@A MyFibroTeam Member I have had bipolar disorder for about 20 years now so I'm very well experienced in depression and actually you are right, pills do cause depression. If you ask a psychiatrist they will tell you this. Narcotic pain killers can cause and increase depression in those that suffer from it however chronic pain also causes depression. How can you not be depressed when in pain every day of your life right? There are other medications you can use for Fibromyalgia and other things they can recommend. Cymbalta is an anti-depressant that also is used for pain relief in fibro patients and could be great for you if you suffer from depression. I take it for both and it's very helpful, you could ask your pain doctor about it but they'll probably mention it. It can be scary and I'm very sorry you are going thru it. If you aren't opposed to it I would recommend a therapist or psychiatrist too, mine is fantastic, I don't know where I'd be without her. I also learned from her depression causes pain so it's a double whammy for us. I'd see both a pain doctor and psychiatrist and/or therapist. They can help you so much. :)

Hello, I go to one. Started about 4 months ago. I worked for a pain medicine doctors office for a couple years as my last job so knew they treated fibro patients and how they work and decided to go to one myself. Plus I've been on tramadol (mild pain killer) for many years that my primary care was prescribing but it no longer was enough and she was not comfortable changing the dose as it's not her specialty. My first visit I filled out so much paperwork about my pain, where it is, what it's like, when it's worse or better, what drugs or procedures I've tried and what worked or didn't. Then I met the doctor and we talked about what a typical day is like for me and how my pain affects my day and my life. He told me what he suggests as far as my current tramadol prescription, talked to me about fibro drugs Lyrica, cymbalta and a new one and if we thought they were worth trying. Discussed diet changes, gentle exercises he recommends (swimming, yoga, Thai chi), what not to do that would increase my pain and then I had to take a drug test to make sure I'm sticking to my prescribed dose of tramadol and not taking any drugs I'm not telling him about legal or otherwise. Then I signed a "contract" agreeing to see them every 30 days to get a refill. No refills without a visit. That I'm taking only what I'm given. That I agree to take random drug tests to ensure I'm following the contract and that I'll be terminated as a patient if I break the contact. Oh and no refills if I lose my refill prescription slip. If I hadn't had medical records proving I have Fibromyalgia and Lupus I would have had some tests done like MRI, CT scan, x-rays etc but I didn't have to do those. I do get random drug tests and every visit I fill out paperwork on my pain status and we discuss what is working and what isn't. They also offer procedures that are not medication related such as nerve blocks, injections, epidurals, Botox for migraine (which I also get) and more. Sorry this is so long but hoping this helps. Good luck!! :)

My primary doc sent me to one. They recognized fibromyalgia so that was a major plus. I'm 53 and lived in Indiana until 4 years ago. I had a lot of things done in Indiana but no records so I did a lot of repeat mri's and exrays. They couldn't just take my word for it. I've been going since December. Sometimes I have to do a pee test and they always count my pills. They give suggestions on like therapy and injections. Everything os shared with my primary doc and it has been a very easy process. Hope this helps.

@A MyFibroTeam Member, I'm sorry that the clinic didn't work out for you and agree that someone who only offers you so little will not help you as much as someone who "can go outside of the box". I hope you find a great doctor that can help you with your symptoms. :)

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@A MyFibroTeam Member, you are right, that's how I ended up there. My PCP couldn't increase my tramadol so I went to them and they changed my type of tramadol to extended release 1x a day plus giving me the regular ones as a as needed supplement altho those are a low dose and less of them but not everyone who goes even gets pain medicine. It very much depends on why you are there. My office I worked at only gave some patients injections, nerve blocks, things like that because those last months and they didn't need pain meds too. But other patients need only pain meds. The other thing they do that people don't know is that they are specially trained to treat narcotic addiction with a special drug for withdrawal treatment. Some people get addicted from being on heavy doses of narcotics for such a long time they require a special medication and treatment to get off the narcotic pain meds safely. The doctors must get certified to do this and can only treat a certain number of patients a year. Sadly it was a large part of their business.

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