Vytorin and physical therapy

I have been taking Vytorin for about 10 weeks. During this time, I have experienced aches and pain in my neck to the point of tears. Hands get numb, lower back, now....knees, joints, fingers, hips, EVERYTHING HURTS. At first I thought it was due to the fact that I just started work (bar tender/food server) which requires a lot of lifting, reaching, stretching etc. As far as I know all that motion would make me healthier. Right? Common sense tells me......hmmmmm if I've been working for a month and I still HURT and it's getting worse....what the????? The Dr who prescribed the Vytorin then suggested that I go to physical therapy; The PT told me that I had strains in my back from working. What the? Then I'm told that I'm experiencing aches and pains because I'm in recovery????? What the????? I'm in so much pain when I wake up, my hands are stiff, I can hardly move my entire body. This is like it's a drug induced fibromyalgia. I'd rather go home to the Lord from high cholesterol than live with this pain. Today I am stopping the Vytorin. I had one of those AH HA moments that was posted on this site. It's really sad that I had to do the research on what has been the cause of my aches and pains; when the first thing any doctor asks.....what medications are you taking? BOLD LETTERS......VYTORIN!!! I'm going to take a nap, try to rest the next two days off work being that I have a doctor's excuse to do so after marching myself to the medical facility where I live and BEING ANGRY and letting them know........I should not have to have had to diagnose myself. WE ALL KNOW OUR BODIES....I kept insisting that I hurt so bad and it wasn't from "work" or being in "recovery". So, I certainly can relate to all the posts. I'm going to be 50 on 12/19 and I feel as if I'm 80. Thank God (lol) I "look good". A sense of humor goes a long way......but it's so hard to not be a little grouchy when we hurt, right? You are all in my prayers.

Within a month of starting to take Vytorin began to have trouble breathing especially at night and in the morning, and neck began to ache so bad that purchased a neck brace---it's like my head was too heavy for my neck. This continued and apparently progressed to my upper back leading to extreme, constant pain. Ended up with an MRI, going to a pain specialist and physical therapy. I have had 5 surgeries and have never needed to use pain medicine nor get OT nor PT. This pain was ruining my life in all aspects. Quit vytorin about a month ago. Back is getting better, still have other issues.

A nightmare drug. Very good at bringing my cholesterol down to 145, which for me was a record low since my first test BUT.........

From right shoulder pain to major tennis elbow pain, to cramped feet to tingling knees, to swelling ankles and cramped two fingers on my right hand it was a virtual nightmare. And, when I think back to the 1980's and my 'fun' with Zocor, it now becomes apparent that it was my reaction to statins that created all the problems.

1. DON'T DO WHAT I DID!!!! I didn't call my general practioner, who prescribed the Vytorin to me, and let her now. I went through neurologists, orthopedic surgeons and lots of physical therapy, $10,000s worth of special tests and they couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. My GP said she should always be contacted first no matter what the problem is. Mistake #1.

2. I didn't read any of the prescription printouts that comes with medication. I was lazy, I guess. It screams about the muscular side affects.

3. All the specialists/doctors I went to knew what medications I was on. Yet none of them 'got it.' Scary.

Getting up in the morning was the most difficult time. The more exercise I did, the better. Walk eight miles, great. Bike 27 miles, great. But fly five hours, bad. Obviously not sports injury types of muscle pain.

After three weeks off Vytorin about 92.67% fixed. Been tested for the enzyme side effects; no problems.

Good luck!