Medication, Autoimmune Diseases

How did they test your small fiber?

I had total knee replacement in September. I have always responded in strange ways to medications. This was something from medieval torture! I awakened in recovery with excruciating pain. I had a spinal that wore off. Im got an IV morphine and woke up in hospital room. Again excruciating pain. They gave me first one oxycodone, still pain! Then tried a second, still pain. Then tramadol. Still pain. I was barely able to walk a few steps. Felt like ground hot glass shard in my knee. Physical therapy was excruciating and no one could explain why. Then I discovered that autoimmune can cause malabsorption of opioids! I am mostly recovered. Knee is stronger. But I need the other knee to be replaced. I can’t do that with whiskey and a leather strap. Anyone else experience lack of pain meds with difficult surgeries?

@dancer26 Hi. What autoimmune diseases have you been diagnosed with?

Hypothyroid, some yet-to-be-identified random severe head pain similar to myofacial pain syndrome ( not Giant Cell), dysautonomia, fibromyalgia (maybe) and gene mutations yet to be determined that make me react to or metabolize medications differently than I should.

@dancer26
Aaww I'm sorry you had to experience that! Yes, I had shoulder replacement done under 5 months ago. Meds weren't doing the job at all.. Survived though.. Still have months to go Dr. Said to gain all strength and pain go away as muscle gets stronger. I have so many autoimmune disease issues.. Antiphospholipid syndrome, Sleraderma, Sjögren's, Raynouds, I have Fibromyalgia and Chronic pain syndrome, I've had several ischemic strokes, no high BP ever, and I have pulmonary fibrosis now from Connective Tissue Disease. Life gives us things to deal with and sometimes it's to much I know. Much luck sent your way. Prayers!!!

@bshiver hypothyroidism and rheumatoid arthritis

@dancer26
Did you discover that autoimmune can cause malabsorption
of opioids ? or did someone else discover that ?
Because isn't that a valuable thing to know?

Hi again, all! Hope everyone's doing well. I have a question about muscle pain with lupus and MCTD: my rheumatologist and I agree that my lupus and MCTD diagnoses explain my joint pain, and Methotrexate has helped tremendously, which is great.

But since my symptoms began in October 2025, I've also experienced muscle pain, concurrent and as troubling as the joint pain. My rheumatologist doesn't believe the muscle pain is caused by lupus or MCTD, and tested my blood for other possible muscle wasting ailments, which I thankfully tested negative for.

Question is: has anyone experienced distinct muscle pain with lupus or MCTD, and, has anyone's doctor specified whether or not muscle pain can be caused by either of these conditions? Thank you!!

@sarahintexas I am diagnosed with Lupus and suffer terrible muscle pain in my legs, especially. I've been a chronic pain patient for over 25 years, including a failed spinal fusion. It is believed that I also have MCTD, which would make sense following an earlier diagnosis of hypermobility and other conditions. Nobody has ventured into the "whys" of my conditions and/or symptoms, so I can't offer you any help there. The pain from autoimmune far surpasses the chronic lumbar pain I had - this is a different level, entirely, and unbelievably.

I've not heard that autoimmune can cause malabsorption of opioids...this would be very pertinent. Can you recommend or share any related resources or references?