posted
I need help. I am seeing a pain managament doctor along with my LLMD b/c he will not prescribe anything for pain. She keeps putting me on antidepressents that are making me gain weight. I have tried about 8 medications... non of which have worked with my pain. Which is horrible. I dont know what to do. Should I try to find another pain management doctor. Or a neurologist? What type of doctor can i do to that will really help me? I am not depressed. I am getting depressed from gaining all of this @#$#^#$$@#$ weight Posts: 52 | From Owings Mills MD | Registered: Aug 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
what kind of pain are you having and what places?
pain caused by different things respondes to diff. things
neuro pain: use of antidepressant/ seizure meds
muscle: anti-infalammatory
bone: ibuprofen or stronger narcotics
pain doc needs to treat based on type of pain. if you are having nerve pain no amt. of narcotic would help...
hope that helps. try another pain doc and be very specific in the pain descriptions..best wishes... i have been lucky and docs have given me meds to help..the combo of treating nerve and bone pain is now 50% better most days now
-------------------- i am not a Dr. any info is only for education, suggestion or to think/research. please do not mis-intuprest as diagnostic or prescriptive, only trying to help. **
dx in 08:lyme, rmsf, bart, babs, and m.pneumonia. Posts: 422 | From TX | Registered: Oct 2008
| IP: Logged |
just don
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1129
posted
BEST pain med for "ME" is Glucosamine/clond. AND 2 Citical, and a GOOD(defined NOT wally world junk) magnesium every day.
Your mileage may vary.
I truthfully think that when I started the calcium/Mag pills it stopped progression of SOME sx.s
Hope something works for you!! Experiment and find out for yourself!!(Mag. takes care of alot of migrains too)
-------------------- just don Posts: 4548 | From Middle of midwest | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged |
lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
for many years the only way i could keep working and raising kids was with high dose of ibuprrofen. first it was 3200mg a day then thay changed it to 2400mg a day. this went on for 20 years til i had my knees replaced last march
no other nsaid or narcotic worked.
i am paying for it now with gi problems-but the kids got thru college and i have at least a partial retirement to live on
well...i needed good quality glucosamine(purple and white bottle) and good mag also...but i couldn't have gotten by w/o ibu
many say inflammation is the problem-the supps and diet for inflammation never helped me-but maybe they help some
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
-
The reason your LLMD may not want to prescribe pain meds is the load on the liver or kidneys.
Often, pain is from inflammation. If you can address that aspect through your abx treatment and supplements, you may find see some relief.
A gluten-free diet has been the very best thing for me to see less pain.
Magnesium glycinate, for me, is one of the best pain relievers I've found. Fish oil, too. Getting to bed early is also vital. To help that, and to help relieve pain, a small dose of melatonin before bed may be just the winning ticket.
All this may not take it all away but it sure can make it more manageable. As lyme (or other TBD) lifts, so will the pain.
A good pain management doctor should also consider benefits of massage and cranial-sacral therapy (gentle, though).
A LL acupuncturist can also provide relief. Often, insurance will cover acupuncture for pain treatment.
However, I would avoid any doctor who is not recommended by a LLMD. It is essential for anyone working with you to be LL. Absolutely essential. Not everything is lyme related, of course. But lyme affects the body so profoundly that only a doctor who is LL is truly able to differentiate.
You asked about seeing a neurologist. Unless your LLMD thought that is important, neurological issues relating to lyme are being considered but it takes a while for symptoms to subside.
Most neurologists know nothing about chronic neuroborreliosis.
From my experiences with several neurologists (and from others here, too) a neurologist will likely be very dismissive and offer nothing of value. Even with several falls each day, seizures and other serious symptoms, several neurologists turned their backs and said this cannot be real. The meant me and they meant lyme.
You might check with your local lyme support group, though, if you think you really need to see a neurologist. At least find one who is of top calibre.
-
[ 11. November 2008, 04:04 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
-
You mentioned weight gain. That is a frequent complaint from chronic lyme patients. Part of that is the inflammation from the infection itself. Part of that is the liver's load for detox.
This book is specific to lyme and other chronic stealth infections. The author discusses the endocrine connection and effects of cortisol from the stress of this illness. The Singleton book (linked above) also discussed the importance of the endocrine connection.
You can read customer reviews and look inside the book at this link to its page at Amazon.
METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
Ultram 50mg every 4-6 hours may resolve your pain, and Wellbutrin (A Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitor) may prevent weight gain and actually cause weight loss, help with fatigue, decrease depression, and improve memory and concentration.
You should be able to get both of these without much hesitation from the doctors. Also, Lamictal for mood stabilization can be useful if you do happen to have psychiatric changes related to the Lyme, otherwise, Wellbutrin and Ultram are good starting ideas.
Begin at a low dose of 100mg for the Wellbutrin, and gradually work up to a dose that you find is acceptable.
Of all the medications for depression this is usually reported to be the most effective and has the least side effects.
Unfortunately though, remember, even Wellbutrin and Ultram don't work for "every" patient. Some have side effects or see no results, but they are the best I've seen generally speaking.
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
Treating pain with antidepressants is based on just a couple of studies. I don't buy into it, but I (genetically) can't metabolize many drugs, including antidepressants.
Everyone is different.
To me it's just cruel to deny decent pain medications to people who have serious pain. Narcotics are not instantly addictive. But they do require extra paperwork for doctors. At least you can take them as needed, not every day, day in and day out the way you have to take antidepressants.
How about your primary care doctor?
Posts: 353 | From Florida boonies | Registered: Nov 2005
| IP: Logged |
I have tried Ultram. That didn't do anything for me. I have tried Lyrica. I have tried every muscle relaxer there is. The Pain seems to be in my bones but she will not prescibe anything other then a anti depressent which i seem to need now that i have become depressed since I have gained so much weight with the lyme.... and i am always in so much pain with out any help from doctors. My primary doctor... well lets just say this is why i am where i am not... i went undiagnosed for almost 4 years b/c my doctor told me i had head issues and didnt think there was anything wrong with me... i went to him atleast once every 2 weeks sick and nothing ever came back. He said it was all in my head. Lyme came back on my tests once about 4 years ago but he said it wasnt "enough" to treat...and i didnt think anything of it. Anyways, I am on effexor now... along with 200mg of topamax for migraines... which has also seemed to help with my horrible jaw pain i would get. but my insominia, panic and bone pain is horrible. I am so sick and tired of going to different doctors. I feel like they think i am faking it or something. Like i am just trying to get "drugs" I just want the right medications to make me feel better so i can sleep...and function Thanks for the advice everyone.
Posts: 52 | From Owings Mills MD | Registered: Aug 2008
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[shake]](graemlins/shake.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic