Cymbalta
 

Hello all! I was recently taken off of Lyrica and put on Cymbalta for the burning pain that I have started experiencing on the bottoms of my feet and on my palms (it has spread). Amazingly, it seems to have helped! I have seen a lot of people here either on Lyrica or Neurontin.....Cymbalta doesn't pop up as much.

Is anyone else on this med?? Have you noticed any improvement? If so, what symptoms improved??

I still have some pain in the shower (any temperature of water) and when I'm standing (my feet feel severely bruised) but the burning is better. I am very encouraged by the improvement I've noticed so far.

At the same time as the Cymbalta change, they put me on Elavil for sleep. I was nervous about that one, but it is doing its job and I wake up without a groggy feeling. I just wanted to share with all what is working for me. I know we are each unique in our body chemistry and it is trial and error to find the right meds, but I am elated so far at the change in my pain levels!!

Also, unlike Lyrica, the Cymbalta only requires one dose a day and it does not make me sleepy or dizzy like Lyrica did.

I hope this information might help someone else!! I am curious to see if there are others out there that are on it and whether it helped. Thanks in advance for any replies!! Have a joyous weekend!!!

Great News!
 

I am so glad to hear this great news. I was prescribed cymbalta, but didn't take it long enough to comment. I am so pleased that you are having good results from the change in meds. I hope things keep looking up for you. All the best Di

Hi Mom

I've been thinking about you because you were having a tough time of it, I'm really happy that you are finding some relief with new meds. I like Cymbalta, and take 30 mg twice a day. Are you on any anti-seizure meds? I also take Topamax along with the Cymbalta, I used to take Neurontin but I get really bad "RSD" headaches and Topamax is commonly perscribed for migraines so I switched. When I was first diagnosed I tried Lyrica but it made me nuts (I was screaming at my kids and poor husband a lot!) so I didn't stay on it for very long.

My PT arranged for me to get a TENS unit last week. I like it. For you it would only help one or two painful areas at a time, but its certainly worth a try if your insurance will cover it.

I hope you were able to get some home PT visits approved.

Keep us posted on your progress!

Sandy

Awesome that these are doing the trick for you!!! YEA!!!!!!! I was on cymbalta for all of one week way back now. LOL I quit taking it because it gave me sharp, stabbing pain in my stomach. EEK! I didn't need MORE pain. Geez.....lyrica was the only med I took in 6 years that didn't turn me into a monster or give me more pain. Alas though.....it made the numbness 10 times worse in my legs, so I quit taking it about 2 months ago I think, maybe 3. Either way, it took over a month for the numbness to go back to "normal". LOLOL So I'm sticking with my 2 meds and be happy! :D

Hugs,

Karen

Well.....I tend to "jump the gun" and declare myself all better out of great desire or desperation!! I remember I thought I was in "remission" a few weeks ago before the storm after that calm hit sending my poor body through the wringer!! Anyway, I'll take less pain over more pain any day!!

One symptom I have noticed increasing (I'm not sure if it is the meds or the RSD) is the SWEATING. I get sweaty and clammy ALL over.....especially around my hairline but it is miserable. I absolutely cannot stand it......I can't imagine how bad it will be in the summer.

Thanks for writing me back and thinking of me!! I hope to keep everyone posted with more promising news!! Take care to all!!!

The sweating is rsd. A lot of us aren't able to regulate our body temp anymore thanks to the beast messing with all of the sympathetic nervous systems. It's just another one of those things that comes with this and we have to live with it as best as we can.

Hugs,

Karen

Mom in Pain
 

Hi there.

I am so happy to hear that Cymbalta is working for you too. I didn't know how much it was helping me until I got pregnant and had to stop taking it. Man, was it painful.

I do agree with Sandy. Topomax works the best with it, for me. I have been on Topomax for almost 3 years and had to keep increasing it because my pain was so bad. So, when my Prozac stopped working at 90mg, I asked my doc about Cymbalta. He agreed because it is for neuropathic pain. It helped so much with my depression and RSD. AWESOME! Every symptom was less dramatic (TOLERABLE)...

Hope this helps!

BTW, I think we all sweat and get clammy. It's awful but part of the RSD package.

Wish you luch hun!

Heather

Hi MomInPain,

I can't tell you how happy I am to hear that you have gotten some pain relief - you SO deserve it and I really hope that the Cymbalta will continue to work and that you will be able to function "normally" whilst on it!!

I haven't been on Cymbalta. I think it's probably the only pain med that I haven't been on as it seems as though I have been on everything else lol. My PM Doctor told me that Lyrica was very like Cymbalta and my body couldn't tolerate that well at all so there wasn't much point in trying it.

I have heard that a lot of people with RSD are on Cymbalta though and there seems to be a very mixed response - some say that it works really well and others say that it doesn't help at all unfortunately!

I'm SO thrilled that you are getting some pain relief and hopefully this will be the start of you heading towards your remission!! I know you are thrilled to have less pain and want to do things but please don't overdo things and make yourself worse - that is the last thing you want!:hug:

Take care - i'm thinking about you and please keep us updated when you can!

Hi MomInPain,

I just saw this post and wanted to let you know that I too, experience the terrible sweating!! I can just get out of the shower and I will be sweating straight afterwards and my RSD leg will be bright red!! If my mum goes to hold my arm, it will be really hot and sweaty and just feels like someone has thrown a jug of water all over it!!!

It is SO embarrassing and horrible as I will go really red and hot sometimes! I mentioned it to my PM Doctor and he said that it was a VERY common symptom of RSD and that it is caused by something being wrong with the nervous system but he doesn't know what might help with it and what wont!!

I really wish I could help you more but just know that I am here for you and DO understand, like many others!!:hug:

hey sandie
i am glad that the new meds are helping i hope that the relief last long for you hope that your block in the morning is succeseful i will think about you and pray.

about the sweating i have the same problem it looks like i have ran a marathon all the time and i hate it plus not to mention how embarissing that it is i have used that degree perscription strenght deorderant it does help alot of the time and at least i dont feel like i smell . but here in the south in the summer its horrible with the sweating.

hope that this finds you well

carrie

Hi Mom,
It's Loretta, my laptop is still down. So I'm on my husbands computer and got a temporary password so I could get on line. I forgot my password? surprise Spent 4 hours at the er yesterday-have terrible painful sores in mouth. My Dr. wanted me checked out right away.He's afraid my infection in lesions didn't get cleared up and got in bloodstream. I'm afraid too. After 4 hours, they said it would be another 3 hours! We left. I had to go lay down in car and my husband waited. We'll start over tomorrow. My blood pressure was low and I just couldn't take waiting any longer. I'll write later. I'll get in somewhere tomorrow. I'm glad you like the Cymbalta, I am on it too. and works good for me. Take care, loretta

Oh, Loretta, I am SO sorry to hear how you're struggling. I am worried about you. Please keep in touch and let me know what they do to help you. Please take care of yourself. Be very careful with that low blood pressure. I hope to talk soon!! Call if you need me!!! Love....

Hi Mom,
Thanks for the sweet message. Did you go thru with the block for both feet? I remember the probing questions regarding this next treatment and you were going to try and see the Dr. before he procedure and ask the difference betweentwo treatments. Did that happen. How is your left hand? The excessive sweating is common to most of us. I hate it too. Thankfully, I don't have the 'touch' sensitivity. I attribute that to my long term p.t. and also my own continuation of p.t. The sweating is tough here in Arizona! smile
I'm thankful to be able to use a fan year around. I also, like you, get the bright redness just from any water movement over my skin. The fan helps immediately after getting out of shower. Also, baby powder helps, keep the skin dry and fro sweating more. I use i daily. Please let me know how the procedure went?
This morning I called Barrows Neurological Instiute and asked for an appointment for RSD Doc. My Dr. had back surgery there a couple years ago. It's known around the country and world and one of the best. I was devasted when they said they were no longer accepting RSD patients. They had one specialist and he moved on to the VA Hospital here in Phoenix. I have his name if anyone qualifies for VA. I also called the Mayo Hospital where they did he ketamine studies a few years ago and they no longer treat RSD. They do have one orthopedic Dr. that treats it in the foot and ankle, but not if it has spread anywhere else. My next plan is to contact the hospital where I spent 4 days about 4 years ago in ICU and remember I had two neuro Drs. familiar with RSD and try and get in to see one of them. My Neuro is moving. Have a few months before he moves. My mouth seems to be getting better. I think now, it's just canker sores. The show'The Doctors' discussed a medicine by 'prescription only' today that is good for that, so will call my dentist tomorrow.
Take care, thinking of you everyday. Love, loretta

Hi Ali,
How are you doing since your fall on your left hand? I just mentioned to 'Mom' about using a fan after taking a shower to keep from sweating so much. You can direct the fan away from you, but just the movement in another direction gets the air moving and really helps the sweating problem, you don't get the skin sensitivity. I use one while sleeping also, but not directed on me. We have air condition in the house, but need more than that to help, especially after shower or bath. And using baby powder helps absorb heated skin. You are so sweet, thank you for all your messages and the time you take to write everyone with such kindness. Love, Loretta