How does g.p help in treating fibrom... - Fibromyalgia Acti...

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How does g.p help in treating fibromyalgia?

Farfar profile image
15 Replies

Hi every body , how does the g.p help people with fibromyalgia ?they put me on gabapentin and antidepressants that is all what they do for me. Every time I complain from severe pain the doctor says this because of depression!!!. I am not depressed I am sufferer . They put me on antidepressants to relief the pain but is not working . Yesterday I have my hair cut very short because it is very difficult for me to comb my hair because of numbness and pain and weakness in my hands .

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Farfar profile image
Farfar
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15 Replies
Dinkie profile image
Dinkie

I've long given up on hope of any help whatsoever from my GP. I eventually got a referral to Guys and St. Thomas's fibro clinic. They put together a plan and sent it to my GP for action. Not always easy to get the GP on board for the referral. I gave up asking and put my request in writing and followed it up with a telephone consult and finally got the referral. The relief when I had the appointment was incredible. To have various medics seen actually listen and believe what I was saying was such a relief. I saw the rheumatologist, physio and psychotherapist in one appointment in one afternoon. Not sure if this is an option for you but try researching fibro clinics and see if you can get to one near you.

The truth is I don't think many GPs know what to do with us.

Alternatively a referral to a pain clinic may help.

athenadark profile image
athenadark in reply to Dinkie

GPs absolutely don't know what to do with us - a lot of us think that it's hysteria, that lovely 19th century condition to do with a floating uterus

Anaudiologist profile image
Anaudiologist

I’m so sorry to hear that. The same happened to me. 😞

Hazel_Angelstar profile image
Hazel_AngelstarAdministratorFMA UK Staff

If your current medication is not helping, then a change to a different medication may help - for example, pregabalin instead of gabapentin or another anti depressant (used for pain relief and sleep issues as well as depression)

If your gp feels unable to offer you anything more, then a referral to a pain clinic may help.

Midori profile image
Midori

I totally agree. If I am depressed it is because of the pain, not a cause of it! This attitude from GPs really gets my goat!

MaggieSylvie profile image
MaggieSylvie

My GP has also said that the amiryptyline she has prescribed for peripheral neuropathy in my feet will also help with pain, sleep and DEPRESSION. I do not have depression. My GP knows that my partner's behaviour upsets me greatly and I believe he has described depression in me to her. How is this allowable?

desquinn profile image
desquinnPartnerVolunteerFMAUK Trustee

On the subject of depression, fibro and pain and getting beyond the conversation about cause and effect. There is very clear evidence that if you have depression then the pain experience will be higher than if you do not. Brain scans show this elevation of modification of the pain experience. Depression can cause pain without their being a stimulus or it can amplify it.

Therefore even if you have become depressed after having fibro then it is still important to address both the underlying pain and the depression. Depression is not the only amplifier or modulator of pain and this is why good clinicians will be looking at what's called the BioPsychoSocial model of pain and looking beyond pain killers to environment, CBT, activity and other factors that may be addressed to improve the patients situation.

athenadark profile image
athenadark

You need to argue with your GP, you have to be your own advocate which sucks because its the last thing you need. Gabapentin can be good for numbness, and I find I barely notice it working but I know when it doesn't, I had shingles and thought I had an allergic rash, that's how good it CAN be, but it might not be the kind of pain you have, you should have basic OTC painkillers from the GP as well for on the spot relief, but it might be Gabapentin isn't for you, it takes a few months to get any relief, and it might not be enough

same with the antidepressant, some [amitriptyline] also work as minor muscle relaxants to help you sleep but have an antidepressant effect, but if you're not comfortable talking about these with your doctor do it with your pharmacist, ask them to explain the pills for you, what they're good at, what they struggle with, and armed with that info go to your doctor. They have way more time to talk to you than your GP

Pugh19 profile image
Pugh19

Get a referal to a pain clinic and hydrotherapy

Maud-ie profile image
Maud-ie in reply to Pugh19

Where are you lucky enough to live?

Farfar profile image
Farfar in reply to Maud-ie

Uk

Maud-ie profile image
Maud-ie in reply to Farfar

In London? SE London has no hydrotherapy facilities

desquinn profile image
desquinnPartnerVolunteerFMAUK Trustee in reply to Maud-ie

St Thomas's definitely have it but whether it is accessible I could not be sure. However I know one of the physios is doing research on hydrotherapy there as part of their studies.

Maud-ie profile image
Maud-ie

Basically there is nothing a GP (in London anyway) will do except prescribe tablets and try and pass the rest off as depression. Sorry to be negative but that is my experience. There seems to be very little research or knowledge about our debilitating condition. Good luck and hugs

Hyacinth64 profile image
Hyacinth64

I'm sorry you're struggling with pain. Ask your GP to refer you to your local pain management clinic. Mine is at my local hospital, they're very good and may be worth a try.

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