What to try next?

[tommelissa]

I've been suffering from severe chest pains and neck and shoulder pains for the past three years. No coronary relation, the doctor states it is stress and anxiety.  I take Xanax 5mg 2x daily. No good. What else is available. I don't want to sleep all the time. Please help.
Melissa

[allmymarbles]

Ditto. What a huge dose of Xanax to give. Because of panic attacks due to high cortisol I was given .25 mg tablets to be taken only on an as needed basis while the condition was being treated. If necessary I was told I could take a second tablet. I found that sometimes I could actually abort an attack with only half a tablet. The thought of taking 20 mg as a maintenance dose is horrifying. Her single day's dosage lasted me six months!

[RubyWitch]

I totally agree with allmymarbles regarding your dose of Xanax. 10mg per day is way off the chart for this potent benzodiazepine! Have you been on that dose for 3 years? Your doctor has apparently ruled out any cardiac involvement, how did he do that? Did he order any scans or MRI's of your neck and back? Has he sent you to an orthopedic doc for a work up? Has he sent you to a rheumatologist to rule out any rheumatic problems such as arthritis, lupus, fibromialgia?
A diagnosis of anxiety should only be arrived at when ALL other possibilities have been ruled out.
Maybe your doctor DID do all these things, but if not, then he really jumped the gun with his dx of anxiety and is, in my humble opinion, a moronic quack to put you on 10mg of Xanax.
I strongly suggest you get a second opinion and for the love of God, do NOT stop taking the Xanax. At that dose, for that many years, you are at a serious risk for seizures if you just stop. You are going to have to taper off very, very slowly and only under the close and careful guidance of someone who is qualified in psychotropic withdrawals. Your doctor has put you in a very nasty place. And I am speaking from experience.
Get that second opinion as soon as possible. I wish you the very best on the road before you. It's going to be long and hard, but you can do it.
It is so worth getting your life back!
Peace
Greenlydia  

[allmymarbles]

In the first place, that is an extremely high dosage for Xanax. I suspect you have become addicted to it.

I have a couple of off-beat recommendations. The first is gas. You would be surprised how much pain gaseousness can cause. To eliminate it as a cause buy a box of Gas-X. It is over-the-counter. Take one after meals and before you go to bed. I have a minor case of your problem and the Gas-X works. By the way, these are chewable mint-flavored tablets.

Another simple-minded possibility you might think about. Are you flat-footed? If so, try arch supports. A doctor friend of mine had a patient come to him who had been suffering severe headaches for some time. No doctor could figure out what was wrong with him and he had as many tests as there were to try to diagnose his problem. My friend saw that the man walked oddly and suggested arch supports. Problem solved.

[99saleen87]

If you want to keep on meds, have you tried Pristiq? I was on it for about 2 years and I have to admit that it work wonders on me. Pretty pricey, but defenetely worked for me.  I wouldn't go back to meds, even though I still have anxiety and depression but having chest paint all the time, I guess there is not much options. Ask your doctor about it.

[rls27]

Have you tried therapy? How about some form of daily exercise? If these aches and pains are tension related, have you considered a massage and spa treatment from a licensed therapist?