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Has anyone had experience using cymbalta for pain relief?

Chronic Pain | Last Active: Jan 16, 2023 | Replies (177)
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Thank you @isaratex for your complete and informative description of your experience with Duloxetine. The one truth to be aware of is that everyone is different. I was born to different parents, probably grew up in a different climate, and have experienced different medical incidents than you have. That makes it possible for me to react differently to Duloxetine (Cymbalta). It has been a lifesaver for me. My anxiety increased immensely with my SFN (small fiber neuropathy) diagnosis. I was dismayed and dismantled to be blunt.

At the time I was taking only nortriptyline at night. That left mornings as my most difficult part of the day. With duloxetine, I can confidently tackle my day without losing my way. And I don't need the nighttime help. In fact, as the SFN progresses throughout my body and the pain increases, I have doubled the duloxetine from 60 to 120 mg.

And this is what I admire about Connect. Everyone is considered. Sharing helps all of us learn more about our conditions and the alternative options for treatment.

I notice that you are a retired Biology teacher. That means you have a head start on all of us.
May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris

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Replies to "Thank you @isaratex for your complete and informative description of your experience with Duloxetine. The one..."
sphillips1952 | @sphillips1952 | Oct 28, 2022

I really have been blessed that I’ve been able to take this drug. I have numerous meds for numerous issues, but so far so good. You are so right about how everyone is different. I guess I have a stomach made of steel, and I’m only 100 lbs, wet! Go figure🤔

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isaratex | @isaratex | Oct 30, 2022

Thank you for the reply. It is indeed wonderful you have something to help you through this maze of meds, docs, tests, insurance & $$$ we all have to navigate.

I feel I was unclear, though. My complaint is not with Cymbalta or Lyrica. They just didn’t help me and the side effects were untenable. (That might be due to drugs that need to be metabolized by the 2D6 enzyme. From 5-10% of the population are poor metabolizers, like me. My pain doc did the testing when I failed to respond to most opioids.)

My complaint is with all the docs I saw who would not listen to me. I literally could not eat much of anything not forced down. They pushed me to continue that course month after month after month as I lost 100+ lbs. Their paternalism would have eventually killed me.

As it is, anemia is still a problem. Osteoporosis means I broke 3 bones in my big toes when I lightly kicked a chair, accidentally. I have to be very careful not to fall; hard with the pain of fibromyalgia and tons of damage, and extreme stiffness from RA.

I want to encourage folks to question their docs, especially when the results are not positive or adequate. Educate yourself from good sources, take notes, and hold them accountable. Don’t put up with “cookbook “ medicine. Change docs if you are not getting the results you need. Be a squeaky wheel, not a sheep like I was.

I wish you continued success with your meds. Neuropathy would give me high anxiety, too.

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