I'm back from the PCP.

He hasn't seen me for a couple of months and after hearing me out, he leaned forward in his chair and said "I'm concerned. Along with what you've described, you've lost a lot of weight, and don't look well".
That immediately made me concerned too.

He wants me to try a low dose (30mg) of Cymbalta over the next couple of weeks to see if it will reduce the neuropathic pain without adverse side effects. He said that it may take some trial and error with some different meds to get some of the symptoms under control, and that because I've had several adverse reactions to medications over the years, especially recently, he's wanting to proceed very carefully and keep an eye on my liver function as well as any side effects.

He checked the body over, frowning at the redness of my hands and near purple color of my finger joints, then affirmed that my left thumb is subluxating. He asked if I remember dislocating it. I don't, but I may have done so and not noticed because of the numbness in that area...probably in my sleep if I did; as I have awoken with joint sprains in the past (ankle and wrists).

I asked him to check a swelling on my back near the spine that has appeared, and continued to grow over the past couple of months. It is now the size of half a walnut. He had removed a similar sized sebaceous cyst that was irritating the nerves in that area this past spring, and I just thought that it was a return of that.

He disagreed and said that this one is not confined to the skin, is situated over the spine and moves with it; and so does not appear to be either a sebaceous cyst or a lipoma .
I can't get a good look at it because it is in the middle of my back, so can only feel it with the fingers of the hand that can reach it.
He has ordered a CT and biopsy, with possible surgery to follow for next week.

First things first though.
I'd appreciate you sharing your experiences with Cymbalta, as he wants me to start on it today.

He said that it could increase the sleepiness, dizziness and weakness, but didn't want to prescribe anything to treat those along with it, before knowing if I will react poorly to it.
He said that he knows that I'm not depressed, although it is also used for that, but is hoping that it will help with the neuropathic and possibly the hand joint pain as well. He thinks that the body is exhausted from the pain and that may be why I'm having the narcoleptic episodes.

Thanks peeps.

With love, Erika

Gee Erika, your PCP sounds wonderful. I'm so glad that you had a
productive session. Now, lets see if he can come up with something
that will truly help you.

Never tried Cymbalta , but did try Welbutrin, which is an AD much
like Cymbalta. I didn't like it. It did not help my depression,
but we are different and I wasn't having any pain, at the time.
Like the Doc said, it's trial and error. Let us know how it works
for you.

Praying for the best for you..

Erika, I've been taking Cymbalta (30 mg) for two months. It took me a couple of weeks to get up the courage to start taking it--reading the fine print scared the jeepers out of me. My doctor also prescribed it primarily for pain (MS and arthritis).

The first three or four days my stomach felt weaselly, and I was wicked sleepy. NOT so sleepy that I would have fallen asleep at the wheel, but I didn't drive the first few days, just in case. I was also troubled the first week or so by, ahem, a desperate need for lots of fiber.

I had myself all freaked out--so many of the possible side effects also go hand in hand with MS. So am I still wanting a nap every day because of the Cymbalta, or because I'm 63 and have MS? Is that little flutter an arrhythmia, or just anxiety? And so on.

I'm assuming I would have had any other side effects by now, but I don't know. There is a definite improvement in pain level, so at this point I'd say it's worth it.

Erika,

I have not been on Cymbalta. I did ask for it but was given nortriptyline instead. It works great as an add on for TN for me at 40 mg HS. The only SE was vivid dreams- in a good way- I looked forward to them! By the 3rd or 4th night they stopped.

As to the walnut size lump on your spine- I am glad there is a quick plan to biopsy that. I am thinking of you and praying that all will be well.

Best to you,
ANN