Polymyalgia Pain

[kathykink]

I'm having trouble managing my pain.  This is a condition like fibromyalgia.  I'm currently on mobic, wellbutrin, trazadone, valium, and vicodin as needed.  Lately I have been using more vicodin as that is the only drug that is working.  I live with pain constantly all day.  Can anyone suggest anything.  I am seeing my doctor this week.  Thank you.

[gigicarn1940]

I, too suffer from many different things, and PR is just one of them.  I took prednisone when it was first diagnosed about 10 years ago, but just hated it, as my face blew up like a balloon and I just felt so clumsy and uncomfortable.  Right now I have Fentanyl patches at 150g.  I wear two of them, changed every 72 hours for pain management.  It has been about a year now, and they are starting to wear off around 60 hours, and the dr. said to take Tylenol XS which helps a bit.  I am now going through 9 teeth extractions, and having a full upper denture installed right away after the exts.  I have just had impressions done so far, and the patches aren't helping my mouth aches at all.

[Tuckamore]

Hi Kathykink,

Welcome to the Pain Management Forum. I am sorry that you have uncontrolled pain. I've heard of your condition.

Polymyalgia rheumatica usually goes into remission in a year, two at the most and may not appear again. At least that is how I remember it and what the information available on the web states. Do I have the right disease condition?

Proper and prompt treatment is important. Polymyalgia usually responds very well to low doses of corticosteroids, like prednisone. Have you been on a treatment regime of steroids?

My PCP prescribes steroids for me every few years for my condition. I experience about a month to six weeks of some pain reduction. Many ppl have longer and better results from a burst of steroids.  

What dose of Vicodin (hydrocodone/apap) are you on? Maybe an increase in the dose of hydrocodone will be beneficial. If you are on hydrocodone 5mg's you may want to ask your physician for an increase to 7.5mg or even 10mgs. Keep the acetaminophen (apap) dose low. If you are on the top of the dosage a switch to oxycodone (Percocet or Percodan) may help your pain.

I am sorry that you are having so much pain with this condition. Are you being monitored by a rheumatologists? If not I suggest that you consult with one. There are some complications that can arise or may coincide with polymyalgia rheumatica.

We all know how disruptive chronic pain can be to our lives. We are here to support you. Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing. I wish you the very best.

Take Care,
Tuck

[RunningMom]

I would let the doctor know your pain is unmanaged at this time.  You build up a tolerance to your medications after a peroid of time and they don't work as well.  Good luck.

I know what it's like living with unmanaged pain, the pain management doctor I went to for the first year did not treat my pain very well.  It was awful as my pain was a constant 9/10 on the scale for months.  I had many panic attacks due to the severe pain.