Info on Flexeril / cyclobenzaprine? helpful hints?

I am so sorry that you are going through this - life is challenging enough all on its' own without added pain. I'm with you. I also have two bad hips - need a walker now, and sometimes a wheelchair.I took Hydrocodone years ago briefly. Our bodies may be broken and diseased, but our minds have the ability to reduce the stress of being in pain - this is my focus now. I still do this and that if I think it might help. For instance I have an appt at a pain clinic for the 1st time soon! Long painful car ride (can't drive anymore); I'm a bit sceptical at this point.

@lizzietish56 Completely. I have also tried Gabapentin l - didn't work for me, and bad side effects. Also have an ulcer. I go to the pain clinic (1st time) soon - dreading the car ride even. Also, I am sceptical - medical professionals haven't been very good caregivers from my point of view. Maybe they will suggest nerve ablation for me, who knows. Where I have had success is in the area of reducing the stress of being chronically ill and in constant pain.

I have taken cyclobenzaprine for over 30 years. It did not seem to cause much in the way of side effects for most of that time, except for causing me to feel a little sleepy sometimes. So I would take 5 mg if I needed it during the day, but 10 mg at night. As I got older however it seemed to be causing me to have blurry near vision, and if I took it at night before sleeping, I would wake up with blurry near vision. That would last for 3 or 4 hours after I got up. So my doctor recently switched me to methocarbomol for a muscle relaxant. To me it does work to relax spasms, though not quite as well as cyclobenzaprine. But for me so far it has had no side effects. Right now I typically take the methocarbomol for pain with spasms most of the time and it works pretty well, but I do have cyclobenzaprine on hand as an alternate (never take both at once, they told me) in case the spasms get really bad. I can take the methocarbomol during the day also, because it does not make me sleepy, and it definitely does not cause me to have any vision issues.

@jenatsky thank you for your words of support. You certainly helped me. I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

I was not a big fan of flexeril as it made me feel like a groggy hangover the next day and just made me sleepy the day of taking it. I switched to Lorzone (chlorzoxazone- not sure if I spelled it correctly) but’s it’s the generic form. I take 750mg up to 2x daily when needed. It helps with spasms, and deep skeletal pain associated with my DISH and autoimmune issues

I’ve taken flexeril and it’s generic equivalent for years and the number one side effect that I experienced is dry mouth. Most people dismiss this type of side effect as inconsequential but in reality it can become life altering. Chronic dry mouth can cause adverse dental issues. I’ve lost several molars due to this. I finally convinced my doctor to prescribe an alternative. I now take Baclofen which doesn’t make my mouth so dry. I also don’t take it at night before going to bed. If you take flexeril try not to take it before you go to bed otherwise you’ll wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to swallow because your mouth is so dry. I found taking it during the day was okay because I could increase my water intake when needed. Baclofen which I’m currently taking is also a lower cost drug than flexeril. Switching made sense to me.

@haarvee Im surprised you have not considered a hip replacement on either side by now. Unless it is bursitis you have, for which a hip replacement would do you no good.
However, you should consider cortisone shots in the hip by a really good orthopedic surgeon who has been doing that for a while. Then, you can consider radio frequency ablation to help reduce or eliminate the pain signals going to the brain, I spoke to my pain management injection specialist about the RFA for hips and he said it would work just fine.

I would suggest continuing what you’re doing…asking every resource you can think of about cyclobenzaprine, don’t forget pharmacists. They are extremely knowledgeable. Cyclo can be addictive and caution must be used if you decide to use it.

@laughlin1947 I no longer have the health to leave the house. There will be no surgery or PT or regular doctor appts at all. If its a twice annual injection - maybe we have a deal. A long car ride takes weeks to recover from, never mind the visit. My cells do not have enough energy in them to recover from a surgery. I wouldn't go for cancer treatments either. Despite this, I have more joy and hope in me now than ever. I look forward to the .. well .. near future. A longer future? Great .. if it happens. My mind is sharp. My intuition strong. I have more than I need.

@haarvee Sorry to hear that youve chosen this path but I have more issuses that direct it to the care itself and not nessessarily the meds.To many drs have been useimg open evidence to confirm or diagnos you.It is an ai generated program that catagorises you against others.I toolimit my outdoor pleaseures simply because of the pain and imbarrasment.