in pain 24/7 Fybromyelga

[MustangHottie]

I have R/A & Fybromyelga im in pain 24/7 im on Oxy 15 mg once every 3 hours & morphine patches 125mg change every 72 hours. im still in pain its wakes me up crying. things are getting bad. my 3 sons need me. i dont think my doc knows what todo. i've been doing this for going on 5 years. tried defferent meds nothing worked. been on oxy for 1 year morphine for 6 months. dose anyone have any idear how we can have a better life, better heath? i just want to play with my boys again. Thanks to all, MUSTANG HOTTIE + 3 SONS

[mellie4]

No real suggestions for you, just a lot of empathy.  I'm sort of in the same boat.  I have fibromyalgia, too, but my biggest problem right now is the joint replacement in my hand failed 3 years ago.  I ended up with RSD and have had 8 surgeries.  My pain meds have been increasing and I, too, feel like my doctor is somewhat stumped about where to go.

I take 30 mg. oxycontin 3 x a day, 15 mg. oxycodone every 4 hours, 60 mg. Cymbalta 2 x a day, .1 mg. Clonidine 2 x a day, ibuprofen 800 mg. every 4 to 6 hours, Ambien 10 mg. at night as needed, and a compounding gel that's applied to my hand up to 5 times a day.  I've been talking to people here about the Fentanyl patch.  I was hesitant to try it, but I've sent my doc an email saying I think I'd like to.

I have 4 kids and I feel like they don't have the mom they used to.  The younger ones (almost 11 and 12) I feel don't have me the way the older ones (almost 15 and almost 18) did, though the younger ones have adapted to me being like this more, maybe because they don't really miss what they never had.  Or don't really remember me being more involved.

I know it's hard to imagine, but I did find that swimming helped both my arthritis and the fibro.  Sometimes I'd just walk in a lap pool and other times I'd swim a bit.  I also find the elliptical machine helps the arthritis in my hip tremendously.  (Funny, I can't walk on a treadmill at all ... kills my hip.)  I'm sure you're not feeling like exercising at the moment, but if you can even a little, it helps a bit

What does your doctor think?  I'm guessing you see a pain management doctor with what you've been on.  It's frustrating when you feel like the doctor is just as stumped as you are.  Have you had any procedures for the R/A?  I get some blocks for the RSD.  Sometimes I get a little relief for a few days but it hasn't helped as much as I'd hoped.

Good luck.  I hope you keep posting to keep us updated.  How old are your boys?

[RunningMom]

I'm so sorry your in so much pain.  Could it possibly make it any better if you change  the patch to 48 hours?  I know a lot of people need to change their patch more frequently due to metabolizing the med much quicker.  I wonder if you would benifit from a morphine pump.  I don't really know if the morphine pump works for your condition.  I don't know what else could possibly work.  There are not a lot of options when it comes to pain medications.  I am praying for a miracle that you find relief.