The use of narcotic pain medications for fibromyalgia pain is on the rise. Years ago, doctors seemed to be "scared" to prescribe these highly effective pain medications either because they didn't believe that they worked for fibromyalgia or because they just didn't believe in the use of narcotic opiates for pain. There was also the fear of having many addicted patients on their hands.
Well, that has changed. Now there are doctors who call themselves "pain specialists" and they prescribe and regulate narcotic analgesics for chronic pain and fibromyalgia pain.
Why the change?
Patients in pain are getting much needed relief from these medications and doctors are seeing this. Regulation of these narcotics, such as a required urine test before each prescription is given, makes these physicians more at ease with prescribing pain medications. Dr. M (my Dr.) did not prescribe any narcotics 2 years ago because of "lack of knowledge, drug seeking activity and also because pain is such a subjective symptom that you just never knew who wanted to get "high" from these meds and who really just wanted some much needed pain relief". She now believes there is a place for opioid use for pain.
She has seen, in her office, many people get the needed relief from their narcotic medications and it has given many of them back their lives. "This is what they are suppose to do for people in pain" she says, but the added fear of having a patient become addicted had stopped many doctors from previously prescribing these drugs".
Addiction?
The lesser of 2 evils is that yes, you will become addicted to this medication, as opiates are highly addictive, but your pain level will decrease as never before. The depression lifts as the pain decreases and Dr. M enjoys seeing patient regain their previous quality of life before pain struck them down. "Pain is real for most of the patients I see now, but I still get those that just want a prescription for recreational use, now I can tell the difference through drug testing".
Drug testing for opioid prescription pain relief:
Before anyone walks out of her office with a prescription for an opioid narcotic, Dr. M does a urine test to check 2 things: 1; to see if the patient is taking any street or recreational drugs (marijuana, crack, coke etc), and 2; to check that the medication she prescribes is in their system. If the first test comes back positive, they walk out of her office with nothing. If they test negative for the second test (meaning they aren't taking their med as prescribe and this means they may be selling it on the streets) they walk out of her office, again, with nothing.
The regulations are there for the protection of both the doctor and the patient. The doctor doesn't want to prescribe these potent narcotics to someone who is doing recreational drugs or may be selling their prescription on the streets.
This is a big problem in Florida, as some clinics don't use the regulations and are basically "Pill stores" where you can walk in, pay the money for the visit and walk out with a narcotics prescription.
Do narcotic analgesics decrease pain?
Narcotic medications don't work for everyone who has chronic pain or fibromyalgia, but it does help enough patients to warrant their use. Regulation is the key for those doctors that had a fear of prescribing these potentially dangerous and addictive drugs. The benefits of using opioid narcotics for pain relief can, most of the time outweigh the downside.
I have and do use opioid narcotics for pain control of my fibromyalgia. I don't know how I could function without them as they take about 85% of my pain away and make my life more meaningful. I have, about 4 years ago, become addicted to the narcotics that my doctor prescribed for me. I now am on only one opioid, morphine sulfate. This is by far the safest of all the narcotic analgesic (as I will discuss in a follow-up post).
Do you take any narcotic analgesics for pain? Have you ever had trouble with addiction? Let me know in the comments section below.
Chronic pain is distressing. It minimizes the energy to work. It can keep a normal person completely on bed due to the chronic attack. Any kind of pain is difficult to continue with a chronic pain is something that can take away the worriless sleep at nights and stable condition of a day. It is just an unpleasant experience. This is unpleasant sensory and emotional experience. The irritating feature of any kind of chronic pain is its stability for a prolonged period of time.
ReplyDeleteHyllbylly, yes it is very distressing and unfortunatly the distress that Fibromyalgia symptoms bring, also tend to increase the symptoms themselves. I hate to say this, but Xanax is actually an effective medication for the anxiety and stress of Fibromyalgia. The reason I hated to say that is: Xanax is highly addicting and should be taken with caution. But, it is effective for decresing anxiety due to increased Fibromyalgia symptoms. It therefore, is effective at decreasing those same symptoms most of the time to a tolerable level (I have taken Xanax for this and it is effective).
ReplyDeleteFibromyalgia symptoms wax and wane. That means you have increased severe pain and other symptomatic episodes followed by periods of decreased symptoms (The symptoms do not tend to go completely away though). This can have a serious negative affect on your quality of life.
But, there are things, even small things that you can do to help yourself. Slow, gentle stretching is one thing anyone that has Fibromyalgia should be able to do. It's a matter of sitting or lying on the floor and stretching out those painful muscles. This loosens them up and therefore decreases your pain. Try a little every other day and soon, you will feel a little better, then a little more, although the pain, in my experience doesn't ever go completely away. Unfortuanatly at this time, there is no known cure for Fibromaygia, although research continues.
Hang in there, I know it's tough. I live it also. Mine is severe. You can make it better, really :-)
Valerie
I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and I have been taking my boyfriend's Lortabs as my doctor will not prescribe them for me. She has me on Tramadol and Lizinidine and they do nothing for the pain. I am getting ready to see a new doctor so hopefully he will see things differently. I am in so much pain all the time. I used to be such an active person. Now, I am starting to lose hope.
ReplyDeleteI too have fibromyalgia, the pain meds are the ONLY thing that help. Hope you got whatyou needed!
DeletePain meds are the ONLY thing that help, hope u got what u needed!
DeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteFirst, you should never take someone else's pain or any other type of medication.
Sounds like you need a new doctor. A doctor who specializes in pain or one that specializes in arthritic conditions are both good doctors for fibromyalgia.
Although for some people, narcotics are the only thing that help. But, besides narcotics, there are other medications that should be tried first, that do help with fibro. pain. They are Neurontin and Cymbalta. Most Dr's who treat fibro. start with these two medications. Neurontin is good for nerve pain and Cymbalta works for the "all over" achiness you feel. Then, if you have been on these two meds. for a few months and you are still having pain, or "breakthrough" pain, most Dr's will add a low dose narcotic.
I am on Neurontin, Cymbalta and Morphine. Morphine (low dose). I still have some pain, especially on bad weather days or when I over-do it, but it the meds do cover a lot of my pain.
Good luck to you and follow my posts for help with fibro. pain. The advice I give is proven, so I know it can work if given a chance.
Valerie
I have fibromyalgia as well as another condition that causes chronic pain, any other meds or therapy they have tried dont work or work againt the other conditions. I Have been dealing with this for over 10 years and the only thing that has worked for both is narcotics but my doctor flat out told me, there are drs that prescribe narcotics for chronic pain but i am not one of them. How do i find one without looking like a druggie?? I have given up soo many times because of doctors making me feel like that.
ReplyDeleteany help wpuld be much appreciated. I just want to get my life back
Don't worry about looking like a druggy...Those of us that have this kind of pain need relief. And if we get that relief from narcotics, well then that's what we need. Don't be afraid...keep looking for a doctor that will give you the pain relief you so obviously need. I don't think we will ever be able to get the relief we need without the stigma of becoming "junkies" or drug "seekers"...It's something we need to get past to get the pain relief we need to help us to be able to live life as best we can...
ReplyDeleteWell said.
DeleteMy name is lea. I have chronic back problems and fibromyalgia. My Dr is old school and I don't have the best Dr. Well a few years ago I was seeing a wonderful orthopedic Dr and he was helping me with the chronic back problems, then he ended up sending me to one of his pain management drs. That's when I was he said I had fibromyalgia and that Dr put me and cymbalta and I was allergic to it and some others. Now he gave up on me and would try anything else on me. Then my primary Dr won't help me as well and won't actually write down Squibb I have fibrmyolgia and I'm not sure why. I'm in the process of getting new insurance. My question is what kind of Dr should I go to to get the kind of help I need. I'm on pain pills right now because I had surgery and I am out of so much pain. I'm not looking forward of going back to pain.
ReplyDeletecan you help me with any ideas of what kind of Drs I should look for. If so thank-you so much.
Lea, the type of doctor you need to see is a rheumotologist. One that not only specializes in arthritis, but also in fibromyalgia and lupus. This is the kind of specialist I had to get. He tries to get me to take new drugs that have come on the market such as lyrica and savella. And I do try them, but I have had no luck with them. These are drugs that for me, affect my brain only, instead of targeting the overall body pain. What I mean by affecting my brain, is that, I experience dizziness, fatigue, even more brain fog, disoriented, and sleepiness. I also have tried many other drugs over a fifteen year span including, cymbalta, neurontin, amitryptyline, valium, muscle relaxers, tramadol, etc. The only thing that has been working for me is hydrocodone 10-650, about two to three tablets per day. I don't take anything else because I don't want to get a bad reaction if I start mixing this med with other meds like, sleeping pills, valium, ibuprofen, or anxiety meds. Believe me, I have tried all these meds before, which just gave me really bad reactions. Every person is different. I don't know any two people yet that have Fibro, that have the same exact treatment plans. The less meds your on the better, for your overall health. Try to find one pain reliever that works for you and maybe one other med that helps you to sleep at night. For pain I take hydrocodone 10-650, 2-3 tablets per day and then for sleep and relaxation I take medical cannabus, which is in the form of hard candy. Once you start adding all other kinds of meds, for me that's when you start experiencing upset stomach, nausea, etc. Good luck to you in your search for a new doctor.
DeleteHello, i completely get it and am currently seeking such a DR. FM sufferer for 16 yrs now, with the only releif being tecnal 1/2. have been on this for 14 yrs but need DR. who is "comforable" giving the amount i need. still wandering in the GTA; can anyone reccommend a DR? I've tried EVERYTHING to offer. I really need ??? DR. nice i hope to help me.....asap PLEASE
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteYou should be making an appointment with a rheumatologist. Rheumatologists specialize in the treatment of arthritic conditions such as, rheumatoid arthritis. Fibromyalgia is thought to be in the same category as the arthritic conditions.
Another type of doctor that may be helpful is a pain management doctor. These types of doctors deal with all sorts of chronic pain issues. They know all the treatments, medications and therapies available to treat chronic pain conditions such as, fibromyalgia.
You should make an appointment right away. Make sure you write down all of your complaints before going to your appointment so that you don't forget anything. The worst thing is getting to see a doctor and forgetting half the things you wanted to talk to him about.
You can tell if the doctor is going to be compatable to you during that first visit. Ask yourself..."Does the doctor listen when I am talking?"...Does he answer my questions and make sure I understand his answers before he leaves the room?"...Does he act like he wants to leave the minute he walks into the room?"...You want a doctor who listens to you and truly cares about your condition...He should answer all of your questions so you understand them...You will know whether you and he will be compatable during that first visit.
If you are not comfortable with the way the first appointment went in any way, you can always find another doctor. People think they don't have a choice and have to stay with their doctor whether they like them or not. This is just not true. If you aren't comfortable with your doctor, you don't have to stay with him...you can "doctor shop" until you find a doctor that you like.
Good luck to you and I hope this helped...If you have any more questions, feel free to ask me...I will do the best I can to help you in any way I can....
I had a pain mgmt doc in CO that prescribed fentanyl and dilaudid to treat my fibromyalgia/2 c-spine surgeries. Lost my house and I recently moved to Taos, NM. I have been off all pain meds for 7 months. Not doing well! I have now seen one NP-who promptly schooled me in that there is a "big narcotics problem in Taos" so she sent me off with Gabapentin (neurontin) for chronic pain mgmt/insomnia/CFS/fibromyalgia along with orders for a mammogram pap smear and x-ray. So I promptly made an appt with the GP in that office and waited a full month to see him. In the mean time, still needing some relief, I located and patronized an internist who also prescribed Gabapentin as well as flexeril before sending me on my way-again, no pain meds, but he's wise enough to refer me to the physiatrist across the street who orders an MRI-and advises I increase the Gabapentin dose three fold. My appt with the GP ended in tears, again-nothing for pain, even when specifically asked while I was reduced to tears, but he did double the dose of the Gabapentin advising me to just "take 1/2 [of a capsule, mind you] if that double dose proved to sedating-again, I have CFS; insomnia included is a package deal for me. I made him aware that I had an MRI scheduled and he didn't think that was a good idea with the metal in my neck. OMG-titanium....? Really? So he has not quite panned out as a chronic pain wizard either, but did me that Aha! upon learning that I had seen two other docs-so! NO pain meds for the better part of a goddamn year and now I am a doctor shopping drug addict! I told that GP that altho not suicidal, I was at the point of everything but praying for a terminal illness to be free of this crappy body as I have no quality of life and spend at least 85% of my time in bed; I also soak in hot water and use a heating pad. The one and only time that I have NOT felt my neck hurting was for a brief spell enjoying a fractured ankle, and my MVC was 9/7/99. I'm beginning to understand why people "cut" to feel pain other than the Chinese Water Drip that is my life.
DeleteIn NYC and in same boat as the rest of you regarding treatment of Fibro. Lyrica and Savella did not work, Vicodin, Norco and Percocet left me with horrible sie effects. I am no won hyrdromorphone and i feel human again. This doc released me from her care to a PM doc in which I cannot find a decent on through my insurance. Do anyone of you live in the NYC area and can recommend a doctor who understands the need for a decent quality of life. Thanks to all and Good Luck to you all. We need it.
ReplyDeleteFibromyalgia is a difficult disorder to treat...One of the biggest problems that I see right now is the high number of people who abuse these narcotic medications that those of us with fibromyalgia need to help decrease our pain. In Florida, my state, there are actual "drug stores" or "clinics" where drug abusers can fork out a couple of hundred dollars for an x-ray and a prescription to there choice of narcotics. In fact, most have a sign outside their clinics saying just that.
ReplyDeleteThis makes it hard for those of us who are really in pain and are not abusing narcotics. Doctors are more reluctant to give out prescriptions and when they do give out a narcotic prescription, they want you to sign a form promising you will only use the med as directed, not use street drugs (This includes marijuana, which is helpful for pain, but still illegal here)...This is really not a problem, just an observation on how strict doctors have become because of their fear of their patients abusing the meds given to them.
There are no easy answers. I would just keep trying to find the right doctor if I was in your shoes..in fact, I had to do that when I moved down here 9 years ago. I went through many doctors before I found the one I go to know. She is strict, but she helps relieve my pain and that's all I want. You also have to do things for yourself such as, exercise 3-5 times a week, stretch your tight muscles every day and balance your activity with rest so you don't become more painful and tired.
Good luck to you all...this conversation is an important one because if we can get a loud enough voice out to these fibro doctors, then maybe they will hear us and start treating us as people with a painful condition and not junkies looking for a fix!!!
I cant function without pain killers and my doc like to fight and bitch but at least prescribes them he claims to be a expert and know studies etc and that narcs dont help
ReplyDeletei refuse to quit i refuse to loose my freedom and mobility no matter the pain level and the drugs bring it to a 7 or 8 for me tolerable due to i have adhd with for some reason a through the roof tolerance and martial arts so the drugs with all that im able to walk not allot or far but im active alive not chair or bed ridden
there has to be a way to educate fix the system they need to learn we are all different and some of us need these to live whats left of our lives
mine is worse 3 car accidents a highway hard hit a 40mp rear ended us sitting still my pain is at my limits and barley function take my drugs and i might as well die because i will loose and i refuse to loose or quit no matter how much it hurts me
i want change for all of us i have been fighting the government for our disability rights how do we fight the medical and i will start
The best way to fight is to make sure we educate our doctors. I have printed numerous facts about fibromyalgia off the net and have taken them to my doctor to educate her. Over the years she has also educated herself. There is no easy way to do this. Some doctors are more educated on fibromyalgia than others...those are the ones than we want to go to for treatment. Time, which unfortunately is just a longer time in pain for us, will educate most doctors. The fact is, those doctors that are closed minded and don't believe in fibro, may not ever.
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I am in the same boat and have been diagnosed with fibromyalaga, rhemautoid arthritis(doc is treating me for this as well even though i tested negative for ra). i have buldging discs in back as well as coxcyndia(tailbone pain for 3 yrs now). i can barely fold a towel some days, i cant sit because of tailbone and i cant stand long because of arthritis in my feet and knees. i have no quality of life. i have tried cymbalta,nucenta,tramadol and these dont work. i am on effexor,gabapentin,tinazadine, sulfasalazine, hydroqluorquine,hrydrocodone 10-325(3 a day is what is precribed and they have never worked, i even increased this to 2 at a time myself and it doesnt work and i know i shouldnt have done that)i still stay at home in bed most of the time. i havent worked in over a yr and i am trying to get social security which has been denied 2x's now i have to wait 300 days for a hearing( i have worked since i was 13 and i am now 41, and the system that is set up to help u isnt helping me at all yet) i am completely exhausted all the time but i dont sleep well or thru the night at all. i am at my wits end.i am going to my 2nd pain doctor now because the last one wont work with me on payments that i owed for epidural injections for my tailbone and those injections didnt do a thing. so i go to a new pain doc and they think i am doctor shopping even though my rhuematologist referred me to him and i am tired of being looked at like a junkie. i need help and i see no help in sight i dont know what else to tell my doctor or how to get across to him that i have no quality of life, i used to be very active,outgoing and was happy. the fibromyalga seemed to start after i had a ruptured appendix in july 2010 i have read that is can be brought on by some sort of trauma and i think this was what started it. my next appt with pain doc is 10/19 because i have to have a hysteroctomy on 10/8 because i am very anemic and have fibroids,cysts and heavy bleeding. hopefully this will eleviate some of the exhaustion because of the anemia( i am taking alot of iron for this right now doc said might have to have a blood transfusion if my levels dont come up). if any one has any advice on how to get across to my doctor about no quality of life and no to be looked at like a junkie would be greatly appreciated
ReplyDeleteI have a PA that treats my symptoms with non narcotic pain meds, and vicodin prn. I love my PA and have much respect for the narcotics as to abuse them, they won't work . I don't want to lose that privilege of being prescribed narcotics. I cannot take them everyday, they don't work like that. I am grateful to my PA because his wife has FIBRO so he lives with it. I kiss the ground that man walks on and am very grateful that he treats my pain.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about my doc. She has helped me continue to have some sort of a life that I wouldn't have had without her careful treatment with pain medication. She is very cautious, requiring urine test to make sure you aren't abusing these meds or taking street drugs.
DeleteI am so happy that you have such a good doctor. May she be in your life forever!
People must respect the narcos because to use them everyday would diminish their potency and you would need higher doses for them to work.. Grateful my PA treats my pain. He also is married and his wife has fibro so he lives with it. I fear the day that man retires!!I am a fibro fighter and I take narcotics 20 percent of the time. I wish I COULD take them everyday , because I feel so much better when I take them as opposed to not.Temperance. They only work for me because I know I have to not drug seek for them, ie, calling the doc for script before appropriate amount of time, pharmacy shopping etc. He knows I am grateful to him too, cause I say so... He is not afraid to treat my pain. I fear the day that man retires...
ReplyDeleteYes, I wholly agree. Narcotics need to be respected. I don't think most people that are on narcs. realize how powerful, dangerous and addictive these drugs are.
DeleteFibromyalgia patients could be on narcs. for years, and yes, your body creates a tolerance to these drugs causing you to need an increase in dosage just to cover your pain.
People on narcotics need to be careful. Start with the lowest dose and don't ask for an increase until you absolutely can't function anymore with the dose you have.
My doctor also is very respectful of narcotics, which is one of the things I love about her. I know that she won't give me anything that will hurt me or start on a high dose. I love her. Glad you found one that is good to you too.
Hi! I was diagnosed with fibro in 2003. I was on narcotics for a number of years then went off of them. My pain was very tolerable for years. Within the past few years it has returned. I live in Florida and was wondering what doctor you go to? I went to a pain management doctor that prescribe something for migraines, it did not help at all and caused me more pain in my limbs. I called him and told him and he said I could get a procedure where they burn my nerves in the back of my head. I'm not wanting that procedure and told him so and he said "well good luck". I need help! Thank you so much. Marsha Filimon
ReplyDeletemy doc wanted me to burn the nerves in my back i said no thank u as well
DeleteI experienced chronic dental pain on and off for two years, and my dentist and endodontist were both prescribing me lortabs and the occasional percocet. Well, of course I developed a tolerance so I upped the dosage myself (I had no idea of the addictive quality of these medications at the time). So obviously, I got myself hooked.
ReplyDeleteI've been seeing an opiate addiction specialist who has me on 8mg of Subutex per day. But I have just been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and am experiencing some seriously miserable pain! I have a one-year old that I'm trying to keep up with...but I've had to quit my job, my yoga class, and everything I previously enjoyed is now just painful.
I have no idea what to do, friends. I'm still on the Subutex, and I have my first appointment with a Pain Management Doctor in a couple of days. But I am terrified that my level of pain will never be taken seriously because of my previous opiate addiction. I'm so frustrated with myself for screwing up because I was so naive...and ANGRY at the dentist who so carelessly gave them to me. It seems that the only relief people with Fibromyalgia are getting is with pain killers, but those will probably never be an option for me.
Am I doomed to a life of pain and misery? I'm already on Zoloft 150mg and Wellbutrin 150 mg which helped with the anxiety and depression during my pregnancy and post-pregnancy. I'm feeling great emotionally, but now with this I'm worried for my sanity! I'm 27 and feel like I'm 80 years old. It's not fair. I want to crawl around with my baby on the floor and run around the yard with her. I want to enjoy my family and ride my horse, but all the things that bring me joy are gone.
I could use some advice/encouragement. Medicinal marijuana is not legal here yet (they are working on it), but I have considered trying a little of that to see it if would help. But I've never done a drug except the opiates, and I hate to break the law. Help!!!
Narcotics are not the only medications out there that can help with Fibromyalgia pain. Cymbalta and Neurontin are also 2 medications that can help with this kind of pain. I am on both and to tell you the truth, I would give up my Morphine before I would give up the Neurontin. Neurontin is great for the nerve pain that is Fibromyalgia. Hang in there. Just because you have had difficulty with narcotics doesn't mean that you will be banded for life from them. Just be completely honest with your doctor. Good luck to you...you are so young to be inflicted with this painful disease. I was diagnosed in my late 20's. I am now 45...have had good times and bad. It's definitely a roller coaster ride for some of us who have it worse than others.
DeleteDiagnosed w spinal stenosis three yes ago but have many fibro symptoms also. What type of doc shud i go to? Taking norco for four years four x day no longer works for pain.. Help
ReplyDeleteDiagnosed w spinal stenosis three yes ago but have many fibro symptoms also. What type of doc shud i go to? Taking norco for four years four x day no longer works for pain.. Help
ReplyDeleteYou should probably start with a spine specialist and a rheumatologist. That's what I would do. The spine doctor can deal with you spinal problems, but a rheumatologist is a great doctor for fibromyalgia. Good luck and let me know what happens!!
DeleteI can tell you working in healthcare for several years, that people with fibro are usually treated differently than most other pain causing diseases. Right or wrong, many people I have treated that have the diagnosis are usually the first to ask, or demand Narcs. And most of the time are asking for them by name, and dosages. Many health care professionals talk amongst themselves that Fibro is the diagnosis they give when nothing can be logically found wrong with a person.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately Narcotics have not been widely researched, or proven to work for Nerve type pain. That is why Lyrica, and Neurotin, is used most frequently. When someone goes on pain meds, unless the are terminal, Dr's want to have an exit plan to get someone off the med's in a period of time. In Fibro people, there is no cure, and the most likely outcome from the treatment will be a person addicted to pain medication, and worse of than before they started the medication, as their pain receptors will be more sensitive than before the pain med's were started. So you will be fighting another issue. There is allot of research on the type of pain caused from taking pain meds long term, and how they can mess with your pain receptors, and that is why some Dr will refuse treatment of Fibro pt's with Narcotics. Not because they dislike you.
And working in the ER I can tell you there are many Pt's that walk in demanding Narc's because they have Fibro. And that gives a legitimate person a harder time obtaining them when they are actually needed. Because it is such a hard disease to prove, Fibro pt's in the future will have a hard time getting the proper treatment they need.
Unless your Doc or a Family member to the doc has FIBROMYALGIA they don't know how it is.I hate to say it, but I am grateful My PA's wife has it.. so he totally gets it. Thank God. I am treated with respect, with proper meds, supported.. etc. I love him dearly. I get prednisone shots when I need them, and it works. I suffer daily from this 'garbage can' diagnosis, and thank God my PA see it as a legitimate chronic health problem and not just a drug seeking whacko.
ReplyDeletethat is needing attention and narcotics.
Actually, your Doc. doesn't really have to have Fibro. to know how to treat it. They just have to be willing to learn about this disease just like they had to learn about other diseases such as Diabetes and Heart disease. They real problem with Fibro. is, is a lot of the doctors think Fibro. is a "throw away" diagnosis. They just don't believe it exists.
DeleteIn my experience with Fibro., the first thing you should ask your doctor is if they even believe in this disease. If not, leave and find another doctor. Let's face it...if the doctor doesn't believe in your disease, then he won't know or even care how to treat it.
I have found that the best doctors to go to if you have Fibromyalgia is a Rheumatologist. Most of them have at least some knowledge about Fibro. and how to treat it.
Sounds like your PA is pretty good, so you should definitely keep her!
The Exit plan? Hmm, you know I never seriously considered suicide until I got fibromyalgia.Symptoms are real. Pain is real. So some one that has this 'syndrome' needs pain relief. Narcotics are just part of the cock tail. ( if you are lucky and they work for you and your MD will prescribe them for you). I would rather be dependent on narcotics and feel good, than not. Dependent doesn't mean abusing or over medicating. Thank You. (Pain free hug)
ReplyDeletePS Glad my PA is old school.
"gentle hugs" I'm glad your PA is old school...they are usually the docs who don't have a problem prescribing narcs. I'm sorry, but I, like many of you, have tried everything to decrease the pain. The only thing that works at times is narcotics. I'm not ashamed of taking them. It's much better than not being able to get out of bed.
DeleteI am also one who actually considered suicide because of severe Fibro. Others don't realize the amount of pain that Fibromyalgia causes. Not only do I get the all over nerve pain that's so classic with Fibro., but I also get neck and lumbar spine pain because of 2 herniated discs...I get pain down my legs because of standing on them too long ....and I have much more pain than that...but, the point is, without a doctor who isn't afraid to prescribe me a narcotic pain reliever, I wouldn't be able to get out of bed. Seriously. "Pain free hugs" to you too!!!!!
I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I have had several head injuries and whiplashes from middle school and high school sports. I am currently 33. Most of my young adult life, the doctors wanted to treat it as depression. I ended up with a great distrust of doctors. This end up to period of self medicating since i felt i was on my own. I found that a certain illegal drug (now legal in several states except mine) allievated the pain better than any ssri or other non-narcotic drug. I have been self medicating for a decade now. I currently work one full time job and two part time jobs and am in school part time getting my electrical engineering degree (not easy stuff). My issue is that in order to get the pain meds that i need on the days i really need (about once or twice a week) i have to piss into a cup. In the end I would prefer to remain noninstitutionalized because of my pain, and peeing into a cup and signing my life away is be institutionalized. Can you give your opinion here. Right now I have a doctor that prescribes 30 5mg-500mg hydrocodones. These barely work but are the best I can find with out feeling violated at a pain clinic. If I could sit down with a doctor and be completely transparent i am convinced he will see that my "recreational" use is actually pain management. Problem is, I don't trust doctors enough to open up. All it takes is one writing one thing down and my life will be a lot more difficult. Is it me, or do these doctors spend more time protecting their licenses than taking care of their patients?
ReplyDeleteGood site! I guess whether it is friendly to my eyes it really is. | I was wondering how to be notified when a new post is made. I can do the trick you are subscribed to your feeds? ! Have a great day
ReplyDeleteUS Patent No: 8,287,534
Physicians in advpainmd.com are extremely effective and they are conscious of managing each individual by understanding their wellness and psychological circumstances. Each and every individual need a individual proper care while offering them medication and dealing with their circumstances. The actual needs of one individual are different from the other even though both of them experience the same wellness. Physicians in advpainmd.com also try to know the sufferers absolutely before beginning therapy. So, the sufferers believe in these doctors absolutely. So, advpainmd.com provides the appropriate therapy to all sufferers.Pain Management Doctors In PA
ReplyDeleteI checked out their site and it looks like all they deal with is pain conditions. In fact, they have treatments for many pain conditions. Your right...every individual is different. What works for one person may not work for the next.
DeleteEvery physician should be as thorough as the doctors in this clinics. Anyone who lives close to this clinic in PA for Pain Management Doctors and is currently looking for a pain doctor should call and make an appointment. It certainly can't hurt to try something different. You never know what will work and what won't.
THANKS FOR THE LOVELY COMMENTS! I AM GLAD YOU LIKE THE POST ASWELL! MORE TO COME!
ReplyDeletePain Management Doctors In PA
Hello! I have fibbromylgia and Type II Diabetes. I used to use Tramdol (300 mg. a day), Fioricet and Flexaril which I obtained via a "remote prescription" from an internet pharmacy in the U.S. Not all states allow this but mine does. My regular doctors are aware of this and approve of it but would rather not prescribe pain medication themselves. I also use a lot of acetaminophen and tylenol. I had moderately effective pain control and poor control of severe chronic fatigue along with recurrent depression and severely disrupted sleep patterns similar to narcolepsy. At the insistance of my partner I added the herb kratom, usually as a concentrated kratom extract in coffee. This improved my mood and I got better pain relief. Starting from the beginning of the year I started using coca leaf preparations from coca leaf products I got on the internet (try Amazon) from a company that is allowed to import coca leaf food and beverage products and sell them to U.S. customers from a U.S. warehouse as long as it is done discretely. Used in this way. coca is neither addictive nor harmful. For a while I used coca almost exclusively and stopped the pharmaceuticals, except occasionally for a couple of tramadols. This gave decent control of pain, great control of depression and slow improvement in chronic fatigue. Since the beginning of the summer I have been making a big pot of herbal tea with a handful of Maeng Da kratom (a little expensive but the most potent kind) and three heaping tablespoons ofpowdered Oruro coca leaf. I drink several glasses of this tea a day with tylenol and ibuprofen. it provides excellent relief of pain and depression and increasingly good control of fatigue.Recently, I have experienced major relief of disordered sleep and have a normal schedule.
ReplyDeleteHi there, I believe your website could be having browser compatibility problems.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in IE, it has some overlapping issues.
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