What do you think of Cymbalta, Turmeric, Lidocaine fibro inflammation?

Posted by LPRSOB @jdbarr1, Jun 13 9:20pm

My doctors want me on Cymbalta. I am really resistant because I am already on several other meds and am very very sensitive to meds. Bad SSRI and SNRI experiences in the past for me, though I know others have felt better from them.

They say it can help with me with my inflammation based muscle aches and OCD. I have not been diagnosed with fibro yet but the doctor has given hints that I have it. Weird and hard to explain situation, I think she is trying to make sure I don't freak out (heavy anxiety, OCD). She is working with me on my health anxiety basically, so I think she doesn't want to give a formal diagnosis right now until I see her again in August.

Questions:

Has anyone tried Turmeric for inflammatory pain? How long did it take to help? Did you ever have GI distress (I have Crohns, IBS, Celiac so I suffer from chronic nausea)? I don't want GI complications from it.

Same question as above but for Lidocaine? And does it help even though you can't rub it all over your body? I was told just to use on certain smaller areas, even though nearly my whole body is feeling pain.

And finally, Cymbalta. What has everyone's experience been like with it? Has it helped with aches? Has it been hard to get off of? Side effects while on it?

They want to start me at 20mg, the lowest dose, and even that scares me.

Thank you!!!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Fibromyalgia Support Group.

I use the topical gel for my pain. It works really good on pain that's right below the skin. I recently had "fire" in the fibromyalgia points on the top half of my body. Same points on each side. The top of the back of my arms, the peck muscles above each breast, both sides of my neck and both shoulders. I used the gel, iced and tried not to touch them otherwise. I felt like I'd been assaulted! If every pain point was bruised it would have looked like it too. So the gel is my go to to rub into those areas. I also use it on my feet and hands. It won't work if the pain source is deep. It can't absorb into deeper tissue. I use gabapentin and have for 22 years. I'm on 1200 at night. I started it because I have restless legs syndrome. I find that if I get adequate sleep it helps me so much. I don't have any side effects. I take it during the day, 300 mgs, if I'm having a bad Fybro day. I won't drive if I take it as it's designed to help with sleeping. It calms my restless legs. I'm sure it's something I'll have to take the rest of my life but I'm ok with that because sleep is so important to managing chronic pain. I take magnesium, calcium, vitamin D3 and B12. My nutritionist got me on those and will add more. I never really took vitamins before but I will now because I see how important it is. I walk twice a day and do gentle yoga stretches to get blood flowing in my muscles. I do exercising in a warm pool when I can. That's my routine. I hope you have good luck. We all need it battling this horrible disease. Cyclobenzaprine is good too. My daughter who has fibromyalgia finally started taking it and she said what a difference it has made. I agree.

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@covidstinks2023

Personally, I know where Cymbalta has helped people. But, with that said, I had a family member that had a very hard time getting off Cymbalta. Praying for you.

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I had a terrible time with Cymbalta and had a very difficult time getting off of it. The prescription drug that has helped me the most with fibromyalgia is Savella. I have been on it for many years. Once, when I tried to lower my dosage, I immediately could feel the difference and I have never considered lowering it again. I highly recommend it.

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@susana2705

I had a terrible time with Cymbalta and had a very difficult time getting off of it. The prescription drug that has helped me the most with fibromyalgia is Savella. I have been on it for many years. Once, when I tried to lower my dosage, I immediately could feel the difference and I have never considered lowering it again. I highly recommend it.

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Is Savella the only med you take for your fibro? Would you mind sharing your dose? Do you have to start out on a low dose and work up, and have you had any side effects? Thanks.

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It has been a while since I started taking Savella, but I'm sure I started with a lower dose. I am now taking 100mg twice a day, morning and night. I don't think I have any side effects, at least none that I am aware of. I get lidocaine infusions every 4 weeks and I periodically take meloxicam. I am currently taking 7.5 mg in the a.m. I do take turmeric, 1000mg 2x a day. When I initially started taking the turmeric, I could tell a difference right away. I go to a pain clinic and keep asking what else is available. Other things suggested were CBD but I only tried that once as it didn't seem to do anything for me.

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I’ve been using turmeric for several years. I stopped for several months, and I started having problems again with my hands and wrists. I started back with the turmeric and I’m slowly but surely getting back to where I’m not having the pain.

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@chickiedee3

I’ve been using turmeric for several years. I stopped for several months, and I started having problems again with my hands and wrists. I started back with the turmeric and I’m slowly but surely getting back to where I’m not having the pain.

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That is really helpful information. I talked to my pain management doc about my use and explained that 900 mg per day was helpful, but I needed a "boost" - she suggested adding 300 mg midday and it helps -especially my knees. It works!

The only thing I notice is that sometimes I smell like an Indian restaurant!

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@sueinmn

That is really helpful information. I talked to my pain management doc about my use and explained that 900 mg per day was helpful, but I needed a "boost" - she suggested adding 300 mg midday and it helps -especially my knees. It works!

The only thing I notice is that sometimes I smell like an Indian restaurant!

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Hummmm, no one has said that about me, nor do I smell that on myself.

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I started taking Cymbalta after I developed a fissure in my upper intestines from taking Aleve 12 hour capsules twice a day, AM and PM. The Aleve helped me to live an almost pain free life for over 20 years and when I had to go off of it, I was in excruciating pain. My Rheumatologist prescribed Cymbalta starting with 20 mgs, then eventually going up to 30 mgs twice a day. I supplemented with Tylenol Arthritis twice a day. At the higher dosage of Cymbalta, I developed gastrointestinal problems and weight gain, so I backed down and now only take 20 mgs once a day along with Tylenol as needed. I tolerate the lower dosage just fine and it helps me keep my pain levels down to around a 5-6 out of 10. No where near as good as Aleve but a lot better than nothing. I have also taken Vyvanse 60 mgs in the morning for over 30 years, which helps keep me alert and controls my brain fog. I am by nature hypoactive and unlike people who are hyperactive, stimulants wake me up, and don’t calm me down. One neurologist diagnosed me with narcolepsy because without a stimulant, I can fall asleep all too easily, particularly dangerous when driving.

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@ripley

I also have fibromyalgia with daily pain. I don't want to discourage you from following your doctor's recommendations, just research it first. I've decided to avoid Cymbalta because I read studies show it only helps about 30% of the people who take it, but for those people it can reduce their pain up to 50%. ("In studies, pain was reduced by half in 30 out of 100 people taking duloxetine...compared with 20 out of 100 people taking placebo." ) I also read your body adjusts to it so the dose has to be raised eventually and it can have terrible side effects when you try to stop taking it. There is a Facebook page called "Cymbalta Hurts Worse" which is a support group for people trying to wean off.

My Dr recently prescribed Gabapentin, 100mg 3x a day, but I haven't started it yet. That has it's own set of side effects. I'm not sure what to do because living with daily pain is difficult.

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I am taking Gabapentin, Cymbalta
and Turmeric for my Fibromyalgia
and polymyalgia.for several yrs with good success. I recently was.out of my turmeric for a few days and had more pain so I know it helps! I have been dealing with these disorders for 25+ yrs and this combination of drugs had helped more than anything.
Good luck to all of you!

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I also take Cymbalta 60mg bid for my Fibro. What dose is your tumeric? Thank you.

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