I would try another pain clinic. Have you tried trigger point injections on your worse spots? I have had to switch dr. because they told me they couldn't help. I willpray God will help you needed relief and a dr. that can help and will.

Do you know what chronic myofascial pain syndrome is?? It's knots in the muscles that refer pain to other parts of the body. The knots are known as trigger points, and until they're broken up or deactivated, the pain isn't going to subside for long.

I use the book featured at triggerpointbook.com along with a two-headed percussion massage and do it on myself. It's a lot of work, but I'm pain-free 90% of the time without being on anything for pain. Before learning trigger point massage, I was in agony.

Hope this helps.

can you ask them if for a couple of months you can try oxycontin or ms contin and then go back to the methadone you see thats what i have to do every once in awhile. my dr calls it a drug holiday. and it works i was using vicodin for break through with the meth. got a little too use to it. so he put me ob percocet with the meth and things are working great for the exception when it rains. try asking him i bet you he will try it.
trish

yes I have and it feel awful. I was seeing a pain specialist and he was getting questioned my OHIP (ontario health coverage in canada), for dispensing meds to almost all of his patients. He cut a lot of us off when I guess it became too much for him.
I waited patiently on a list to transfer doctors and was told by him that for being on the list he couldn't treat me anymore. I went for a month without a doctor and many trips to t he hospital. My new doctor got the transcript form the hospital and saw that the meds were needed. Honestly if the effects of methadone are wearing up your body is tolerant and I'm sure you know this already. Tolerance to a med is more of a sign that if it is discontinues there will be several side effects.
Check out every option you can. i know it can be difficult to find the energy but in the end it is worth it. See what other pain c linics are out there even call a hospital to see what doctors in your area deal with fibro.
Likek trish said changing meds can help for a while. I've been on MS CONTIN (morphine), codeine contin, and oxycontin. The good thing about the "contin" meds are that they generally last up to 12 hours, with something like percoset you can end up having to take it ever 3-4 hours.
I hope you are well and that things are looking up for you.
I agree that trigger point therapy is great I get a massage every week now and it helps but it all depends on your financial situation.
I'm sorry if I've sounded preachy or long winded all of what I've written is from experience.

Hey darlin,
I have been "fired" by several docs for the DEA reasons. I am curious to know what all the pain clinic you are going to now has tried - they say they are running out of options. That sounds a little fishy to me. What drugs and other therapies have you been on?

Back when I thought my pain from a result of my accident, my physical therapist did something similar. He told he I've reached "maximum benefit" and he didn't want to lead me on to think I would improve from that point. He still offered to help me as far as starting and monitoring an exercise program as he had work out facilities for patients who moved beyond PT needs.

I think I'm about to get dumped by my rheumatologist. He's going to stop taking FM patients, but I'm not going to go without a fight. I went to him for identification of what type of arthritis I had and HE brought up FM. I didn't go to him with an FM diagnosis. I'm still afraid I have other things associated and I want his experise in the arthritis field. Why should he mind? My insurance pays him fully, just like his more severe lupus, MS and rheumtoid patients.

Luckily, my internist would be a good backup, as he has several FM patients.

Thanks everyone for the comments and suggestions. I've never had trigger point injections - that may be an option - My husband knows how to give me trigger point therapy - that helps - I like the idea of switching to something else for a while - that makes sense to me. I see the doctor tomorrow - I'll let you know what I find out. He mentioned trying something new that hasn't been formally approved for fibro - I get a little scared of that because I don't do well on new drugs - antidepressants including Cymbalta, Lyrica, etc. all had horrible side effects.

Thanks again for your support!

I am in the same boat,I told my FM doc. that the tramadol she put me on is not working anymore she replied saying I was maxed out on my pain meds.and since the tramadol wasn't helping I should quit taking it and not use any pain meds.I honestly think she has lost her mind.

im wandering what were side affects, with lyrica, because i had bad side effects then it was lowered , now im doing so much better. when i had that bad spell i thought i was going to die, it felt like a bad case of the flu

When I was on Lyrica I felt awful - felt like I had heavy weights attached to my arms and legs - I was afraid to even go to the grocery store for a few items, thought I was going to pass out. That's all I remember. Do you know what dose you were at and what it was lowered to?

Hi everyone. Well, my pain clinic didn't fire me yet. The doctor agreed that it could be the methadone is losing its effectiveness and put me on vicodin while I taper off of the last of the methadone. Its been a couple days now and I have to say I actually feel better already - that could be just a fluke too. Time will tell. Thanks for your help. Deb

My rheumo has started to come off to me as im not sure what more i can do. He is good and is familiar with fibro but is very caution on giving me meds. I take ms contin every 12 hours, percocet for flare ups, xanax and lorazapam for stress and anxiety, neurontin for nerve pain and lunesta for sleep.
My rheumo wants me to see a pain specialist that is about an hour away, not a problem for me but he is not on our insurance so they wont pay a penny for me to see him. the last visit he wanted me to go see a phys, and try some from of therapy that is relaxing but $ wise we cannot do that, if my insurance doesnt cover most of it its out of the question. My rheumo would nevr ever put me on methadone, he thinks percocet and ms contin are a bit up there. Ive been on the ms contin for well over a year, have been at 30 mg of the ms contin for a year and he will not up my dose. I lost it, started crying in his office. It has taken me over 10 years to find him and now i feel like hes giving up. He knows i cannot exercise or do PT, it sends me into a huge flare up, my body becomes imnune to alot of meds i take after so long and i have no pain tolerance. I dont go back to see him for 3 months but this flare up is getting worse so im calling his office first thing monday morning but it might take me 30 days or more to get in.
Ive not been fired from a job but i quit a few, but i gotta tell u i push myself and am very conscious about what i do at work, every little thing to make sure im not screwing up. I have, for the most part a stress free job and i love it. love my students and my job.