Last post Mon, Jul 21 2008 11:30 PM by MaggieRay. 37 replies.
I don't know about anyone else, but here in Canada, I have had a losing battle trying to even get effective pain medication. I am not able to take anti-inflammatories, and that is what they mostly like to prescribe for Fibromyalgia and Arthritis. Now that my stomach is pretty much ruined from trying to take those over the last four years, the only thing my doctor could come up with were Tylenol 3s, and she reluctanctly prescribed those! Well, I am finding even those are too hard on the stomach, so they mostly sit in the cupboard! Not that I don't need them, but I can't handle the stomach pain, even when I eat a substantial amount with just one. I don't understand why doctors immediately think we can't be trusted with stronger pain meds. I wouldn't take them if I didn't need them, and I should know whether I need them or not! I realize there is an addiction factor, but I have worked with addicts and have a lot of knowledge about addiction.....it's not like I don't have a clue. This whole situation makes me very angry as it feels like doctors are back to playing "God" and we have no say in the decisions about our own health anymore. It makes more sense to me to be given pain meds so that I can exercise and maybe get to the point where I don't need them as much. Why suffer constantly when there is medication to help relieve our suffering? It makes no sense to me. At least being given a choice would be nice...but no...not even that. Just suffer, baby. Do the doctors not realize that the local dealer has what we need and that, for a price, we could get it anyway? I don't agree with a system that forces us to become illegal drug buyers because doctors refuse to help us. That's crazy! (I haven't resorted to this yet, but I think about it every day as I'm suffering and trying desperately to move a pain-racked body).
Hi,
I think that is awful that you can't get the pain meds you need. I have EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome) RSD , Arthritis, Osteoperosis I also can't take anti-inflamitories because of my stomach I won't go over the pain meds I am getting because I feel like it is rubbing it in to you.but what about other meds?
are you atleast able to get muscle relaxers, or antidepresants which work well for people with fibro?
have you tried another Doc ?
Hi Tealwolf!
Thanks for your support and for showing that you care so much. What a wonderful place I have found with so many caring people! I don't take muscle relaxants because they are also hard on my stomach, and I have been on an antidepressant for many years now (before the Fibro and arthritis diagnosis). I am also on Amitritpyline (an old antidepressant now used for helping people sleep), which is supposed to help the pain by giving a good night's sleep, but that doesn't seem to help the pain levels either. I am still on it because I still have trouble sleeping, but they prescribe that one because it is not addictive. Anything addictive seems to be absolutely off limits unless you've got one nail in the coffin already! LOL Sorry for being so morbid, but that's how it feels. I just simply don't qualify for any pain meds unless I have broken something or had surgery, and even then, they give it very sparingly. For some reason, though, my pain levels have come down a bit on their own lately, so I am not suffering quite as much right at the moment. I have also quit smoking for about two weeks now and I hope that will help also. I can only hope that this specialist that I will be seeing in April will believe me and help me with something that is more effective. I'm almost afraid to hope in him, but he's all I've got left. Wish me luck with that one! LOL And I don't mind if you tell me what you're getting for pain because it gives me something to ask for if I ever feel I am being listened to. I can tell my dr that I have spoken to someone with the same diagnoses and tell her what you are taking. I am hoping it may give me ammunition to fight for pain meds if I know what other people are getting. So, it's ok. I'm so glad to know people are getting the right help for this and that not everyone is having to just suffer through it. That gives me hope too. So thanks for that.
Sorry, I forgot to respond about getting a new dr. Here in Ontario, there are hundreds of people without family doctors, so if you have one you are extremely lucky, and trying to find another one would not be an option. Thanks for the idea, though. It would be a good one if that was possible.
I am sorry for the lack of care that you have been getting, i have heard the same thing many times from people who live there not getting pain meds.
there is a new fibro med out called Cymbalta it is a antidepressant with pain reducing properties. I understand you are unable to take anti inflamitories, many times for fibro they'll give you a nerve medication for twitching or any burning like Lyrica. as far as the arthritis docs are normally careful not to give to much. as you know there are anti inflamitories, with the 2 probs combined you could be put on long actin pain meds but I know it is difficult to get.what about glucosamie chondroitin it is a supliment that is supose to help arthritis
me, well at this time a good combination, sometimes it takes a while to find. I take Celexa, Neurontin, MS Contion, Actiq (Fentanyl suckers) for breathrough pain, Nortriptyline,Robaxin oh and vitamins lol it takes a while to find the right combination, even then that will take being teaked now and then.
I hope some of this helps I hate to hear someone is suffering.
hugs
Hi MaggieI have chronic pain from sci, and, last year started taking lyrica for it. I think it helps me more than theneurontin that I was taking, and recently, have seen it advertised on TV, as a treatment for fibromyalgia. Hope you get some relief soon.Ron C
hi Ron
I have a question, I have been taking Neurontin for many many years, well now Lyrica is out and the Doc has been wanting me to try it. one of the main side effects is weight gain so I haven't wanted to try it. how was it for you? have you gained a large amount,? any? thanks for any help
thanks so much Tealwolf for sharing what meds you are on. It helps to give me an informed knowledge base that I can ask my dr about when I see her again. So, thank you so much for the info. I cannot take Cymbalta or Neurontin, as they are both like anti-inflammatories and are hard on the stomach. I also can't take anything Sulphur based, so the vitamins most people take( for the arthritis especially), are not an option either. Lyrica is the same problem, anti-inflammatory based, and too hard on the stomach for me. I am on four blood pressure pills/day, as that was through the roof for the last year, and sometimes I can't take what would contraindicate with that. I do take two Calcium plus D tablets/day and a multivitamin, four blood pressure pills, an antidepressant (remeron), two stomach pills and a water pill to go with the blood pressure. I also take Amitriptilyne at night to sleep, and the only reason I get that is because it is non-addictive. The drs here have a real thing against addictive medication, whether you need it or not. I have quit smoking for two weeks now and the blood pressure is finally coming down and the pain levels are a bit better also. What I mostly need is for breakthrough pain now when I have to do activities, but my dr wont even discuss that with me. I am really lucky I got the Tylenol 3s, and am being very careful to make the prescription last so I can hopefully prove to her I am not taking it addictively. It is very frustrating and a very slow process, which I do not have the patience for while in constant pain! I do appreciate all responses to try and help, though. God bless you all for caring so much and trying to help me with this. I finally do not feel so alone.
I am glad I could help, with there was more to be done, I didn't know that neurontin was a anti inflamitory, it is suposed to be a anti sezure medication, I used it for my nerve damage,burning pain and twitching. the Cymbalta is a anti-depressant I guess I should read up on the meds a wee bit more.
Hopfully you will get the pain help you need, no one should suffer. Tyonol 3 wouldn't do much for me ether,
I'm taking calcium in capsules and wish I could get injections of it. Xrays have shown that pills do not dissolve well. I read that calcium was used before morphine. Someone here told me that Mayo Clinic is using B vitamins for neuropathy. Does anyone know of any studies of vitamin/minerals/enzymes being used as alternative to drugs?
Hi Tealwolf, I'm Brenda. I have a daughter 22 and a husband 54 who have EDS type 3. What type do you have if you don't mind me asking? My daughter started having a lot of problems when she was 17(2 hip surgeries and shoulder surgery) but my husband didn't start having a lot of trouble till he was 49 and actually got diagnosed after she did. Our 2 sons don't have it. My daughter is now 19 weeks pregnant and has had a rough pregnancy so far. she was on a lot of pain meds before pregnancy but has weaned off them but always in a lot of pain. She can't take NSAIDS either because of stomach pain. I hope to be able to correspond with you @ times. Thanks Brenda.
Hey Melissa!
I'm back! LOL Had computer problems, just as I was about to reply to this one, it shut right down on me. Darn things! Anyhow, you do not need to read up on your meds, you are quite right, it is me who was wrong. We haven't tried Cymbalta because it took me years to find an antidepressant that would work for me without causing migraines...so my dr thinks it might be a mistake to try and switch it since I am on Remeron, which is not as SSRI, and seems to be doing the trick. I am going along with that one simply because it did take me so long to find it.
I haven't tried Neurontin, but have heard of others with Fibro who found some relief with that. I will ask my dr about it next time I see her. It is so frustrating to try and find something that isn't addictive or that doesn't counter-act with the blood pressure meds I am on.
But thanks for your suggestions, and I will keep trying! Not much else to do! LOL
Gentle Hugs,
Maggie
Maggie, ask your Dr. if he would let you try time released Opana along with the quick release for break through pain. You can start on a relatively low dose and slowly increase it until you find the right dosage. I have been in chronic pain for over 11 years and use just about everything and recently have found some relief with this and it has not bothered my stomach.
Thanks Dave for that suggestion. I will ask my doctor about that one, for sure.
God Bless you and your support.
Due to back troubles and a very bad tummy I now take Tramadol or Ultram and my stomach handles it very well. I don't think it is a anti-flammatory because when my arthritis in my spine acts up the Tramadol is useless.
