Fibromyalgia Support Group

Quick Timeline:

May '07 - Rear-ended. Diagnosed with concussion & whiplash.

May '07 thru May '09 - 2 attempts at phys. therapy; 30 facet joint injections; discogram; surgery eval; about a year of waiting on worker's comp legal issues to catch up; 2nd surgery eval.

May 22, 2009 - c-spine discectomy & fusion. Another unsuccessful attempt at physical therapy.

May '09 - Present - what I'm told is a "good" worker's comp "deal" that includes "pain management".

Prior to my first appt I got paperwork telling me the following:

- I'm allowed to bring ONE person with me to my appointment.

-Under no circumstances is anyone except the patient allowed into the exam area.

-If I need to bring a child with me, they must be able to sit in the waiting room without disturbing others or the staff. (YES this was my first clue that this wasn't going to go well for me.

During my first appt the doctor spent all of about 20 seconds poking around in the muscles at the nape of my neck & shoulders. Asked me several questions about my son then started rattling off prescriptions. After the 3rd one I attempted to tell him that I wasn't comfortable with taking so much medication. The first 3 were 2 different muscle relaxers & a sleeping pill. First, I have an infant with special needs - NO WAY I can take all that. Second, muscle relaxers haven't helped my pain since the first few months after the accident. Narcotic pain meds are only mildly to moderately helpful.

He interrupted me and said: "Don't worry about this now, you'll get your medication in the mail and they'll come with instructions."

He went on to add a narcotic, an anti-inflammatory (I told him - I quit taking that because it quit helping - he said "so take it twice a day) then, almost as an afterthought he says - you know, you probably need some prilosec so all of this doesn't give you an ulcer.

I asked my lawyer to request a different doctor for me and found out that worker's comp. "allows ONE request for a change of physician" (this doesn't guarantee the judge will say yes) which he informed me the judge wouldn't likely grant since I "hadn't even tried the treatment the doctor prescribed".

Seriously?

FINALLY - I gave up and went back to my family doctor who says I very likely have fibromyalgia. He's put me on cymbalta. It's helped SOME. Not significantly.

Definitely NOT enough to justify my blowing up like a Thanksgiving Day parade balloon!

I am married to my best friend, Jason. We met in 7th grade, were very good friends in school but didn't date until 6 years ago. After my foolish declaration that I'd NEVER re-marry after my divorce in 2004, Jason & I got married in 2008. He has 2 boys. Nick (technically a step-son, Jason's raised him since he was little & Nick calls him dad) & Ben who is 9. Our son Isaac was born in Dec. 2009 (arriving 4 months ahead of schedule and 4 DAYS before the worst blizzard Oklahoma's had in a long long time). We've got 2 dogs and 2 cats. Only one is at home right now because of Isaac's prematurity related breathing issues the least amount of animal hair & dander we have the better. (It is a huge relief for me too in terms of cleaning up hair every day...)

At the moment I'm not employed. I'm staying home to care for Isaac as he isn't able to be around groups of people or in day-care/nursery settings.

I don't know alot about fibromyalgia. I'm learning that chronic pain is about the worst thing to have because doctors either over-medicate you, are terrified of medicating you and, everyone's favorite, treat you as if you just want drugs. So, I'm here to learn and hopefully get some ideas about coping strategies and treatment information.

Generally I'm open, nearly impossible to personally offend and I like to learn about people.

Welcome! I'm sorry you are being put through the ringer, workers comp can be difficult I've heard. I know from drs nobody should ever be taking two muscle relaxers together, you should nip that one in the bud immediately. He's overmedicating and putting you in danger! It's good you seem to already be knowledgable about meds. I wish you the best in your journey. You are not alone, we are here for you. Keep posting

http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/fibromyalgia-discussions/ resources/1127115-helpful-websites-i-have-come-across

Hi there, welcome!

Hi, & welcome to the group, gmc! I'm so sorry to hear of your experiences. That's aweful that the doc was so rushed & just started writing scripts like that. there are some that are just downright nuts!

You have found a wonderful place to come to for support for your needs. Everyone here is very helpful & understanding.

I see that you're from oklahome- I remember the storm of 09! It was a bad one! What a blessing that came out of it, though!

Hope to get to know you better & hear lots from you!

I've taken 3 different muscle relaxers on the same day, just not at the same time. I used to take Flexaril for daytime as it didn't mess with my head, Robaxin when I could just relax and vegetate at home, and valium at bedtime. As long as I didn't take them all three at the same time, I was fine.

Your worker's comp situation is definitely different than it is in my state. I had to see doctor's the state was paying to evaluate me, but I got to pick the doctors who treated me. If you have to go back to this doctor the state chose for you, I recommend bringing a note from your PCP telling him about the fibromyalgia diagnosis. I was doing physical therapy for my neck and shoulders just before I was diagnosed and I'd hurt so bad after that I just emailed my doctor and told her it was making me worse. Possibly if your state appointed doc knows you have fibro, he'll let you out of that treatment.

I take Cymbalta and while it helps with the muscle pain, it certainly doesn't leave me pain free. When neuropathy hit me I was almost ready to cut my arms and legs off (except then I'd have phantom limb pain) but when the doc added Neurontin I felt better almost overnight. I don't think any one us are ever PAIN FREE unless we're taking heavy duty opiates or an addiction drug called Suboxone. I'm one of the luckier members here, I go into remissions that can last for months at a time, but I'm definitely in the minority. Basically having fibro means you're going to hurt somewhere, everyday.

Sorry to be such a downer but I don't want you to think that there is a magic pill that will cure all your pain. Since they don't know what causes this crappy condition, they can't "cure" it.

Good luck with your W/C claim.

My husband and I see the same dr we were switched from Flexeril to Zanaflex at the same time but have a stock pile of Flexeril from days we didn't take them so one day he told the dr he had been alternating. The dr said never mix muscle relaxers any kind any time. He said he never mixed them he alternated them. He said it didn't matter how he did it he had to choose which one he wanted and stop the other one immed. Taking more than one muscle relaxer was harmful. That was it, he chose Zanaflex. We asked the pcp if that was overkill he said ohhh no that's bad he shouldn't give more than one we had to say no way he didnt, he was the one freaking lol. End of story.

Hi and welcome to our family. I'm very sorry you have been through so much but you have come to a good place for support. These people are the best, you can ask questions, vent, laugh, cry and even lend support if you feel comfortable doing so.

As for you W/C claim, I would double check on that. When I was on it, I had an advocate that checked in with me once a week and if I had any questions, I could call her 24 hours a day...it was pretty cool. My point though is that I was able to chose from lots of docs that are pre-approved, so to speak, and if I didn't like one, I could go to another without anyone's permission.

Cymbalta really helps me too, I am never really pain free but I have other medical issues too, I just stay positive and think of how much worse I could be. Being here and having such a great group of people that have my back is certainly a blessing. I also find that it helps me to help others

If you need anything, feel free to PM any member at all. I look forward to getting to know you better.

Thank you for the welcomes...

MissStacey - I've looked at and shared some of the information you've posted in various places. It's great & thank you!

PCG - Hi!

shamarie - That dr wasn't rushed - he had all my information before they made the appt; when I walked in the door he knew what he was going to do & nothing I said or did was going to change his mind about it. I didn't go back & have no plans to. I'd rather pay for my own treatment than risk getting overdosed or killed. I looked the guy up on-line and he was listed as having physical medicine & rehab, occupational medicine, internist, DENTISTRY & there was another speciality. SPECIALTY? In 5 different areas? Riiiiight. He's an insurance grubbing her treater - get 'em in, shove 'em out... Like I said - I'm not going back for it.

He sounds like the first rheumy I went, he comes to town once each 15 days, si the only rheumy in town that I could find and he has so many patients that he won't spend more than 20 minutes with each.... he put me on 3 antiinflamatories, my belly was about to explode when I found my new and current doc..

hugs

Paula

I am so very sorry you are going through this. On another note, please google your state's workers comp laws and you may think of another lawyer. I don't think any of the states allow the insurance company to dictate care. The insurance companies would have you believe it and if your attorney is not a STRONG one, they will run right over you. You are a human and have the right to good, competent care.

Soft hugs,

d