@longhorn1 Welcome to Mayo Connect. I have lived with chronic pain from arthritis, spinal issues, old injuries, bad lung...for a very long time, and have tried most pain relievers. In general, they are either not safe for long term use or not effective on chronic pain.

The medical community is now recognizing that chronic pain is very real condition that is a combination of what the body feels and the brain perceives, that pain medication alone does not provide adequate long-term relief, and that a comprehensive plan to understand the stressors and manage them provide a better result.

The purpose of Cymbalta (duloxetine) and similar drugs in treating chronic skeletal and muscular pain is different to the usual purpose of what we think of as a "pain reliever." Chronic pain is caused in part by the brain's response to pain stimulus, and duloxetine is intended to help our brain interrupt or modify the pain response. BUT... it works best in conjunction with other therapies like meditation, counseling, PT and lifestyle changes. And, it takes some time to determine an appropriate dose & medication, level of activity, and make other changes.

So the answer to your question is, as part of a comprehensive pain management plan, duloxetine or a similar medication can help. But I don't think it is very effective if you just take the medication alone and don't change thought patterns and activities.

Were you offered Cymbalta as part of a pain management program?
Sue