weight gain in Lyrica side effects

[LindaMT]

Help I was diagnosed 6 years ago and now take Lyrica, Cymbalta and Celebrex for RSD.  I have gained 43 punds along with tiredness, fuzzy thinking at times.  My pain is in control but the weight gain is aggravating my knee pain and scoliosis of the spine.  It is hard to have the stamina I need to work with children in my center sometimes.  Is there something else I can take.  I really want to know what exercises work since eating doesn't move the scale.  To switch a medication when I am in control of pain is scarey but I need to get some of this weight and tiredness gone.
Linda

[LindaMT]

Thanks and I am so sorry that you are going through such pain ect. at such a young age.  I hope that things will help for you to.  And most of all thanks,

[Ellen038]

I can relate to you Linda.  I have been disabled and unable to work for 5 yrs now and I am in my 30's.  I have had a lumbar fusion (ALIF) after having 2 lumbar discectomies.  A couple yrs later I had another herniation in my back (above the fusion) and one in my neck which leaves my arms, leg in constant pain as well (nerve pain).  The best advise I can give you is to explore other therapies and give them a chance to work.  Hopefully a combination of these things can help alleviate your pain.  Swimming, acupuncture, warm moist heating pad, physicial therapy are a few off the top of my head.  

[LindaMT]

Hi there,  I just got back from chiro. which whom discussed me giving up my family day care which I have been doing for 24 years.  I know have 3 granddaughters in it and one will be full time, one 1/2 day and the other before/after school.  I have worked in child care my whole life and on my own with boards and than alone.  I have severe scoliosis now with arthritus in my spine and knees.  He says I am at the point all he can do is relieve the pain but not take it completely away.  Lifting and carrying young children is detrimental to my back.  I also have RSD which I have been taking Lyrica, Cymbalta and Celebrex for the past 6 years.  It is medically controlled and now the back.  My head is spinning right now as I want to be here doing what I have always done.

[trixy71]

We're here to support each other, so if you ever need to talk or vent or anything, we're here for you. Sometimes its hard to talk to other people that have no idea what your going through, but us here, pain is one thing we ALL have in common, so we understand a lot better than a "normal" person. So check back and let us know how thing go.

[LindaMT]

Thanks for the advice.  I appreciate the message back.
Linda

[Ellen038]

I had gained 30lbs and was a little fuzzy while on lyrica.  It worked wonders for my nerve pain.  I stopped taking it while trying to become pregnant and it has really made my pain worse.  Maybe you could try asking your doctor about decreasing your dose, maybe that would help without leaving you in intolerable pain.  Maybe you could seek alternative therapies if this doesn't work? Acupuncture seems to help for me right now but you have to go regularly since it is accumulative.  Good luck and I hope you feel better.

[LindaMT]

Thanks for the information.  Sometimes a person feels so out there with no one else to talk to or ask questions.

[trixy71]

I'm not sure if this will help you but it seems that Lyrica and Cymbalta shouldn't be used at the same time. Maybe talk to your doctor about taking one or the other. Also there is another medication in that class called Nuerontin, that may help as well. Good luck!

http://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/cymbalta-with-lyrica-949-2273-1937-2171.html