What should I do?

[sparkey]

I was just prescribed Lyrica a month ago. I started at 150 mg.'s a day and then after 2 weeks 300 mg's a day. I first noticed that my ankles felt sore/swollen. My body ached more each morning than it ever did. I never felt anything different since i took it except for the things i described above.

I saw the doctor yesterday. and she said to try it another month. If i do not find it helping, to slowly stop the med. I hear people feel loopy and that it helps them, and I know everyone is different. I am going to give it one more month, but if it does not work then for the nerve pain in my forearm or elbow, i will stop taking it.

It is a very expensive drug, thank god my ic is paying for it. It cost 300 and something dollars for 160 pills at the pharmacy i go to. I also take Cymbalta 60 mg's a day, and find that does not work either. The only thing that seems to be working is the pain meds at high doses. It is the only thing that helps me function in the working field.

I was doing half doses for a few days, and realised how much of a difference it made in my ADL's without the full daily dose. I have tried neurontin and had a side effect of flashes in my eyes, so i cannot take that anymore. What i do want to mention is, i have a TENS unit that my ic paid for so that i can have it at home for therapy. That has helped me tremendously when i am in alot of pain. The doctor is now going to read over my notes and see if i would be a candidate for a stimulator implanted. I really do not want to go that way, and would like to hear from someone that has one implanted on how they feel about that. Any info would help.

[Still in Limbo]

My Injuries are Posted in My Signature below, so as You can See I understand Thoroughly the Pain You are Feeling! You May have to Deal with this Pain for Life, I'm Sorry to Say, I do, and if I Listed the Meds. I take Daily You probably wouldn't Believe it! You need a Good Pain Management Specialist that will Listen, and Help You with Your Pain! If You have found One You Trust, Great, but Please Talk with them about Depression, it comes with Chronic Pain, and needs Treated. Sometimes the Depression can be as bad as the Pain, and the 2 Together are Very Hard to Deal with! I Wish You the Very Best, and I Hope You get Your Pain under Control!!

[Kuboluver]

Sparkey-
I also feel more sore in the mornings since I've been taking the Lyrica, but I've also been doing PT since the Lyrica was prescribed. I don't know which is causing the soreness for me.

The doc gave me a script for the Duragesic patch, he said not to take anything else with them, so we'll see how long it takes the IC to approve those. The last scripts it took them over 2 weeks. So, the doc said to keep taking the Lyrica and Kadian until the patches are approved and they are in my hands.

I kept telling myself this morning to talk to the doc about the depression, then when I got into the exam room my mind went blank. I will for sure talk with him next week about it, I will pin a note to the front of my shirt if I have to!

Thank you, everyone, for all of the advice and encouragement!