RE: Med question please

December 2, 2008

Hi . It is all confusing. I was diagnosed with Seronegative RA

and Fibromyalgia all at the same time along with bursitis and

tendonitis. Sed rates are a non-specific measure of inflammation, so

it could be high because of any and all of the above. How many

milligrams and how often were you taking the Neurontin? I take 1200mg

twice daily and it does a pretty good job of keeping the FM under

control. I've heard mixed reviews on the Lyrica. Without insurance,

Neurontin was more cost effective for me and has less side effects.

Plaquenil is for RA and Lyrica is for FM, so it is reasonable to be

started on both medications at the same time as they target different

areas of our bodies. FM is more muscular where RA is more joint

related. So, they don't do the same thing in our bodies. Does that

make sense? I hope this helps some. Keep us posted on how you are

doing. Take care.........Doreen

>

> Hello,

> My rheumatologist has finally decided I have asymptomatic RA. I

> sure hope I spelled that right. Anyways I had my eyes checked

> yesterday and took my first does of plaquinil. Here is my question.

> When they were trying to figure out why my joints hurt so much and

> other symptoms they decided I had fibromyaligia and I have been on

> neurontin and lidocaine infusions. I argued that how can they

> decided on the fibro when my sed rate was getting higher and

> higher. With my pressure points and muscles hurting so much that I

> cannot lift my legs and my whole body going numb and my worsening

> mind is it reasonable to say I have fibro as well? I'm thinking it

> is because from my reading the nerve pain and numbness is not a

> symptom of RA. The only reason I'm asking is because today I was

> given lyrica to replace the neurontin because the neurontin worked

> for a very short time and then didn't. My husband is wondering how

> we can know which med works for me when I start 2 at the same time.

> So if my pain resolves from the plaquinil then I don't want to take

> lyricia for no reason. I sure hope this is understandable and some

> one can help me.

> in Michigan

>

December 3, 2008

Doreen,

That's what he said it was! Seronegative RA. Sheesh, my mind is shot.

I was taking 800mg 3 times a day of the neurontin. They seemed

reluctant to go higher but had no problem trying the lyrica. With the

neurontin it helped for about 2 weeks and then the nerve pain and

numbness kept getting worse again. I'm really hoping the plaquenil

will help the pain in my joints.

Thank you for all of the information.

> >

> > Hello,

> > My rheumatologist has finally decided I have asymptomatic RA. I

> > sure hope I spelled that right. Anyways I had my eyes checked

> > yesterday and took my first does of plaquinil. Here is my

question.

> > When they were trying to figure out why my joints hurt so much

and

> > other symptoms they decided I had fibromyaligia and I have been

on

> > neurontin and lidocaine infusions. I argued that how can they

> > decided on the fibro when my sed rate was getting higher and

> > higher. With my pressure points and muscles hurting so much that

I

> > cannot lift my legs and my whole body going numb and my worsening

> > mind is it reasonable to say I have fibro as well? I'm thinking

it

> > is because from my reading the nerve pain and numbness is not a

> > symptom of RA. The only reason I'm asking is because today I was

> > given lyrica to replace the neurontin because the neurontin

worked

> > for a very short time and then didn't. My husband is wondering

how

> > we can know which med works for me when I start 2 at the same

time.

> > So if my pain resolves from the plaquinil then I don't want to

take

> > lyricia for no reason. I sure hope this is understandable and some

> > one can help me.

> > in Michigan

> >

>

December 3, 2008

in Mich and Group;

I know what you mean it is so confusing. I have Fibro and RA. I take Lyrcia

for the fibro and yet there is no test for it so far except a chat with the

rheumy. I was reading they may have a blood test soon for Fibro. So that means

they are working on it. I can't wait to read the post on this one lol.

I am sure they have a reason for you to take Lyrcia. I aw my rheumy today. I

got shots in my shoulders and in my hips for bursitis. I can't tell my

bursitis pain from my fibro pain. I hope you figure this out. Also welcome

to the group. If I forgot to welcome you I am so sorry. Sometimes I miss

people. God bless and take care.

gentle hugs

Clora

***************************************

From: jaayimee <jaayimee@...>

Subject: [ ] Med question please

Date: Tuesday, December 2, 2008, 4:12 PM

Hello,

My rheumatologist has finally decided I have asymptomatic RA. I sure

hope I spelled that right. Anyways I had my eyes checked yesterday and

took my first does of plaquinil. Here is my question. When they were

trying to figure out why my joints hurt so much and other symptoms they

decided I had fibromyaligia and I have been on neurontin and lidocaine

infusions. I argued that how can they decided on the fibro when my sed

rate was getting higher and higher. With my pressure points and muscles

hurting so much that I cannot lift my legs and my whole body going numb

and my worsening mind is it reasonable to say I have fibro as well? I'm

thinking it is because from my reading the nerve pain and numbness is

not a symptom of RA. The only reason I'm asking is because today I was

given lyrica to replace the neurontin because the neurontin worked for

a very short time and then didn't. My husband is wondering how we can

know which med works for me when I start 2 at the same time. So if my

pain resolves from the plaquinil then I don't want to take lyricia for

no reason. I sure hope this is understandable and some one can help me.

in Michigan

December 3, 2008

Rhuems check all 14 different areas on our body to see if we have

fibro. A person has to have at least 11 of those painful areas to

show we do have fibro. That's how my rheum checked mine when I first

saw him in 1997.

Debbie L

>

> in Mich and Group;

>

> I know what you mean it is so confusing. I have Fibro and RA. I

take Lyrcia for the fibro and yet there is no test for it so far

except a chat with the rheumy. I was reading they may have a blood

test soon for Fibro. So that means they are working on it. I can't

wait to read the post on this one lol.

>>

>

December 3, 2008

Actually it's 18 different tender points.

> >

> > in Mich and Group;

> >

> > I know what you mean it is so confusing. I have Fibro and RA.

I

> take Lyrcia for the fibro and yet there is no test for it so far

> except a chat with the rheumy. I was reading they may have a blood

> test soon for Fibro. So that means they are working on it. I

can't

> wait to read the post on this one lol.

> >>

> >

December 3, 2008

Hi ,

I'm also sero-negative RA, although I don't have Fibro. I do have

unexplained neuropathy in my right leg and arm and was originally given

Neurontin for it. The neurontin did work for a short time, but then just

quit being effective. I was switched to Lyrica and occasionally use

Lidoderm patches when the weird pins and needles/nerve pain/numbness thing

gets to be too much (usually at night when I'm trying to get to sleep).

The Lyrica works really well at keeping the neuropathy under control,

although it doesn't do a thing for my joint pain. For my RA, I started on

Plaquenil and then added methotrexate about 2 months after that. I recently

switched from oral mtx to injectable and it is working much better for me.

Not sure if that helps, but I guess what I wanted to say is that the Lyric

and the plaquenil will work in two different ways if that makes sense. If

you have any questions, let me know - it sounds like we're on similar

treatment plans.

Hang in there and I hope you get some relief soon. Lyrica started working

for me pretty quickly once I hit the right dosage.

Ronda

[ ] Med question please