I do and I'm not shy talking about it. If you have questions, ask away! I'm a big advocate FOR opioids or any pain medication for Fibro Warriors. I think that to not offer some kind of pain relieving medication to someone with chronic pain is inhumane and any doctor that refuses it should be sued for negligence. Yeah, I'm a bit opinioned about it.

I have been on the SAME opioid for 5 years. A controlled release and instant release version of Nucynta (tapentadol, very similar to tramadol). It is the only pain medication that makes me at least comfortable most of the time. Pain flare days can be days where no pain medication touches me, but I have coping skills for those kinds of days. The instant release nucynta is for break through pain. With Cymbalta and especially Lyrica (for nerve pain), Nucynta is part of the magic cocktail that works for me.

The best thing my family physician told me at the beginning of our journey to manage my pain was to never expect to be pain free. It's an unrealistic expectation that will only create more negative thoughts and a never ending cycle of more pain. In fact, as there is no cure for Fibro, one should never expect to be pain free. Pain medication will always be part of my life. Until or unless they can either give me a replacement body (I'll take my body at age 25 back, pronto!) or they find a cure, I'll be taking my pain meds.

If anyone wants to chat more about this, feel free to contact me through my blog at www.livingwithfibromyalgia.ca

@A MyFibroTeam Member I know about how shy doctors are about prescribing the pain medication we freaking DESERVE. I think any doctor who refuses is negligent. Yep, you got it. Negligent.

Unfortunately, as advocates of our own health, we must walk softly and speak nicely to doctors just to get the pain relief we deserve. I find it absolutely horrifying and deplorable and have written about it numerous times on my blog (www.livingwithfibromyalgia.ca). Nothing outrages me more than hearing about one more Fibro Warrior who was refused pain relief medication.

Here's my own story on that (short version). When I was first diagnosed, my family doctor was going to refer me to a local pain specialist. She heard from the guy that he does not prescribe pain medication for fibromyalgia patients. She was so outraged that she said she'd never refer to the guy again. She told me that it was like telling a diabetic they didn't need insulin and refusing to prescribe it. Eventually, she got fed up with the BS she had to go through to practice medicine in Ontario - and moved to Alberta. Leaving me without pain medication or a doctor for 3 very long years. It took me that long find a doctor willing to take me on as a patient simply because I had chronic pain. Bless his heart!

So you be a squeaky wheel and you keep on asking. Don't you dare worry about being made feel that you are a junky looking for a handout (and you will get treated that way by one or many health care professionals - who have NO clue what it's like to live in your body and with your pain). Educate yourself (two great resource sites listed below) and print out studies or articles to give to your doctor and be the best advocate for your own health. No one else will do it.

Knowledge is power!

Mentioned Users

A MyFibro...

Was your question directed at me or someone else? If me, I am Canadian. But I know Nucynta is available in the USA too. Likely the UK as well. It is a controlled release opioid, so it is less likely to be abused or used to crush, snort etc.

I take 200mg of Nucynta CR 2x a day. And can take 100mg of the instant release 2x a day if I need as well. I don't always need it. Yes I sometimes take 3 on flare days. But I do not consider that "abusing" my medication when I still have enough to last my entire month.

The government doesn't really dictate how opioids are dispensed in Canada. It is up to the doctor. The trick of course is to FIND a doctor that isn't a dinosaur who won't take on chronic pain patients because we are too much work.

My doctor writes me 3 month at a time prescriptions of Nucynta because he trusts me. I can only get a month at a time from the pharmacy anyway.

Oh, forgot to mention that nucynta is very similar to tramadol but minus the constipation. Nucynta is much stronger as well. The next step pain medication if nucynta ever stopped working for me is some kind of morphine equivalent. I hope that day never comes.

I just started butran patch but it doesn't seem to do much. I am still having to take my oxycodone 10mg 4 times a day. I have an awful problem with kidney stones, si joint terrible pain, interstitial cystitis, returning cysts, and the Fibro. My pain doctor doesn't believe in medicating with the opiods for the Fibro but is helping me because of si joint pain. But nothing really helps.