Fibromyalgia Patients Shouldn't Blame Their Doctors If a Medication Doesn't Work

With no one-size-fits-all cure or painkilling regime for fibromyalgia, it is
easy to become frustrated with, well, pretty much everything. While I am probably safe in saying that we as individuals who live with chronic conditions have taken these frustrations out on those closest to us at one time or another, I have noticed a steady increase in the amount of posts on support groups for the purpose of putting their GPs down. Simply because the medication they have been prescribed is not working.

• What is Fibromyalgia?
• What Are Common Fibromyalgia Symptoms?

I can only comment about NHS doctors within the UK who are paid by the government (not a lot I might add). I find it hard to believe any one of them would deliberately leave a patient in pain were there a confirmed treatment that eased this condition.

 

I confess, I am very, very lucky that my GP has been with me since I was a baby and has been treating my mum for the same condition for many years, yet even she does not know all the answers. In fact, in my most recent appointment with her, she admitted we may never get my pain 100 percent under control.

Perhaps it is this relationship that makes me all the more protective of NHS staff, but I find myself getting rather irritated when I see people complaining that their doctor is not giving them the “right” medication to stop their pain or other fibro-related symptoms.

What I want to stress to people is there is no one treatment for fibromyalgia. It is a matter of trial and error. Yes, it is a pain in the butt, but there is no way around it.

Everything about our condition is trial and error – from diagnosis to pacing.

No two fibromyalgia patients are the same. For example: my mum has a will of iron and is able to function quite normally with minimum medication and sheer determination. On the other hand, I have to take a cocktail of medications, limit my activity and still barely cope with my condition.

Naturally this means our medical treatments are not going to be the same.

If you find yourself blaming your doctor for not having your pain under control, I implore you to take a step back and remember they are doing their best to understand and treat a condition that seems determined not to be understood. I beg that you do not give up and continue to work with your GP to try and find a treatment regime that works for you.

It is a long, hard road – no one can deny that. However, there are hundreds of medications out there that can be tried. For some, nerve blockers work, others find anti-inflammatory medications are best, then there are painkillers of various strengths.

I take a combination of all three and have yet to find a formula that allows me to function for more than a couple of hours a day.

If you are one of the few who find their doctor not willing to try something new, push them. They will never understand your pain so it is up to you to show them and urge them to continue to try and find a plan that works on an individual level. You owe it to yourself.

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