I've been treating for quite awhile now, 20 months.
For the last few weeks I've been Herxing, which is nothing new to me, but what is unusual is the amount and intensity of muscle pain.
My shoulders, neck, and back are extremely sore and there is widespread deep burning pain in those regions. The pain has woken me up several times, and is difficult to concentrate through, etc.
I've been taking 800 mg ibuprofen 3 times a day, as directed by my doctor. It maybe takes the edge off, but not much more.
I should also mention that I have myofascial pain syndrome and have many trigger points in my back, neck, and shoulders.
I literally feel as though my muscles are "under attack," if that makes any sense. All of this seemed to start when I resumed minocin, which I've used before in the past without dramatic Herxing or side effects. I'm also on zith.
I have a consult coming up in a week, but this burning pain is driving me nuts.
I tend to have high inflammation, my CRP and ESR often register high. But I just have never had this extent of muscle pain, and it is fairly localized and not spread out as my inflammation often is.
Any thoughts as to why, or suggestions for how to endure, my neck/back/shoulder muscles burning with pain, 24/7? I've been suppressing it as much as I can but both trying to understand why and trying to cope with this is driving me bonkers.
Thanks.
Posted by joalo (Member # 12752) on :
Up.
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
Might be a drug reaction. I had something similar and it was a medication. Most likely the last med introduced.
You might try stopping that med for a couple of weeks to see if the pain lets up. If its lyme pain it won't. If its the med it will.
Posted by imagine2 (Member # 3136) on :
Wonko, I have burning pain too and have recently discovered that liquid benedryl helps my herx reactions...including the burning/muscle pain.
I'm not sure why it helps but it does.
Hope you can get some relief from this. It's awful. Posted by Wonko (Member # 18318) on :
Thanks for the replies.
Since my post, I saw my osteopath (who treats the myofascial pain syndrome I mention above).
It is the DO's opinion that I have a combination of musculoskeletal and neuopathic pain, the former from the myofascial and the later from the Lyme.
This makes it tough to treat, as the two types of pain need different treatment. And the nerve pain actually complicates efforts to treat the muscle pain, as I have all of these extra pain signals that keep firing throughout efforts to release the muscle trigger points.
(Those familiar with myofascial release may understand best what I mean.)
I felt I had no choice but to stop my abx for now, so I've been off of everything for almost a week now. I have a phone consult tomorrow with my LLMD, so hopefully there will be a plan for how to move forward.
Overall, I consider myself much improved. I recently moved (long distance) and started a new job, so I suppose it's not that crazy that I had a big flare. The high pain level hit me from left field, I'm skaken up over the ordeal but it is getting better.
imagine2, benedryl knocks me out, but maybe that's what I need to get some good rest!
sutherntrl, I agree it might be a med reaction, just strange that I could tolerate the mino so well before. But things change. Will definitely want my LLMD's advice on this!
Thanks, & take care.
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
Wonko, I only brought this up, because I just recently had a drug reaction to a psych med that caused extreme muscle and nerve pain. The pain completely subsided a week after stopping the med. So even thought it may not be that for you, it is something to keep in mind. Its easy to think all our pain is lyme pain and not consider the other possibilities.
Hope you feel better soon!
Posted by sunshine1 (Member # 18806) on :
I'm on Zithromax and Mepron. I have severe bone/muscle pain in neck, shoulders, face and hands. For me, I believe it is a herx.
My regimen is to lay in pain for about 5 hours. Then I take bentonite drink to pull out toxins. much relief. love BABY benedryl that melts in your mouth. enough of a dose, but not so strong that it knocks me out. also takes the edge off.
I also get this pain when taking diflucan and killing yeast. I heard that pain in shoulders and neck and face and hives can be yeast. This seems to also be true.
I take tramadol for serious non stop pain. Seems to get me through to next day when i feel better.
Remember to drink your vitamin drink if taking bentonite. It pulls out good stuff as well.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)