[Johnsonsyard]

Hi Everyone , I'm afraid another Lyrica thread but I feel so bad I have to. Can anyone relate to muscle problems with this drug ? Every morning I feel as if I'm turning into concrete all over. After a shower start to pull together but have muscle stiffness and trigger points mainly around neck head and shoulders . Turning head is very stiff and limited one side. It's as if any problem I've had in the past has been reawakened while taking this drug. Did try coming off but neuropathic pain returned in face worse than before. I 've been told this could be a rebound effect . Meanwhile really struggling.

Wish you well

Nick

[Diandra]

Hi Nick,
Yes, I can relate the muscle problems, or at least I think they were muscle problems. I know when I went off Lyrica, my body was SO uncomfortable, it felt like a guitar string being overly tightened and if you have ever played a guitar, you know when you tighten a string too much, it snaps....that is what I felt like, too tight and ready to snap!

If it is not the muscles being too tight, perhaps it is the nervous system spasming, which in turn affects the muscles. My head and neck have been the most affected as well.
I am sorry you are still suffering. What dose are you on now?
Diandra

Originally Posted by Johnsonsyard

Hi Everyone , I'm afraid another Lyrica thread but I feel so bad I have to. Can anyone relate to muscle problems with this drug ? Every morning I feel as if I'm turning into concrete all over. After a shower start to pull together but have muscle stiffness and trigger points mainly around neck head and shoulders . Turning head is very stiff and limited one side. It's as if any problem I've had in the past has been reawakened while taking this drug. Did try coming off but neuropathic pain returned in face worse than before. I 've been told this could be a rebound effect . Meanwhile really struggling.

Wish you well

Nick

[Johnsonsyard]

Originally Posted by Diandra

Hi Nick,
Yes, I can relate the muscle problems, or at least I think they were muscle problems. I know when I went off Lyrica, my body was SO uncomfortable, it felt like a guitar string being overly tightened and if you have ever played a guitar, you know when you tighten a string too much, it snaps....that is what I felt like, too tight and ready to snap!

If it is not the muscles being too tight, perhaps it is the nervous system spasming, which in turn affects the muscles. My head and neck have been the most affected as well.
I am sorry you are still suffering. What dose are you on now?
Diandra

Hi Diandra , Thanks for your reply and nice to hear from you again . You've been very helpful. Like yourself going through bad time. I was on 150mg a day and doc brought me down to 50mg but went into SEVERE PAIN with my neuropathy. Doc put me up again to 75mg ( after ending up at Accident and Emergency, my body is intolerant of most pharmaceuticals)). I feel absolutely terrible ALL over . No doubt you know what it feels like . Si Dysfunction , Degenerative discs , TMJD to name a few. As I say all the old injuries I ever had over my life have all kicked off. Psychologically I think I've adjusted at times , then I go into depression as I can't get away from it . Just a little peace to re group would be good. Doc has faith in Lyrica ( I did not feel like this before) but I'm not sure where I am going with all this. Anyway how are you coping ?. Have you got your big trip to Italy arranged ? You are very brave and put me to shame.

Best regards


Nick

[PamelaJune]

Hey Nick, you should never feel shame, we all go through battles with chronic pain and some days, weeks and even months are worse than others. Depression is a debilitating add on condition that seemingly accompanies long term pain. There are other drugs with less dependency outcomes than the magical lyrica so do try not to despair. Be sure to explain to your GP how you are feeling, when I came off lyrica I was put onto 50mg pristiq, within a week I felt more human and able to deal better with the angst that accompanied my lyrica cut off. Stay strong

Originally Posted by Johnsonsyard

Hi Diandra , Thanks for your reply and nice to hear from you again . You've been very helpful. Like yourself going through bad time. I was on 150mg a day and doc brought me down to 50mg but went into SEVERE PAIN with my neuropathy. Doc put me up again to 75mg ( after ending up at Accident and Emergency, my body is intolerant of most pharmaceuticals)). I feel absolutely terrible ALL over . No doubt you know what it feels like . Si Dysfunction , Degenerative discs , TMJD to name a few. As I say all the old injuries I ever had over my life have all kicked off. Psychologically I think I've adjusted at times , then I go into depression as I can't get away from it . Just a little peace to re group would be good. Doc has faith in Lyrica ( I did not feel like this before) but I'm not sure where I am going with all this. Anyway how are you coping ?. Have you got your big trip to Italy arranged ? You are very brave and put me to shame.

Best regards


Nick

[eva5667faliure]

Originally Posted by Johnsonsyard

Hi Everyone , I'm afraid another Lyrica thread but I feel so bad I have to. Can anyone relate to muscle problems with this drug ? Every morning I feel as if I'm turning into concrete all over. After a shower start to pull together but have muscle stiffness and trigger points mainly around neck head and shoulders . Turning head is very stiff and limited one side. It's as if any problem I've had in the past has been reawakened while taking this drug. Did try coming off but neuropathic pain returned in face worse than before. I 've been told this could be a rebound effect . Meanwhile really struggling.

Wish you well


Nick

Dear Nick
Have been in your place
Drug was not categorized yet
My magic number were 4 capsules
I forget how many units
It helped and hurt at the same time
Took myself off of them
I had the blisters in mouth
Blistered skin on my hands
Did a number on my nail beds
Both hands and feet
A horrible drug for me
And yet my eldest 33
my epileptic baby is still on it
She is doing okay with it
Persons must heed to the warning
of the side affects
You take care and log everything down
it's amazing to go back and see the effects happen
to many unfortunate experiments
As that is what we are to the medical community
Wishing you the best in helping with your pain
Me

[Johnsonsyard]

Originally Posted by PamelaJune

Hey Nick, you should never feel shame, we all go through battles with chronic pain and some days, weeks and even months are worse than others. Depression is a debilitating add on condition that seemingly accompanies long term pain. There are other drugs with less dependency outcomes than the magical lyrica so do try not to despair. Be sure to explain to your GP how you are feeling, when I came off lyrica I was put onto 50mg pristiq, within a week I felt more human and able to deal better with the angst that accompanied my lyrica cut off. Stay strong

Thanks Pamelajune for your kind words. Situation got a bit worse as tinnitus started off bi laterally . I've has it before but this is bad . Think it's from the tight muscles in neck. I seet he FDA state it could because of the Lyrica but equally it could be because of my TMJD. I think it's the Lyrica as TMJ was never this bad. Been afraid but gotta pull my socks up , but again it's good to have a few kind words.

Thanks

Nick

[Johnsonsyard]

Originally Posted by eva5667faliure

Dear Nick
Have been in your place
Drug was not categorized yet
My magic number were 4 capsules
I forget how many units
It helped and hurt at the same time
Took myself off of them
I had the blisters in mouth
Blistered skin on my hands
Did a number on my nail beds
Both hands and feet
A horrible drug for me
And yet my eldest 33
my epileptic baby is still on it
She is doing okay with it
Persons must heed to the warning
of the side affects
You take care and log everything down
it's amazing to go back and see the effects happen
to many unfortunate experiments
As that is what we are to the medical community
Wishing you the best in helping with your pain
Me

Thanks Eva , you post really moved me and I return your care . As I said in Pamelajunes post , it's amazing what a few kind words can do. I suppose it's a question of attitude but we're only human. I know you've been though it personally but when a child does it's hurts even more. God bless you and make his peace come into your life. Thanks

Nick

[Diandra]

Originally Posted by Johnsonsyard

Hi Diandra , Thanks for your reply and nice to hear from you again . You've been very helpful. Like yourself going through bad time. I was on 150mg a day and doc brought me down to 50mg but went into SEVERE PAIN with my neuropathy. Doc put me up again to 75mg ( after ending up at Accident and Emergency, my body is intolerant of most pharmaceuticals)). I feel absolutely terrible ALL over . No doubt you know what it feels like . Si Dysfunction , Degenerative discs , TMJD to name a few. As I say all the old injuries I ever had over my life have all kicked off. Psychologically I think I've adjusted at times , then I go into depression as I can't get away from it . Just a little peace to re group would be good. Doc has faith in Lyrica ( I did not feel like this before) but I'm not sure where I am going with all this. Anyway how are you coping ?. Have you got your big trip to Italy arranged ? You are very brave and put me to shame.

Best regards


Nick

Hello Nick,
I am at 75 mg also and I swear, this dose barely helps but it is doing weird things too our bodies. When I get back from this trip, I am going to try and get off it again because 75 is a low dose.

I agree with Pam that depression is unfortunately often a companion to chronic pain and now these weird side effects. You and I have both experienced that getting off the Lyrica seemed to cause more problems than staying on it.
Living in the limbo land of not taking enough Lyrica to really help the neuropathy yet we have to take to cope with feeling so awful going off it. I was off it for something like 6-8 weeks and still had problems.

I am going to try withdrawal using the great suggestion of having a pharmacist or compounding pharmacist make it in much smaller doses so we can step down more gradually...I think that may be the answer.

And please don't think of being put to shame....it is more like I might be doing something incredibly stupid. I just get so dispirited and down living this kind of life I just thought, well, I don't seem to be getting much better and I don't want to die without going to Italy, so just going. It is a very easy trip, the only rough patch will be enduring the 9 hr plane ride. My terrific husband will be with me.
We are only staying in 2 places in 2 weeks and much of the trip is relaxing.
We prefer meeting local folks and just experiencing their life.
My inspiration was a friend who had a double lung transplant 5 yrs ago went to Cinque Terre last yr . He lives on massive amounts of anti rejection meds and yet he was courageous. He really inspired me...he's a really great guy, a lawyer friend who had to go on full disability as well. I am a bit nervous because I have felt lousy this past week...hoping I feel better by this Monday when we leave
for two weeks. This trip is a test. Hope I pass!

Nick...hang in there. Remember, your doc can suggest things but you make the final decision. You know your body and how you feel better than anyone, I definitely think Lyrica is doing more harm than good, af least for me, but I need help with seizure control and neuropathy, so I stay on it until I can find another drug to prevent them. I started B12 injections a few weeks ago and I think it helps neuropathy.

OK...gotta go...took an Ambien and I am fading fast....sorry for rambling.
Nick...keep in touch about how you are doing.
Take it easy, Diandra

[muzikmakur]

Originally Posted by Johnsonsyard

Hi Everyone , I'm afraid another Lyrica thread but I feel so bad I have to. Can anyone relate to muscle problems with this drug ? Every morning I feel as if I'm turning into concrete all over. After a shower start to pull together but have muscle stiffness and trigger points mainly around neck head and shoulders . Turning head is very stiff and limited one side. It's as if any problem I've had in the past has been reawakened while taking this drug. Did try coming off but neuropathic pain returned in face worse than before. I 've been told this could be a rebound effect . Meanwhile really struggling.

Wish you well

Nick

Hi Everyone,

I have actually been taking Lyrica more for a chronic fatigue than for chronic pain. I have no diagnosis of nueropathy. I originally took it as an additional med for pain but noticed after going on and off of it that while taking it I felt great! (antidepressant effect) and I didn't crash with fatigue anymore (which was amazing!). But after taking it for 2 months (200 then 300mg after 6 weeks) I noticed that I would wake up with enormous stiffness in my lower back; could hardly get out of bed. I hadn't actually realized it was possibly the Lyrica that was doing this cause I had been doing a lot of physical work that I don't usually do (I'm 58 and sit behind a computer most of the time) but now after reading these posts I believe that it the Lyrica causing this. So I'm going to have to go off of it. Not looking forward to this as I know of nothing else that will keep me from crashing with fatigue.

I actually took an older medication called Nortriptyline at one point instead of Lyrica and I was able to lower my pain med Tramadol significantly. Don't remember how it worked with fatigue and depression though. Anyone else ever take this drug?

[Kitt]

Welcome muzikmakur.