Pain/ Fibromyalgia... Advice Please!!!

[wornoutdaddy]

I have recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. My family doctor referred me to a rheumatologist who diagnosed me. I have had a lot of pain that travels in my body. I have a constant migraine and back pain. My hands and feet are numb with bursts of electricity. The Rheumatologist prescribed Flexeril, Ambien and told me to go to a psychiatrist. I made an appointment with a psychiatrist a week ago and have since researched him online. Most reviews talked of how they were strong-armed into hospitalization and put on Suboxone, which seems to be his cure all for his pain clinic. He is also said to get a lot of kickbacks from the pharmaceutical companies for that particular drug and he has his own floor on the psych unit. I know that I am a very cynical person in general. To me doctors are no different than mechanics. There are very good trustworthy ones, and there are those like the one who tried to tell my mother in law that she needed a new carburetor for her 2003 Pontiac Sunfire. I have been very hard on my body. I have had three knee surgeries, a gunshot wound and the list goes on. I have had bariatric surgery and lost 185 pounds since July, 2011. I quit smoking cigarettes and marijuana since my son was born September, 2010. Opiates and benzodiazepines do nothing for my pain. Neither do NSAIDS. Marijuana helped before, but I have been unwilling to do anything illegal since my son was born. I have always had the ability to disassociate from acute pain but this muscle and nerve stuff is wearing me down. My question: How up front should I be with this doctor? I do not trust him, but I do not initially trust anybody until I get to know them. My mother-in-law has seen him in the past for severe depression and he did to her exactly what the reviewers said online that they were being treated for pain. On the other hand I have heard from others that he really knows his stuff. I think that he probably does know his stuff but has his own agenda just like most business men. I am not med seeking and have turned down opiates because they do not help. If my blood or urine were tested it would only show the flexeril and Ambien. My prescription history would show only opiates prescribed for the bariatric surgery which had 1 refill that I did not use, and two prescriptions for Vicoden. Once was for a run-in with a table saw, the other for a misdiagnosis of tendonitis. I am just frustrated with medical professionals in general and I am feeling very hopeless. I have slept 1- 5 hours a night since my son was born. Five hours is a very good night. I should be in the best shape of my life. I am more active than I have ever been, but 8 hours out of the day I am in agony. I was given the Ambien and Flexeril 6 weeks ago. It helped for two weeks and now I am back to where I started. I take them both as prescribed.

[granolagoddess]

OK, I have to say that your doc sent you to a psychiatrist because they believe a lot of psychiatric drugs, and epilepsy drugs help with Fibromyalgia. I have found that true only for ambien (not a psychotropic drug) and trazodone, and anti-depressant drug give at non therapeutic levels for depression, but used for sleep. So, if you don't like this psychiatrist, find one who deals with somatic illnesses. One who you don't feel is a scammer. Some psychiatric drugs may help with your Fibromyalgia. YOu won't know until you try. Soboxone sounds like overkill, but then I am on vicodin, now, tramadol and nuerontin. I have even heard of some people put on methodone therapy. Please start with the small stuff and don't get out the big guns until uoi have to. I have other pain issues, so Fibro is not the only one I take pain meds for. I managed for years on Ibuprophen and tylenol and adequate exercise. I am too disabled to exercise as much now, and have been in too many car and one motorcylce accident to be as active as I have wanted to be. But I can still swim, and that does wonders. Make sure you do slow build up exercise, non impact as much as possible and in small doses until you know what you can handle.

[alesiaw]

I can relate  to your pain and frustration.  I don't know if it is ok but if you want I can give you the name of my doctor.  He does confrence calls for some of the visits so i don't have to travel. He is a fibro specialist and promises to make me feel better. and most important he believes me.  I have been seeing him for almost 2 years and he has not stopped the pain or fatigue, but he has given me a "cocktail" so I can get at least 6 hour of uninterrupted sleep.  He has given me something to dull the extreme pain/  I am still somewhat hopeful, but frustrated at still hurting and having to give up so much of my life.  Anyway I am hopeful that he can help me and he is trying.
Good luck to you

[queenoffibro6654]

Listen this fibromyalgia stuff is so-o-o-o out there in the world of we know it exists and we know it needs to be treated, but I'm not going to be the one to treat you. They all know a thing or two, but not one pain mgmnt specialist, rheumatologist or even general practitioner will treat long for fear of the DEA. So while your recovery and past prescription history is commendable it won't matter because they are the ones being watched at your expense. This Psychiatrist crap is another reason to get away. With all pain at all levels comes depression. The more severe the flare the more depressed. Be your own best friend and track your levels everyday for about 45 days until you get a feel for when that "pain flare" is close and reduce activity the next day. You will need meds, but my cocktail is adjustable because I know me best. This may not work for you, but if I know I have a tolerable day ahead I can take neurontin for nerve pain and if it is bad then I take the norco. You know you better than anyone and the more you can tell the Doc and put him on offense the better it works for you.
I have done this now for three yrs. and I hope it helps. Good luck to you

[toritotally]

I've been dealing with pain for many years. I now have a name for it, FMS/CFS/CEBV. I will name the medications that have stopped me from going completely insane. Some have already been mentioned.    Zanaflex for muscle spasms, 6mg at bedtime-  Indocin, 75mg 2 times aday-  welbrutrin 200mg 2 times aday-  Nexium 40mg 1 time aday, that protects my stomach from getting ulcers from the indocin.  Indocin is the only anti-inflammatory that has helped. Vioxx helped alot, but the FDA stopped the use of that.

[reneebest]

I also was referred to a Rheumatologist for suspected Rheumatoid Arthritis which tested negative, but she did say I definitely have Fibromyasia.  She immediately put me on Gabapentin (Neurontin) and it works wonders!  I had to work up to 900 mg per day.   I also have used MMJ and that works, but I don't want to use it all the time, so I use it only at night when I really have a bad day, and she told me that MMJ does work well.  

As far as going to Psychiatrist, please remember that they are only for prescribing - not for therapy.  And yes most of them WILL put you on drugs that they get kick backs from or use trial drugs.  I highly suggest you find a THERAPIST instead.  You can either go to  a Psychologist or a Therapist with a Social Worker degree.  Your regular doctor CAN prescribe your anti depression meds in stead of a Psychiatrist.

Also your regular doctor should be doing blood work to make sure you're not deficient of something.

I hope you find the help you need!  .

[msnova74]

I can only tell you the things that I do that help.  As you know not everything works for everyone.

I also have other health issues too.

Vit D- low levels can cause and increase pain
Malic Acid- works well on muscle pain does not stop it but helps

Zanaflex- works tons better than flexeril for me
Day-pro-NSAID that helps with day to day pain

Yoga- cant tell you why it works but for me the single best thing I do

Tramadol and Lortab for the days where the pain hits critical.

I did reasearch into Subutex when it first became popular at the pain center in my area.  I did not care for the severe withdrawals that people were discussing, as well as the fact that I tend to have severe reactions to meds anyway.

I would just say that if the doc isn't willing to listen to you, run