Fibromyalgia, Lyrica, and passing DOT exam

I’ve had my CDL A for 4 years. I’m healthy and 29 but recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia two weeks ago. I also have a bulging L5-S1 disc that was found in an MRI this month.

Currently have FMLA for the occasional really bad day, but I’ve been taking ibuprofen to stifle the pain away. I’ve tried Meloxicam but it didn’t really do much, and neither do muscle relaxers.

In fact, I don’t have any back pain, but rather a sciatica type of pain in my left hamstring that feels like my muscle is being ripped in half when I bend over or squat down. I can mask the pain well if needed and you’d never know.

I’m getting physical therapy next week, and a steroid injection into my lower back to hopefully prevent the disc from touching my left nerve. This might get the pain to go away. In the meantime my spine doc has me on lyrica, at 150mg a day. I haven’t started it yet because I’m afraid of complications for DOT exams. My next cert is coming up in June.

I stopped my trial with Adderall because of the hoops I may have to go through and that a ME has the capability to deny me for any reason even with a prescription. Wasn’t worth the hassle 2 years ago for my last cert. I got approved on Adderall but dropped it soon after because I didn’t think it was worth risking my livelihood.

So I am asking here if lyrica, which is a scheduled V substance, is worth the hassle. Anyone driving a truck and on lyrica? What about my DOT exam? I’m in the boat of not saying anything, even about my bulging disc nor fibromyalgia diagnosis. If I fail to mask the pain, will they fail me?

I don’t really work for a trucking company. I work for a delivery company a la FEDEX or UPS, we just have a few straight truck routes and 2 line hauls. So we are all required to have CDL A’s in case we get stuck with those routes, which we bid by seniority every six months. We have 100 drivers and 90% of them are driving sprinter vans delivering small parcels.

I’m one of the few who volunteer to drive the semi for six months every winter, figured it would help with my resume. I can choose otherwise though. Any thoughts on what I should do?

 

this is also my concern and why I find it pretty much pointless for an L5-S1 disc. For when my symptoms get relief from PT or injection… then I’ll have to ween off anyway.

And while they don’t test for lyrica, I’m wondering if it’s advised to keep it a secret. I know Adderall cannot be snuck because it triggers the amphetamine panel. But lyrica can be kept hush? It’s a Gabapentinoid.