Hi everyone! It’s been a long time since I’ve been on the site and I’ve really missed it! Not to get into a long story but I’ve been struggling with a number of painful issues. Anyway, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in July. I have flares periodically but not like is happening this winter. I have Fibro flares three or four times a week. I realize this is nothing compared to many people on this site who suffer for months with a flare up. To this, my heart goes out to you. How do people handle the winter pain? It seems to happen when there are major temperature changes or just before it snows. Does this happen to you? I lay on the couch all day. If I don’t move much, the pain settles down a bit. When I get up, BAM! The pain accelerates fast! Does this also happen to some of you? I see my rheumatologist on Tuesday. I’m on 400mg of Gabapentin twice a day and Meloxacam 15mg in the morning. And oh, 60mg of Cymbalta in the morning. It’s not helping. Any ideas?
@Freedom, I have winter pain as you do. I’m not going to be much help on the drug side because I’m on so many for psychiatric reasons. I just started on Cymbalta in December and it’s not doing a lot to help yet.
Best of luck at your doctor appointment!
You may want to try breaking your cymbalta dose into 30mg 2x daily.
Since the start twice daily dosing has been the standard for cymbalta, it’s only very recently that the idea of once daily dosing for fibro has started. I’m not sure why. If you need 2x daily dosing to maintain the medication in your system for depression (it’s original use) why would once daily dosing work to maintain the medication for other things like pain management assistance? It doesn’t make sense to me.
But, I’m not a medical professional. Check with your pharm about it. But, since you’re having flares it seems to me changing the way you take the med is an easy and harmless way to try something new. Who knows? Maybe 30mg 2x will help more than 60mg 1x daily.
azurelle
Thanks everyone! Those are great ideas!
For some, a heating pad while you are sitting in your chair is nice for the most painful aread (aka back pain). I like taking long hot baths. I hope you find the thing that helps you.
I have heated car seats I use every time I am in my vehicle. I have been known to use them too in the summer with the air on.
I sometimes will tan in the winter…seems to help…I know we aren’t supposed to tan, but it is like an all over heating pad.