Soma-what to expect - Pain Management Message Board

Frosty6 · 05-23-2008, 03:05 PM

Hi all,

My PM doc just switched me from Flexeril 10 mg 3x daily to Soma 250mg 2 times daily. If you take this, can you tell me what to expect? I have severe muscle spasms in my right leg (which is numb) but the spasm turns my foot inward or outward depending on the position it is in at the time. So far, nothing has worked to control it and it is quite painful when that happens.

I'm having some reservations about this PM doc. My old one was part of Mayo and he moved away and recommended this guy. The new one took me off of Oxycodone 5mg every 4 hours as needed and placed me on MS Contin 30mg 2x daily. It worked wonderfully at first but now 8 months later my pain level has increased so much. He won't give me anything for breakthrough pain either. He was going to increase the morphine but decided not to do that either. He put me on Neurontin earlier in the year but that isn't working either so I am going to stop taking it. The only thing that has done for me is make me gain 15 lbs. As does the Flexeril. Makes my sweet tooth out of control. Sooo, what is one to do when a doc won't listen? He wants to keep doing injections injections injections. A few have helped, most have not. I'd rather go back to the oxycodone if he is going to let me just suffer. I just don't understand why he won't give me something for breakthrough pain. He does the scripts strange too. He will give me 56 instead of 60 and I have to go in every month for refill scripts.

Any advice would be much appreciated. I'm starting to get very depressed and angry all at the same time. I'm going back to work in 2 weeks after being off for 2 yrs 4 months due to PLIF in May 06 which is the reason I have all of these new symptoms in the first place. Just to give you a bit of history. I'm excited to get back to work but scared too. New job, old body. I don't even know if I can work physically but I am sure going to try. At least it is a desk job and I can bring my heating pad.

Hope you all have a pain free holiday weekend.

Sincerely,
Lisa

chiefan58 · 05-23-2008, 03:33 PM

soma was the only thing that seemed to do anything for my pain when I had gout outbreaks. flexeril seemed to make me extremely drowsy, and that didn't happen to me with the soma. I found it to be stronger, but everything effects everyone differently. good luck

cmpgirl · 05-23-2008, 11:26 PM

Hi Lisa, I have also found Soma to be a much better MR thn any I have taken. And I've taken them all over the last 8 years. It may make you a little drowsy or woozy feeling in the beginning, but this generally dissipates with use.

I'm sorry your PM is being so vehement about not giving you BT meds. Some docs just think that the LA meds should do the job on their own. Sadly, for most chronic patients, that isn't true.

Are there any other PM's in your area? My heart goes out to all of the follks who have PM's that don't listen to what works and what doesn't.

I wish you the best with your new job. I think the Soma will help, because it is a little different than the rest. It works very much in the same way as opiates/opioids, in that it attaches to the same pain receptors as they do.

Take care and let us know if it helps. CMP

Frosty6 · 05-24-2008, 05:13 PM

Thank you so much for your responses. I started the soma last night and took dose 2 this morning. I am tired today/lazy tired but I think that is just because I can be. Nothing planned today but the remainder of the long weekend is pretty busy. I stopped the neurontin yesterday too so I didn't want to do anything or go anywhere until I knew how I would react to the new meds and in the event I had any withdrawal symptoms from stopping the meds without weaning down. I discussed it with the pharmacist first and he didn't think I would have any problems cold turkey since I wasn't on them very long, nor was I on a big dose.

There are lots of PM's in the area but I am not really in a position to seek out a new one while starting a new job. That will give me plenty of time to do some research on the others though and of course if pain dictates, I will find one right away!!!

Thanks again!
Lisa

ms_west · 05-24-2008, 07:05 PM

I cannot take the flexeril - it knocks me out for the count. I use soma and have found if I take 1/2 it works pretty decent for me. If I take a full one it knocks me out for 8 hours or so. Good luck