Simple Opinions for symptoms

[Still in Limbo]

My Very Best to You Bad Boy, it Sounds like You and Your Dr.have a Great Relationship. I Hope the 2 of You can come Up with a Plan of Meds. that will Help Alleviate Your Pain! There is Nothing Worse than Chronic Pain, knowing that every Minute of Every Day it's going to be there, it Wears at Me at Times. But Life goes On, and I Hope You can Find Relief!!

[capricorn]

Badboy...I am also med sensitive. Have horrible reactions that aren't even written about to most drugs. I have found that combo's in low dosages work much better for me and as far as pain goes I keep going back to what worked the best with no side effects. Right now I take Cymbalta, only 100 mg of Neurontin, Tylenol 3 as needed and Klonopin for pain. This combo in the right dosages and consistantly helps. I am never pain free totally as no one else here is but it makes it tolerable so I can go about my day. I am sleeping better also. Arthritis is tricky. Treats alot of people differently. I also have to heat my knees and shoulder everyday when it cold to function. Some drugs that I took years ago that worked I now have an interaction with my BP meds with.

Elavil(amitriptyline) I took many years ago and so did my husband for joint pain and sleep. Loved it. My husband has the problem you have with the anti-inflammatories. He is allergic to all NSAIDS and ibuprophen. Goes into anaphylaxis. What problem do you have with Cymbalta if I may ask. I am curious because it and Effexor are in the same drug class and it's odd to have a reaction to one and not the other although Pristiq is in that class and I broke out in hives form it. I have also noticed that Dr.s like to get people at that 60 mg. max dosage of Cymbalta fast. I haven't had to go above 20 for 5-6 months. I also am ok at 100 of Neurontin which is always said needs to be upped. I would start slowly with the combo you were using and see if one can enhance the other.

Sorry I went on.

Cap

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

Cap, it's fine if you write alot, in fact I like it.

The physc or anti-depression medication have a reverse affect on me. Like in the warnings that are posted on them. Cymbalta took me 2 weeks to get my thoughts right to figure out it was the med. Where with Wellburitin, it took only about 3 or 4 days to happen. I had been told, anti-depression medication is like Blood Pressure medication, it's hit and miss till they find one that works. Now I can take Ibuprophen also. This is why many think it's strange that I can take one form, yet the others end me back in the doctor's office or the emergency room.

[capricorn]

BB..my husband started out like that. Could take one and not the other. He had surgery a few years back and knew he had an allergy to ibuprophen because he would get dizzy and vomit everytime he took it. Well in the hospital they shot him with Toradol inspite of him having an allergy alert bracelet on and it being in his chart. Yes, we have a medical negligence suit against them.

I have found with AD's that you can take one class or another. For instance I can take Cymbalta which is an SNRI but cannot take ANY SRRI's. I also have had alot of luck with the Tricyclic group because they are old. My BP med is so old the girls have to look the dosage up. I'm curious as to why Cymbalta bothers you and not Effexor. What dosage did the Dr. start you at with the Cymbalta? There aren't too many AD's that help with pain. Elavil I thought was wonderful. Wish I could take it again. Sleep like a baby and could dance inspite of my body.

I find that a Tylenol 3 + a klonopin helps the pain without drugging me so it must be the combo. Can't take vicodin ( makes me itch) can't take percocet( makes me speed) that's why I think maybe starting all over again and doing low doses of combo's might help, it has me, without drugging me.

Cap

[vickinat]

BadBoy,
I have tried several of the meds that have been listed also. My nerve pain from my lumbar spine will never go away, but is able to be managed. I just hate the fact that after the surgery on my L4, that scar tissue surrounded the nerve that the doctor widened the foramin for it to not be crushed any longer. I take Cymbalta 60mg. for the nerve pain, but was originally tritrated up from 20 mg. I have no problems with it, but can't take Wellbutrin. I take Lodine 1000mgs. once a day for the inflammation and pain, Tramadol(Ultram) 50 mgs. 2@ 4 times a day and Zanaflex 4mgs. 2@ 2 times a day and 3 @ bedtime and I take Ambien for sleep.

This is just the meds that I use to manage my pain, I also take several others for other medical conditions, high cholesterol, glaucoma, etc. I feel the addition of the Tramadol(Ultram) made the biggest differance for me in my pain management. I also have a Tens unit which I will use on my lumbar or neck when needed. I have been getting more of the hip, leg and foot pins and needles and with the left foot falling asleep, but so far it is manageable.

I hope you are able to have your PM doctor figure the right combination of meds. to give you relief.
Love
Vickie

[monster]

Bad Boy Bad Boy Wrote:Cap, it's fine if you write alot, in fact I like it.

The physc or anti-depression medication have a reverse affect on me. Like in the warnings that are posted on them. Cymbalta took me 2 weeks to get my thoughts right to figure out it was the med. Where with Wellburitin, it took only about 3 or 4 days to happen. I had been told, anti-depression medication is like Blood Pressure medication, it's hit and miss till they find one that works. Now I can take Ibuprophen also. This is why many think it's strange that I can take one form, yet the others end me back in the doctor's office or the emergency room.

BB I also have adverse reactions to anti depressants. Celebrex (20 mg per day) worked for me although I have stopped taking it for awhile. Since I am going to an AME psych eval soon they are going to get the REAL me that the pain and this nightmare has created without the benefit of meds. You guys might want to say a little prayer for that poor doctor, lol!!!

[capricorn]

Monster....Since Celebrex is a heavy duty anti-inflammatory did this have something to do with your pancreatic problems. Just curious. Does it flare it up now? I tried it for 2 days and boy what a pain reliever BUT it tore my stomach up that quickly. DO you still take it?

Cap