Painkillers for fibromyalgia?

[ExploringPanda]

Does anyone here still take painkillers for their pain? As the NICE guidelines changed it's hard to find out if it's ok to take them and what to take. I don't currently have access to a specialist so I can't ask. I was wondering what any of you have been told by specialists?

[Blearyeyed]

I take a combination of medications which I manage to keep at low doses for my Fibro.I have a combination of Pregbalin , Duloxetine and Paracetamol as required.

These help me control the pain along with my Self Care routine and physio. Your pain medication is just part of the regime , pacing activity , reducing stress , diet and vitamin supplements, good hydration and good sleep , exercise and keeping any other health issues under control are as important to managing the pain and other symptoms as the pain medication.

Unfortunately, you aren't ever likely to be 100% pain free with Fibro but you can be pain managed , and you are doing well if you can be 85% pain managed while reducing flares and having a good quality of life.

There are many different drug options available , it is usually a matter of trial and error over some time to find the right drug , or combination of medications , that works for you as an individual,,as we are all different , and our Fibro can come via various routes or its activity can be linked with other health issues you have as well.

Most of the medications can be prescribed by your GP as long as you have a confirmed diagnosis, there are only a few that require for you to be referred back to a Consultant or the Pain Clinic to organise.

The doctor will usually work down a list of medications , giving you the first line medication ( most commonly used and cheapest ) the second line and so on until you find what works.

You both need to discuss what you want together , making decisions on your treatment is a partnership, it's not just their unilateral decision. They need to take into account which medications you already take , which things you are allergic or intolerant to , and which things you have used before which may just not have worked for you even if the first time you took it was not for Fibro.

It's worth looking up the various treatment options available by looking on the Fibro website and then googling " Nice guidelines for treatment of Fibro with ... (Add name of drug ) " , just to make sure what you can get in your NHS region and what the standard treatment ) doses are as your GP will often not know all of the options , or some are known to be resistant about prescribing certain drugs because if cost.

If you aren't getting anywhere with your GP surgery it is always worth requesting a referral to the Pain Clinic to work through the wider options with them.

Hope that helps , Bee

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

I am on a combination (Pregabalin, Mirtazapine, tramadol and paracetamol). They do not take pain away but reduce it enough to enable me to function on a daily basis including work part time

Medications so not work for everyone, and it can be trial and error to find what works for you

[CM1EDSUK]

Blearyeyed has succintly identified that you need to work with your GP, & you are indeed part of that team, & also that pain management is rarely 'just' due to meds. It's often a combination of things that work the best, which as mentioned above include exercise, making sure you have a healthy diet, pacing, etc.

Other things may help, as unfortunately it now takes some time to be referred to a pain clinic/pain management course. I think we all have to work out how to self manage any chronic/persistent pain. So please consider these resources:

ppa.csp.org.uk/content/link...

nbt.nhs.uk/sites/default/fi...

painconcern.org.uk/product-...

livewellwithpain.co.uk/ten-...

Hope these too may be of some help.

[Iamthemedicalmystery]

The pain clinic have put me on 20mcg buprenorphine patches , pregabalin and baclofen. I do have a lot more medical issues on top of my fibromyalgia. I am still in constant pain x

[Cat00]

I don't take anything for fibromyalgia, there will be a lot of people like me out there, perhaps not on this forum though. One of the symptoms of fibro is that we don't respond that well to pain meds.

[Loobielu in reply to Cat00]

I'm the same Cat, I get too many side affects and not enough pain relief to be worth taking them 🙄 although days like today I could cheerfully take a hand full!

[Cat00 in reply to Loobielu]

Same, I feel better off without them, also these drugs have biological consequences that often can't be easily forseen.I do feel I was fortunate that I was given a chance to find these things out for myself, however, so I know Gabapentin, Pregablin Morphine etc didn't help so it has been my choice to not have these meds.

I think that feels very different from nowadays where your GP is telling you "no" to everything and you just have to take their word for it that they won't help, when clearly there are those that feel they do.

I do think some people don't realise the benefits they feel can be just relief from the additive side effects some of these drugs have, but that would only be relevant with opioid type drugs etc.

[skit]

HiYou need patience and support with Fibro.

Have you explored a local support group?

Members often have local knowledge on which medications can be prescribed due to costs etc.

Also if you can acces Self help course it helps build confidence on dealing with long term conditions.

[Dizzytwo]

I don't take prescribed pain meds for my fibro. For me too many side effects with no relief for my pain.