Lyrica Tablets pain control

[GlynisMcgee]

Hi everyone, from SOUTH AFRICA, I was recently prescribed Lyrica tabs for pain management. I have quite secure RA, only recently diagnosed. My phych put me on Lyrica, last week, mind you.

My legs swelled, my breathing was laborious, and generally felt very low. I wouldn't say I felt suicidal, but I was really flat and low. I'm not a depressed person, but do have PTSD. and treated for accordingly.

I have never felt so awful. As I would, I did some research on the drug, and was mortified. I stopped taking it after 5 days.

Has anyone out there been prescribed this? Reading up on the tablet, made me quite angry and keft me feeling hopeless.

Pain is a large part of RA, this I know. It's a continuous battle between my mind and body. So I find myself reclusive, irritated and generally out of sorts.

I love this platform, thank you. We battle on, and unless you suffer from this, nobody has any idea of tge continuous up hill climb we endure.

Stay safe and warm, as we get to out summer months. I think of you all with fondness.

Kindest

Glynis

[Runrig01]

So here in the U.K., most know it as Pregabalin. It’s used for nerve related pain. I’m on amitriptyline which is prescribed for similar pain. Personally I fry on ok with mine, and I sleep better with it.

Have you been referred to a rheumatologist, who will be able to prescribe meds, to control the disease. Sorry you’ve had to join our club, hopefully things settle soon for you.

[medway-lady]

Pain should not be a part of RA once diagnosed and medicated. I don't know why you've been put on Pregabalin but your doctor should have perhaps explained why. I had it for Shingles pain but never for RA it worked really well for me but Shingles affects the nerves so that is different. I don't battle on as my RA is well controlled, and hopefully once your medication is prescribed for RA then so should you be able to live a normal life albeit knowing RA is incurable but definitely treatable. I'd urge you to go back to your doctor and find out what the treatment plan is as the quicker the RA is controlled then the better your life maybe. I have to say for some it's an uphill battle but RA is a long journey and its better to travel with hope than angst as stress can affect it. I wish you well. x

[doctorwho1]

Hi Glynis yes in in Lyrica a massive 300ml 2x daily since 2020 my legs swollen and feet I've gained a hell of a lot of weight ,your memory vanishes and you do feel low on it ,the good side is my pain is controlled and it's only thing that does control it with a cocktail of other still as I've prolapsed discs in my lower back L1 and L2 I've got Achilles tendonitis and riddled with osteoporosis if I knew back then what I know about the drug now I never would have started taking it all those years ago

[Fruitandnutcase]

I was prescribed Lyrica when I developed CRPS after I broke my wrist and when the plaster was removed. It was during covid and there was no chance of seeing anyone face to face - I really needed physio.

I wasn’t on a terribly high dose - in fact I was on a starter dose. I felt really peculiar, it didn’t do much for the pain and I had an unbelievable urge to take more - I have no idea how that came about.

All that was at the start of covid and like you I didn’t feel suicidal but I didn’t care if I got covid and died - I felt very odd - and during our daily hour of outdoor exercise I found myself looking for suitable places to scatter my ashes, it was a very odd and unpleasant feeling.

My vision also felt blurred and everything around me seemed ‘grey’. I didn’t like how I felt at all plus it wasn’t helping with the CRPS so I spoke to my doctor and stopped it, I didn’t take it for very long . Funnily enough once I stopped taking it, it was as if colour came back into my life - I wondered if it affected whatever allows your eyes to see colour. It was very odd.

I’ve had amitryptiline in the past and was fine with that but my doctor didn’t want to prescribe it this time for some reason.

Eventually I got online hand physiotherapy for the CRPS and the therapist suggested trying gabapentin which I did but it didn’t feel any better so I stopped that too.

I came to the conclusion that ‘gaba’ drugs just didn’t agree with my system. Like you I also have osteoporosis and prolapsed discs etc. my lower back is a bit of a mess really. Then I had a bit of an accident and fractured my sacrum which was agony. Again I didn’t get on with the painkillers I was prescribed and ended up taking either paracetamol or ibuprofen at two hour intervals until I had reached the maximum daily dose.

You could speak to your rheumatologist about pain control or perhaps get them to refer you to a pain clinic.

I discovered a thing called a PEMF mat - it was half the price it is now but using it I went from all those painkillers to just taking the odd couple of paracetamol newmedltd.co.uk/collections...

Unfortunately last time I looked the price of it had rocketed 🙁 There are a few contraindications to using one but fortunately I was ok. It certainly helped with the pain. It is supposed to help your bones but I’m not sure if it does or not.