Narcotics and Fibromyalgia Pain Relief

learnFMnow Living With It 45 year old female who learned that a disease existed callled... Send Message Subscribe: learnFMnow

Tuesday, September 29, 2009
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I am very very happy to see that FINALLY someone did a survey that seems to have included the real or rather more severe FM patients. For so long I have heard the myth that says "narcotics won't work for fibro pain". Not true and could not be further from the truth. The survey ...

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Karen Lee Richards
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 01:16 AM

You made many excellent points and I appreciate you sharing them with us. I did want to let you know that the reason fibromyalgia patients are told opioids don't work for FM is largely based on a study that showed that the opioid receptors of FM patients had reduced availability so that opioids wouldn't bind to them as well as they should. However, this was a very small study. Generally much larger studies are required before something is accepted as fact. I suspect a lot of doctors have jumped on this study as an excuse not to prescribe opioids for FM patients because they don't like to prescribe opioids anyway due to their strict regulation. Here's more info on the study: Why Painkillers Don't Work on Fibromyalgia

I know of quite a few FM patients who, like you, have gotten pretty good pain relief from opioid medications, so I definitely don't think they should be ruled out as an option for severe cases.

Thanks again for sharing!

Thank you..Karen Lee Richards
skeetelmore65
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 09:00 AM
I have to say that I am one of those patients that suffer from Fibro.and it is in excruciating pain.It takes over your whole body and just riddles it with pain.You don't have any options for relief except for strong medicine because over the counter medicine just won't cut it. I hate to have to take what's been prescribed for but I have to.I might add that I do have other issues like a T3-T4 compressed fracture that was left or a result of failed fusion(still after 3 yrs.of misery trying and now to find a resolution).I have also been dx with DDD,Spinal Stenosis,Myofascial pain,Cervicalgia,and have had ACD & F spinal fusion of C5-C6.We definately deserve to have as much help as possible for the pain we endure everyday.Since,I have worked my entire life and that includes high school co-op program. I love to work and now just picking something up off the floor can shut my functioning with the outer world down for days.I do try with all my might to do things that I have no business doing,but it is hard for me to just lye there dormant and my brain thinking of the things that I want to do.I have been bedridden for almost 2yrs.now and life around me moves on but to a different drum. If it hadn't been for my pain meds(opioids and Lyrica),I couldn't have done some of the things that I wanted to do like seeing my son graduate from school and going to that ballgame even if I would have to leave in pain.It made it tollerabe/possible for me to go to my Dr. appointments instead of the ER. I am greatful for the relief I receive and never do I abuse them. Just like the previous post that stated only the celebs or those able to afford the cost of them that abuse them..not the ones who are ligitamently suffering.Aren't you,by the way,the same trying to legalize marijuana(medical).I believe it would be a good thing and bad thing.Good because of the extra relief,but bad because not all states are approved for this.Also,I wouln't want to smoke it for the lung side effect(but would),but the pill I would take for relief.I thank you, besides I am sure millions of others that are suffering are as well.

re: Untitled Comment
learnFMnow
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 10:14 AM

It seems I have heard another theory. (I don't know how true it is and really cannot remember where I heard it... I will have to google it). But that one stated we actually have MORE opiate receptors in the brain than the normal person. This is one reason that narcotics are not working well for some because it likely takes us a higher dose than the average person.

Thanks for your comment. I love this site. It is wonderful. I appreciate being able to be a part of it.

hugs,

Debra

Happy?
Miss Kat!
Friday, October 02, 2009 at 05:06 AM

I, Totally agree with what you are saying. I am currently dealing with the everyday Chronic Pain of Digenerative Joint Disease. The one thing that I am having a hard time with is that when I see the many doctors that I have to see for my Disease, none of them will perscribe me a pain killer "NARCOTIC". They want to perscribe me "TRAMADOL 50mg", which would be 1 tablet 3x's/day. LOL! I tried taking 3 at one time, (as the doc increased my dosage) which then made it 150mg. Did not even touch my pain. Basically, it is like I am taking a medication for no reason what so ever. When I had told the doc, that the new amount was not working, she said there was nothing else she could do, I would have to seek Pain Management. Well, come to find out, they do not except Insurance, and it is $250 for the first visit, and then all other monthly visits would be $150, plus the price of the Meds (prices varied on which kind if Med was needed anywhere from $50-$200). To me, it just seems un-fair that I am seeking treatment from a Professional Physician, and she can no longer give me what is needed to not live in AGONY eveyday of my life. Oh, I forgot to mention, I am a 35 year old young women, who used to be so active and out going, and now is a totally different individual, who does not have the energy or strength to do anything because the PAIN is unbearable. I remember when it was no problem for me just to get up and go to work, now I was told I can no longer work, that I am going to have to collect Disability. It is pretti sad when you can't even get yourself out of bed in the am, to use the bathroom, because you are so stiff. All I know is I need to find the right Doc that is willing to listen, understand, and will give me what I need so I can go on with my life, the best that I can, in dealing with this CHRONIC PAIN!

ALWAYS,

young and in pain

re: Happy?
learnFMnow
Friday, October 02, 2009 at 11:46 AM

It sucks. I will just say it like it is.. Sometimes I wonder who the hell these people are with Medical Licenses. If you are afraid to prescribe MEDICATION then don't be a doctor. It is a crock.

Narcotics have the bad wrap because of the likes of Paula Abdul, Anna Nichole, and poor Michael Jackson. I understadn that people have had problems with narcotics, but what about the ones who will not abuse but use them for true pain that is unrelentless. It makes me sicker just thinking about the miseries that people must live in just because of the media and the stigma of a narcotic pain pill.

hugs,

Debra

Fibro and narcs
Tired of aching
Monday, October 19, 2009 at 06:42 PM

Oh dear Lord if only you could talk to my husband who thinks I am an addict. I finally found a Doctor who is willing (at least for now) to prescribe narcotics for my pain relief. I am currently taking Vicodin 5/500 one 4 times a day, while I am not pain free and have some days still worse than others I am on a more even plane. I no longer lay on the couch every moment I can with heat or ice or both to try to alleviate my misery. I wish the world would understand not all people with chronic pain are junkies. I also wish they could spend 1 week in my body to get the day by day fun I get to enjoy, let them know the feeling of not being able to walk well or being brushed up against sends you to the moon. Everyone keep advocating and demanding we are treated like humans and are aloud to maintain our lives with legal means as functional and pain free as we wish to be.

God Bless

tired of aching