So fed up of pain!!

[Harpy]

I third their great advice.
Well I to am on pain meds, I got no choice. But I just lower doses works better at the moment.
I can detail the 7 months it took for me to come off the fentanyl, lryica ect ect , I was on 5 high dose meds and the pain patch.
I asked my gp to see a head pain specialist here as I want off the meds . So we started to lower the doses very slowly to help reduce withdrawal . Omg it was still the worse 7 months of my life and will never go back there. I am on pain meds like I said but lower doses and when they stop working we change meds.
I am in a world of misery with this chronic pain but to end up like that again will never be on my cards.

 

[Forgetmenot]

I'm on tramadol. Two in the morning and I can't move without them. I've been on them for years. We do get a lot of crap thrown our way but we got to do whatever it takes to be upright and living a life.

Well done for you for coming off such a huge amount.

Please don't knock yourself about what you need to take, you're not alone.

 

[Harpy]

The tramadol I found back then they did help a lot, but was 300 mg morn/ night. but the side effects, oh my word, I took maxalon to stop the nausea. I took a laxative so I could use the loo . I had to eat and drink all the time while driving to stay awake ( back when I worked) as they made me fall asleep all the time, the worse side effect was when I’d sleep I’d grind my teeth and bite my tongue really bad and insides of my mouth. Oh just thinking of them night

 

[Forgetmenot]

I have 100mg a day. I bite my tongue and have a gum guard for my teeth. But I suffer panic attacks. So I think it's stress related.

 

[Harpy]

It’s painful hey? Does your anxiety cause you to bite it any time of day or night ?
To actually be asleep and get woken by taking a huge bite on your tongue is horrible.
I haven’t don’t it since I stopped the tramadol.
I was on 300 mg two times a day . Was like a zombie on them . But could sleep anywhere anytime

 

[Forgetmenot]

Nope never feel tired I don't sleep well at all.

I never knew Tramadol does that to you.

 

[MissMarvel87]

I want to second @cookiebaker 's advice to get off the codeine. It is very highly addictive, and if you have taken it for a while you are addicted, guaranteed. You will need to wean off slowly with your doctor's help and supervision. But please do it. Taking narcotics is not a good way to deal with any pain that lasts more than a day or two. Please believe us on this.

If you have not already done so, please read my advice post. There are many things you can try that are not medication-based, that might help you a lot more than taking codeine. It also has suggestions for coping mentally, and it is clear that you already are working strongly with that, which is fantastic. It can make a difference. And yes, there will be days you lose your patience with it and/or get angry. that happens to all of us. But those don't have to be frequent days.
And...PS....you are not a hypochondriac, from what you have written, but a very strong person who is doing your best.

I get the codeine comment, and I know I can stop any time and I'm not reliant on it. I only take them at night and first thing in the morning, I generally stick to paracetamol in the day, but will take a codeine if the pain is too bad. They don't help my fibro, but I have bursitis in my shoulders and elbow, which is what I take it for. I've never been one to remember my pills, I have timers set to remind me as I'll often forget, and still do. I am waiting on a cortisone injection on my elbow, I had one 2 weeks ago on my shoulder, but it's yet to kick in. I know once they have I will stop the codeine and will start some physio. I appreciate the concern, I did spend a year on tramadol about 8 years ago while waiting on a surgery, and I had no issues coming off that, I know I will be the same this time.

 

[Harpy]

I agree missmarvel. On my present meds I can stop these any time, and have no withdrawals, I have to occasionally as my poor tummy just can’t take em constantly anymore. A couple of my meds are for when I am in a bad flare up. Silly thing is one part or another of my body is always in a flare up .
Hope your injections all settled down quick when there done and work for you.
I am hoping to get onto my pain dr by the end of the month I need injections in my T4 to T7 it’s horrible. Wishing everyone a ok day.

 

[fibrofoggirl]

Hi Miss Marvel
my fibromyalgia was triggered by car accident, also
I was on hwy coming home from work & was hit by pickup truck
my car swung around & I was hit again!
a rheumatologist diagnosed me
just saw a new rheumatologist in Dec as pain was getting worse (haven't been to one since diagnosed)
I left with a paper saying I have 4 diagnosis!
I qualify for medical marijuana so going to try that for pain

I have trouble opening things, also
luckily I have a teen who will open things for me

 

[Auriel]

when I’d sleep I’d grind my teeth

I do that too harpy (I didn't even realise till I had a brace a few years ago and wore night retainers) the retainers were plastic and had dents and digs in them by the morning, (is teeth grinding a stress thing?) Also MissMarvel for giving up smoking and pushing to the gym (I know exercise is quite challenging with fibro) welcome to the forum too! ️

 

[Harpy]

Not not a stress thing for me , only did it on the tramadol . Was so scared to sleep back then, the things we go through to have a little relief. I tried buying a teeth guard from chemist but they were huge and couldn’t wear em. But once of the tramadol all good don’t do it and boy does my tongue appreciate it.

 

[hope23]

I am so sorry to hear you are struggling so much, it is a struggle all of us here can relate to.
Its not necessarily the most popular opinion on here(my opinions and personal experience regarding meds, and i am also very aware of the complications some medications can cause including but not limited to opioid induced hyperalgesia, for me this falls into the category of what works for one or most may or may not work for you, and for me personally pain medication is effective, and whilst many will disagree, to assume someone is addicted is a bit harsh, because for me when im not having a flare up, my pain meds go right down, and is also something monitored very closely between myself and my gp), but i personally feel that its about finding what works for you. And for some of us(myself included, i take a large amount of various medications) medication is part of what helps make living a life possible, for others the side effects are horrendous and savage, again its about finding what works for you. My current cocktail includes:
Celecoxib(anti inflammatory)
Orphenadrine(muscle relaxant)
Amitriptiline 125mg a day
Diazepam, tramadol, codeine and panadol in varying amounts daily

In addition i also take high doses of magnesium, vitamin D and E and monthly b12 injections which i now administer myself to save me 15 bucks for each time. As a result i also take a herbal based bowel supplement as im not able to poop if i have to push, as i cant push from a mixture of muscles not working right and just not being able to push.

I have also tryed the following diets:
Low saturated fat
Dairy free
vegetarian
fully plant based

I have put 1.5 to 2 years concerted effort in trying to go medication free, this was something very important to my partner(that relationship has since failed in large part due to my health issues). I take my hat off to those that find successful ways of managing there health medication free, that has not been my experience.

It has been my experience that its important to try different things as more often than not its about a multifaceted approach and in finding the things that help even a little and when you find enough things that help even a little, put altogether, help alot.

For me, my biggest piece of advice is dont stop trying to find new things that help but also dont beat yourself up if medication is a part of that(a big part or a small part, a lot or a little meds). Everyones journey is different and what works for one of us with FM might do absolutely nothing for another person with FM, find what works for you and dont apologize for it.

My relationship ended in large part due to my partner not being able to deal with my health and all that entailed, the biggest thing ive learnt and taken away is that i have found the things that work for me and i will not apologize for it, nor will i apologize for beinf sick. Find what works for you and know that you arent alone.

 

[hope23]

I'm on tramadol. Two in the morning and I can't move without them. I've been on them for years. We do get a lot of crap thrown our way but we got to do whatever it takes to be upright and living a life.

Well done for you for coming off such a huge amount.

Please don't knock yourself about what you need to take, you're not alone.

We do get a lot of crap thrown our way, i think the biggest thing for each and every one of us, is find what works for you, whether thats medication or other methods but at the end of the day if you are coping and can get through each and every day we all deserve a friggin medal.

 

[Harpy]

A huge massave gold medal for everyone. And a nice gentle massage,

 

[sunkacola]

It has been my experience that its important to try different things as more often than not its about a multifaceted approach and in finding the things that help even a little and when you find enough things that help even a little, put altogether, help alot.

For me, my biggest piece of advice is dont stop trying to find new things that help but also dont beat yourself up if medication is a part of that

I agree with this whole-heartedly.

I also want to respond to the people who have reported that they took or take tramadol and are not addicted. I believe this, as I have done the same. I took tramadol daily until I started working with the other things that I mention in my advice post, and a combination of those things has made it possible for me to live without taking tramadol daily.

When I stopped the tramadol I had no problem whatever stopping. Not everyone will get addicted to an opiate medication if it is used in moderation, unless they take high doses for a long time, which makes it very likely that the body will become dependent. I just always want to caution people about it, because if you do become addicted it is a terrible thing to break.

These days, I still have it in the house. I only take it rarely but I do still take it when I really need it.
If a person has given a really good try for several months with natural ways of managing fibromyalgia pain, and some of it helps but not enough to make a reasonably normal life possible, then they should take the medications that do make live worth living.

I am always saying to people, especially new comers, not to depend on drugs and to try everything else first, and I still believe in that. But if a person needs the drugs alongside others ways of managing, then that is what they need and should do and I wouldn't want anyone to think I was judging them. Not everyone is helped by the same thing(s). We just do our best.