Muscle relaxants

[pinot]

Hi I'm seeing my GP next week and wondered if he refuses to prescribe a muscle relaxant can I insist on having some my muscles are so tight and rigid. Omg I hate this fibro it's absolute hell. Help please. Hope your all having a comfortable weekend. Love pinot xx

[Bananas5]

Bacclofen, which is the main muscle relaxant, does haves side effects.

Research shows used over long periods, which most people do, it causes muscle weakness.

There are others available if you can't tolerate Bacclofen......Metocarbamol .... but research has shown they too cause muscle weakness.

x

[Hidden]

JUST MAYBE pinot present yourself at A&E with your immense pain, ask them about these muscle relaxers, maybe they will try you with some before you are discharged and then you might see/feel these side effects and if you can cope v the pain.

[pinot in reply to Hidden]

Ty so much that's a good idea shall give it a go my muscles are so tight and jeep going into spasm. Hooe your well as can be xx

[deejames in reply to pinot]

I feel I have to disagree with ' presenting yourself at A&E' if you are not an emergency. A&E is under tremendous pressure at all times and the service is not for someone to try to get medication they think will not be prescribed by their doctor. Please don't use this essential service unless it truly is an emergency.

Dee

[Mdaisy in reply to deejames]

I must say, that I agree with you deejames visiting A&E during the reported so called 'Winter Crisis' whilst they are stretched to the limit would not be helpful and as first line treatment it would be best to go to the GP or if out of hours ring 111. Obviously if in excruciating pain and feel like it is an emergency situation then A&E would be the best place to go but not for other non-urgent cases.

[Hidden in reply to deejames]

deejames sorry but immense uncontrolable pain to me IS an emergency and I would present and have done twice in 17 years when I cannot control the pain via my normal routine, this lady is explaining terrible suffering and I would not hesitate to take her to A&E, there was more to the conversation than the paragraph you seem to have read.....

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Yes i am aware our A&E is overloaded Mdaisy have you ever done shifts in there at weekend when its littered with drunks and drug abusers?? The winter crisis is slowing down now and ANYONE in excrutiating pain should present, not all people can tolerate immense pain nor control it some days,, my message to pinot was MAYBE try.....

[Mdaisy in reply to Hidden]

Hello Hidden

Yes I have done shifts in A&E as, as you know I am an ex nurse too. I simply gave an opinion and mentioned the press have spoke about the 'Winter Crisis', that staff under enormous pressure plus also stated that I would agree if the pain is excruciating then people should not hesitate to go to A&E as not everything is Fibro related.

However, if the person can wait to see a GP or phone 111 for advice this should be the first port of call as others in this thread have mentioned below too, as this link from the NHS says;

nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSs...

Please do not take offence at others sharing their thoughts and providing advice that is common knowledge.

All the best

Emma

[Hidden in reply to Mdaisy]

they are not sharing opinion they are giving this lady bad advise and scaring her from using essential services.. that is my objection..

[Mdaisy in reply to Hidden]

I am so sorry but on this occasion I do not agree Hidden as nobody has disagreed if it is true emergency to go to A&E, as replies have said if excruciating to absolutely seek urgent medical advice but if not to use the other primary care options first.

Please read further replies below as others have said exactly the same I'm afraid

Emma

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to Hidden]

and that's your opinion which I would disagree with. The NHS advice is clear on this. Also your description of pinot's pain uses stronger adjectives than they use which also lessens the need to go to A&E.

"Minor injuries units and urgent care centres

If you have an illness that is not life threatening, contact your GP surgery first if possible. You can still call your GP outside normal surgery hours, but you will usually be directed to an out-of-hours service. The out-of-hours period is 6.30pm to 8am on weekdays, and all day at weekends and on bank holidays.

You can also call NHS 111, which can give you advice or direct you to the best local service to treat your injury.

If your injury is not serious, you can get help from a minor injuries unit or urgent care centre, rather than going to an A&E department. This will allow A&E staff to concentrate on people with serious, life-threatening conditions and will save you a potentially long wait."

[deejames in reply to Hidden]

I am confused as pinot did not say anything about immense uncontrollable pain. The post seemed to be about whether a GP would prescribe a certain medication at an appointment next week. I did not see that as in anyway an emergency.

Dee

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

I don't think you can insist on any form of medication - however, you can explain why you feel you need something to help (amitripylene for example, works for some people with fibro as a muscle relaxant.

another suggestion would be to ask for a referral to a pain clinic if you feel that your GP is unable to manage your pain medication - pain clinics sometimes will refer medication that your GP wouldnt .

There are also non-medication suggestions you can try .... massage (may be painful at time but for me that is best cure for tight, rigid muscles); heat .... a warm bath or shower (some epsom or himalayan salts in the bath help many people with fibro); heat pads ... you get the disposable stick on ones, microwave or electric heat pads); gentle stretching exercises.

personally - i would not suggest going to a&e .... you are likely to end up sitting for hours (as you would be a non-urgent case); end up in even more pain from sitting around on usually uncomfortable seats and not guaranteed that they would prescribe the muscle relaxants either.

hope pain eases off soon xxx

[Hidden]

I would just have a chat with your GP, I would personally not insist for muscle relaxers too strongly myself. Sometimes that can be misunderstood by GPs, they are very careful in prescribing them as they are very addictive.

I would tell them that you like some muscle relaxers for your worst days. Then you can try them out and see if they help you.

I get them from my GP, and use them as emergency when my muscles are going into a really big spasms. I don't take them very often as I can drive with them.

Heat and massage are also very helpful.

Take care

[pinot in reply to Hidden]

Ty so much that's a good suggestion going to GP this week see what she says to that. Gentle hugs and ty for replying. Xx

[Mdaisy in reply to pinot]

I too have this and it tends to be related to my MPS - Myofascial Pain Syndrome often people with Fibro have this condition as well in a majority of cases. Here's a link with more information that might be of interest;

gloshospitals.nhs.uk/en/War...

I have been prescribed Diazepam PRN (as required) and Baclofen previously for this as a short time relief, so maybe as mentioned if you speak to the GP about how these symptoms are affecting you and causing so much pain & discomfort they may prescribe something for these episodes.

Let us know how you get on

Emma

[Jenny57]

I agree with Nursie and Hazel that there are much better ways for you to move forward with this than trying to insist on a certain medication just because you think it may help. Insisting you know better than a GP is a dicey move, and definitely not the right move until you have explored lots of other avenues....

[pinot]

Hi all thank you to everyone for the replies which were very helpful, I'm not keen to present at A&E as the pain and spasm are not emergency and I won't die from the although being in that sort of pain on a constant basis is wearying iv tried all the usual antidepressants amitrip/ non of them help some had horrendous side effects, I do attend the pain clinic so I will have a word with the consultant there I've got docs this week and will discuss trying muscle relaxants maybe on a break through basis. I don't want to seem like I'm a pill popper I've tried massage and couldn't walk for days the pain was horrendous, im just trying to help myself cope with these tight muscles which keep me awake as well leaving me exhausted, but thank you all once again for all your helpful information I really appreciate it. Hope you all get some pain respite today. Will keep you all posted xxx