Harm Reduction The Pain Management Mega Thread - for all your questions on dealing with chronic pain

[ThePharmicist]

some peeps Lyrica helps out not me tho

I think it ends up helping about a 1/3 of the population with FMS. I was not one of them. The only thing that's taking the edge off the pain for me is Neurontin and Suboxone. I'm beginning to taper off my Suboxone so I'm basically fucked when it comes to pain here pretty soon. All my docs know I'm on Suboxone, so I doubt they'll prescribe me anything if the need arises.

I hate to rant here, but is anyone on any other drug forums besides Bluelight? Not recreational drug forums, but the larger ones where they have featured conditions and drugs. I asked the same question about prescribing drugs to an addict there as I did here. Edgewise answered without judging or preaching. On another forum I had all these pricks telling me I'm setting myself up for addiction again (duh.) and that I'm lying to myself and not really in pain, and that pain meds don't work. Another response was "Take 800mg of Ibuprofen everyday, it works better than Oxycodone. Bless you, Name Deleted "

My god - I wanted to know if anyone had experience about being on replacement therapy and then having to use opiates. I felt like I was getting all this shit shoved down my throat.

I BL, this is my spot.

 

[a2lambretta]

It seems like some of the most difficult medical problems to get treatment for in this day and age are anything that causes pain necessitating narcotics.

I have had back pain for 6 years consistently, and only now am I starting to get real treatment. All the same I am constantly worried that they are going to say 'hey, so about those pain pills we're giving you.... we think there are other options available..." I don't think about suicide, but that would make me think of suicide.

It should be known though, that there are good doctors out there, you just have to find them. Don't waist more than a few visits with a doctor that isn't helping or that you simply don't like. Health insurance is different for everyone, but for many there are options out there!

 

[Healgasm]

It seems like some of the most difficult medical problems to get treatment for in this day and age are anything that causes pain necessitating narcotics.

I have had back pain for 6 years consistently, and only now am I starting to get real treatment. All the same I am constantly worried that they are going to say 'hey, so about those pain pills we're giving you.... we think there are other options available..." I don't think about suicide, but that would make me think of suicide.

It should be known though, that there are good doctors out there, you just have to find them. Don't waist more than a few visits with a doctor that isn't helping or that you simply don't like. Health insurance is different for everyone, but for many there are options out there!

I hear you on that. Every week that I see the ortho or call to have my script refilled I fear denial or a switch to darvocet or some garbage.

 

[panic in paradise]

im god damn terrified as well, i finally after a year plus, with a bundle of obscure chronic pain diagnoses, i finally am scripted narcotics.

i hardly got by keeping my tolerance at two or three pods a day. i told the doc that 3 5mg percs should work. i tapered crudely from the pods for two weeks.

it takes 15mgs at a time to control the pain for maybe two hours. it seems to have more of an antidepressant effect, and makes it near impossible to sleep though. i went, on my own from 6 mg klonopin to one every 20 hours or so. but, ive been fucking that up waiting and taking two mgs several hours after my last dose to sleep.

suicide, that is an every day thought, this is too much pain, utterly complex, and ravishingly expensive with the necessary TNF pain blocker; humira, to prevent joint fusion.

now eating 9 percs a day is stupid, i ranted above, and im sure he is going to up, or switch me, as he have me 100 vicodine, then 60 percs with no refill, and a fallow up the day after they should run out...

im so confused, and dead serious.

i have a naturally low opioid tolerance, abusing heroin, morphine sulfate, and dilauded, i was stunned to see others dose level. 20-30mgs MS IV or insulflated, was good.

the MS had the same antidepressant effect, lasted a long while, and would put me to sleep.

this is all a question. i wish i could talk to one of you, and get some 'been there' feed back.

the oxycodone, is shit to me, an hour and a half, then back to hell. this is not manageable, nor bearable. im sucking my families savings (63% of families with a member who has an auto immune d/o are bankrupt in 6 years) and the stress is unlike anything thing they've known.
im scared if i mention the side effects, and that it merely brushes the pain, he will say, what do you want then...
logically, time released morphine.
some people hear the word morphine and imagine, idk what, but intimidated and stand off.

i grow medical marijuana, and haven't really smoked but sugar leafs all week. this certainly potenates, and then some. i want my future, i want my life back.


seronegative spondoapathy(carries a spectrum of bad bad symptoms), ankylosing spondylitis, bi lateral sacroilitis, pelvic sclerosis, remicaid induced dry pleurisy (9 months now), osteo arthritis, leukocytosis, anemia, etc.

humor me atleast, if you read this, what the hell would you say. the doc brought me in out of sympathy, and im afraid he is thinking ive got my hands full with this guy. idk how he would set up my appointment like he did with out planning on upping, switching, or seeing what i have to say, but the oxycodone is nothing... a 20 mg OC and 3 5mg vicodine, would do it, but im not going to dare mention OC, and the restlessness when trying to sleep would be too much i imagine.

i do not believe your pain increases with opioids, and ive proven to myself that i can find the threshold, and balance my tolerance around that. i could give a damn about the sniffles and a cough for a couple days, this knawing, progressive load of shit is what im worried about.

Edit: and now, im having an allergic reaction to the precocets; my throat is swelling above my adams apple, by my lymph glands....

 

[Anxiolyt]

Dude whoever said that they need to try non narc drugs , cmon u do not have real pain if think non-narcs work..

 

[a2lambretta]

Speaking of non-narcotic medications.... are they are out there that could be used for any type of back pain that have a decent possibility of working?

I personally think that the reason opiate pain meds work and are so popular is that most doctors just don't really have an answer for most people's pain. I also believe that most doctors are nothing more than salesmen for treatments and drugs, and I think that for many people, they don't have anything better for sale than opiate pain medications.

 

[pixplzthx]

Supposedly, Toradol (ketorolac), which is an NSAID, is supposed to have the analgesic prowess of morphine.

 

[littlegirlblue]

Has anyone who has had a discsectomy here RE-herniated a disc? I had an emergency one in February and although I feel fine I am worried that I'll re-herniate it or herniate another one. I'm back to running and lifting weights now. Losing weight is taking pressure off my back and the exercise helps me stay off opiates, which I abused for years when I was prescribed. I still have pain on a 4-5 daily but I can manage. I have 2 degenerative discs and 1 that was herniated but shaved during the discsectomy.

I feel pretty good now back-wise for the first time in a while but I know I have these problems. So it kind of feels like I am waiting for the other shoe to drop. Which isn't a good feeling because I don't have health insurance at the moment

Yep. Twice, with two different discs (L4-L5, then L3-L4) BOTH of which I have had surgery performed on. Currently I'm living through a re-herniation of the L3-L4 disc I had emergency surgery on last summer because I developed drop foot. Surgery did the trick for a few months but this spring the damn thing herniated again. And I had just gotten strong enough to return to LIFE. Still have permanent nerve damage in addition to the typical sciatica aching fire.

Previous, I would suggest you find a way to secure health insurance asap. In my experience, when you have a degenerating set of discs, they will hound you in one way or another constantly.

Or maybe I just feel that way because this last year has been SO bad. Had steroid epidural three weeks ago without much relief, waiting for another bi-lateral shot in a few weeks. Damnation.

 

[ThePharmicist]

Speaking of non-narcotic medications.... are they are out there that could be used for any type of back pain that have a decent possibility of working?

Possibly Nuerontin. It really depends on what the pain is being caused by, if it's inflammation a RX NSAID might help, something like Maloxicam may work. Depends on what your blood work says ie if there's any sign of inflammation. For me, I know that opioids are the best medication for pain. They make it practically disappear.

 

[panic in paradise]

ive got a fearsome spinal condition, chronic and progressive, period, besides humira; a tumor necrosis pain blocker. the proper strain of marijuana works absolute wonders, and is my front line defense for that, osteo arthritis, bi lateral sacroilitis, ankylosing spondylitis etc.

it really does work, physical therapy, and maybe a tens unit, are very useful of course.

NSAIDS would have to be stopped eventually, prednisone; a cartiosteroid is also common, by injection or as a pill. some pmc's use injections of sugar water, if inflammation is involved, or other reasons to stimulate blood flow to the area.

the right physical therapist, my home work, mmj, plus humira but thats a bit much , got me off my cane. my knee still gives out, but i learned how to avoid it for the most part.

it cane does stays in the car though still.

 

[painquestions]

back pain question

I am curious who on here has spinal stenosis and/or degenerative discs? I was diagnosed with both about 5 years ago. I also have herniated two discs (one recently operated on, the other is sitting herinated but its manageable).

I am wondering what pain medication those with DDD and/or Stenosis are taking? Once I get my insurance squared away i am going to see my surgeon and try to get a referal to a pain management clinic. I used to be on opiates daily but not anymore. Although my pain can be classified as chronic, I want to get a prescription for acute pain; for when it gets REALLY bad and I can not function, sleep, etc... I feel that with NSAIDs and exercise I can manage it, but there are times when I wish I had something stronger. And what would be a good medication for this? Oxycodone IR? Opana IR? I mean, my condition speaks for itself, but I am afraid its going to be either all or nothing; around-the-clock meds or nothing at all, if that makes sense...

Also I know it's hard to answer and I'm going to have to settle all this on my own, but what is a pain management clinic like? When I was diagnosed I was receiving meds from my PCP and going to physical therapy. How is a pain mgmt clinic different?

 

[Healgasm]

I love when my doctor goes on vacation without telling his patients. My scripts were due for a refill and he won't be back till friday. Looks like two days of pain and withdrawals for me.

 

[panic in paradise]

painquestions, my experience has been that they, and maybe grad students will all come at you at once, trying different pain level measurements, or general diagnostics, its hard to fake, or they are able to get a reaction from you, physically and unwittingly rather.
they may recommend, should recommend alternative therapies and/or analgesic opioids and their properties, or ask, what helps, has helped.
if they decide to become your prescriber they will call you in randomly or routinely to count pills, take ua's, and see how your well your pain is being controlled.
normally though, you need a pcp willing to work with them.
my visits were too quick, i learned a lot, diagnoses ignored by others rediagnosed, and classified preexisting ones into more confusing and serious catagories, with the thought my care would continue accordingly.

my pmc is a 3 hours drive, which sucks, because they recognized the severity of the situationS,far more then my regular doctors.

they also were very optimistic about medical marijuana for me. this shit is serious business, it just works...

termic? turmic (sp)
1 tbsp in a glass of milk has been suggested to me this week several times for "bone/ligament" general chronic pain. i haven't tried it yet but found some at an indian/international food store.

 

[trainof4]

I am presently decreasing my dose of dilaudid after getting really hooked on the stuff. I have chronic pain (L3-4 and S1 destruction, nueral impingement, one leg 3/8" longer than other, plus cervical stenosis w/numbness & pain down shoulders & arms)

Can I find pain meds that will work in spite of my trouble w/the dilaudid? I've tried tramadol & didn't have any success with it. Do the fentanyl patches help without being addictive? I'm not even sure my doctor is going to be very receptive considering my addiction. THough I'd hope he wouldn't be cruel - oh what to do??

BTW - I'm new so I can't answer PMs.

 

[Healgasm]

I am presently decreasing my dose of dilaudid after getting really hooked on the stuff. I have chronic pain (L3-4 and S1 destruction, nueral impingement, one leg 3/8" longer than other, plus cervical stenosis w/numbness & pain down shoulders & arms)

Can I find pain meds that will work in spite of my trouble w/the dilaudid? I've tried tramadol & didn't have any success with it. Do the fentanyl patches help without being addictive? I'm not even sure my doctor is going to be very receptive considering my addiction. THough I'd hope he wouldn't be cruel - oh what to do??

BTW - I'm new so I can't answer PMs.

I'm pretty sure most doctors will not even consider giving you narcotics if you mention an addiction to them. However, if you present it as "I've been on this dialudid awhile and am worried about its addictive nature". You can probably enter a discussion of the best way to manage your pain in a safe manner. To my knowledge, every opiate based pain killer has addictive properties, so fentanyl patches might not be an option.

 

[Cane2theLeft]

^your best bet if you've had addiction issues is with methadone or buprenorphine... These are both easier to manage and doctors will be more receptive to prescribing them.

I would *never* tell a prescribing physician that you've had any issues with addiction (and this is coming from someone going into the addiction treatment field). With HIPAA its easy to not have every doctor you see be aware that you told one about an addiction but then you can't use any files that doctor had on you.

Given that I have chronic pain and I'm studying to be an addictions professional, I have a unique perspective on this so feel free to PM me if you want to discuss this further.

 

[BananasAndOranges]

I got some joint, toe problems. It's quite painful. I've been on MMT and its probably on my record for sure I'm guessing. I don't want to get high but I've had this problem with my feet for awhile now. Would I be wasting my time setting up an apt with a pain management doctor.

 

[Cane2theLeft]

^What record are you referring to? A lot of addicts act as if there is some universal junkie registry. It doesn't work like this, especially with HIPAA.

The only way one doctor you see is able to view records from another doctor is with your consent. That's how so many people got away with doctor shopping for so long. Now there are Rx monitoring programs and such set up in some states and some pharmacies will record problematic patients like a grocery store puts up pics of shop lifters but just because you've been on MMT doesn't mean anytime you see a doctor they'll know.

...With that said, I'm not advising you to go to a PM doc and score oxy.

I would suggest you see a PCP and get a thorough diagnostic workup done and listen to their advice on suggested treatment. This may or may not involve seeing a PM specialist *if* necessary.

 

[BananasAndOranges]

Not trying to score. I have been to several doctors and it gets worse when I get sick. They have all said meh or whatever. Its annoying.

 

[Cane2theLeft]

^i was just being glib with that 'scoring' comment. Sorry about that.