Taking Care of Yourself
It's important to take Cymbalta every day according to your doctor's instructions to manage your pain over time.
One of the main goals of a chronic osteoarthritis pain treatment plan is to reduce the amount of pain that you feel. But even after you have worked with your doctor to learn more about your osteoarthritis and identified a treatment plan for you, it may still take some time until your pain feels 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 osteoarthritis 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.
It's important to develop a long-term plan to treating your chronic osteoarthritis pain. Here are a few things you should keep in mind, so you can take of yourself while treating your condition over time.
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, even after you begin to feel better.
If your doctor prescribes you Cymbalta and 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 see the Prescribing Information.
Find out if physical therapy is an option for you.
Physical therapy is an osteoarthritis treatment option that can help you improve muscle strength and stability. A physical therapist evaluates your condition and can recommend specific exercises and assistive devices (such as canes or wedged insoles) to help you. To find out if you may benefit from physical therapy, talk to your doctor.
Communicate openly with friends and family members.
Although your friends and family members may be aware of your condition, they may still not fully know how it affects you. They may also not be aware which activities have become difficult for you.
Getting your friends and family members involved in supporting you can be a big help. They can help remind you to take your medicines, join you during exercise, and help you make and attend doctor's appointments. They also can just be there to listen, whenever you just need to talk about what you are experiencing.