pain was just out the box. I only have about three hours relief out of twelve hours and these other nine hours I suffer terribly. I have tried all different techniques like relaxation, exercises,etc but it just makes pain worse. I have never had a proper diagnosis as the doctor said I had CRPS, fibromyalgia, cancer (which he then said he did not think so) but my life is really not worth living as there is absolutely no quality of life left. Oh just to be pain free for half a day would be wonderful. My whole body feels as if my veins are filled with boiling water my legs and arms are terrible and I can’t walk on the soles of my feet as it is like big hot boulders I am walking on. I can’t put clothes on until I have taken my oxycontin and then it enables me to do my hair etc. Why can doctors not find a cure for this horrible affliction? My eyes and throat are all dried up with the oxycontin and now I might have sjogrens as well. This all seemed to happen after I had two hip replacements done which were not very successful.
I found they fail to mention that you are physically addicted to many of these medicines that reprogram your brain so you have to take them forever.sevella,cymbalta,lyrica ECT.i feel safer and relief from a pain med. but am denied that cause you may form a physical addition over time,but I do have an option to stop unlike these other meds.where is the data on patients taken off the above mentioned medicines they are coming out with new ones everyday.i have tried most and felt nothing for pain relief but found it difficult to concentrate or remember why I wanted to get off the couch.i fear we are being over medicated with new costly drugs that the long term side effects are not being addressed.
Sad that LDN isn’t on the list. Although it may not help everyone, it sure helps me a lot. It’s non addictive, no side effects, it’s cheap, and makes life 100% easier for me since I have far less down time.
What is LDN?
Low dose naltrexone
I have chronic pain from fibromyalgia all the time. I have been on just about every antidepressant and only one helped, but they must have changed something in it because it started to give me severe stomach pains. I take tramadol if I need it, usually once a day. I didn’t realise how bad I was feeling until I went back to see my doctor and burst into tears. I had written down every symptom I had been feeling in the last 3 months and gave it to her. I could see she finally realised how much real pain I was in. She had just been to a chronic pain conference and they were trying an old drug used for another condition, but at lower doses, did I want to try it. Of course it can’t hurt anymore can it. I have only been on it for three days and l know it’s early days, but I feel relaxed, calmer. It could all be in my head of course and time will tell, but I feel better art the moment. The medication is called Naltrexone 5ml once a day. I think it is used for drug addicts coming off drugs and is prescribed in much larger doses. Talk to your doctors, it may work for you.
It is terrible we try desperately to find anything for relief but pain patches I can not be in sun or heat get so sick and is overdosed by it love camping and gardening but hard to do except for a very short time we just bought a new new camper to travel to dog shows with our 3 dogs because hotels charge you twice as much for handicaped room and still aren’t big enough to get wheelchair in or they gave our room away terrible rest rooms from pa to Florida only 1 was big enough to get chair in and close the door had to leave it wide open every other place we stopped had to wear a dress to cover myself from everyone had nice people offer to stand in front for me was humiliatingly . reflexology and really strick diet helps but when pain at it’s worse I only want what makes me feel worse.terrble cravings. Hi
I am loving Cymbalta. But only for the symptoms I have hated the worst. First – a flu- like aching all over so that my skin all over my body actually hurt. It used to be occasional but gradually got to the point it was constant. Second – an irritated anxiety that I think came from trying to fight the first symptom.
I do NOT like to take any meds ever and only take what is seriously needed like an antibiotic for a serious infection. Supposedly I would not feel the Cymbalta effects for a few daysaccording to the dr, and I was not happy about starting it but was desperate. Five hours in after the first dose it was like the sun came out. The flu-like ache was GONE and a little while later I realized the irritation and anxiety had also dissipated.
It’s been 8 months and not once have I felt that specific aching or the irritated anxiety. I still hurt a lot some days and of course if I overdo it but it is SO more manageable now!
I know Cymbalta is hard to get off of but frankly I have no intention of doing so!!! I heard a lot of negative experiences with this drug so I wanted to add my specific positive one. I take only 30 mg in the am. Dr initially said she would likely bump it up to the usual fibro dose of 60mg ( and maybe that would help the rest of my aching) but I am just so happy to be rid of my worst 2 symptoms that I am a little afraid to mess with the dosing!!! We will see!
My thought process is off. My normal pain levels are 9. I have Fibromyalgia, bulging discs, degenerative disc and Osteoarthritis in my back. Major surgery on both knees. Anxiety and Depression, IBS, Diabetes and High Blood Pressure. Will they find something to help with the pain sooner than later?
I am so astounded by the reaction of some of the doctors as well as the CDC ,I see that there is as addiction epidimec to pain medicine, butt why should those of us who need it suffer because others have addictions ,I was in a marriage that was both physically and mentally abusive, i have had a dysectomu done, I was diagnosed 11 years ago with fibromyalgia,degenerative disc disease,hypothyroidism and along with the pain an inability to function normally it is a constant state of depression and anxiety,they don’t want people who are seriously in pain to have pain medication,yet years ago they were all about how marijuana was destroying people,impairing their judgment, yet that is now legal in most states, I can’t work, I’m depressed because of the constant state of pain I’m in, and yet my state doesn’t think I need to be approved for disability either,I’m just supposed to sit here and wait for death? I miss having a normal life but how does that happen when people don’t truly understand how we feel,yes I take pain medicine they ask me to take it every 6 hours, it lasts for 3 hours, in the state I’m in you have to sign a contract that they can call you in at anytime and count your medicine as well as drug test you, I’m fine with that but that should have been done a long time ago so that those of us who truly need something for pain aren’t treated like drug addicts by the Drs and pharmacists, until they feel our pain they’ll never know and because they can’t see our pain most don’t care, I wonder if fibromyalgia was visible on the outside of our body would they take us seriously then? Would people even care? Would they stop staring at you because you have to use an electric cart in a store because the pain is unbearable and walking is out of the question, they don’t see anything visibly wrong with us so I guess it’s their reasoning for making comments and staring when we use the carts, I hope one day someone cares enough to take a stand for us and help us so that we can live again!
I totally agree!! We need pain meds. I see a pain specialist so it hasn’t been an issue for me and I hope it doesn’t become one. If the pain specialist can’t prescribe pain meds I guess they wouldn’t really have a job anymore would they. I’m upset that just because some choose to abuse their meds and others sell their meds to idiots that then overdose. I’ve been told by one rheumatologist that narcotic drugs are bad for fibro but if I don’t have them I wouldn’t be able to move. I’m sorry some can’t control themselves. I signed a contract w the pain specialist I won’t get pain meds anywhere else. The only time I have is when I’ve had surgeries and he knew about it. I have to do a pee test when ever they ask me to it’s usually every six months. I’ve never had less meds than I should. I’ve been going to this pain specialist for over 5 yrs. I think they kinda get an idea who abuses the meds and who doesn’t. I had both knees replaced in the past yr. I’m only 56 I feel 96. My new knees hurt worse than my old knees. Fibro is in the nerves in the tissue all around the knee implants. If I had known this was even a possibility of happening I would have saved 8,000.00 and kept my old knees this is the craziest illness. People that don’t have it will never understand it. My hubby is awesome. He gets it he knows how bad I hurt every day of my life even on my opioids. I have strange skin rashes. I have too much yeast in my skin. So when I sweat the yeast gets into the hair follicles and they get infected. I use a prescription antifungal cream it helps some. I have been getting this rash on my chest, upper back, upper arms and neck. This yr I’m now getting it on my face and on my scalp. Have to use special shampoo. I sweat awful too. Worst time for me is right after I shower and get out dry off I start sweating profusely I have to lay down and cook off before I can dry my hair and get dressed. It’s really hard to put in make up. I only shower maybe 3 times a week. I can’t take showering any more than that. I have chronic idiopathic hives I have begun XOLAIR injections. It 2,000.00 a month. Thank goodness the drug company is gonna help me after the first of the yr when my insurance deductible starts ove. I’m in remission from psoriasis right now. I know it could come back tomorrow praying it doesn’t. I let my pain specialist implant a neuro stimulator in my spine for lower back pain. It doesn’t help. I did have shooting pain down my legs it does help that. It doesn’t help my knee pain. I’m going next Tuesday to have a nerve block in my knees. If it helps with the pain they will burn the nerves in my knees to give me longer lasting relief. It the nerve block doesn’t help I’m pretty much out of luck.
On Pinterest, if you do a search for ‘Fibromyalgia’, you will see lots of those little posters that list all kinds of symptoms to describe what Fibro is like so others can understand us. Some are funny, like “having the flu, and all of our eyebrows hurt individually.”
Yes, those are funny and we can laugh about them. But one thing really stuck out for me. “IF YOU GO TO A DR AND MAKE A JOKE ABOUT HOW BAD YOUR PAIN IS, (which I tend to do a lot) HOW WILL HE EVER TAKE TOU SERIOUSLY.”
So, I went to a new doctor, who was great. I was honest about the level of pain, the lack of Quality of Life, and the horror that it will never end. I was honest with him that dying was a far better option than living with this Hell. He wanted to commit me. He still didn’t give me enough pain mess (he couldn’t let me become addicted, could he?!) but he was concerned about my depression. He gave me the number for the Suicide Hotline.
I do have a plan for the day I can’t take it any longer. The day will come when I simply refuse to live with the fact that I’ve lost most of my hair, my teeth, and I can’t cook a decent meal, finish the laundry or play with my dog. I can’t paint or sculpt again, or play with kids. I was a great teacher, but I can’t do that either.
The doctors are so worried about creating addicts, and losing their licenses. They should be worried about what kind of lives they are creating because of their fear.
I feel the same way. I used to be full of life. Now I don’t participate in life anymore. One thing I do know is this..DO NOT GIVE UP! I know it’s hard. It’s very hard! But you can not give up. That’s not an option.
I must laugh because I am afraid if I cry, I will not stop. And, yes, it looks to others that I am not sick. I feel bad riding the carts at the grocery because I think there may be someone who needs it more than I do.
I can honestly say that I k ow how you feel. I too considered ending the pain. Fortunately, my doctor knows I am not a little wimpy girl and I can take some pain. He knows that when I say I hurt, I am past my tolerance level.
People don’t seem to understand that with this illness there is no getting better. Exhaustion is real and the depression from all the symptoms that people cannot see is real. I hope you can find the right doctor for you to help you through this. Fibro is a crippling disease and I would NOT wish it on my worst enemy! Gentle hugs and prayers for us all!
Hi all. I am new to this site. But reading a few comments and the comment where it says about doctors. And then says about doctors creating addicts. I totally understand what you mean. My old doctor just left me. He then told me to take ibuprofen.. which I can’t take as I have stomach issues/stomach ulcers and alot of acid that’s practically ruined the lining of my stomach ect. With me. I also have a very very high pain threshold!!. I moved doctors and my new doctor was startled as 2 why I haven’t had the correct meds and why I was put on one lot of meds and then took off them. But now I am on the right path sort of thing. I still suffer with pain every day though.. but we can’t all be pain free can we!!. Anyway. Hope all is well for you all 🙂
Looking for better relief than I am now getting. I try to push through it. Some days are better than others.
This is the first time I have read all these comments. I do agree with about everyone. So much pain,with different kinds of pain all put together . Sharp pain, dull pain tendonitis pain,stiffening pain. I take lyrica and tramadol 3x a day. It only lessons the pain alittle. But for me the worst is the ehaustion I feel from the moment I wake up untill go to sleep . This has taken away my life. Not sure who I am now. I had one good Doctor that helped my head pain with injections ,also talked me into going swimming. In the pool I am so different. I can swim slow laps ,exercise, and feel energised. Then I step out of the pool and the pain, weight of the world come down on me again. But I feel it will keep me from deterating all together. I also do pressure points on the so many painfull spots on my body to subsided or move the pain around abit. Would like to here what helps you ? I miss me too!
I haven’t been officially diagnosed but I have been seeing doctors at Mayo in Jax and this is what they are saying could be my problem. I know everybody is different in their pains and reliefs but is acid reflux/gerd/intestinal problems part of Fibromyalgia? I also have debilitating headaches. Tested positive for pollen and mold allergies and have been getting allergy shots for 3 years. Wondering if all this is related to it too. I see the doctor at Mayo in 13 days. Just feeling really frustrated and venting. Hoping somebody out there maybe has the same issues and can offer some ideas that have worked for them.
Thanks in advance and blessings….
Hi Judi. Yes, I have fibromyalgia and I also have acid reflux, gerd, IBS, headaches and migraines, I am allergic to pollen from trees, grasses, molds, cats, rabbits, mice, guinea pigs, bugs, dust mites. I have been getting allergy injections for about 3 years also.
I haven’t had many headaches since I started acupuncture once a week. I get a massage once a month. I go to my chiropractor every 2 weeks.
You are all warriors.
I agree with the comment, “I must laugh because I’m afraid if I cry, I will not stop”. That is EXACTLY how I feel everyday. Finding the energy to even laugh or find anything funny is getting difficult at this point though. It took 10+ years for me to get a diagnosis. I wake up feeling like I have the worst flu aches in the world. The kicker, they don’t stop. Ever. I feel like my spine will explode at any second. My feet feel like they’ve been crammed in shoes that are 2 sizes too small all day and my hips and thighs are on fire. Don’t even get me started in how I feel when we get a barometric pressure change around here.
My doctor’s don’t listen. The ONLY thing they have put me on to deal with this nightmare that actually works is narcotics. I’ve asked to try Lyrica, gabapentin, muscle relaxers, etc. I get told “no” or “take some ibuprofen” constantly. The terrifying part is, they’re trying to taper me off of the opiates. The only thing that has worked. I’m feeling a little defeated.
Only hydrocodone works for short periods on my pain long enough to do household chores and cook for my family. I am on Cymbalta but is not working. Lay in bed with leg/foot/hand pain so bad continual moving. Fall asleep about 4 hours before having to get up. Because I finished my prescription in 3 weeks rather than 4 weeks doctor thinks I am giving away or selling. Fact remains if I didn’t do that it would be like taking an 81 mg aspirin for a migraine!!! Going to the dispensary tomorrow to try that approach and weaning off useless Cymbalta. Anyone want me to post my case in about a month?
Tammy; I hear you loud and clear. I just wish others would believe me about the intense pain. If I would tell them I had cancer, they would understand. This is a silent chronic illness. I cry over the pain, the not being able to do anything any more, and the lack of precious sleep. This not living anymore, it is daily torture for me.
Be extremely careful titrating off of Cymbalta. Some people, me included, have horrendous reactions even when titrating off for three weeks. You can Google it to find out more information. I thought I was having a nervous breakdown and spent four days in the hospital. Thank goodness the doctors figured out that it was a reaction to quitting Cymbalta
I’ve been thinking of coming off of Cymbalta too. I can off of Lyrica this past year. I came off of Oxycotin, 2 years ago. I do fill better. I am on Hysingla er for now for pain. I still need something for break thur pain and for really bad days. Can’t seem to get anything. I probably should have acted like I was still on oxycotin so I could use for the bad days. I can’t believe these doctors. I wish every doctor would come down with Fibro. (this is how much I hate doctors. worthless, all of them)I wouldn’t normally wish this on my worst enemy. But now that is how I REALLY FEEL!!!! so coming of Cymbalta, Do you feel any different? I feel like it is doing anything now. Been on it for 17 years.
I have been suffering from fibromyalgia for the last 7 years and along with that have degenerative discs of the spine, a partially protruding disc in my neck, cfs and chronic widespread pain. Nearly every time e I see my pain specialist he tells me that I have something else to go alongside them but never advises or offers any form of relief and just tells me he’ll see me again in 6 months. It’s so damn annoying that he doesn’t offer any kind of support and has changed my medication so many times it makes my head spin. Currently I’m on gabapentin, oramorph, venlafaxine and robaxin. My pain scale on a normal day ranges between 7 and 10 and on a really bad day can go much higher than the 1-10 scale and what gets to me the most is that I’m no longer the wife and mum I used to be, I’m no longer the ‘me’ I used to be, I can’t do the things I want to do and every time I go out I have to plan every minute of it. I have to practically carry a pharmacy with me and then get people telling me that I look so well, I don’t look as tired, omg if only they could see me on the inside maybe then they could understand why I say I’m tired and hurting even when I don’t look it
I have fibromyalgia I know I’ve had it for many yrs. I finally was diagnosed January 2016. I have DDD, stenosis, arthritis, depression, anxiety, siatica issues, hypothyroidism. I have a neuro stimulator implanted in my spine still I have severe lower back pain. My knees were bone on bone both of them. I went ahead and had both knees replaced within the last yr. OMG!! I wish I would have known that there was even a possibility that fibro would attack the nerves in the tissue around the implants. I thought I would be relieving pain instead I really think my knees hurt worse now than before the replacement. My chest hurts even my arm pit hurts. For now my headaches have let up some. I take ExagoER and dilaudid for pain and neurontin for my fibro. I also take muscle relaxers two to three times a day. I take Prozac for my depression. I have awful bouts with insomnia. I tried ambien and laid awake all night. I recently started amitriptyline at bed time. It may help a little. When I have my insomnia it’s about every four weeks and lasts two to three weeks. I’m exhausted all the time. My house is a terrible mess. I’m lucky my husband gets how sick I am. He cooks and does all laundry as I am not good w steps anymore and washer/dryer are in basement. I also have chronic idiopathic hives. My doc ran a thousand dollar blood allergy test all neg. then my allergy doc did the skin testing on my back 48 of them. All neg. they decided I’m allergic to me. Myself!! I started getting injections of XOLAIR once a month I go and have an injection in each arm. Each injection is 1,000.00 dollars. So every month it’s 2,000.00. I’ve started having hives break thru already and I’ve only had 2 months of injections. I met my out of pocket I’m March w my second knee replacement. So my insurance has been paying for my injections. I got a card from the maker of XOLAIR it is filed w my insurance and I will pay a 5.00 co pay each month plus what they charge to do the injections and monitor me for a certain amount of time. It’s suppose to help w my 1,000.00 deductible starting in January. I went to court before a judge October 4th. For my disability. So I now am waiting to see if I win my appeal. If I win XOLAIR won’t help me anymore they say Medicare and my secondary insurance should cover the total of the injections. If the hives weren’t so bad it wouldn’t be a big deal. They cover the front and back of both my thighs I’m getting them in my sides and even the tops of my feet and ankle bone now. I can’t stand for even a sheet to touch my skin. The actually rise up and they burn so bad. I go to a pain specialist he prescribes all my pain meds. So far they haven’t pulled me off. I’m praying they won’t. Although I’m always still at about a 7 on a painscale always. I can’t imagine without my pain meds. Life wouldn’t be worth living. I’m praying the make marijuana legal in my state of VA. I will then come off my pain meds. Frustrated in VA.
I have fibromyalgia for four years and got it when from a transference as my rhumatologist said when I saw Eli Manning injured 29 dec 2013 plus I have neuro disabilities and arthritis. i am a college prof and I take 5 different medications and i take vitamins, exercise and do the holistic thing. this illness is very disabling and this in combo with the others means i require a lot of assistance getting around and doing things. my friends help me shop and my husband who has intellectual handicaps does the cooking and laundry and I take care of the finances, business, taxes, etc I also teach business at the college level and tutor.
this illness is very debilitating but I push myself to be active. i am active socially and I exercise three times a day but I require assistance with most physical tasks
Dr Réagan
I’m 83 and thought by now my fibromyalgia would be burnt out. Not so I am worse. i’m on cymbalta 60 mg. Methotrexate sc for psoriatic arthritis . Had back surgery 3 months ago was on dilaudid which made me very ill , vomiting. I’m now on morphine 71/2 mg 15mg causes vomiting. The most pain I have these days is pain outer aspect of left leg, feeling muscles in knots. At a loss as to what to do as is my Dr.
Hi there. I’m a desperate husband from a wife suffering from fibromyalgia in the last 12 years. We have gone through the most of what you did so far and my wife reacts alergic to any medication she gets. So trying another pill is no option for us. In december of 2016 I heared about a new treatment for fibromyalgia they offer in Israel: the hyperbaric oxygen therapy. I put myself in contact with those people and after one year of battling for a treatment with them, my wife was finally taken in. I knew that this kind of treatment was not officially accapted yet by anyone to treat fibromyalgia but I didn’t care. So we went there in october last year and after a series of tests my wife was found to be a serious case of fibromyalgia. She was able to do the treatment which took us about 3,5 months living there. The living there was very hard but we managed (thanks God) to complete the first row of treatment sessions and the result was not the one I expected in first place but still a fact: SHE HAD IMPROVED!! It was just a small percentage but something real. For us the first positive result after 12 years. I can’t thank God enough for that. So for us the hyperbaric oxygen therapy is definitely THE solution for fibromyalgia.
Hi
A suggestion for fibro Dr.Ho products they give some pain relief, when I use the tens I will keep the pads in that area for up to 2 to 3 hours. Also foot massager helps. I also purchased at Wal mart NeuraGen its an oil you use two or three drops on painful area it may have to be applied a second time to the area. Some days the pain is so bad I could scream and sleepless nights also happen cannot wait for the night to be over with, I will then do exercise and do walking moving helps but I cannot over do it or I will pay greatly with pain, I to was on morphine I cut the pills in half then later on I would cut the half in half the doc said after about a year no more morphine. Agh, now what. im taking Tylenol arthritis pills sometimes up to 8 a day and once in awhile for sleep I will take Gravol and sleepy tea the sleepy tea doesn’t work well any more. I really am desperate to find something that will help for all my pain and sleep. Wishing you all the best. God Bless you all.
Hi
Pain is unbearable most days.
I use Dr Ho products they can help with pain I have almost all his products. Although his products will carry you through for pain in that area, I use the tens in one area for 2 to 3 hours. Then the next day you have to start over in that same area. Ive been in pain many years finally diagnosed this year with fibro. I also use Tylenol arthritis I can take up to six a day or sometimes 8. this all depends on pain. For sleep I will take Gravol or use over the counter sleep aid. I was on morphine for a year doc wont give me anymore. I am always searching and looking for answers. I pray that one day there will be and answer to this depilating illness. God Bless you all.