Has anyone had experience using cymbalta for pain relief?

Always Hopeful,
I'm glad you started a new topic dedicated to Cymbalta (generic name: duloxetine). It has been discussed in various discussions throughout Connect by a number of members, like @sandytoes14 @kdubois @jimhd @oldnana @kathyv @lauriedr @jenapower @janie56 to name a few.

Always Hopeful, while we wait for others to join the conversation, can you tell us a bit more about why you are asking about Cymbalta? What type of pain are you managing? Do you already take Cymbalta or has it been recently suggested to you?

@AlwaysHopeful
I take 60 mg of Cymbalta daily for pain relief of fibromyalgia. Most of the time I find it reduces the pain to a manageable amount.
Along with fibro, I have Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) arthritis and degenerative disc disease (DDD) to name a few aliments. A plus for me is that Cymbalta also reduces anxiety. I'm looking forward to your response to Colleen Young's questions and getting to know more about you.

I have idiopathic peripheral neuropathy, both feet. I've had this for past 30 years. Then took Cymbalta which was a disaster. Put me in hospital for 2 days, due to drug-induced psychosis

Hi Jen,Like you I am looking for pain relief. I'm 65yrs old suffering with self diagnosed fibro because I haven't yet had a Dr tell me what my pain is. Started with pain in neck and especially right shoulder 36yrs ago. For the last 12yr ish I started with osteoarthritis.I have had joint replacements in both thumbs,shoulders scoped twice,knees scoped to which I have the right one done again on the 17th Jan . The worse thing for me is my back.After MRI's the diagnosis was degenerative disc throughout my whole spine but seem to have 4-5 areas where the pain is from the nerves which cause constant,constant burning pain worse when sitting but bad ALL THE BLOODY TIME. I see my GP who just smiles and talks and I come out of there with nothing, no answers,no specialist appointments because I attend the pain clinic. I can only have a shot in one area of my spine every 6mths so am in constant agony,this Christmas was torture. I just confided in my friend that I don't now how much longer I can go on and that every night I go to bed and hope I won't wake up the next day. I have thought of trying Cymbalta but daren't ask my Doc as I'm sure he doesn't believe how much pain I am in. I was a Psych nurse all my working life till I was 58 when the osteo set in and I just couldn't do my job any more so due to my profession I am wary of all drugs.

@anniebrook I retired after 35 yrs in nursing My rheumatologist diagnosed my Fibromyalgia 35 yrs ago Have been on all the usual meds none helped Prednisone did but he didn't leave me on it for long so use natural meds now studying herbs and others for along time I by a product Fibro-Malic from Vitacost .com used it for years . Sorry your Dr wont believe you Have you looked into another Dr?

@lioness Still taking the Fibro Malic and did reorder. All I can say is nothing unpleasant from taking thus. I have always been slow to notice changes unless negative. Not hurting. Also ordered a probiotic.

Hi Jen,Like you I am looking for pain relief. I'm 65yrs old suffering with self diagnosed fibro because I haven't yet had a Dr tell me what my pain is. Started with pain in neck and especially right shoulder 36yrs ago. For the last 12yr ish I started with osteoarthritis.I have had joint replacements in both thumbs,shoulders scoped twice,knees scoped to which I have the right one done again on the 17th Jan . The worse thing for me is my back.After MRI's the diagnosis was degenerative disc throughout my whole spine but seem to have 4-5 areas where the pain is from the nerves which cause constant,constant burning pain worse when sitting but bad ALL THE BLOODY TIME. I see my GP who just smiles and talks and I come out of there with nothing, no answers,no specialist appointments because I attend the pain clinic. I can only have a shot in one area of my spine every 6mths so am in constant agony,this Christmas was torture. I just confided in my friend that I don't now how much longer I can go on and that every night I go to bed and hope I won't wake up the next day. I have thought of trying Cymbalta but daren't ask my Doc as I'm sure he doesn't believe how much pain I am in. I was a Psych nurse all my working life till I was 58 when the osteo set in and I just couldn't do my job any more so due to my profession I am wary of all drugs.

@sandytoes14 I know Cymbalta messed me up. The pain specialist I see did give me 5 mg of Hydrocodone. Not much help. I am going to ask him about options as my quality of life is slipping away. I do what I can. Doctors are fearful I suppose. It is discouraging and I don’t mean to be whining. All things considered I think I do pretty darn well at sucking it up. The Fibro is frustrating and throw in the scoliosis, DDD of the spine, TMJ as well as depression, anxiety and the challenges it presents...yes, it could be worse, but I want to believe it could be better. The structural issues cannot be fixed, but I think they could be treated to better improve how life is now. Maybe I am a
dreamer.