Question
Hello. I am a 39 yr. old F who has been seeing a neurologist for 2 years now. They keep teling me I'm going to be referred to a pain clinic but I have yet to be. I also had an insurance snafu mid-way. In the past 3 months my finger joint pain with elbows, knees feet and toes have become excruciating. Neck pain started 2 years ago and the mri shows a step off??? Iam taking the fentanyl patch, hydro 10 m and cymbalta with littel relief. in the past 2 months the fatigue is overwhelming. I can sleep 18 hours a day if i am allowed. I get so sleepy and have no energy all I want to do is lie down. We have a 6 yr old and I need my mom life back. It's al I can do to make her lunch and get her to school. Dad has too much to do but takes time because I can not take her out. It's not fair to her but I just can not do it. I feel like I am slowly dying b/c thinks just get worse. Thank you for any help you can give me. Please help me if you can.  Yvette  charlotte nc

Answer
Hi Yvette and thanks for writing,

My advice is to hound your doctor until s/he gets you into the Pain Clinic and speak to the doctors about decreasing the narcotic prescriptions asap and get on to less sedating anti-inflammatory medications; ask the doctors about replacing the narcotics with Gabapentin and/or Lyrica.

Remember "the squeaky wheel gets the oil".

All my best, I hope you're better soon,
Margot