My arsenal of drugs

Question? With all of these drugs I am taking, why do I still hurt so dang bad?

Between my regular doctor, my rheumy and my neurologist....I have an entire arsenal of drugs.

One doctor would say "dont take that, take this"

another doctor would say " why are you taking this?...lets take this"

My rheumy treats each symptom as they come....seriously.

Two of my doctors are back and forth changing and adding to my meds....ALL THE TIME

I take tramadol 3 times a day
I take flexeril 3 times a day
I take savella (a drug specifically for fibro) 2 times a day
I take lyrica 2 times a day
I take trazadone to help with sleep 2 tablets at night
I take a prescription drug for migraines...cant remember the name and I cant get up due to this bad bad pain in my lower legs, ankle and feet...(new symptom of something idk)

K, so the drugs make me "woosy" but they never take the pain away...for over a year now, I have had pain with no relief.

I DONT GET IT!

I am mostly always in pain and I have tried about everything on the market. I have seen some muscle improvements with calcium and magnesium. I don't go to DR's very often because all I get is a bunch of meds from 3 different DR's. Then they end up causing drug interaction or horrible side effects. I have been going the more natural way and it seems to work better. I take my supplements, less stress, rest, use heat and excrcise and see a therapist for the chronic pain. I take ibprophen once a day and that seems to help also. I have so much money staying away from docs. I have had every test created and it all comes back fibro. I think we learn how to adapt to the chronic pain. It seems that distraction works best to control my pain. The magnesium and calcium have made a huge difference in muscle spasms. I don't take muscle relaxants. Maybe you can try some supplements for some of your pain. I don't have any hangovers from the meds of drowsiness. Good luck.

I picked a doctor to take "the lead" in my meds.

Befor I fill and scripts I always check with that Dr first.

I feel I need to do this because different meds interact badly some times. I don't need anything more to deal with then I already have.

I'm always in pain even on the meds but not as bad as when I don't take them. And I do stop taking some from time to time to see how I feel with out them.

So far I can go two days with out them but then the pain is so bad I can't do any thing.

This all may change when I see the IDMD at the end of the month.

Remember we are all differnt and what works for me may not work for you. Sometimes I felt like it was all a guessing game, maybe it is kinda.

Another good person to talk to is your Pharmcsist. Mine gives me good info on just what a med is for and how it may help.

Hope you find some relief soon.

Thanks all for your input...I have tried to cut back just to see how i feel also...it does not work, I am in worse pain than I was before...the thing is...I have gone on medicaid because my husband got injured at work and we had to drop our regular insurance so, medicaid allows me to go to doctors in my area..and we have ONE rheumy, ONE neuro and ONE regular doctor that believes in fibro. I tried to get one doc to take care of all things but, they wont...they dont want to step on anyones toes.

Hi Notluvinit.

just wondering if you ever tried HRT or had your hormone levels checked
estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, dhea, vit d, cortisol,

I also take oxycodone 5mg for pain but that cracking in my neck sound like chicken bones and other total body pain gets better when my bioidentical hormone meds are all in line.
When ever I let them slide I go way down the whole in pain and out of my mind.
not all gyno will read the HRT reports same as a bioidentical gyno

I hope this makes You feel better.

I take:
Zertec 10mg daily, environmental allergy
ibuprofen 800mg as needed, general ache pain
cymbalta 60mg daily, antidepressant, bipolar
Mutimineral vitamin
docusate sodium, 100mg daily, constipation
folic acid 1mg daily, mineral replacement
ambien 10mg daily, insomnia
iron 65fe daily, anemia
Lamictal 200mg daily, mood stabilizer, bipolar
leucovorin 5mg weekly, antinausia
alprazolam. 13-.25mg as needed, bipolar
pennsaid td, 40drops as needed pain
tramadol 300mg daily, pain
trolamine salicylate 10% external cream, 6x daily, pain
albuterol inhailer, as needed, allergy induced asthma
probiotic acidophilus ex state, daily, digestive aid
Omeprazole 20mg daily, acid reducer
methotrexate 25mg, weekly, Rheumatoid arthritis
sulfasalazine 2000mg daily, Rheumatoid arthritis
plaqunil 400mg faith, rheumatoid arthritis
Gabapentin 200mg faith, fibromialgia

Count them. I have 5 doctors and I am going to a 6th next week. I am a walking pharmacy. All of my doctors are aware what I take. They get to talk to each other, but they rarely do. My PCP and I woud like to decrease the list, but each serves a purpose. I am still in daily pain. i live at about a 5. Sometimes I have a low # day, sometimes I reach 8's and 9's.

Even then it can still get worse. Only time will tell.

I ice my jointed every day, I heat pack my sore sporadic. I use seat positioners and pillows and special mattresses. I do deep water exercise at the gym. I see a psychologist who's specialty is people who have both chronic pain and mood disorders. I believe that I have done everything that can be done, and yet I am still in pain.

Yes...I agree with Robin. Sometimes we have to be our own diagnosticians (sp?) and figure out what helps on our own.  We may have paradoxical reactions to some of these meds...they create the symptoms we are trying to eliminate.  Narcotics often have a rebound effect inducing more pain after long term use.  I was prescribed an SSRI and a benzo for RLS, TMJ and fibro pain.  In the packet that came with the drugs it states that RLS and jaw clenching are common side effects hence both of these conditions got worse.  When I pointed this out to my rheumy he was unaware that this could happen...so many times doctors only know what the drug reps tell them.

I felt far worse on the drugs...and the hubby begged me to get off as they changed my personality and behavior...and not in a good way.  I now only take Advil for pain.  My search for the magic bullet is over.  I rather deal with the pain than wean on and off drugs for the rest of forever.  I'm an old broad and life is too short.

Donna