posted
Hi - I've been suffering with burning nerve pain in both hands and arms for 6 months now and have decided that I need to try medication for the pain as I think it's constant presence in my life is causing my depression, anxiety and irritable bowel issues. Anyone had sucess with cymbalta or elavil? Psychiatrist and neurologist are recommending cymbalta, gastroenterologist recommending elavil? Thank you.
-------------------- Carol Posts: 38 | From Essex County, NJ | Registered: Feb 2007
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butchieboo
Unregistered
posted
Hey Stoli,
Why not just drink your namesake!?? LOL!!
Anyway, anti-seizure medications like the two you mentioned have not worked for me....
they have worked for others however....
Elavil,topiromate,gabapentin,neurontin, have not worked for me... Some say that it or even lyrica have helped them,
as some of these drugs are "supposed" and purported to be useful(by the drug representative salespersons)
in relieving peripheral neuropathy due to diabetes....
I have not found this to be true....but like I said others have attained some level of relief.
I would go with the gastro guy...lord knows we have enough of those issues in and of themselves.
cactus
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7347
posted
Hi Stoli, burning nerve pain in my hands/feet and up my arms/legs has been a tough one for me.
I've tried elavil, neurontin, topamax - and more over the years. All of the above made me feel spacey, and disconnected to varying degrees. Ultimately, I discontinuted each of them.
Now I take Cymbalta - and have for the past 2 years. It's helped the most, I still have break through pain at times, but I can see a difference. Nor do I feel spacey or disconnected.
It doesn't work for everyone, but it's been good for me. It took a while to really see a difference, and I ramped up very slowly - but now I like it.
I also like any "happy" side effects, since it's an antidepressant as well, & the whole lyme experience is depressing at times.
I hope you find something that works for you.
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Hi Stoli, I have taken both. Not sure either really helped much, but the cymbalta, I only took for a month or two and had a horrible time coming off it, I weaned and still was very, very ill from it. Elavil I had no such problems.
I have just decided to give elavil another try because my nerve pain is getting so out of hand, so we'll see how it goes. I only take a very low dose of it, as it can make you VERY tired...
Posts: 151 | From ohio | Registered: May 2007
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posted
I've been on Cymbalta for nerve pain and it has worked wonders! They tried a number of others without ANY effect. Cymbalta took care of a LOT of symptoms for me. I couldn't imagine life without it now... Posts: 2 | From Richmond VA | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
I had tried Neurontin but have side effects. I had pretty good luck with Topomax and Elavil. They helped with neuropathy and Fibro pain. The Neuro and the Rheumatologist both suggested those together.
It is the worst kind of pain. Mine went away with treatment. I was worried it wouldn't because the nerve conduction study showed damage but the pain and tingling stopped.
-------------------- Lucy Posts: 342 | From Hawaii | Registered: Nov 2005
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EtherealGirl
Unregistered
posted
Cymbalta worked wonders for me. As soon as I went off of it, all of my pain came back with a vengence. Maybe it will work for you too?
posted
Elavil wass one of the first drugs my daughter tried. Didn't help. Neurontin helped some, but our last neurologist switched her to cymbalta and lyrica. They have helped the most so far.
I think you just have to try and see how they work for you.
Good luck!
MommaK
Posts: 242 | From Mississippi | Registered: Oct 2006
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I know this is an old 7 years old thread,but I would looove to get off of Elavil. I have been on it for 18 years.
I started taking Elavil in 1996 as a sleep med for insomnia. Eventually it stopped or lessened working towards sleep, but another bed med was piggybacked onto it because the Elavil helped with pain. And depression. ( I have been on Cymbalta for pain and depression for the past 6 years).
My most grievous side effect of my nightly Elavil has been the thinning of my long hair over all these years. I take hair vitamins, also an oz. of Pro-Stat protein goo daily. I've been using hair "claws" for years, and finally realized the claws were making my scalp sore at the follicles because there is less hair to clip onto to hold it in place. -:
This past year I've had a hip replacement and a knee replacement. During my stay at the rehab home the 1st week or so the RX nurses kept leaving out my Elavil. (They may have thought, "That gal is on too many drugs!") The difference was noticeably more pain.
But since then, over the past year, I have gotten off Klonopin, Pyridium (a med that coats the bladder to keep it comfy during sleep) because they made me a daytime Zombie. I've also gotten off the Lortab,now only taking a 1/4 tab once in a while. So that's where my Lyme pain levels are at. I stinll take Ultram for pain, @ 100mg 2- 3 times a day every 6 hours.
I have been using mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in a treatment chamber for about a month now and I am veeery slowly feeling better. It's 2 steps forward, 1 step back for the gradual pace of improvement. Every one is different. One person's relief of insomnia and/ or pain may be much sooner than mine.
Anyway I would appreciate any feedback or insight in my Elavil issue. I do know that I should titrate down slowly, perhaps a 1/4 off my 100mg tablet per week, monitoring my pain and sleep levels.
Thanks in Advance!
-------------------- Lyme: 1991 DXed: 2008
'Do not go where the path may lead; go where there is no path and leave a trail.' Emerson Posts: 47 | From Georgia | Registered: May 2012
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Beloved,
I applaud your efforts to find pain management that is not toxic or overly sedative in nature. It's been decades since I went through all those mini trials with various Rx for pain and it was one disaster after another for me.
Of course, lyme / other TBD (tick borne disease) can cause severe pain in, oh, so many ways. Be sure that your LLMD -- or treatment is covering the infection cause as best possible.
And that your liver is supported in the process.
Many Rx can damage the liver, too, causing more pain. See liver links below.
Glucose management is a must, too. Frequent meals of good organic vegetables of all colors, a very wide variety - dark berries (or as close as possible to organic).
Protein needs to be more for someone with chronic infection, too, so be sure to include legumes, good fish, "happy" eggs, chicken / beef from humanely raised non-chemical stock. It may cost more but is so worth it. Eat more beans to make up protein balance.
The nerve / myelin sheath requires a good amount of high quality fat, too. Extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, salmon, sardines (find mercury-safe vendors).
Top of my suggestion list for supplements:
1. LIVER SUPPORT
2. MAGNESIUM
3. BERBERINE
Berberine is such a tremendous help to lessen pain for me. It's amazing. I frequently run out for a couple weeks or a month and it takes about 10 days to 2 weeks until I notice that the pain is so much less. A life saver, actually. Truly.
I do not plan to run out of this again. I'll buy it before I'll buy food from now on.
Neither sedating nor stimulating in nature. My stomach does fine with it, too.
I have never felt hypoglycemic as can happen with some herbs that affect glucose management. This seems to be very much an adaptogen in my body.
You can read to see if this might be right for you to consider. I would feel better if you could consult with a LL ND, although I'm not sure that is possible for everyone. At least read all you can about it and be careful if you have Rx to also consider.
I don't take any Rx (just herbs / nutrients but Berberine is about all I take for now) so I've never had that to consider. Good luck.
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