Hand Pain - w/d symptom? Change my taper dose?

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For the past 10 days I continue to have horrible pain in my hands. It is intermittent. Sometimes it is bilateral - sometimes just one finger. Once it moved up the arm and then to the shoulder. It will go away for a day and then return in a new spot. I see two body workers for a separate chronic pain issue - both think the pain is following a nerve. Tonight it started again in both hands and has progressed in the last 2 hours to barely being able to move my hands. 

 

I have been to rheumatologist and do not have arthritis or RA. The benzo taper seems likely based on what I am reading.It is more muscle - not really joint - based.

 

I am on a low dose of valium right now - have dropped to 1mg every other 3 days - but have been on valium over 10 years. I am not sure what to do - I can't find anything about tapering when i am not on a daily dosage. I know it seems likely taking my taper every 3 days vs. daily will create more havoc but this is the only way I have ever taken valium - I was never a daily user. I tried daily taper before and it didn't go so well. Felt so depressed and could not get out of bed. But I understand the up and down is not great for me either.

 

I was so desperate to get rid of the hand pain that I upped my dosage to 4mg the other day. It did help with the hand pain for a day - but it has also gone away with no reason so I can't point to the valium w/d as the sole cause.

 

I would appreciate any support or words of wisdom. Should I go back to trying a daily dose? What would that be? Ashton says at 1mg you don't have much in your system. Should I go back up to 1.25? I am so confused. I can't find a doctor in  my city (LA) that can help with this. I just want to be off this stuff. I can't function without my hands. I have 2 kids to take care of and work that is very hand dependent. (although finding most of life is hand dependent). Sure could use some advice here. Thank you.

[[Pi...]]

For the past 10 days I continue to have horrible pain in my hands. It is intermittent. Sometimes it is bilateral - sometimes just one finger. Once it moved up the arm and then to the shoulder. It will go away for a day and then return in a new spot. I see two body workers for a separate chronic pain issue - both think the pain is following a nerve. Tonight it started again in both hands and has progressed in the last 2 hours to barely being able to move my hands. 

 

I have been to rheumatologist and do not have arthritis or RA. The benzo taper seems likely based on what I am reading.It is more muscle - not really joint - based.

 

I am on a low dose of valium right now - have dropped to 1mg every other 3 days - but have been on valium over 10 years. I am not sure what to do - I can't find anything about tapering when i am not on a daily dosage. I know it seems likely taking my taper every 3 days vs. daily will create more havoc but this is the only way I have ever taken valium - I was never a daily user. I tried daily taper before and it didn't go so well. Felt so depressed and could not get out of bed. But I understand the up and down is not great for me either.

 

I was so desperate to get rid of the hand pain that I upped my dosage to 4mg the other day. It did help with the hand pain for a day - but it has also gone away with no reason so I can't point to the valium w/d as the sole cause.

 

I would appreciate any support or words of wisdom. Should I go back to trying a daily dose? What would that be? Ashton says at 1mg you don't have much in your system. Should I go back up to 1.25? I am so confused. I can't find a doctor in  my city (LA) that can help with this. I just want to be off this stuff. I can't function without my hands. I have 2 kids to take care of and work that is very hand dependent. (although finding most of life is hand dependent). Sure could use some advice here. Thank you.

I do know that what your experiencing is benzo withdrawal because I experience pain in my right hand and my left arm, the pain was so bad that it woke me up the other morning from a deep sleep and has been off and on for the past few days. It's frightening.  And I know how it is, I have 2 children as well. I personally would NOT updose if I were you, I would keep on tapering because this symptom will be there regardless, it will come and go.  I wish you the best and I hope your pain goes away quickly!