Hello All! I am new to this forum, but not new to pain! I have had 2 cervical fusions (2004 & 2009) with hardware in and out and in. I am now completely fused from C3-C7, luckily I can still move my head a little bit! I have recently been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia because my entire body is now painful and started on the generic Neurontin, 300mg in the am and 600 mg in the evening. At first, I noticed a little bit of relief, but that ended pretty quickly. I am schedule for a followup appointment at the end of the month and am trying to decide whether to follow the path of upping the Neurontin or asking to switch to Lyrica. I still fight with constant muscle spasms in my shoulders and up the back of my neck which cause "ice pick in the eye" headaches in addition to the muscle pain. My Primary Care Doctor (Internist) does not seem to want to address those issues, and my Orthopedic doc seems uninterested except to refer me to their pain specialists for cortisone shots which I am not interested in. Is it time to see a Neurologist to resolve all of these issues as best they can be? I am also apparently allergic to the codeine type meds - vomiting, migraines, etc... I would greatly appreciate any words of advice or wisdom!

I would definately find a different doctor if the pain doctor isn't interested
in working with you. Either the neurologist, or a reumotologist, which is
who I think sometimes works with fibro patients.

I just went to my primary yesterday, and he is the one that knew to
raise my gabapentin and change some things. When my pain doctor
just wanted to start something new.

I can't afford new meds, that are more expensive, so I am glad he
listens.

Donna

My rheum has always been my fibro doc. The first doc who ever said I had fibro was a sports doc, sports rheum I think, if that exists. I did not believe although I did have minor fibro symptoms. I didn't really believe until years later when i was diagnosed with MCTD and fibro. Many autoimmune diseases are accompanied by fibro so a rheum is probably your best answer.

Thanks for your speedy responses! It sounds like a good idea to go the Rheumatologist route! This is all just so confusing!

Yes a Reumy, is probably good.

But its best also to keep as low on number as possible doctors
when you haven't insurance. And that sometimes is a problem.

Donna

Luckily, I do have insurance through our state pool for people who have been denied insurance due to pre-existing conditions (aren't they all?) - it is expensive and there is a hefty deductible and co-pay, but at least it is something.

I do think getting a lot of doctors involved can be a problem though, because everything does become quite fragmented. I have a followup with my PC at the end of the month and will discuss some options. Although, I have to say, I think that she mis-prescribed the dosing on the gabapentin - she had me taking it 1 X 300 in the am and 2x300 at bedtime - which made me wake up with horrible headaches. After researching on the web, I discovered that the appropriate dosing is 3 x day. So I divided up the doses and it seems to not have the headache side affect. The big question now - is, is it really working. I am not noticing a big difference, maybe a little bit better. I hesitate to keep going up and up in dosage....

I think I would like to give the Lyrica a try before increasing the other - but it is expensive and that is a big draw back. On the other hand, if it works it will be priceless!