Lyrica - Starting over

[Debby317]

I have fibro and ost. arthritist. When I found out two years ago I went through 35 different drugs in the first 8 months trying to find something to kill the pain. I am curently detoxing from methadone. IF I live throught this, my game plan is Lyrica. Can anyone tell me what to expect? I have another ( I hope) week. I was on it for 4 months. And I started to wiene my self last Sunday and was in the hospital thurdays night for a patch to cold turkey the meth. So as soon as I canget this **** out of me I'm going to start over. But really don't know what to expect when I have lived on some REALLY bad drugs for so long.
Thanks

[sfbaygirl]

Geez,  I needed this forum for sure.  I have been suffering from fibro since at least Feb., when I ended up in the hospital with ischemic colitis.  It may have been caused from the Hep C treatment I was on before that, which was brutal.  When I left the hospital screaming in pain from stabbing in my arm and pain all over, my doc put me on fentanyal patches. They helped a lot!  After a second hospitalization for colitis in August, I decided to try and wean myself off of the patches. I went four days instead of three and finally just gave them up. Still had some in my drawer until three weeks ago when the horrible fibro pain returned. I am trying Lyrica now, hope my ins. approves it and am still considering getting a few more patches to get me through. Since there was no sx (I was taking 100 mg) I figured perhaps I may get a few more.  Good luck to you Deby,  sounds like you are heading down the right path.  

Linda

[PEPSIGIRL2U]

I am not too familiar with streching machines  I know when my head hurts I feel the need to pull it upward like I was taking my head off it almost relieves some of the pressure. I can't pinpoint anything that triggers my pain though

[ElderBiggie]

I saw a lot of responses, I'm a 60 year old male, disabled for 4 years, on Tramadol, Methadone, considering Lyrica, and wondered if you or others have tried "stretching machines" that work on either a gravitational or hydraulic basis or the "peanut as seen on TV" to stetch our nerves out longitudinally as well as lateraly?  I am wondering if, since many of us often have a trigger event that shocks our bodies (mine was swinging around in a chair at work to help some customers and I hit a computer support strut with the side point of my lower knee knocked me to the ground, writhing in pain). I wonder if these events cause an automatic very strong contraction of the synaptic nerve tissues, making us feel pain all the time? Any thoughts?

[PEPSIGIRL2U]

Thanks I notice cold makes me worse too and every other med makes me so sleepy it is hard to function during the day so I guess I will be waiting with ya for the magic pill lol thanks again

[LLWB]

Lyrica worked great for me too! In about 3 days I was swimming every day and walking a mile. Unfortunately, I had to quit taking it as I started to gain weight. I'm also type2 diabetic, and need to loose, not gain. So back to the aches and pain bigtime. Now I can't walk even a quarter of a mile! I hurt too much.  I take vicodene at night at bedtime and on weekends, but can't while I work as I drive for 8 hrs.also bad for the fibro.......Still waiting for that perfect silver bullett. I didn't hav eany trouble with my eyes from the Lyrica. I would give it a try if I wa you, I may try it again after I lose some weight. Good luck, and stay warm..cold makes me worse....

[suzy656]

Be careful of lyrica.  I had a reaction to it..and started losing my vision.  Took a week to come back after I stopped taking it. Saw my opthamalogist and he said I wasn't the first patient he had with the same reaction on the drug.  

[PEPSIGIRL2U]

I have never tried the patch  and I too have heard that pain meds are supposed to somehow make you feel more pain than you really do but I dont understand that I am glad you are on your way to feeling good . and does the Lyrica cause weight gain ? my doc just put me on a weight loss med to help take off some weight to help my back . thanks

[Debby317]

Thank you so much for the support I too am on the second patch!! I get to take it off today!! Did you notice your eye were blurry while wearing the patch. The ER dioc told me that would happen but I can't wait when it wears off so I cam see good again! Surprisingly after they got all the narcotics out of me I'm back on percocet and it seems to be working ok. I wonder if all the oxcy and methadone was making me hurt! I have read they do that??

[Loraliegh]

I have suffered for years with these pains and aches...was just diagnosed last week with fibromyalgia; Before last week, I was skeptical about the diagnosis being real;  I started taking Lyrica 9 days ago and I DON'T HURT!  I woke up at 4 am the second dose and just cried for joy then I walked on the treadmill until I couldnt breathe right(I wanted to take advantage of EVERY SECOND OF BEING PAIN-FREE!  I am very excited about this medicine, for ME, anyway...it works!

I'll encounter nasty side effects which so far I have not noticed; I also have Hashimotos Hypothyroidism, Depression, Anxiety and Migraines.  I am taking in addition to Lyrica every other day, Levothyroxine 25mcg, Lexapro 20mg and Ativan(as needed only-1 mg to help me sleep, or if I get anxious/panicky.  Good luck to you.

[PEPSIGIRL2U]

I am glad you are doing better I know it is very scarry I have alot of back and neck problems and it has damaged my nerves  and I know I need the Morphine and it does help some my Dr has me on 30 mg 2 in the am and 1 at night but I dont take that much  I only take 1 per day 2 if I am in alot of pain because I am scared of the effects of withdrawl if I ever change meds or anything . I ran out of them a while back and thought I was going to be ok untill I started feeling the withdrawls ugh...So I am glad you are doing good and if you ever need to talk I am here for ya ...

[Debby317]

I have been off the methadone for 12 days with the Clonidine patch. I'm on the second patch and the ER doctor said that should be all I need to I do have extra patches if I feel I need them.

[PEPSIGIRL2U]

Be very careful when you come off of the meds I have been on morphine for about 2 yrs and if I miss a daily 30mg dose I get cold chills and a general sick feeling if I go longer than that my muscles in my arms contract like I have the need to shake them . make sure your doc helps you good luck...