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Suggest Treatment For Severe Leg Pain Caused By Arthritis
Question: I have extreme pain in legs and feet from arthritis, fibromyalgia, and ms. Have been on cymbalta 60m daily for 18 months and have gained almost 50 pounds because of this drug. I am also taking Tylenol #3 for pain. I am trying to go off the cymbalta because of the weight gain and had it changed to wellbutrin 150mg daily......withdrawals are like living in hell and the pain in my legs and feet is back. Tylenol #3 is a joke no longer helps and no one gives a damn. What should I do? And I know acetaminophen is really not good for my liver among other things and I would really appreciate a doctor who will listen to my problems and not think I am just a drug seeker. I have worked since I was a small child on a farm with my 10 brothers and sisters and then for 40 years a a pharmacy buyer for a major hospital chain. I need a drug like ms contin, hydromorphone, morphine, or so on. I don't think that is too much to ask for since I have worked my whole life and now my body is shot.
Brief Answer:
Gabapentine or Pregabalin can help to reduce the symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM
I can understand your concern. Duloxetine resulted in relief but caused weight gain so you got compelled to discontinue the drug. Acetaminophen causes renal issues so should not be used regularly for long periods of time.
Your main issues are pain in legs, fibromyalgia and MS. Recurring pain from these conditions causes significant distress. Hydromorphone, Morphine, Mscontin are opioid drugs and can help to reduce the pain. But these drugs are controlled drugs and its difficult to get prescription of these drugs without a proper evaluation.
First of all trial with other drugs should be given. Gabapentine or Pregabalin can be kept as options. Both these drugs doesn't cause much weight gain and help to reduce the pain symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. Also we can add some other SSRI drug like Fluoxetine to the prescription. Fluoxetine will help in reducing the anxiety symptoms and will augment the actions of Gabapentine or Pregabalin. These drugs will reduce the neuropathic pain.
Hydrocodone or Morphine helps to reduce symptoms and result in tolerance. These drugs are not the definitive treatment. So please talk to your doctor for proper evaluation and only if strongly needed start taking these drugs.
Thanks. Take care
Gabapentine or Pregabalin can help to reduce the symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM
I can understand your concern. Duloxetine resulted in relief but caused weight gain so you got compelled to discontinue the drug. Acetaminophen causes renal issues so should not be used regularly for long periods of time.
Your main issues are pain in legs, fibromyalgia and MS. Recurring pain from these conditions causes significant distress. Hydromorphone, Morphine, Mscontin are opioid drugs and can help to reduce the pain. But these drugs are controlled drugs and its difficult to get prescription of these drugs without a proper evaluation.
First of all trial with other drugs should be given. Gabapentine or Pregabalin can be kept as options. Both these drugs doesn't cause much weight gain and help to reduce the pain symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. Also we can add some other SSRI drug like Fluoxetine to the prescription. Fluoxetine will help in reducing the anxiety symptoms and will augment the actions of Gabapentine or Pregabalin. These drugs will reduce the neuropathic pain.
Hydrocodone or Morphine helps to reduce symptoms and result in tolerance. These drugs are not the definitive treatment. So please talk to your doctor for proper evaluation and only if strongly needed start taking these drugs.
Thanks. Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I appreciate your response and I know no physician can give exact response until a proper evaluation. I have taken Prozac for several years prior to 2012 when I had a mental breakdown due to stress at work and at home and it no longer helps me. I was placed on Cymbalta because of the fact that it does work on leg and foot pain caused by fibromyalgia. It was like a miracle drug the pain went away but then my weight has gone from 170-180 prior to starting the drug in August 2015 to today a weight of 230 pounds. Needless to say this hasn't improved my depression, anxiety, or arthritis problems. I have stopped taking cymbalta about 3 weeks ago and now all the pain is back plus I am having terrible double vision and brain zaps from the withdrawals. My doctor who is really a RN practioner has now become almost useless, never listens to me for longer than 2-3 minutes. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Get an appointment from a doctor.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again
Please try to get appointment from a GP and if needed referral to a neuropsychiatrist. This will help in getting yourself evaluated and then proper treatment can be started.
Gabapentine and Pregabalin are good drugs for controlling pain symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. If needed Hydrocodone can be started.
Thanks.
Get an appointment from a doctor.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again
Please try to get appointment from a GP and if needed referral to a neuropsychiatrist. This will help in getting yourself evaluated and then proper treatment can be started.
Gabapentine and Pregabalin are good drugs for controlling pain symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. If needed Hydrocodone can be started.
Thanks.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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