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Do Antidepressants Help In Treating Chronic Pain Due To Fibromyalgia And Arthritis?
Question: Hi I'm a female 55 old living with severe chronic pain due to fibromyalgia and arthritis due to some some personal history when I was in my early twenties I also have chronic migraines wich I get up to twenty a month that are disabling me from slot of life I also have iron deficiency aneima that I have to have infusion my question is I can't find any dr thAt believes me when I say how much pain I'm in and how the fatigue is crippling me they keep putting me on meds that are foe depression but none have worked I'm very depressed because of the fact I can't get any help what can I do?
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
You should understand that the fact that doctors are giving you antidepressants does not mean that they give them necessarily to treat depression (although there seems to be a depression component to your current state). Antidepressants have many other uses and one of the main ones is chronic pain modulation so they are often a mainstay of chronic pain treatment. For that reason they are widely used in the treatment of fibromyalgia or other types of chronic pain.
So you shouldn't be thinking that doctors are not believing you are in pain because of them prescribing antidepressant drugs. From what I see all the drugs you mention (cymbalta, savella, amitriptyline, ultram, clonazepam) are all first choice drugs in fibromyalgia treatment. Unfortunately apparently yours is a difficult case.
Apart from medication an integral part of treatment is also physical activity in a very gradual way, doing light aerobics, walking, swimming etc. Also psychological behavior therapy can be beneficial. Diet may also play a role, avoid too many carbohydrates and junk food, try to eat more vegetables, fish and fibers. Antioxidant supplements like vitamin C, E, minerals like zinc, selenium as well as vitamin D are thought to be beneficial.
I don't know what other medication you have taken (or if you are looking for other medications for that matter), but the ones used for fibromyalgia not mentioned in your list are anticonvulsants such as pregabalin and gabapentin, you've already gone through other main options.
I hope to have been of help.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
You should understand that the fact that doctors are giving you antidepressants does not mean that they give them necessarily to treat depression (although there seems to be a depression component to your current state). Antidepressants have many other uses and one of the main ones is chronic pain modulation so they are often a mainstay of chronic pain treatment. For that reason they are widely used in the treatment of fibromyalgia or other types of chronic pain.
So you shouldn't be thinking that doctors are not believing you are in pain because of them prescribing antidepressant drugs. From what I see all the drugs you mention (cymbalta, savella, amitriptyline, ultram, clonazepam) are all first choice drugs in fibromyalgia treatment. Unfortunately apparently yours is a difficult case.
Apart from medication an integral part of treatment is also physical activity in a very gradual way, doing light aerobics, walking, swimming etc. Also psychological behavior therapy can be beneficial. Diet may also play a role, avoid too many carbohydrates and junk food, try to eat more vegetables, fish and fibers. Antioxidant supplements like vitamin C, E, minerals like zinc, selenium as well as vitamin D are thought to be beneficial.
I don't know what other medication you have taken (or if you are looking for other medications for that matter), but the ones used for fibromyalgia not mentioned in your list are anticonvulsants such as pregabalin and gabapentin, you've already gone through other main options.
I hope to have been of help.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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