Post stroke syndrome and fibromyalgia

[Danly]

I m dignosed with post stroke syndrome/central pain syndrome recently. Suffering both post stroke pain and chronic fibromyalgia at the same time that has made my life miserable. I get daily migraine tension type headaches, burning pricking numbness pain, stiffness and bad muscle spasms. Amitriptyline,  cymbalta, baclofen gave me bad side effects. I m hoping someone can share their success with other drugs. I m willing to give it a try.

Thks in advance!

[Danly]

Hi sara,

Yes. CBT is cognitive behavioural therapy. I have tried pristiq long ago and I remember my first dose gave me very bad nausea, gas, no appetite and made me a zombie that worsen my anxiety . I gave up immediately. I was asking myself whether my perseverance is lousy on trying new drugs or am I making the right decision to give up immediately so that they will never worsen my condition. I really wish I can  find a drug that is able to help my pain and anxiety while having only little side effects. My neurologist and pain specialist have decided to stop prescribing me drugs as they believed adding more drugs to my condition are just giving me more side effects and worries (anxiety). So, I just have to continue with  tegretol and lyrica while my psychiatric still trying his best to offer CBT and hypnotherapy.

[sara12345]

Yes, you need a different anti-depressant.  Looking up Lexapro it shows that side effects can include suicidal thoughts and "Musculoskeletal side effects including arthralgia, neck/shoulder pain, muscle cramp, and myalgia have been reported frequently."  The last according to drugs *******.

Is CBT cognitive behavioral therapy?  I wouldn't think that would help you that much, but you could certainly try it.  Your physiotherapy was not right if it made your pain worse.  When I went through months and months of physical therapy after my stroke, when the exercises made me hurt, the therapist would always adjust the exercise down so that it didn't hurt.  You needed a better therapist with the physiotherapy.    

[Danly]

Hi sara,

Thank you very much for your reply and advices. I m currently on 1.5mg of lorazepam daily and missing a dose will basically throw me out from a seat and depression started to attack me. My neurologist and psychiatric believed that I m addicted and wanted to wean me off from benzo by prescribing me ssri (lexapro ) 0.5mg daily as a replacement but it seems to worsen my paresthesia pain and depression till having thought of ending my life. So, I m hoping they will continue to give me lorazepam while deciding to change my anti depressant or giving me a course of CBT.

[sara12345]

Sorry I didn't see your response on March 31 until just now when I was cruising the site in general.  If your dose of the benzo is not too high, I wouldn't worry about taking it. I've been on a benzo, Klonopin, for the past 5 years to treat myoclonus caused by my stroke and haven't had to increase it at all.  On another blog, a women wrote that she had been on the same 0.5 mg dose for the past 22 years and never had a need to increase it. If it helps that much, I would take it.

As far as my anti-depressant, everyone is different.  Certain anti-depressants are known to be better at treating pain than others. I would ask your doctor for one.  All of them are natural pain killers.  My anti-depressant is Effexor, and now the upgraded Pristiq which doesn't interfere with my sex drive. It has been the most effective for treating my depression, but when I increased it, I noticed that it helped the pain.

Don't give up with trying new things.  

[Danly]

Hi sara,

Just remember that you have mentioned in your previous reply to me that your anti depressant did give you some relief. May I know which anti depressant you are on ? I may give anti depressant another try while waiting for my botox injection.

[Danly]

Hi sara,

Fyi, I have tried increasing my day benzo (lorazepam) dose supposedly for occasional calming effect when pain is too unbearable and it seems to help better than all other drugs nowadays. I know benzo is super addictive and withdrawal can be worse. So, I m really in a dilemma now whether to continue or to discontinue slowly and live with the terrible pain again. All doctors told me to stop it but they are unable to replace something for my pain sadly and advised me to live and cope with it. I m basically a zombie now that can't properly sit, stand, bend,walk or lying down and If I do so, my flesh is like going to tear apart feeling. Angony.