Taking Care of Yourself
It's important to take Cymbalta every day according to your doctor's instructions to manage your pain over time.
Even after you have been diagnosed with chronic low back pain and begin treating your condition, it can take time to feel better. You may have to rethink the way you treat your pain. You might be used to taking pain medications only after you feel your chronic low back pain is getting worse. Managing this pain with Cymbalta is a little different. It's important to take Cymbalta every day according to your doctor's instructions to manage your pain over time.
There are a number of simple things you can do to further help your condition. These include:
Record your progress.
Cymbalta may take some time to take effect, so it is important to track your pain improvement over time. That way your doctor can assess your progress and determine if you should continue or stop taking Cymbalta.
Take your medicine.
If your doctor prescribes Cymbalta, take Cymbalta once a day, every day. If you find that you are starting to feel better, talk to your doctor about how long to continue treatment. Do not stop taking Cymbalta without talking to your doctor. He or she may decide to steadily reduce your dose. If you stop taking Cymbalta suddenly, you may experience dizziness, nausea, headache, or other potential side effects. To learn more, please review the Prescribing Information.
Stay active.
Your doctor may recommend exercise to help manage your chronic low back pain. Make sure to discuss with your doctor what activities are good for your condition and which should be avoided. Once you've identified some activities that you can do, make sure you are clear with your doctor on how long you should do them and what to do if you experience any pain during or after your activity.
Create your support team.
You don't have to face your pain alone. Just knowing there is someone you can talk to can help.
Your friends and family members may not be aware of how your pain affects you. So it's important to be honest and straightforward with your friends and family members about your pain.
Creating your own support group can help in a number of ways. Supportive friends or family members can remind you to take your medicines, join you during exercise, and help you make and attend doctor's appointments.