no long term pain meds for fibro? is this true be cause i can't take the pain!
Q: i have real bad fibro my one doctor says pain meds long term are not an option also have may other o
Answers (3)
11/ 6/08 11:05pm
If you're talking about narcotic pain relievers they are generally reserved for FM patients who do not respond to other treatments. The prescription drugs usually used to treat pain in FM include Lyrica, anti-depressants/anti-anxiety drugs (which are able to impact pain pathways as well), muscle relaxants, sleep enhancers, etc. Narcotics can be effective in FM but a Danish study found that long term opiate use did not result in a significantly improved quality of life - this may be the reason your doctor doesn't want to start you off on these.
The best FM treatment programs are multidisciplinary and involve a range of therapies including alternative therapies, prescription drugs, gentle exercise and lifestyle management. You might want to check out the site below for a description of many of therapies used in FM and see if you're getting a multidisciplinary approach to this disease from your doctor. If you're not maybe some of these other therapies could help you out with your pain. Good luck!
http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/fibromyalgia-38951-5.html
11/ 1/09 2:40pm
hi, i have been on methadone for 6 years now. i went thru the therepy,injections all different things even the cymbalya and lyrica nothing helped. there are alot of doctors that dont believe its good long term but i can personally tell you without these meds i was hardly able to walk and was in alot of pain. which i still am but...it would be worse without them. the key is to take them as directed they are timed released so it can be easy to think its not helping and take another. also i take norco or percocet for breakthrough pain. see a pain management doctor for there help. good luck. LaNay
2/13/10 7:55pm
Hi topkitten,
I have had this said to me as well, before i was diagnosed I was told by a Doctor (a neorosurgeon) "GET OFF THE MEDS, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU" then i saw a Rheumatologist who diagnosed me last September with "F.M." "he also said to get off the pain meds, as in the long run they will not help you" I told my Primary Doctor who has seen me SUFFER for several years with disc issues as well as severe muscle spasms that were so painful and pertruding through my clothing, we (me and my Primary) started to ween me off, I PERSONALY was affraid to stay on narcotic medication anyways. After about a week I had realized how much pain i was in and I called her and we both agreed to go back on the medications. Until I found something else. I have not had any luck at all with ANY F.M. medications that are out there. Also I was informed by a well known person in this great room that sometimes it takes years to find the right treatment and medications (non-narcotic) In the mean time I am now searching for another specialist, the Rheumatologist looked at me as if i was a drug seeker, I told my p.c.p that, she knows me inside and out, and was very dissapointed that i had to go through those feelings (accusations?) and the fact the rheumatologist wrote me out a script for Cymbalta, see him in 6 months with 11 refills tells me that that Dr. did not have my best interest. If there is one thing i have learned is that EVERYONE is different, we all react differently to medications and non medication methods. I would like to convince you to have patience,(no pun intended) but I to am running out of patience, This room is excellent and so many good advice from everyone, I suggest you get away from "one" Doctor, and hopefully you can get a team of docs to work WITH you... best of luck, Linda
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I also have severe pain from fibro and neck surgery that gave me pemenent muscle and nerve damage. My pain dr want give me anything but very low dose of morphine and cymbalta, flexeral for neck muscle pain. I am in severe pain most of the time as this medicine does very little for my pain. I have a very poor quality of life and am usually in bed or in severe pain. Where did you find a dr that would listen to you and give you meds that would actually help.
Desperete for some relief