The pain mgmt doc I'm seeing now also does the injections. He did a couple of injections with me too because I have horrible problems with my neck and back, in addition to the full body "fibro" pain. I actually asked him if I could try injections, and found that they don't help at all. And not only that, I've read in the Lyme forum that cortisone (which is what they inject) is very dangerous if you have Lyme. You already have a compromised immune system with Lyme and cortisone makes it that much worse. Next time I see my LLMD, I have to tell him that we have to stop the injections.

I have been on Vicodin, then Ultram, then Methadone, Lortab, oxycodone/oxycontin, etc. I had a lot of side effects with Methadone. Oxycontin made me break out all over (as did Cymbalta). And none of these made a dent in my pain (except Methadone - it would have been good if I hadn't had all the bad side effects). For the last two years, I've been on hydrocodone. A local compounding pharmacy makes capsules that are just hydrocodone, without the dangerous acetaminophen. Not that hydrocodone is perfectly safe, but until something changes, I need something that will take care of the horrendous pain that I'm in. This handles the pain. I would be bedridden without it. It makes me so angry that there is such hoopla surrounding opiates and chronic pain. Before the "fibro," I refused pain pills - always. I even had a disk replaced in my cervical spine and refused all pain meds following surgery. Now I don't have a choice.

Guess what? My LLMD is giving me doxycycline for a month before he tests me for Lyme. I'm still 2 weeks away. He did a test - a CD57, which is an indicator for Lyme. I just got my result today, and it was 25. Normal is 60-360, but a healthy person should have 200 or over. For me, this result means I've got Lyme. After suffering with "fibro" for so long, then the neuropathy, I cried. I thought I was going crazy. I've been so sick and I've lost so much of my life: my job, my friends, etc. I have so many things wrong with me, but up until last summer, it was just the "fibro" which most don't believe exists, as you know. So after having a "make-believe" illness for so long, I've been vindicated! I just had to tell you. I am so relieved.

(and Lori, the facet injections I got I believe had steroids inthem as well, so no wonder I have flared bad, becuase I do believe I have lyme as well)

Just did one blood test for lyme yesterday, very eager to see the results.

My body likes to produce tumors, have had 2 on thyroid, and 4 in breasts. Now I've had headaches for 3 weeks and going for brain CT tomorrow, doc is worried about brain tumor now! Just great.

It's just hard to find a good doc whose in your insurance network. And it's funny, if you watch someone who is in chronic serious pain...you can't even tell they are on pain meds...it doesn't effect us that way, we don't get high from them if you're really in pain....watch someone who takes them for "fun" and you can tell. I function like a normal human being on my meds, nobody would ever know I take anything.

Pain is definitly undertreated...not taken seriously. I wouldn't wish how I feel on my worst enemey, as it gets aweful. But I would wish the docs could feel like this for 1 month....then tell me I'm crazy.

Interesting also about the lower levels of Lyme. My testosterone level is like at 25 when it should be in at around 400 and the only remedy is this freaky gel I have to put on my chest everyday which is nothing compared to a horrible injection, but uncomfortable nonetheless.

Erleichda, I'm interested to know what negative side effects you experienced while on Methadone. I'm wondering if some of the things I've been experiencing is a result of taking Methadone.

And I totally agree with both of you regarding pain meds. It's a croc to hear idiotic remarks made by Dr. Philly boy about narcotics and how he slips in someone with pain problems who became a street addict. I realize this is a potential risk as I wrote in an earlier post, but seriously, for most of us it's a necessary part of life. I agree Jaime that the pain meds work differently for people with chronic consistent pain, at least I can speak for myself that after a week vicodin did absolutely nothing but give me withdrawals when I didn't take it. What a mess.

I just don't know how much more I can take. I am herxing really bad, been taking cat's claw to bring out the lyme for my blood test, and let me tell you, so many symptoms are coming out, and nasty. The pain is unbearable, and I am out of my meds....can't fill the lousy ultram (crap in my opinion) until sunday, and the oxy until the begining of next month. (no I didn't take too much of it...last month i was feeling pretty good so I asked my doc to go down on my dosage to 20mg 3 times a day, down from 40mgs 2 times a day...but of course after that I started herxing and just was taking 2 20mgs twice a day, back up to my regular dosage, which in turn means I ran out early) but we all know you can't tell your doc that. God forbid. So this next week is going to be absolute hell. I've never asked anyone for pain meds, but getting to that point, just so I can enjoy the weekend with my kids....my daughter graduates from preschool next wed. and we are trying to make crafts for the teachers...it's a simple thing, but taking me 10 times longer , having to sit down all the time....

This really sucks for people like us. And you know how the "herbal" supplements, with conditions like ours, aren't going to touch it. I have a cabinent full of that stuff. Thought i could make myself well naturally....haaa!

I also prayed for a positive Lyme and it looks like I will get it with my CD57 result. My LLMD says that he will start me with IV Rocephin which is good for neurological problems. I am just so relieved.

Siskoray, I'm trying to remember what the Methadone did. It made me really nauseous and exhausted - I used to almost fall asleep at the wheel. I remember sleeping all the time. Oh, and I retained water just awful! In the first 5 days I gained 20 lbs. of water weight. But it was the first med that finally took care of the pain for me so I wanted to stay on it, but I just couldn't. I would have had to take a GERD drug, a nausea med and a water pill just to stay on the Methadone. It wasn't worth it.

Jaime, I think you mentioned that people who need pain meds feel nothing other than pain relief. Isn't that the truth? In fact, when i did my last blood test - the one where you take your meds in front of the doctor, then get your blood drawn within two hours to see the level that's left in your system? My didn't even register. My body uses it so that I don't even test positive for having them in my system. My doctor told me not to be shocked - it just means that I need the medication. But I really hope that someday soon, I will no longer need it and can start weaning off. Just as soon as some of the Lyme is out of my system.

I haven't even notified my fibro support group yet. Maybe they will let me speak, because some of THEM could have Lyme...

I basically gave myself Fibromyalgia because I endeavored to treat my Bipolar disorder using willpower instead of Lithium. I just wore my body out and depleted my brain of Dopamine. That depletion manifests as pain.

I am now back on Lithium. I also discovered some PTSD and Social Anxiety issues that I'm working on with behavior modification.

Despite a multi-pronged approach, I still have pain and fatigue from Fibromyalgia. For that, I take Mirapex. It is a wonder drug! I love it. It is a dopamine agonist, that is, it increase the dopamine that my brain is depleted of. I can't encourage this drug enough: MIRAPEX ROCKS!!!!!!

Mirapex is also used for Restless Leg Syndrome, something also commonly found in Fibromyalgics.

I used to take Flexeril. I don't bother with it anymore. I would rather use a heating pad for muscle spasms. I do believe it's chemically related to some antidepressants that Bipolar patients can't use?? For that reason, I'm leery of it. I DO NOT need to make my BP disorder worse.

I was taking Melatonin for sleep in place of Flexeril. The pharmacist told me to NOT mix psychotropic drugs with homeopathic stuff, so I'm off that.

I take Acidophilus. That helps immensely with the GI stuff.

I also have added large amounts of raw veggies to my diet. Juicing apples, for some weird reason, has really helped decrease my need for Mirapex. I used to take .5 mg per day. Now, I'm down to .12 mg per day. I also snack on raw broccholi, carrots, celery, cauliflower or tomatoes. Any raw veggie seems to help.

I went from sleeping 14-16 hours a day and being in immobilizing pain to being almost totally normal within a year and a half of doing all those things.

I still have issues with insomnia. That's partially a combination of Bipolar disorder and Mirapex. I just deal with it on a day-by-day basis.

I still get Migraines, and I deal with those day-by-day as well.

My advice is to take a multi-pronged approach to Fibromyalgia. It's a mysterious illness. Look at psychological, dietary, medical and finally pain relief and sleeping issues. Once the leader falls, his soldiers fall away quickly.

For me, the leader was Bipolar Disorder and anxiety issues. Second in command was a diet deficient in raw veggies. You kick the Generals and the army falls away.

That's my advice.

God bless!

Mary Ann