It depends on the pain reliever. My rheumatologist told me not to take any at all because the pain in nuerological and it won't work any way. It helps a little. I find I have to do a dozen things to feel better.

I don't think we can expect it to get to 0, but my pain reliever (prescription) gets mine down to about a 2-3 range. I consider that pretty good.

Depends on how you rate pain. for me, 10 is dying of it. So... 9 was unrelieved pain from spine and pelvic injuries that lasted 5 months without any pain drugs at all.... Made my worst FM look like a happy 6.5 by comparison. So I would say with others depends on you and your body and what your body likes. SOme people do great with one drug but not another.... It is too individual for words.

Leo,

Here's a different way of looking at it-

What was your pain last time you were without meds? (i know this is hard for those on SSRI's or lyrica)

and what percentage of that pain is alleviated when you do take meds?

It doesn't matter what meds you are on...- You don't even have to mention them- its just a measure of how well YOU think YOUR pain is controlled.

So you can do it percentage wise or your pain score when you have no meds- and your pain score with meds. Either way it lets others know how well your meds work for YOU.

So if your pain fibro pain is at 6.5, what is it when you take your meds?

Coralie X

I think you have to decide for yourself what pain level is tolerable for you and allows you to be your best.
I would then work with your dr. to get that pain level down to that. It may take some time. I have been working with my dr. for 10 months and think we have gotten to alevel that works for me which is about a 3. I am blessed to have a doc that will work with me!!!
As a side note I also have 4 children which I had in 6 years so know the work and time that takes. I can,t imagine what it would have been to try and raise them with this fibro. My youngest is 26 and they all help out alot! Give yourself a pat on the back for just getting through everyday!!

If childbirth is a 10 then I would have to rate my daily pain about 7 or 8 daily.

I take Norco and it brings it down to 4 or 5 most days. That allows me to do a lot of things in life that I would be missing otherwise.

When I take my pain meds I can get as good as 3-4 which I can function with.

Childbirth pain - at the end - caused me to black out so yeah that's a 10 based only on my own experience.

I honestly don't know anyone with fibromyalgia who gets to zero - but there might be people out there. I could probably do it, but I'm not willing to take enough medication to make it happen, and if I did it would be counterproductive. My object is to be functional, and that much medication would defeat the purpose.

On an average day, when I take my meds, my pain is probably down to about 3-4. I occasionally have a good day when it will be lower.

I usually average around a 4-5 on good days, 6-7 on bad days. If I get to an 8 or 9 I take pain meds. They bring me back down to a 5 or 6.

I can't remember the last time I didn't hurt. It was over 20 years ago. For a while in my mid 30s (ten years ago) I was going to the gym 3x a week, eating right and was pretty healthy. Those were good times in spite of the pain. But then I got sick, gained 40 pounds, stopped exercising ... and now most days are bad days.

i get down to a 3 or less, some days. It all depends on the day and the place of my pain. When it's in my ribs, I can hardly take a breathe.

The mornings are hard to get going, my ankles hurt when I start to walk. but by 4pm I am getting desperate again and need to be in bed with my pain pills.

Fortunately, I have good drs who don't leave me without help. They know I am trying to do the best I can, with exercise and meds.

I take guifenisin every day. I notice a difference if I don't. Like right now i can't turn my neck and I forgot to take it yesterday.