Pain control is there any?

[Sue15197]

I was on morphine 220mg x twice daily, plus Co-codamol 30/500mg x 8 daily, 20mg x 2 Amitriptyline also, and the pain still broke through. I do not think there a medication, nor exercise jointly that keeps the pain under control. Even cognitive behaviour treatment didn't help.

[LindseyMid]

If you're asking if Fibro can be controlled, yes it can.

Just looking at the medications you're taking, I'm not honestly surprised they are not providing pain control.

Strong opioids are not recommended as a treatment for Fibro because any opioid cannot work as effectively in someone with Fibro - an effect of the condition is that we have fewer than normal available opioid receptors in our body. So although opioids can be used for breakthrough pain and mild opioids (like co-codamol) are recommended for use with Fibro, you would not expect to get a good level of symptom control with opioids.

Research also does not support the use of Amitriptyline for Fibro long-term. You don't say how long you've been on this, but it should only really be used as an initial medication to help sleep, for up to 3 months. Long term it can end up causing more problems than it solves.

A multidiscipinary approach is needed to best manage Fibro. But this is a lot mroe than just doing exercise.

[penny41]

what is a opiods please

[LindseyMid in reply to penny41]

An opioid medication is any medication that works by binding to opioid receptors in the body and so has an analgesic (painkilling) effect similar to the drugs produced from the opium poppy, such as morphine - these medications are called opiates.

I tend to use the word opioid to cover both opiates and non-opiate opioids iyswim.

Codeine is an opiate as it is chemically derived from morphine. Tramadol is a synthetic opioid as it is produced in the lab and isn't derived from morphine.

Our bodies also produce natural opioids, such as endorphins - the "feel good" chemicals released by, e.g. exercise.

These drugs basically work and have their painkilling effect by sticking to 'opioid receptors' in our body - think of the receptors as the sockets to stick the opioid "plugs" into. With Fibro, research has shown that we have fewer available receptors ("sockets"), possibly because our bodies are already trying to deal with the pain we're in (without success!).

I hope that's not too confusing!

[Cellbar65]

Opiods are opiate based medication.

I agree totally as well - I am not suprised you are not getting any benefit with pain relief with all of the meds you are taking. Long term use can make things worse as explained. Your body 'gets used' to the meds so they are less effective and then they start create other problems.

My sister has been on long term amitrip and is now paying the price for it and is having to be weaned off it and she really is not well at the moment but she knows its something she needs to do (she also has FM).

Exercise wise, gentle yoga is brilliant I find, I do just what I can when I can and it can leaving you feeling a lot better about yourself - simply doing a little is better than doing nothing at all and it can help with the pain after a while as you muscles and joints are not so tense.

[jazher]

Hi i take amitriplyn to sleep and cocodamol and gabapentin for my pain.

Since starting the gabapentin i have halved the amount of cocdamol i used to take as i think the gabapentin works beeter for my pain, if i had to give them up i would climb the walls.

kel xxx

[Hidden]

Hi i am like you am on 3 x amitritilyne. 8x co codamol 30mg/500's and also citralopram and transdermal pain patches 20mg an hour and makes not much difference at all but would hate to see me without them i too have had fibro bout 2 years but had a year keeping all symptons to myself and was diagnosed a year ago in july 2011 but my gp is fantastic she listens gets the tissues out when i walk in the door she is more like a friend to me which is lovely. hope you find your gp gets a bit more sympathetic as time goes on or you should change love and soft hugs diddle xx

[Cazie50]

I find Gabapentin invaluable, it's very good for pain.

[Hidden]

I suffer severe pain, Ihave been on amitripylene, baclofen co codemol they dont work, Ive have to be careful as Im allegic to alot of drugs,hoping gabapenthin and duloxatine work

[Sue15197]

Thankfully, I am no longer on those medications due to kidney failure, caused by taking too much morphine. After taking a terrible drug called NALOXONE in ICU for 5 days, I was taken off all those medications and put on Tramadol and Paracetamol combination.

My Disability is so bad that I cannot do any exercises, I can walk for approx 10 steps and my body freezes up with pain.

All I dream about is one day, just one day where I am pain free, can go out, on my own, or take my dog for a walk. I will do, one day.

They told me 14 years ago that I would never walk again, but I did, took me a year of practising but I did it, hahahaha

[luvmybabies]

Hi every1 i'm new to this site, I have lots of medication for my Fibro :- Amitripylene, co-codamol, diclofenac, duloxatene for depression plus other tab's for other things. In total 168 a week!!!! plus transdermal patch 5mcg. Can anybody out there please tell me why i'm in so much pain every day every minute of the day. Its that bad i dont even get dresed washed anything, wats the point!!! my fingers are in pain now just doin this!! I go to se GP all they do is dont take much notice n increase 1 wat im already on. Its getin that bad the thoughts i'm having at the mo are not very good to say the least :((

[Hidden in reply to luvmybabies]

hi, im new 2 im on paracetamol + tramadol which doesn't work at all 4 me. i saw a specialist 2day that told me changin ma pills won't help because fibro can't b cured with meds,im also very low with depression which i take fluoxetine and trazadone for an i also hav a councellor which i would recommend 2 everyone. ma doc told me i need 2 work on my mental dissorders and the fibro should calm down, only tym is goin 2 tell x

[mandyb]

i used to take gabapentin stopped it due to weight gain im a big person any way dont want to get bigger. im on amtriptaline 10mg at night co-codamol 30/500 8 a day . amongst others since a week last wed ive had what i thought was ibs flare up im not sure now . as i have pain all around the trunk of my body . im going to have to go back to the gp hate going as feel like a hyperconrace . know im not . i have started swimming in a hydrothreapy pool that helps me also joined my local suppit group that helps as well .do you have any of these things near you.

[flowerfairy]

Apart from my prescribed pain relief I have acupuncture once a fortnight which my husband has been trained to give me through our local pain clinic. I use heat pads, arnica muscle rub and soak from SBC. I get a lot of relief from using a tens machine.. it does wear off, but is so soothing at the time. My pain clinic nurse advised me to take Zinc, though I'm not sure that helps me.