I've got fibro and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome among other things both of which cause chronic pain.
For the fibro, I take 60mg Cymbalta in the mornings. I was on a higher dosage, but it didn't help any more and made me aggressive as a side effect.
For the EDS, I take buprenorphine patches, 35µg/hr, daily and have fast-acting Dilaudid for break-through pain.
Far more helpful than the opiates though, is the physio (both exercises and massage therapy) that I get 1-2x a week. The massage helps reduce pain in many areas so I don't need my break-through meds nearly as much.
For the rest, hot pads, baths with relaxation salts/oils, relaxation/meditation music, lavender oil, talking someone into giving me a foot rub, strong peppermint tea, and doing led mindfulness practice while lying down are all ways for me to fight moderate to medium-medium-high pain.
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Date: 2013-08-10 05:05 pm (UTC)For the fibro, I take 60mg Cymbalta in the mornings. I was on a higher dosage, but it didn't help any more and made me aggressive as a side effect.
For the EDS, I take buprenorphine patches, 35µg/hr, daily and have fast-acting Dilaudid for break-through pain.
Far more helpful than the opiates though, is the physio (both exercises and massage therapy) that I get 1-2x a week. The massage helps reduce pain in many areas so I don't need my break-through meds nearly as much.
For the rest, hot pads, baths with relaxation salts/oils, relaxation/meditation music, lavender oil, talking someone into giving me a foot rub, strong peppermint tea, and doing led mindfulness practice while lying down are all ways for me to fight moderate to medium-medium-high pain.
Good luck building your own pain management kit!