posted
Hello, I am not new to lyme disease. I have been
treating for it for over two years now. Starting
last friday afternoon I started to have severe
pain. All of my muscles. from my head to my
toes are screaming in pain. I can barely use my
hands, I can not pick up my child or open a bottle
of pop. I can barely walk. It hurts so much to
type this but I need some help. I have only a non
narcotic muscle relaxer that is not helping, I
took some advil. I saw my doctor on Friday but
the pain was not this bad. He told me to go to a
pain specialist but that will take me time to get
an appointment. He did prescribe me tramadol and
neurontin I am going to fill those this morning.
I also left a message for him to see if he would
prescribe a pain narcotic for at least 7 days
until i can get in to see a pain doctor. I am not
sure he will do that since I live out of state
from him. I have never ever had this amount of
pain. Why now? Is there something that was
missed. Am I having a auto immune response to
soemthing? I could not go to work today and I
could get fired If I don't go in to work. I have
been crying for two days now. the pain is
unberable. Please help me figgure out how to stop
it. Please help.
Thank you.
-------------------- Love, Merrie Believe in the power of your spirit..for it will carry you through the darkest hours of your life Posts: 261 | From minnesota | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
neurontin does help,,but i had to take 2400 mg..3-800s a day.When they first gave it too me it didnt work because they didnt give me enough.What works for me is lorecet plus.It is even used for chronic fatigue people.It gives ya a little energy it seems.But i think it actualy takes so much of the pain away your body feels a little normal again.Watch pain clinics,they like to give steroid shots.
Posts: 510 | From NEVERLAND.USA | Registered: Jul 2005
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AZURE WISH
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 804
posted
This may be a silly question but did you check it isnt a side effect to a med you are taking?
Also did you switch increase lyme meds (abx) or start to go after a coinfection? If so, it could be a herx.
Maybe a different kind of muscle relaxer would help. There are quite a few different kinds I know Aniek said the one she takes helps her.
What about lying in a hot bath? It never took away the pain but made things a smidge better. For me extreme pain causes my body to tense up which cause more pain which makes it tense more which equals more pain... so the heat relaxed them a bit kinda broke that cycle for me.
posted
Neurontin has reportedly helped quite a lot of people on this board. It seemed to help me but I developed a rash and had to discontinue after 1 day.
Tramadol helps neuropathic pain. I have taken it for several years with as much or more help than with narcotic medication (fentanyl patch, oxycontin, etc.).
Infrared heat lamps help with pain. Walmart sells a 250W bulb for less than $5.
Best of luck.
Posts: 175 | From Colorado | Registered: Feb 2007
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Tramadol works as well as a narcotic for many people. So I would start by getting that prescription filled and trying the Tramadol to see if it works.
Neurontin is really for nerve pain. You might want to start with the Tramadol, since it's a fast acting drug, and see if it works first.
If possible, try to relax. I know it's very hard to relax when you have such intense muscle pain. But the tenser you are, the tighter the muscles and the more pain. Maybe a hot bath?
I have extreme muscle pain. I started zanaflex recently, and it is making a huge difference. When you do get in to see a pain specialist, I would ask about it.
Longterm pain management, you want a drug that controls the pain so that you can take a breakthrough medication, like Tramadol or a narcotic, when the pain still pushes through.
Zanaflex works on muscle pain to relax the muscles and stop the pain signals. I was taking vicodin regularly until I started the zanaflex, and hardly need the vicodin anymore.
If the prescriptions you have don't work, then go to an urgent care center. They might be able to help you. But try the Tramadol first. It really could work.
I hope you start feeling better. If you have any questions, send me a PM. I've been dealing with muscle pain for 5 years.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Thank you all for your responses. I droped off my
rx's and will be picking them up in the next hour
or so. I will try the tramadol first. I have not
started any new med but I have messed up on my
birthcontrol pills and that always sends me into a
herx. Plus I just made the 11 hour drive to my
doctor which always puts a huge toll on my body.
but I never ever have experienced this. I was
sitting in the car yesterday and I felt it. It
started in my legs they started to tense up it
moved through me like a wave. Up through my
stomach. even my stomach muscles tensed up and I
immediately felt nausous. It moved up my torso
and threw my arms. I feel like my brain is
telling my muscles to tense up. I am not sure. I
made an appt with a pain doctor but can not get in
until next week. I also left my doctor a message.
We will see what he says. Thanks again for your
help. I do have a hot tub also that I was in
early this morning. I will be going back in a
little later. going to lie down now.
ugh
-------------------- Love, Merrie Believe in the power of your spirit..for it will carry you through the darkest hours of your life Posts: 261 | From minnesota | Registered: Sep 2004
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bejoy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11129
posted
If the pain feels like muscle spasms, then magnesium, calcium, and selenium can help relax the muscles.
I am so sorry you are hurting so much!
-------------------- bejoy!
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 1918 | From Alive and Well! | Registered: Feb 2007
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
Neurontin can really help with nerve pain for many Lymed people. I hope one of those scripts helps you.
I had chronic agony for over 2 years from Lyme and it is completely gone and has been gone for years now- so don't give up- even if it seems like it is damage and will stay forever it can get better. I never believed I would get this well again. I hope one day you can say the same.
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
Hi Merrie! I'm so sorry that you are suffering so much. Pain was always my worst symptom.
I do hope the tramadol works for you. The neurontin will take longer to work, so don't give up too soon on that one.
Keep us posted when you can so we will know how you are doing.
Merrie
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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canbravelyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9785
posted
Hi Merrie,
Yes, I also am fairly certain that my brain is telling my muscles to tense up. It often also involves vomiting when my brain tells my stomach to heave.
I have been put on Lyrica (pregabalin). This is the second generation neurontin. The neurontin was a joke in comparison. With the pregabalin, in one study I heard, many notice improvement on day 2. I noticed after one dose that there was something "to it". On day 2, there was already improvement.
I have fewer events (I'm fairly certain they're a form of seizures) now that I'm on the Pregabalin, but still have to pace myself, or I experience fewer of what you're describing. And the pain is so horrible.
Please ask about the Pregabalin. It's made a significant difference in the lives of a number of us on this site. If you have the energy, I would suggest doing a quick search of the forums for Lyrica, and reading the discussions.
May you have some relief soon! soon!
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
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Beverly
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 1271
posted
So sorry to hear you are in pain. Pain stinks.
The main thing that helped my pain level was treatment for lyme and co-infections, but it takes time. I did get some relief from taking Elavil, and sleep meds like Melatonin and at times Ambien.
I hope you find something that helps you, and you feel better soon. Keep us posted.
Posts: 6641 | From Michigan | Registered: Jun 2001
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posted
Merrie, I also live with this all over pain-it is not fun! I know exactly what you are going through...I'm glad you posted because I learned a lot about these pain drugs that I was wanting to know about too.. so thanks!
Hang in there, a prayer has been said. ps Check your private messages...
Posts: 232 | From MN | Registered: Jul 2007
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Here is a link to some pain treatment resources from the American Pain Foundation. They have a guide on how to get the best pain treatment, and a guide on pain management drugs and other treatment.
posted
Thanks everyone, My doctor did call me in a RX
for pain. Just something to get me through this
until I get an appt with a pain doctor. It helps
somewhat but I just need the pain to stop and
nothing is helping 100%. I guess that is too much
to ask. I have to go to work tomorrow and I am
not sure how Im going to type all day in this
pain. I guess all I can do is pray that tomorrow
brings less pain. I have to be herxing. I have
to be. I do not see any other explanation. I
have had lyme for years and to just all of a
sudden have this intense pain doesn't make any
sense. Stupid lyme disease. I am even at the
point where I wonder if there isn't something else
causing my pain and the lyme diagnosis will make
me miss that. I just don't know.
Thank you all again.
-------------------- Love, Merrie Believe in the power of your spirit..for it will carry you through the darkest hours of your life Posts: 261 | From minnesota | Registered: Sep 2004
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