I am dealing with lots of pain with this illness, the worst being from severe headaches. My doctor has prescribed migraine medicine, which helps sometime, but not always. I wondered what you guy s used for pain. Is there something I can take that is not habit forming but works.
The neurologist I see is not lyme literate, so I don't even mention it to him. He has tried several meds, but they either they don't work, don't work too good or make me sick or zonked the next day.
How do you deal with the pain day in and day out? I would appreciate any suggestions you might have. Thank you.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
I treated undiagnosed Lyme for a long time before I found out what was going on. I rotated pain meds during the week, so as not to build up tolerance to any one of them.
My meds included vicodin, demerol, ultram and tyl/co#4. I had muscle pain, not headaches.
We're all different in what we can handle. You need to find out what works for you. Hopefully folks will be along here soon to discuss meds to relieve headaches.
Posted by MannaMe (Member # 33330) on :
Just a thought - my husbands severe headaches were from food allergies. He still gets headaches but not those severe 'pulling your hair out' kind.
The worst offender was a delayed reaction - 48 hours after eating eggs, he had a severe headache. That one was hard to pick up on without doing food allergy testing.
This was discovered before the Lyme was diagnosed. I think some food allergies are Lyme induced.
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
I use Axert 12.5mg twice, plus a Gravol, and Arthrotec 50 or Arthrotec 75, whichever I have on hand.
I wrap a gel ice pack (like a long band), which has been wrapped with a scarf, around my head a la Rambo.
Then I hibernate.
Yesterday it took 20 hours of sleeping/hibernating to shake it. And I needed coconut water-I felt thirsty.
I have tried the spectrum of meds from my neuro.
He did recommend Butturbur, 400 mg magnesium daily and 400 mg B2 daily as a preventative.
I took those for 3 months-didn't help, but doxy and then mino helped considerably.
I am sorry you are going through that. I hope some suggestions here will help.
Best wishes
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Moving to Medical Questions for more help------
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
Excitotoxins; MSG; Aspartame; & "Natural" Flavors (that are not likely natural at all);
GMO foods that destroy the GI Tract; Gluten; Dairy. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- UPLEDGER INSTITUTE, find a practitioner trained your area. Many are covered by insurance.
This GENTLE approach is safe for those with lyme,
whereas, with many other body work styles: it's never safe to ever have anyone suddenly twist your neck or spine. -
Posted by homesick73 (Member # 36551) on :
thank you for all the links keebler and GretaM - are the meds you mention narcotics or habit forming? I don't think my doctor would prescribe anything that could be considered addicting. But thanks for posting this.
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
Hi Homesick-
Butterbur, magnesium and B2 are not habit forming. They have been in a few trials for migraine prophylactics (I sure hope I'm using the right word here...). They are supposed to prevent the severity and frequency of migraines.
Didn't help with me, because my 'migraines' was pressure in my noggin from RMSF and lyme and bart and babs...oh my!
As far as I know, Axert is not habit forming. It is for occasional migraine. Not a narcotic, but a triptan. Can't be used with certain types of antidepressants/anti-anxiety meds, or with drugs like Ativan. Fairly expensive- $20 per pill, each migraine 2 pills so $40 a migraine...
Arthrotec is an NSAID, also for occasional use, not habit forming. (Honestly, half the time Motrin worked just as good for me).
And Gravol is an OTC that I take to help keep the other two meds down.
I did try Elavil (amitriptyline) for migraine prophylactic, but I had such bad side effects from it, we discontinued use after 2 months.
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
I forgot to add...For me, narcotics only made my migraines/head pain worse.
The only things worse than being in pain, is being stoned and in pain, IMO.