BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome What do you use for pain?

Hi,

I just wanted to freshen up the boards a bit by starting new treads for some great topics.

All of us are always looking for the next best thing to help us ease the pain. So what pain meds have you found to be helpful, and those that were just a waste of money?

Believe it or not, I don't have to use pain meds on a daily basis. I didn't really find that the Ultram, Celebrex, Bextra, and narcotic pain meds really helped much. Some just knocked me out so that I was too sleepy to know I was in pain. But a really good muscle relaxer that my Dr. prescribed has been the most helpful for me. That's Baclofen. It's normally used for spascity in people with multiple sclerosis, but it can be used for other conditions as well. It actually has a two fold purpose in FM; it's a muscle relaxer and it increases dopamine levels in the brain which decreases pain signals in the body. To find out more about the dopamine theory in fibromyalgia, see my latest article, and product review of the video, Fibromyalgia Show Me Where It Hurts.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art47714.asp

if we're talking about the usual muscle pains or the stomachaches and such, honestly I don't do anything except, to rest, sleep, eat fruits, drink lots of water, and stretch a little. I get a massage from time to time if the muscle pains persist. But, of course if thing get serious, I go to the doctor and I just follow the prescriptions.

I suffered for many years with chronic problems such as migraines, TMJ, stomach problems, anxiety. I was in a very stressful marriage and looking back I believe most of my symptoms were stress related. I was on every type of pain reliever, some OTC and others prescribed, although nothing helped.

I did everything I could to try to feel 'normal' again. I worked out, joined weight watchers and lost the weight I had gained when I was pregnant. I watched sweets and caffiene.

I was divorced two years ago and since then my health problems have gone away. I feel really great and about as 'normal' as anyone could feel.

I believe most of my symptoms were triggered by stress of a very unhealthy toxic marriage. This may not be the solution for everyone but it certainly was for me.

For minor pain try aspirin patches. I use some that start with an s. They are sold at Walgreens and Walmart for sure. You get 40 patches for like $3-5 and I like them. They actually worked far better than the lidocaine patches I was given during pregnancy. I was also given a rx for 90 loratab for 30 days and that was a joke. The loratab did precious little to relieve my pain. I was just discharged from the hospital yesterday and now that the morphine is wearing off I am in just as much pain as before. The drs can't find anything physically wrong that would cause the level of pain I am in.

For CFS, you should not use any pain killer.

why it is working I dont know but we notice that every time my son is put on a particular cough syrup (for chronic bronchitis) called Anaplex his pain goes almost completly away. I asked his rhuemy and he is just as clueless but said if it is working use it. Joe has scripts for Naprosen (says it doesnt work) and Vicadin liquid(hates the groggy feeling when he is at school) and Neurtonin (knocks him out)
When on the Anaplex he is outside riding his skateboard and climbing trees like a "normal" kid

I have been on methodone for 5 years, plus klonipin,prilosec
for GERD,enderal for migraines,ditropan and doxisozan for
intercestial cystitis(painful bladder) and percocet. I've been kicked out of 2 doctors practices because they decided
medically I was a liability to them from the Drug admistration. I've been on disability since 1998 for
intractable pain. Now I'm looking for my 3rd doctor in 2007. <img src="/images/graemlins/wall.gif" alt="" />

You are very likely an Overly Acidic Fibro.

That's the kind I am, too.

Email me and I'll send you specific info.

AnneHillebrand@bellsouth.net

Does the cough syrup have guaifenesin in it? If so, that could be why he feels better and is able to do physical activity after he takes it. It has been used to treat fibromyalgia by non conventional doctors. My fibro dr. says that the reason why it works is because it has a muscle relaxing effect. But it is hard on the liver in high doses.

Just a thought.

Wow, I knew people who were on those types of meds. One thing that I discovered was that some of these meds can actually worsen pain. I was dealing with swelling in my ankles, and RDS type-burning pain in my thighs, and after seeing a toxicologist found out that Trazodone(Desryl) that I was taking for sleep was causing my pain. When she tapered me off of it, the pain went away. The Topomax was cauing me to vomit uncontrollably, and Lovastain that was given to me to lower my sed rates and C-reative protein levels (heart attack warnings) was causing muscle pain. So the meds to treat the symptoms could be making you worse. Question? Since your name is CraftedNTX, does that mean you live in Texas? If so, how close are you to Shreveport, Louisiana? There is a Dr. here that does medical research on fibromyalgia, and he prescribes Miraplex to raise dopamine levels in the brain. His studies has shown through MRI scans changes in the brain in fibro patients. His study on Mirapex- which is used to treat Parkinson's disease- shows that when dopamine levels are increased the pain signals decrease. He has helped a great deal of people. His name is Patrick Wood, M.D., associate professor at Louisiana State Medical Center of Shreveport. So, if you're close by, he may be the Dr. you're looking for.

I have been using amitriptylin for the last 5 years. One doctor changed it to something that made my tongue swell up. Scared the fertilizer out of me. Went back to Amitriptylin. A year ago I added Flax Seed Oil to my vitamins. It has really helped.

Glenda

After reading through all the responses to what people use (or don't use) for pain, I have to tell you that I am not a superwoman. I "need" pain releiver, at the risk of being called overly addicted. The pain releiver I take mostly depends on where the pain is, but for the most part I use ibuprofin or naproxin. However I am taking amitrpitylin every day at bedtime to control the pain at night so I can sleep better. When I don't take it I wake up numerous times at night, sometimes waking up in so much pain that my crying wakes me up.

I have tried changing my diet but it doesn't make one bit of difference in the pain department. None whatsoever. I also try to walk every day as that helps but I still need the medication at night, especially if I walked too much that day. Fruit is just fruit, no magincal properties for me, except bananas which the potasium does help. And I don't like bananas! But I eat them just for the potasium.

Hi,
I am a newbie to the board.
I take loritab very much controlled. Only when I need them bad. I also have Interstatial cystitis. I have taken several different meds for that, which hasn't helped so far. I do take ibuprofren.I am on other meds also.

Ladies help is finally here!
I am not sure about other states offering help but if you are in California, there is some help that just arrived. I used to be a nurse working at Cedars Sianai, and left practicing to start a business. In that process I started researching Fibromyalgia. I have a treatment that feels like a deep tissue massage, and in that treatment the machine aspirates and has sequential rollers, so it sucks the fibroblast up, then breaks it appart with the rollers. This treatment also increases blood and lymphatic flow by over 400%, so it flushes all of the toxins out. I have been working with a couple of fibromyalgia patients and have seen immediate results. One of my patients was an athlete and had not worked out for seven years, she has had two sessions and is back in the gym doing mild work outs. email me if your interested: leslie.serenityhealth@gmail.com

leslie

Shalom

Bromilin with tumeric is also helpful as an anti inflammatory.
Inflammation indicaes that there is a reason for concern i the body; the problem is with FMS/CFIDS that the body brain interprets all crises as an event for inflammation!

Staying hydrated is also important to keep pain in chck; waterpurifies the system and facilitates healthy movement of the myofacia.

Chiropractic care/ physical therapy and massage when comnined can produce an effective program of pain relief for those who suffer from chronic pain.

Be fitly blessed,
aTeeDAZ
ateedaz@inorbit.com

I have found the following helpful: Ultram, hydrocodone (when pain is especially bad and when traveling), Flexiril. A vegetarian diet has made a significant difference, as well as yoga, stretching, use of heat---hot tub soaks or lavender body wraps. Just recently I have begun treatment by a massage therapist who is first using cranio-sacrum therapy that is working very well. Topamax has eliminated the cluster/migraine syndrome, and I take Fioricet for the muscle tension headaches in the back of the head. At bedtime I take Topamax, Klonopin, Flexiril, Ultram, and Melatonin and I usuallly sleep fine. I try to maintain this regimen on a regular basis at minimal doses to keep pain under control and adjust dosage as needed. A positive attitude plus plenty of rest and not over doing it is also important.

I'm a newbie, but have found that Cymbalta works wel not only for depression, but helps immensely with pain, too.

I use vicdton,lyrica , flexril,and evail,and cymbalta twice a day
to deal with the pain
Bernadette

I don't do anything much for pain as I have not found much that reduces the pain but still allows me to function. I do take tylenol pm weeknights and amitryptiline on weekend nights. As soon as I lay down at night my muscles begin to cramp. The pm seems to help a little and then I get good sleep on the amitryptiline. It seems to knock me out for longer so I don't take it on week nights.

~Shalom~

It is best to be cautious of any medication ending with zine..ox...mine...ac. These most generally bring low or lessened intestinal motility; you need to have a clean system to maintain a healthy body!

Be creful to not bring the liver gall, bladder,pancreas, and intestines to a place of suggishness that will make your health quest ineffective.

Be Well

For pain I take norco 10/325. I've had fibro for most of my life and have always dealt with aches and pains. Mostly in the past if it got too bad I'd use an otc. But over 7 years ago the pain increased to the point I was in tears and so at that point it was time for something stronger. I started on Vicodin 500 mg., but I don't like what that does to the stomache.
Last Jan. I was put on Effexor xr which is a dual purpose anti-depressant. It gives us both serotonin and norepinephrine. By then I was bedbound. But since I've been on Effexor I'm up and about and slowly but surely getting a little better.
I also take relafin for the athritis like pain and such that I have in my hands and prevacid to combat any liklihood of the relafin hurting my digestive tract.