Multiple Disorders

[Abstract]

I have a nice little smorgasbord as well unfortunately. I find acceptance the best approach. In a "radical acceptance" way where I simultaneously educate myself and learn to manage symptoms as best as possible. There is much that I am grateful for. So so grateful to at last be at a point in my life where my eating disorder is almost totally history.

 

[Girl3]

I'd been told that I have chronic degenerative disc disease, if so then this might explain some of that pain.
If however he believes that I may need it for my neuropathic pain then he also needs to be informed that the recent Valproic Acid prescribed for possible seizures, neuropathic pain and insomnia has indeed decreased such neuro-pain significantly.
As for spells of my sky-high anxiety maybe someday, somebody medically again will give a sh't to how great of loss and suffering those such spells induce.

Cymbalta was approved for chronic muscle/skeletal pain because 4 randomized controlled trials showed an 80% improved effect. Neuropathic pain is better relieved with GABA-ergic drugs like gabapentin, pregabalin (Lyrica), and valproic acid( which also has an NMDA-receptor effect.) The addition of Cymbalta(duloxetine) may not be a bad idea, and you wouldn't necessarily have to start with the largest dose. (I take 20mg a day when I am on it.)

Spinal stenosis pain responds somewhat to physical therapy - exercises that strengthen the abdominal muscles as well as the muscles of the back, as well as particular stretching exercises that help minimize the curvature of the back. Some people benefit from abdominal binders/supports, and alternative therapies like chiropractic. Surgery should be reserved for those who get neurogenic claudication - when a person walks, the thighs and buttocks burn/hurt and the legs get progressively weaker, or if they start to have bowel and bladder issues (incontinence.)

My father had spinal stenosis. He responded to physical therapy for a number of years. When that no longer worked he had a surgery that was done under local - an X-Stop - and it worked for another two years. He did finally have to have spine surgery. Within 5 months of his multilevel laminectomy/foraminotomy, he was able to play golf.

So it isn't hopeless - there are things that can help. Cymbalta can also help treat anxiety (GAD). Between the valproate and Cymbalta, you may feel a lot better. I wish you much serenity and strength in dealing with this new issue.

 

[goingonhope]

Hi Girl3, you have answered alot here. :) This is most helpful!

Thank you so much for this information and for pointing out that it is not hopeless. I'll be seeing my psychiatrist very soon and later this afternoon I will show up for PT and follow-thru with yesterday's GP prescription for this.

Keeping this brief as today's psych appt. is coming up.

 

[Girl3]

You're very welcome, and I hope you get some relief from your pain.

 

[Britt.f7]

This is a very interesting thread. I feel like I'm 102, but I'm only 46. My grandma, who died at 87, use to complain about her aches(with humor) and I use to tell her it was really sad that I have the same issues as her(also with humor). Trying to find humor when everything looks bleak is important. At least to me.

I have a lot of diagnoses. I'm not sure why I feel uncomfortable laying them all out, especially since everyone here has been so open. I do believe that the mental and physical commingle together. Sometimes I'm not sure if it is my severe depression or my crapola (not a medical term and has nothing to do with crap) is knocking me down at times.

Despite taking several different meds, drinking alcohol from time to time, I could not see me smoking marijuana. I have a major issue with being in control. Even regular meds make me panic from time to time. I have to say, right now, I do not feel in very good control of my life. I am trying to keep it all together the best I can. I have no judgment of those that use alternative treatments, but it is important to let your doctors know, or, if you end up in an emergency room, to let them know. You do not want any adverse reactions.

I see a therapist who suffers from MS. I find it easier to relate to her about my medical issues. She understands my chronic health issues. If I ever change, I would probably seek out someone that has a chronic illness or someone who knows how to deal with chronic illness.

It's interesting to see that there are many of us who have multiple medical issues. Gives me pause.

 

[goingonhope]

I did make the decision to try Cymbalta the day following your post Girl3. He'd asked me if I'd consider trying it the night before while on the phone with him and I'd then feared no way.

The next morning, I think my anxiety, the rush of getting there, being there and the fear of not being able to effectively communicate made me forgetful afterwards so minus anything discussed, but I did consider very seriously what you posted and with a new willingness brought up Cymbalta, saying I would try it in a low dose.

Also, I asked him if it would help me with my anxiety, ...and he said yes.

I'm yet to take it firstly because I didn't remember if he told me what time of day its taken and then when I found out today that it could be taken anytime, I'm postponing it still, ...just briefly, until I am more brave, perhaps reading a bit more about it first.

Still with the pain, but at least its reoccurring and then passing for now and not so constant, painful and stressful as before today and just too difficult.

Very soon, I'm gonna be more brave.

 

[Girl3]

I take it in the morning because I find even the 20 mgs has an energizing effect on me. If I took it at night with my difficulty in falling asleep in general, I don't know it if would interfere with my sleep.

 

[Girl3]

I wish they would hurry up with a legal regulated synthetic that will work only on the CBr's I need for my PTSD and that can be taken with a sip of water. THAT, would be perfect for me.

 

[goingonhope]

I take it in the morning because I find even the 20 mgs has an energizing effect on me. If I took it at night with my difficulty in falling asleep in general, I don't know it if would interfere with my sleep.

Hi Girl3, I relocated this thread and now recall that I chose to take my first dose of Cymbalta in the morning and to give this a try. Your experience with its energizing effect appealed to me. As with medication working differently within different people, this is what happened for me and I believe it was either that dose or its next in which I called my doctor and abruptly quit it.

I told him that I almost immediately revisited a most disruptive symptom, which had soon afterwards almost fully lifted, for which my neurol. had recently sooner prescribed anti-seizure medicine in the hopes of limiting or ending reported seizure activity in which I'd been too frequently re-experiencing.

So, I just wanted to now thank you again for your earlier comments and experience.

 

[Britt.f7]

Okay, I have multiple heart conditions, sarcoidosis, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, IBS, sluggish esophagus(which is probably due to the dysautonomia above), Acid reflux, arthritis in my feet, postural orthostatic tachycardia. Yes, I'm 46 at this point and time. Just thought I'd make my life interesting. ;)

I was diagnosed with BiPolar, but I'm not sure how I feel about that. Also severe, chronic depression and ptsd. Do I believe that the physical conditions can be effected by the mental and vice versa, yes.

Do I think of any of them as fun, no way. However, I do believe that humor is one of the best medicines that I can use. I definitely try to use that to help me through all of my conditions.

I did not know Dr. Phil said "We are only as sick as our secrets."

Dr. Phil didn't make up this quote, but he did repeat it. It is a common quote in addiction/recovery circles. Can't seem to find the original quoter, but it was often tied to AA in my searches. It is a very true quote, that I entirely agree on.

 

[safenow]

Awfully discouraged today.

He said on the phone that he'd like to prescribe Cymbalta. Not knowing anything about it, I searched it on my computer and it did come up in the book, "Living With Chronic Pain." ...

Did you notice that the manufacturers of Cymbalta wrote that book?

Use caution. It might work at first, but within a month that help is gone, but the side effects/damage to your brain has already begun. It's not all it's cracked up to be. They advertise as a medical cure-all for pain, depression, anxiety, neuropathy. That's all advertisers garbage. because I suffer with each thing they advertised, I thought, "why not try it." I'm so glad my new doctor got me off of it right away. Study more about it and talk to those who have been taking it for longer than a couple of months. The damage to your liver can end up irreversible if it is taken too long.

Not trying to tell you what to do or not do. I am not a doctor. Only a woman who got off most all drugs and is now healing.

safenow

 

[Britt.f7]

I used Cymbalta for a number of years with no adverse effects. I didn't have any pain, just depression. At the time that was the only med I needed for that. Unfortunately, it stopped being effective this last year. Now I'm on a number of different meds. I'm not thrilled about that but I'm also not dead, which is where I was heading.

You do what you need to do. Everyone's body chemistry is slightly different and yours may not react the same as others. Here is a site I like to read about the meds I have been prescribed and decided to go ahead and take: Link Removed. I like it because it is simple to read and straightforward. It helped me decide what meds were going to be okay with me.

If you have decided to stick with them, I hope they are providing you relief.