Fibromyalgia Support Group

Cymbalta was pushed on me to the point that I am convinced docs are getting kick backs for it. Don't get me wrong, I think SSRIs and SNRIs can be a good choice for pain, but they are not for everyone. They make me sick. I don't want to mask cancer recurrence pain. Ergo, round the clock pain control is not my choice. I found a doc that listened to that choice. I fired the rest. They weren't living my life. I made sure I actually fired the, too, by either calling and stating why or doing it as I looked them in the eyes.

Take back your power--this is your life.

I was not on oxycodone, but I was on vicodin. I am fortunate that right now tramadol works for me (for the most part) when I do need it. There was a time, though, where I really needed the vicodin. My current pain doc would put me back on vicodin in a heart beat if I asked. Quality of life is important. Being able to go to class and work is important! That's HUGE! If a medication helps you to do this, that is great! This is what my doc and I focus on: quality of life and how I define it. I am now able to socialize because I am not shamed by my med usage and I can mostly stay on top of the pain. Too many docs are shaming patients.

I think part of the problem is these doctors do not recognize that with chronic pain comes anxiety and months (and sometimes years!) of being treated poorly because of what we need to survive. People don't know what it feels like to want to cut off your own limbs because they hurt so bad.

I am a scientist (Ph.D in Biochemistry) and I read the medical literature on how narcotics don't work on fibro, but the studies are not convincing, and even studies about medications that are currently prescribed for fibro (lyrica, cymbalta) are not convincing. The bottom line is there is no statistically significant evidence to go either way.

Be open to trying something new but also explain your rationale: That quality of life is about going to school and being able to work. That you are afraid of side effects and site specific reasons. I'm sure you document your oxycodone usage. If the concern of the doc is getting you to round the clock care, there are extended release narcotics to try.

I don't think this should be an all or nothing situation. This is your life!

If all else fails, seriously fire your doctor for only give you the option of cymbalta and ask if he/she is getting a monetary kick back.

It disgusts me that more people don't understand that you don't get high from narcotics when you need them--you actually LIVE because you are not in such pain.

There may be something other than cymbalta to help you out. Be open to hearing all the possibilities, weigh the options, and ask your doctor for plans B, C and D. Be clear in what oxycodone allows you to do that you can't do otherwise. Be very honest, right down to the usual stuff we don't think to talk about with pain docs (i.e. sex life).

Patients need to feel they are empowered and that actually alleviates a great deal of stress and anxiety! We are more likely to make lifestyle changes to manage our pain when we feel like we have control.

Talk to your doctor about the shame you feel. Be candid. Say you are scared that nothing else will take away the pain. Say that you worry that you are being judged.

If your doc simply wants you to take a break because he/she fears you will develop a tolerance and if you need surgery, pain control will be an issue, then ask what can be done to facilitate a narcotic break (but not during finals week or a stressful time of your life).

These situations rile me up because I have been there. I hope your doctor is open to discussing all of this with you.

If cymbalta is a good choice for you--that is great! However, I wouldn't do a med switch during a stressful time of your life (finals, moving, job change...)

I go to a physio doctor,many use pain docs or reumitologist..

I am glad you are finding the group helpful we always love to here that

I just posted a topic called Withdrawals. You might want to see my experience with Cymbalta. I don't want to scare you from it. I did have a horrible experience, but then when I went back on it and tapered it with another antidepressant, it was okay. A good antidepressant to use for tapering off short half life antidepressants is Prozac. It has a very long half life and is much easier to taper off of. So switching from Cymbalta to Prozac then tapering off that is the way to go when you have to stop and find you have trouble.

Personally, Cymbalta didn't help me with pain and it made me a bit nauseous. I didn't have any other symptoms with it while on it though.