Have upcoming dr.s app. Need advice really bad.

[Dorriekeepson23]

Hey gang, several of you know I just got through, well it's day 5, of me getting off of my Narcotic Pain Med's. It was pretty bad the first three days, but I'm starting to feel better. I have a couple of question's though. Since I've quit, I'm having uncontrollable jerking in different parts of my body really bad. I'll be trying to go to sleep and BAM... my shoulder will just jerk really hard. Or my hip. My arms. It's strange. Just curious if ANYONE knows why this is happening or has experienced it too??? Would greatly appreciate any answers on that. And also, I have a doctors appointment coming up. Right now I am on Pristiq 100mg. And was on Lamictal 300mg, and tapered off it. I was told by my former pain doctor, that I should switch to Cymbalta because it helps with nerve pain. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions or opinion's of Cymbalta??? I have several back issues, with a lot of nerve pain. Four (c-4,5,6,7) discs with abnormal bulge and disc protrusion,s, and I'm trying to fight this without narcotics. I'd been on them since 2005. A "Too High Risk" patient for surgery due to a blood disorder. They stared me on Lyrica, which the pharmacist just told me today was a controlled substance?? I didn't know that. But it is helping. I mean I have to have some medication help. I can't deal with the chronic pain without it. I would greatly appreciate it, if anyone can help me out, by telling me of something you may suggest to me that might help with the pain, other than pain pills. I have Osteoarthritis in both of my knees. My pain doc took one look at the MRI's and looked at me and said "you need to go to an ortho. doc. asap". I'm trying to just take one thing at a time. This week I have just concentrated on getting through withdrawls from the pain meds. Now, I'm seeing a new Doctor Tuesday, and want to be able to throw some ideas out to him. Especially if he's one of those doctors that are not that great at throwing the suggestions out themselves. lol. Holy Christmas Nuts... I hope he's not like that!!! Thanks for any advice you guys. Take care. Dorrie

[needtogetwell]

Hey gang, several of you know I just got through, well it's day 5, of me getting off of my Narcotic Pain Med's. It was pretty bad the first three days, but I'm starting to feel better. I have a couple of question's though. Since I've quit, I'm having uncontrollable jerking in different parts of my body really bad. I'll be trying to go to sleep and BAM... my shoulder will just jerk really hard. Or my hip. My arms. It's strange. Just curious if ANYONE knows why this is happening or has experienced it too??? Would greatly appreciate any answers on that. And also, I have a doctors appointment coming up. Right now I am on Pristiq 100mg. And was on Lamictal 300mg, and tapered off it. I was told by my former pain doctor, that I should switch to Cymbalta because it helps with nerve pain. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions or opinion's of Cymbalta??? I have several back issues, with a lot of nerve pain. Four (c-4,5,6,7) discs with abnormal bulge and disc protrusion,s, and I'm trying to fight this without narcotics. I'd been on them since 2005. A "Too High Risk" patient for surgery due to a blood disorder. They stared me on Lyrica, which the pharmacist just told me today was a controlled substance?? I didn't know that. But it is helping. I mean I have to have some medication help. I can't deal with the chronic pain without it. I would greatly appreciate it, if anyone can help me out, by telling me of something you may suggest to me that might help with the pain, other than pain pills. I have Osteoarthritis in both of my knees. My pain doc took one look at the MRI's and looked at me and said "you need to go to an ortho. doc. asap". I'm trying to just take one thing at a time. This week I have just concentrated on getting through withdrawls from the pain meds. Now, I'm seeing a new Doctor Tuesday, and want to be able to throw some ideas out to him. Especially if he's one of those doctors that are not that great at throwing the suggestions out themselves. lol. Holy Christmas Nuts... I hope he's not like that!!! Thanks for any advice you guys. Take care. Dorrie

Dorrie Baby!!!!!!

Nice to hear from you!! Here's my ten cents worth on the muscle jerking thing when you are going to sleep.

I've been doing a huge amount of reading on sleep cycles lately and it seems to me that what you are experiencing could be quite normal during the first 2 stages of sleep (which are quite light sleep). Involuntary muscle contractions or jerking happens all the time as you are heading to a deeper stage of sleep.

I'm thinking that since you are no longer on the narcotic pain meds, you are once again developing a new sleep pattern and notice these muscle sensations more. Hang in there, it's going to be ok.

On the subject of pain management, have you tried accupuncture? I know this is a non traditional treatment for chronic pain, but once I was open to trying other things to help the pain, I found it really worked well. I know this sounds all hocus pocus but what have you really got to lose? The added bonus was that I sleep better and anxiety levels go way way down!

Think about it, do some research. Even my idiot ex-husband is trying it for extreme chronic pain and it is helping.

Good luck my friend! Think about you all the time and I am glad you are doing so well coming off the pain meds.

Cheers Sweetie!
Pam

[Dahila]

The jerking is really unpleasant, I have it but not if I take clonazepam two hours before sleep. If I take only zoplicone I got it through the night, or maybe through the two stages of sleep as Needtogetwell said.
Cymbalta is very good drug my hubby is on it and he suffers with chronic pain. It helps him very much. He is a different person from the time he started on it:))

[Dorriekeepson23]

Dorrie Baby!!!!!!

Nice to hear from you!! Here's my ten cents worth on the muscle jerking thing when you are going to sleep.

I've been doing a huge amount of reading on sleep cycles lately and it seems to me that what you are experiencing could be quite normal during the first 2 stages of sleep (which are quite light sleep). Involuntary muscle contractions or jerking happens all the time as you are heading to a deeper stage of sleep.

I'm thinking that since you are no longer on the narcotic pain meds, you are once again developing a new sleep pattern and notice these muscle sensations more. Hang in there, it's going to be ok.

On the subject of pain management, have you tried accupuncture? I know this is a non traditional treatment for chronic pain, but once I was open to trying other things to help the pain, I found it really worked well. I know this sounds all hocus pocus but what have you really got to lose? The added bonus was that I sleep better and anxiety levels go way way down!

Think about it, do some research. Even my idiot ex-husband is trying it for extreme chronic pain and it is helping.

Good luck my friend! Think about you all the time and I am glad you are doing so well coming off the pain meds.

Cheers Sweetie!
Pam

Hey there sweet friend, Yes, I would try anything like that if it would help. Sure. Actually, that was a pretty good suggestion. Feeling even better today. I can always count on you to be one of the first to answer and support me when I post something. Your a doll. Love, Dorrie

[Dorriekeepson23]

The jerking is really unpleasant, I have it but not if I take clonazepam two hours before sleep. If I take only zoplicone I got it through the night, or maybe through the two stages of sleep as Needtogetwell said.
Cymbalta is very good drug my hubby is on it and he suffers with chronic pain. It helps him very much. He is a different person from the time he started on it:))

Thanks my Dee Dee sweetie!! Im glad that's working for your husband. I too take clonazepam. Maybe it will ease up some with a little time. It has been a hard week. But I've done so much better than I thought I would. I have tons of more energy and my head is so much clearer. You and Pam are both just dolls. You are always there for me and support me, as soon as I post something. You have no idea how much that means to me. Love, D.

[Dahila]

Dorrie your body needs the time for cleansing, be kind to yourself hon:))