Misc The Pain Management Mega Thread v. 7

[Runtoparadise]

Damn Anna, never thought you would succumb to the call of opiate euphoria!

As you say, you've taken yourself off meds in the past & seem to have had a very level headed approach to methods of pain relief.

What med did you switch to that has you running out early?

I completely understand your feelings of wanting some pleasure after dealing with cp for so long.

That's what I felt, also that I was more productive the more I took....a slippery slope lol.

What are you planning on changing to? Or is it just back to 'taking as prescribed'?

Hugs to all in pain

Rtp

 

[AnnaBanana333]

Hey RtP!

Ugh, I know; I am on long acting oxymorphone, 15 mg 3x a day, and was on 2 Oxycodone 15 mg a day for break through. After the stimulator AND radio frequency, the goal was to go down. But camping and hiking have done a number on me, and school starts next week. My stimulator Doctor recommended that I switch to IR oxymorphone only. So for two weeks, I'm switching my Oxycodone to IR oxymorphone. I'm sure you know, the great thing about oxymorphone is it works really well. The bad thing about it is it only does that if its insufflated, which I've been doing. (Bad, AB!) In time, I will probably go back to 5 or 6 Oxycodone, as for some reason, I've never abused those. But then again, I was on oxymorphone for over a year and didn't run out early until these last few months. Could just be that I've been way more active this summer, and in more pain. Actually; last two months I received Globals, which SUCK, and was taking more than prescribed. This month I asked for my pharmacist to order Actavis.

How are you doing??

 

[Runtoparadise]

Hey Anna, in OZ we don't have oxymorphone,- the most similar is hydromorphone. As in what hydrocodone is to oxycodone, it's just not as strong.

Sounds like you're on hell high doses though, I was once on ER Hyrdromorph 48mgs, & even the pharmacist said that could kill a horse! It didn't work for me so I returned to oxycontin & once again I was a rat on a wheel. Regularly running out a week early due to my fondness for the drug.

I'm doing well nowadays, except for my numb/burning hand/arm of course. I don't feel much can be done there...well, that's the impression I'm getting.

Always new specialists to see & perhaps one will come up with a new theory. For now, I try not to look at the McGill pain scale & instead read stories of crps recoveries.

Rtp xx

 

[kleinerkiffer]

This might help someone
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3949259/

Antinociceptive action of melatonin

The clinical finding that patients suffering less from pain during the night when melatonin level is higher led to the suggestion that melatonin has a possible analgesic effect. This suspicion was supported by the finding that pinealectomy abolished such dark phase analgesia[64] and that it could be restored using melatonin replacement[65]. However, the mechanism of the analgesic effects of melatonin is still not clear at present. It may include complex interactions among melatonin, opioidergic system and melatonin receptors. Met-enkephalin and beta-endorphin are two endogenous opioids involved in the regulation of pain sensitivity in hypothalamus. The levels and circadian rhythmicity of these two opioids changed in rats that received pinealectomy[66,67]. This may imply that the change in the brain concentration of these endogenous opioids could be a mechanism for the mediation of the melatonin induced modulation of pain sensitivity. However, a recent study found that melatonin exerts its analgesic actions not by binding to opioid receptor subtypes but by binding to its own receptors and increasing the release of beta-endorphin[68]. Another study also showed that of the three other subtypes of melatonin receptors identified, i.e., Mel1, Mel2 and Mel3, only Mel2 receptor is involved in the analgesic activity of melatonin[69]. Importantly, this anti-nociceptive effect may be unrelated to and independent of the sleep-inducing effects of melatonin, as was demonstrated in the study by Song et al[63], where melatonin was found to increase rectal pain thresholds but had no significant effect on sleep. Human studies have shown that melatonin is a hormone with potential therapeutic use for treatment of diseases with pain. Melatonin was documented to be effective in treating many types of headache, such as chronic cluster headache and migraines[70,71].

All these evidence support the belief that melatonin is involved in the modulation of pain and has analgesic effects. However, its potential as a therapeutic agent for treatment of diseases with pain still needs to be further investigated.

 

[MrRoot]

How do you people think being in love affects pain levels and the feeling of pain?

I just randomly noticed that my pain levels started to become stable and less painful at the same time I started to date and eventually get into relationship with my girlfriend.

I don't think much about pain as I have other things to think about.

 

[Runtoparadise]

I think it's no random similarity that oxycontin is a play on the love hormone oxytocin.

Our brains are definitely flooded with feel good hormones if we're lucky enough to find love, the anticipation, excitement etc aren't so different to an addicts anticipation of their fave drug!

As you also state, you're distracted,- a prime method behind mindfulness at pain clinics all over.

Good for you^

Rtp

 

[AnnaBanana333]

While I think it's amazing that you've found love, I've been in the most amazing relationship for 15 years. We still text each other gooey stuff all day. Unfortunately, it doesn't help my pain, but I'm sure everyone's pain is different. My pain is from my spine fusing on its own, so I have general overall pain with spikes of terrible pain, which is why I was on a long acting plus a short acting.

UNFORTUNATELY, I counted wrong, and am going through full on cold turkey withdrawal. My appointment was yesterday; thought that was when I was going to refill, as we were trying something for two weeks. Nope. Fortunately, it's the weekend, and I told everyone that I have a stomach bug. Unfortunately, it's my birthday weekend, and my husband had to cancel my surprise plans. But he's been taking good care of me. Man, felt like dying yesterday.

But I go through this question every time, that my friend asked himself; anything that makes my body feel this badly without it can't be good for me, can it?

 

[LucidSDreamr]

While I think it's amazing that you've found love, I've been in the most amazing relationship for 15 years. We still text each other gooey stuff all day. Unfortunately, it doesn't help my pain, but I'm sure everyone's pain is different. My pain is from my spine fusing on its own, so I have general overall pain with spikes of terrible pain, which is why I was on a long acting plus a short acting.

UNFORTUNATELY, I counted wrong, and am going through full on cold turkey withdrawal. My appointment was yesterday; thought that was when I was going to refill, as we were trying something for two weeks. Nope. Fortunately, it's the weekend, and I told everyone that I have a stomach bug. Unfortunately, it's my birthday weekend, and my husband had to cancel my surprise plans. But he's been taking good care of me. Man, felt like dying yesterday.

But I go through this question every time, that my friend asked himself; anything that makes my body feel this badly without it can't be good for me, can it?

opiates are not damaging to the body at all really as long as you don't abuse them and OD.

 

[LucidSDreamr]

Help, please!

I did the intake and I was piss tested and ten days later returned for prescriptions and another fucking piss test all the while complaining of continuous pain and shocked my doc sent me to such a place. Well I tested positive for THC and was warned. I also was told my morphine level was high and my Oxycodone was low.

most doctors are not aware, but it is improper and unethical to judge levels from a piss test, too many variables and not representative of dosing.

serum blood tests are the only thing that give real, usable information as to dosing.

you can find plenty of scientific papers stating that urine is not suitable for assessing dosages taken by a patient

 

[LucidSDreamr]

the lack of awareness about chronic pain is baffling to me (awareness by the public) its one of the most common diseases, but not acknowledged at all really by anyone in the public. autism, ocd, depression, etc are all way more discussed and acknowledged.

this lack of acknowledgement just basically leaves you as a pill loving faker to most of the world, that assumes that everyone has pain. but its when the pain gets to a constant level that makes you suicidal that CP exists.

i just don't know why this disease is so ignored and what can be done to change it. I mean look at whats going on with the opioid epidemic....CP is rarely mentioned at all in discussions other than "the opiates are for pain" but they never discussion chronic permanent pain.

i worry that the conection to opiods is what makes it so taboo to discuss CP. If you even look at any pain advocacy groups literature/stories...they do a lot to discount the benefits of opioids on patients and highlight everything else that works, and these are CP advocacy groups, you'd think they wouldn't be so bashful about the realities of pain.....its just such an ugly association that the disease has with opioids and hence recreational drug use that it keeps it from being recognized as a medical condition.

 

[kleinerkiffer]

Have any of you smoked salvia divinorum and if so, did it help with chronic pain ?
While doing some research about salvia divinorum I've read in a few sources that it might have potential as a chronic pain treatment being a kappa-opioid receptor agonist and I found this https://erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=106369:

It took me from a world of constant pain to one of spiritual exploration.

Most pain killers sought to alleviate the feeling of chronic pain. Many other pills were designed to lower intensity and consistency of headaches and migraines. Salvia however completely removed me from the experience of pain. I also find it much more affordable and pleasurable than popping painkillers constantly.

 

[SS373dOH]

Have any of you smoked salvia divinorum and if so, did it help with chronic pain ?
While doing some research about salvia divinorum I've read in a few sources that it might have potential as a chronic pain treatment being a kappa-opioid receptor agonist and I found this https://erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=106369:

Yeah I have, I was too busy flying through the space time continuum to notice any analgesia. It also ruined many post psychedelic experiences afterwards..

 

[Slow_Mobius]

the lack of awareness about chronic pain is baffling to me (awareness by the public) its one of the most common diseases, but not acknowledged at all really by anyone in the public. autism, ocd, depression, etc are all way more discussed and acknowledged.

this lack of acknowledgement just basically leaves you as a pill loving faker to most of the world, that assumes that everyone has pain. but its when the pain gets to a constant level that makes you suicidal that CP exists.

i just don't know why this disease is so ignored and what can be done to change it. I mean look at whats going on with the opioid epidemic....CP is rarely mentioned at all in discussions other than "the opiates are for pain" but they never discussion chronic permanent pain.

i worry that the conection to opiods is what makes it so taboo to discuss CP. If you even look at any pain advocacy groups literature/stories...they do a lot to discount the benefits of opioids on patients and highlight everything else that works, and these are CP advocacy groups, you'd think they wouldn't be so bashful about the realities of pain.....its just such an ugly association that the disease has with opioids and hence recreational drug use that it keeps it from being recognized as a medical condition.

It definitely seems like a taboo subject. I think mosy CP patients almost have to keep it to themselves. I remember telling a friend about it and he told me hates when people complain about how bad their problems are so.... not exactly conversation material. Unfortunately, the people the only people aware of CO are the CP patients.

 

[Slow_Mobius]

This place has been dead quiet the past week. I usually quietly follow this thread but there has been nothing to follow! How is everyone doing in the midst of kratom pandemonium?

I sunk wayy to much money into buying kratom, but at this point, I don't want to potentially risk my career and freedom on a something that will end sooner or later anyways. I'm just picturing buyers lists being raided and thinking it isn't worth it. But that puts me back at square one with a new doctor that isn't very receptive, so I'm about ready to throw in the towel.

Are there any alternatives for a pain/sleep aid that others have found helpful? At this point I've tried almost everything obtainable that I'm aware of. Kratom and marijuana are the only two things that consistently help, but I again I don't want to go to prison for something as retarded as marijuana or kratom possession.... It baffles me that these are/will be illegal. I live in a state that has really strict drug laws.

Sorry to beat this question to death :/ any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[nydj77]

I had back pain and joint pain where my leg met my hip 6 months real hgh as long as older than 32-35 and get scanned for cancer 6 months light work outs till store 3 months pain will barely be their light low reps or bends or twists 6 months you will feel great the do cycle of gif-1 lr3 and mgf never had my issue a gain i called it couch back add testosterone men of course stenghthens your bones best thing i ever did u do hah every 2 years 6 months at a time.

 

[ShroomySatori]

the lack of awareness about chronic pain is baffling to me (awareness by the public) its one of the most common diseases, but not acknowledged at all really by anyone in the public. autism, ocd, depression, etc are all way more discussed and acknowledged.

this lack of acknowledgement just basically leaves you as a pill loving faker to most of the world, that assumes that everyone has pain. but its when the pain gets to a constant level that makes you suicidal that CP exists.

i just don't know why this disease is so ignored and what can be done to change it. I mean look at whats going on with the opioid epidemic....CP is rarely mentioned at all in discussions other than "the opiates are for pain" but they never discussion chronic permanent pain.

i worry that the conection to opiods is what makes it so taboo to discuss CP. If you even look at any pain advocacy groups literature/stories...they do a lot to discount the benefits of opioids on patients and highlight everything else that works, and these are CP advocacy groups, you'd think they wouldn't be so bashful about the realities of pain.....its just such an ugly association that the disease has with opioids and hence recreational drug use that it keeps it from being recognized as a medical condition.

The best way I have found to survive is to keep to myself. I will never ever mention that I have chronic pain to an employer anymore, or to anyone, and whenever I work I just do more drugs instead of discussing things such as ergonomic chairs that might keep my pain relief down. It's just not worth mentioning that I have pain because I've literally been fired over it.

If I say I have chronic pain, the vast majority I am met with a blank stare. Not only that, but I am asked to explain it. As I am sure you know, it is not a thing that can be easily explained in a few seconds. Any manager who isn't aware of chronic back pain is an absolute dumbass, there is no excuse for such blatant ignorance.

After years of effort, the best treatment I have found is a two-minute doctors appoint every little while to get refills. They are doing nothing whatsoever to investigate, and I'm rather young still. If I left my actual pain relief up to the medical system, I'd be completely fucked because my doctor hasn't adjusted for tolerance in a number of years. Therefore I have done it, since it is straightforward to do so and is a necessity after time. You do something like double the dose. I can't even be open about anything with my doctor. If my tolerance goes up, it's way easier to deal with that through other means. My doctor doesn't even have time to discuss tolerance. Every time I go in there it's 99 people with white hair and then myself.

I find the social problems excruciating. I still have close friends asking me to do shit I physically can't, years later. Nobody gives a fuck about a problem that they probably can't even see. I would say that less than 1 out of 10 people care - but if you can find someone who recognizes what is going on they can be very compassionate. It's usually because they've seen it with their parents or grandparents.

I am sure that a lot of the addiction problem stems from this mistreatment of disabled people. It exacerbates the anxiety and alienation from society when even the medication you used is spit on. There is no support for helping people with chronic pain get back in the workplace after extended periods of abstinence, which is a huge issue in my opinion since it can leave craters of lost time on your resume that are difficult to explain. Between myself and someone else in their 20's who is healthy, there is an enormous difference that I would consider to be generally consistent. This needs to be accommodated for by society because people who fuck up their spine and stuff like that never mean to.

I was left to rot. After enough people like me drop dead by their own hand cause they can't deal with this bullshit, it starts attracting attention. Unfortunately, blame is often placed directly on the drugs, further exacerbating the problems and alienating patients. The news has chronic pain stories next to fake oxycontin pills with w-18 or u-47700 in them.

By the way, I am extremely interested in CP advocacy groups. I feel like I am being abused by society, it is a major human rights issue. I don't give a damn how many people use oxycodone recreationally, and I don't even care if I do that too sometimes as an escape. It's too easy to get used to the pain and accept life as a vegetable. I need the oxy to walk, I lost my 20's to chronic pain and I don't want to lose my 30's, that's nobody's business but my own if I want to take pills for it I can handle and that I know how to safely use.

 

[DixiChik]

Holy shit...Where to begin? First of all, HELLO to all PAIN PEEPS! Sorry I've been MIA. I'm just at a total loss, seemingly unable to help myself or anyone else. So...I isolate and consume myself with my work. I'm struggling with some tough life decisions right now. There are no easy answers...but do those even exist for me at 55?

My husband sees my struggle (for decades). He wants me to retire completely (can't do it) and take care of ME for the first time in my life. I've said many times on this forum that my work is my salvation from this so-called life. It's not so much the distraction from insidious chronic pain, per se, as it is the validation for me. Sick, I know. I thrive on ideas becoming blueprints, then watching the builds come to fruition. It makes me feel alive in an otherwise dead shell of a body that only "gives" me PAIN.

Shroomy, I would also like to advocate on behalf of CPP's. Lord knows IME the doctors certainly are not. It should not be this HARD to get a little relief. My doctor wants to over medicate me, it seems, but doesn't take into account that the meds shut down my gut. Guess what, Doc? If the gut ain't happy I'm not happy!

Almost a year ago now, I was hospitalized for partial bowel obstruction. I spent almost a week in hospital with IVs to hydrate and meds to clean colon. Yet the dumb fucks refilled my colon with non-soluable contrast barium (twice) for extensive testing. Their results? "You need to keep your bowels moving (no shit, literally) to prevent further damage". Yay me. I started Linzess 290 because all maintenance methods had long since stopped working. The Linzess, though expensive, works but causes pain and exhaustion too. TMI, but it feels like squirting acid when bowels move...always explosive, cramping, and FIRE!

I've been experimenting with MMJ for months now. I jump through many hoops, since it's illegal in my state. I have obtained medical dispensary product (sublingual oil, RSO, buds to smoke or vape). I prefer the vape over smoke, but honestly feel that I get the better results from the oil under my tongue. It takes a lot of trial and error for me, because I know NOTHING about MJ...never used it recreationally in my youth. I wish I had access to edibles (candies) or even more so, capsules with both THC and CBD. Again, COST becomes a clear and present issue. It's costing me quite a lot of money and intense stress to obtain MMJ. I'm not convinced it's worth it to me, personally.

I'm told that the current MMJ is a whole new breed. I don't know if that's hype or truth. So far, I've tried about 6 different strains. I don't think I'm going to truly find pain relief, but a lift from despair is welcome. That is IF I can do so with a clear mind and motivation to remain upright and functional.

Meanwhile, I witness the steady (now rapid) decline of my elder senior peeps, including my mom (now 90). My mom technically "died" again 3 weeks ago. She never came back from her "death" on Thanksgiving Day 2015. I pray for mercy and death in her sleep. She is wicked to her core, but doesn't deserve this. I've attended on average 3-4 funerals per month all summer. Some were in decline from age and nature. Others remained active and lively, a great joy to behold. So much joy has faded to darkness, with more on the horizon. The loss is deafening.

I don't like to whine or complain. I prefer the use of cheeky humor for diversion from pain and sadness. Even I can't find a sick joke amongst all this despair.

 

[Felonious Monk]

the lack of awareness about chronic pain is baffling to me (awareness by the public) its one of the most common diseases, but not acknowledged at all really by anyone in the public. autism, ocd, depression, etc are all way more discussed and acknowledged.

this lack of acknowledgement just basically leaves you as a pill loving faker to most of the world, that assumes that everyone has pain. but its when the pain gets to a constant level that makes you suicidal that CP exists.

i just don't know why this disease is so ignored and what can be done to change it. I mean look at whats going on with the opioid epidemic....CP is rarely mentioned at all in discussions other than "the opiates are for pain" but they never discussion chronic permanent pain.

i worry that the conection to opiods is what makes it so taboo to discuss CP. If you even look at any pain advocacy groups literature/stories...they do a lot to discount the benefits of opioids on patients and highlight everything else that works, and these are CP advocacy groups, you'd think they wouldn't be so bashful about the realities of pain.....its just such an ugly association that the disease has with opioids and hence recreational drug use that it keeps it from being recognized as a medical condition.

It definitely seems like a taboo subject. I think mosy CP patients almost have to keep it to themselves. I remember telling a friend about it and he told me hates when people complain about how bad their problems are so.... not exactly conversation material. Unfortunately, the people the only people aware of CO are the CP patients.

You guys should check out the U.S. Pain Foundation. It's a non-profit group that fights for the rights of people in pain. They have local meetings too where you can learn about the latest treatments in CP and meet people/doctors. They're a great group of people and not the type to judge anyone.
https://www.uspainfoundation.org/

 

[slim_perkins]

I have been dealing with chronic pain for many years. I broke my back several years back and have struggled with pain since. I recently started taking 80 mg OP's. I used to take oxycontins a few years back, but this is my first experience with the OP's. Although they do help the pain in my back, they give me the most intense headaches and stomach cramps. Does anyone else have this problem? It is not even worth the relief any more. The headaches are almost worse than the back pain.

 

[slim_perkins]

This is not completely true. Anything that you put into your body can have adverse effects. There are many factors that you must consider. If you have kidney or liver problems these drugs can further the problem. I was taking opiates for years. We all know that even without abusing them we develop tolerance. After years of use the tolerance keeps climbing. At this point the dosage required to benefit me is so high that it is hurting my body. Of course opiates without large amounts of additive are better for your system, but the opiates themselves can still be damaging.