Re: Try LYRICA

[Guest guest]

Hello,

My name is Michele and I'm new to the group. I have RA, Fibromyalgia,

Shoegren's Syndrome, and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. I am currently on

Remicade, but have been on all the other injectables for RA.

Enough about me, I wanted to answer this message, because I too have

suffered from fibro for years and have tried Skelaxin, Amitriptiline, etc.

Tow weeks ago my rheumatologist put me on e new medicine that she claims to

be the new " miracle drug " for fibro. It's called " Lyrica. " I have replaced

the Amitriptiline at bedtime with 150 mg of Lyrica, which I take about 10 p

m. Then I take another 150 mg at 10 a.m. While I will never be pain free,

this is proving to be a miracle for me.

Michele

-- [ ] morphine, etc

> I have Fibro, Lupus, and 3 bulging ervical disks (they say from my

> cartilage disintegrating basically). I'm seeing a pain management

> specialist and receiving Vitamin IV Therapy for energy, PT for trying

> to strengthen muscles, Davrocet (not working) Tramadol (causing

> swelling) Lunesta (still not sleeping) Skelaxin (who knows...) they're

> considering putting me on a morphine trial pump but I'm 35 and feel

> I'm too young for such drastic measures, yet I'm in pain.

> I also seem to be noticing something very wierd and would like to kow

> if anyone has insight? I seem to be noticing that I have no energy

> during the day at all. NONE..an dyet I can't sleep at night. However,

> I've noticed that my energy increases after the sun sets, my pain

> lessens, I'm fully awake and ready to go. It's been very weird.

I, too have the bulging discs and RA. I do PT for the discs but

Skelaxin seems to have stopped working at all on the muscle pain.

And Vicodin works for my back and the inflammation (at least I don't

feel it anymore) and general aches and pains, but does *nothing* for

the RA finger pain. Plus I have a hugely hard time sleeping, and I've

tried Lunesta and Ambien to no avail. What works for me is Temazepam at

night and Sonata when I wake up early (altho many doctors give me fits

about that - they *should* be working differently, you *shouldn't* have

to use them like that, " you can't sleep half your day away! " ) Yeah, I

wish Oh, Amitryptilin (sp?) works well, too. It's an anti-depressant,

but it knocked me out...

One of those might work better for you.

As to the energy and pain, I'm the opposite, my pain flares something

fierce after 4pm or so.

Could you change your scedule a little to accomodate your " awake " times?

Wake up later, go to bed later, etc?

I, too, would be uncomfortable about the morphine pump, but I'd take

it The only thing I'd really worry about, will the efficacy of that

fade over time and will you need something stronger? My rh said that

doesn't happen with narcotics if you have *real* pain.

Good luck