Misc The Pain Management Mega Thread v. 7

[Slow_Mobius]

Hey guys, just caught up on the discussion here. Really hope you guys find relief, especially from the pain but also from the problems from the meds themselves Makes me feel guilty complaining about disc pain that, while having a big shit sandwich effect on my life, could be a lot worse.

Saw my new doctor for the first time today and it actually went pretty well. She took the pain quite seriously and is sending me to get x-rayed, is sending me to the subsidized physical therapy, plans to send me to a specialist if the x-rays come back as expected, and prescribed me a 3 month supply of my not-very-effective-but-much-better-than-nothing codeine/apap meds. After a conversation with my brother, who is a doctor, last night I decided to explicitly ask for low dosage IR oxy, at least a small amount for when the pain is worst, but she shut me down--but was at least nice about it. Assuming things don't improve I guess I might have better luck on that with the specialist. I was also prescribed amitryptiline 10mg which apparently is supposed to raise my pain threshold--anybody had any luck with that? Wife is warning me it's really important not to mix with alcohol but I rather like having a couple beers most evenings. Anyway, long story short it went about as well as I could have hoped for with the one exception of getting something for pain that's stronger than codeine.

Take care all

I've taken amitryptiline. It had a very modest analgesic effect and made me feel like a walking zombie. You'll want to be careful about when you take it (ie not before driving to the store, work, etc.)

Good luck with physical therapy. That would be a much better solution than a lifetime of drugs!

 

[Moses1]

Thanks slow_mobius No worries on the driving stuff, we got rid of our car so unless I would be dangerous on a bike there shouldn't be much to worry about. Hoping for good results from physical therapy, which I've had quite a bit of before, but I'm guessing I won't get a ton out of it since I still do my exercises I was told to do in the past. Biggest hope now is that the imaging and/or specialist will figure out what's causing all the pain and will have some kind of plan to improve things. Too many meds cause plenty of problems but if I could see some kind of end to that on the horizon I'd not be much bothered. I won't pretend not to love opioids but I also have a decent idea of how dangerous they are and know that if I take very many for very long it will be extremely hard to let go. I took the better part of a month off from the codeine I've been taking for 15 months or so and while it's a weak drug and I tapered to avoid much physical withdrawal it was still pretty unpleasant (not even counting the extra pain)--much worse than stopping taking stronger opioids like hydro or oxy when those were only taken for a month or so.

 

[Runtoparadise]

I too have been in physio since February. I've just been allocated another 18 sessions,- twice a week.

See my neurosurgeon mon week for my results. Had a consult with my neurologist last week where he'd been doing his homework.

Asked me if I recalled on the Eve of being hit & run (at 2pm in broad daylight), the nurses being concerned that all my limbs were flailing & my eyelids batting open & closed.

I asked where ..,in ED? He said "no up in the ward". I said "were the nurses just worried & kept an eye on me, or was a dr called up"? He replied " i was with you for an hour, we couldn't tell if you were unconscious or hvng a seizure"!

I have zero recollection of this, it's really weird to think that something happened nine mths ago & I never had any idea!!

I guess this fits in with the TBI & post concussion syndrome the psychiatrist diagnosed me with a few wks back.

The numb right hand , painful arm/shoulder/neck still goes on. Can't say any things improved by physio, but perhaps if I could remember back into feb something may have.

My neurologist asked what bothered me most. I asked if I could have two. My head injury & my arm.

I told him I'd been referred to a pain dr by my neurosurgeon in the next capital city. He said that, yes, I should focus on getting my troublesome arm sorted out.

Both him & my physio have mentioned I might have central regional pain syndrome after my trauma.

There's some pain scale that rates that as 40 something out of fifty. Worse than childbirth, amputation,- well pretty much the most painful thing going. I very much hope not as there's no cure & it can spread.

My surgeon was focused on a brachial plexus injury, the nerves around my neck & shoulder being damaged on impact. I'd rather that diagnosis over the other!!

I've read the threads lately but not posted much, welcome newcomers to our cosy corner.

Oldies, much love & appreciation that you keep posting,- live to know where you're at.

My life is a full time job at times, I've had days where I have three appts. I get so tired. Then of course I have sweetchildofmine
To care for & provide me with some fulfilment & joy

Anna, I think u posted something that I wanted to get back to you about. Forgotten atm, but it'll come back.

Rtp

 

[kattmomma13]

Hey everyone I haven't been able to get online for last wks and I'm missing talking to y'all
Update on new Dr ...I'm on a waiting list for appt maybe in June I had told pc nurse to send referral to diff Dr on may 3 but I have no idea if they do have me on the schedule..I left a message on the vm for them to at least let me know that was on Monday now it is Sunday so I will call again tomoro...Dixi that sounds great finding a friend that can n will get u what u need..
I hope it does get help.....Rtp I hope the physio is going good or in any way helpful...
Closeau...u really are accident prone n get more hurts that compound the already there ones...
Anna....how is the scs working out n have u got to lessen ur pain med ...
Dixi..I sent u a gmail..I know I'm really rambling on with this post so y'all plz forgive me..
Welcome to the newbies here I hope y'all get all the assistance u need in here..
BigG n MrRoot I haven't talked to y'all yet but I have read y'alls posts..I know y'all don't know me from Adams housecat...but I had my back broken in 2006 so been on pain meds since ..I have 2 rods with bars n screws called a Harris fixation..I also am in process of trying to find another Dr as mine got shut down n had new mri I also have myelomalacia is is spinal bleed..it just takes forever to get Dr on waiting lists..
Well anyway thanks guys for listening ..
Later

 

[kattmomma13]

Moses1...I take amitriptalline to sleep get 150 mg n take half of one at night but I can't say that it helps pain although my pc dr said it would..but he is giving me tramadol 50 mg a day which does help a little so I will just try to get thru this next month n hopefully will get a New dr in June..later
Km

 

[kattmomma13]

Iamthesuck...I have a friend that gets really bad migraines also n she goes to ED gets demerol only thing helps..

 

[ScuicidalNod]

Iamthesuck-
Have you tried daily migraine meds; Topiramate (Topomax?) is what I use when I get more than 9 headaches a month.
Also, a week or 2 ago, a neurologist prescribed me a Beta-blocker, can't remember the name, to take daily...I stopped taking it after reading the side effects.(Forgetting things is a side effect).
If you have to go the psychedelic route, I would suggest micro-dosing LSD or shrooms daily. That way you get the most out of it, least side effects, and don't have to find 2 days to put aside for a trip.
Opiates can help w/ the pain, but they can cause more headaches in the long run. They cause the brain to heat up a bit, and the body's response is to send more H2o to the sack around the brain to cool it...This is essentially what happens when a hangover is experienced. You gotta do what ya gotta do though, right?
Maybe try Kratom if you can not obtain opiates. I suggest Maeng Da, as it is powerful, not very sedating, can give you energy, etc.

 

[ScuicidalNod]

Dixichick-
The best way to use MMJ is by eating it.
Especially w/ the colon symptoms you have, it will really help.
I think I've posted directions to making MJ ghee, but PM me if you need it again.
Use whatever herb you have for the ghee, indica or sativa.
Sativa is the MJ you need, or even a CBD strain. CBD is very pricey though, and quality is questionable if derived from hemp paste.
Gotta go munch some fajitas...Back in a few...

 

[ScuicidalNod]

Dixichick-
I was gonna say that I really like the strain "Cannatonic" for high CBD pain relief. At a lot of the shops in SoCal call it a hybrid, some call it a CBD strain. It does have THC in it, but almost a 50/50 ratio of CBD to THC. It's great for smoking, very social, no couchlock, not a whole lot of euphoria, but solid pain relief after 2 puffs.
Also, there are many CBD products on the market. I get a little pain relief from CBD rubs, lotions, salves. Rubbing it on my back works great, best pain relief cream I ever had...And silky smooth from the generous amounts of cannibiniod oils. It clears skin of acne as well as relieves pain locally.
You can make your own slaves/rubs, but a quick search should give you something online for cheaper/easier than you can make it at home.
So, main points being~ eat your cannabis; Use Sativa strains, or a sativa dominant hybrid only; Use CBD strains like Charlettes' Web, and Cannatonic; use pain reliving ointments w/ CBD in them; start small, 1/2 a hit, or a bite of doped cookies etc..~
Remember THC is needed for pain relief as well as CBD. The CBD tends to block the psychedelia and euphoria {side} effects of THC.
Fair well with the cannabis, friend.

 

[ScuicidalNod]

I like lsd a lot, it's actually my DOC when I have time lol, so I can make time if it's for medicine. Although micro dosing may be good for my acedemics, so that may be a route to go

I found this interesting-
http://reset.me/story/benefits-of-microdosing-with-lsd-and-psilocybin-mushrooms/
Seems microdosing could help many kinds of illness, pain.
For a while now I been pondering psychedelic use for pain relief. Unfortunately, I have been in so much pain, I am terrified of body-load and time dialation. If I'm still in #10 pain, and dosing doesn't help, I can see a Hell for 12+ hours that feels like 2 weeks. Tripping out on your pain is not fun...This 1 time I had a stomach pain, but took mushrooms w/ a bunch of people, as to be polite, a good host, etc.. I ended up falling in to an endless looping tunnel of pain radiating from my stomach and burning my skin, arched back to fetal position over 'n over- "don't fuckin touch me! Please rubb my tummy, it huuuurts". I was all bloated, and half wanted to go to the E.R., but knew this would only go away w/ time. Dude, it was wicked.
Still thinking about it...

 

[Runtoparadise]

I'm pissed off that specialists letters don't reflect the actual conversation we had!

My GP recommended I record all consults from now on as yes, she had a letter from my neurologist, but it was inconclusive & said nothing about a head injury or being unconscious the eve of being hit by the vehicle.

Thankfully, she believes & documents what I say, but he actually said there was no sign of atrophy (against the neurosurgeons opinion), when he didn't even look at my upper arm as I was wearing long sleeves.

He said he didn't know if I had a neurological deficit atm, but that again, from January to my next appt end of may was complaining of a regional pain disorder which needed following up by a pain specialist!

I hate when the letters are nothing like what we talked about, so I've downloaded an app that (hopefully) can record each session with a drs permission.

I think I'd trust my neurosurgeon over my neurologist, but who knows!! I'd prob lay more trust in my physio atm!!

Rtp

 

[Runtoparadise]

Shroomy,-,you've been through such a tough cpl of wks! Believe me I know what it's like to not be able to contain yourself & take extra meds. I CTd many times before I sorted myself out, & it wasn't pleasant!

Dropping to almost a quarter of what you were scripted sounds tough. At least now you know you don't want to ever be in that place again.

Be strong, or can your girlfriend hold onto your pills? That's what I had to to before switching to subutex.

My pain & my life is so much better managed nowadays,- no lkng back?

Rtp

 

[AnnaBanana333]

So, how is everyone doing? I'm currently going through withdrawal for the first time in a long time. I fell down the stairs a couple of weeks ago, so I was running low on my meds. I moved my appointment earlier, and they wrote for 1 of my scripts to be filled earlier (tomorrow), but the rest not for another week. I guess I could go ask them to write one of the others for an earlier pick up date as well, but I don't want to look bad. I'm usually their ideal patient, but they actually had me resign the contract because I ran out of our early, even though they told me to take more and come in earlier. Ugh. This sucks on top of pain. In the middle of my appointment, they asked if they could take an X-ray to see if my wires moved in my spinal cord stimulator; it's not working as well as it did, maybe because of the fall.

Anyway, checking in. Hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend.

 

[Runtoparadise]

Sorry to hear about your fall Anna, more so hvng to go through wds!

Hope you have meds on board by now & definitely pray that no wires have moved in your stimulator!!

I found out ystrdy from the neurosurgeon that I don't have any pinched nerves in my neck.

The pain mngmt dr he referred me onto may do some shots or change meds.

I asked him what about my numb hand, I can't live with this, should I see a hand specialist? He said what for? It's your shoulder, but not my area of expertise. So that was that!!

Gotta run for now,

Rtp

 

[Crackers]

I suffered from migraine. Nothing helped until I bought the book, "Heal your Headache." I would always get the aura followed by the pain. When the aura would come I lost my lower left quadrant of vision. I would go to bed, take tylenol, magnesium, and Valium and wait it out. I tried Topamax and it made me stupid. Stronger things didn't work. When I modified my diet and cut out the meds, the migraines got under control. That was 20 years ago.

Fast forward and I have bigger fish to fry. I was dx with ALS and have constant cramping. Back on Valium and trying Oxy for pain. I take a very small dose of Oxy every day (5mg) but I'm prescribed 30mg a day and, if necessary, I'll up the dose. I'm back on Tylenol and Advil so I can use the Oxy sparingly.\

Pain is horrible.

 

[QuasiQ]

Hello All, I hate that anyone has to be in pain. Especially when they go to a pain doc. I was crushed in 08 and it's been a long painful road to healing and dealing with pain. My left hip was cracked when my femur got broken and separated from my hip. The entire area between my knee and ankle were crushed beyond much repair(though I do give my ortho surgeon props for pulling the humpty-dumpty card outta his ass). He put a rod through my knee(which was fine till he put a rod through it) and put a rod from my knee to ankle. The lower rod did pretty good, though there will always be pain due to being a load bearing limb, but about a year ago I had another x-ray due to some extra sever pain and turns out that the screw holding the rod to my ankle has broken and the rod is just barely sitting on it. My ortho surgeon said that he didn't want to do any preventative surgery to fix the screw though(for fear of infection), he basically said it would have to break all the way and by that he means that it would have to shoot down into my ankle or out of the side of it before he'd do surgery. Doctors are some strange creatures.

Needless to say, I have been in pain management since 09, and I have seen some good doctors and some really bad ones. The pain doc i am seeing now has been trying to lower my already very low amount of pain meds. Not because he wants to lower my tolerance, but because of some crap the cdc and the fed government has been spewing. It annoys me to no end that people that have no pain issues have ANY say in ANYTHING that has to do with my or anyone elses pain med intake. Alas, it's the world we live in i suppose.

I truly do hope you guys/gals find relief for your pain. Life is a nice thing when you can function at least at 80% with little to no pain. Take care guys and keep your chin up, perseverance is all we have a lot of the time. Well, that and street drugs..
Later,
QuasiQ

 

[Runtoparadise]

What's going on with this thread? It's not the acute & chronic pain spill, & there is no continuity from our previous "pain family".

It helps there's a few regulars, - change is not welcome when we're dealing with so much ?.

SKR sorry to hear about ur sciatica,- I used to have that burn thru my back & Butt right down my leg thru my knee even to my foot!

It just got better with time tho..which is less than I can say for my hand numbness/arm/shoulder/neck pain.

My physio who is definitely highly qualified in chronic & acute pain likens my pain to a stroke victim.

The nerves have been killed off by the trauma of the hit & run, but can regenerate in time. Whether i regain the feeling in my dominant hand is yet to be seen though.

My upper arm/bicep has atrophied to a massive degree, & along with my hand I suffer great weakness & pain 24/7.

I don't really know the next step but my GP will (she's on holidays), I'm so grateful I have a proactive dr!!

Rtp

 

[Cheezy]

Man, I really don't like to talk a bout my pain, because it is almost all in the groin.
I had a hernia un-diagnosed for 6+ months. It hurt, bad, caused 1 of my testicles to swell to the size of a red potato...And that's what it looked like. I was in so much pain I had doc's jabbing needles in my nut, and groin, and taint.
By the time I had surgery I had bilateral hernias, and a hydrocele. The hernias were repaired w/ mesh patch implants.
After 6 months of getting better, and then worse, I broke down and accepted a 'script for hydrocodone. 2 weeks later it was on to morphine.
I have developed a neuromia~ my inguinal nerve is sutured into, or rubbing against the mesh. This caused tremendous pain. All my back injuries returned, and I now have 2 bulging disks in my neck, as well as a tumor; from leaning things for months, not walking/ standing correctly.
Doctors tell me there is nothing to be done...
Groin pain blows.
I indeed almost died from untreated long term pain. Doc said my hormones are gone. Insomnia and stress(pain) wiped 'em out.
For a while, I didn't care if I lost a testicle, I didn't care if I was in a wheel chair the rest of my life- I'ld give up anything to stop the pain.
No joke.
Every minute of every day I felt like I fell off my bicycle seat on to the frame w/ my crotch.
I feel for those in groin, colon, crotch pain.

Speaking of bicycles they can make for great exercise and you can have fun while doing but mainly exercise will help your pains without even needing any medication I mean can't you see the cycle you have the medication it helps your pain but then you can't deal with pain naturally like the rest of us I've seen it happen many a times with my patients I just don't want this to happen to you guys I care I have a bad back(had it all my life) never known the cause but I wake up and feel like a train has hit me

Every day I live in agony and you know what I don't need drugs to deal with any pain including my very very painful condition I dnt need drugs I just go for a 30 minute jog have a nice warm bath with a cup of coco and I'm like "pain? What pain?

Did you know the Russian special forces "Spetsnaz" who I use my idle to set an example for myself " I don't fear pain I enjoy it" are taught to ENJOY pain that's right you can actually be taught to enjoy pain so if pain is so bad why can we be taught to enjoy it I only found out the answer to that question a yr ago.

So anyway my friend who is a scientific expert says that pain like everything else is just a word we associate with a feeling for example you here happiness you think of happiness if someone told you you will be happy you will feel happy and it's similar to pain but not in the way you think pain is also a word as you all know that we associate with injury but what if you didn't know you was sopposed to be in pain you would not feel it because You don't know your in pain it was a big study on millions they were told not asked if they would be in pain and the results support the above

Pain is mostly mental the worse you THINK it is then the worse it will SEEM TO BE but it's not it's your brains tricking us don't let your brain be boss people quit the meds and do exercise lots of it I far promise the so called "pain" you all have will disappear it's your body screaming out for a good workout that's what we are made to do I've put up with some of the most painful conditions known to man but I don't let it win or get a foothold I take control of my pain! I enjoy pain!

Take control of your pain guys enjoy the pain and enjoy the burn and take control throw out the tablets and realise the truth the pains all mostly in your heads which happens when medication is abused but the hope ain't lost get out their and exercise the whole world is your gym good luck guys see you on the other side

Ps Remember! if addicted to tablets cut down before quitting

 

[Slow_Mobius]

Cheezy trolls the forum--that or he's the world's least informed doctor. Pay him no mind. Perspective can make a difference though

 

[adder]

Did you know the Russian special forces "Spetsnaz" who I use my idle to set an example for myself " I don't fear pain I enjoy it" are taught to ENJOY pain that's right you can actually be taught to enjoy pain so if pain is so bad why can we be taught to enjoy it I only found out the answer to that question a yr ago.

So anyway my friend who is a scientific expert says that pain like everything else is just a word we associate with a feeling for example you here happiness you think of happiness if someone told you you will be happy you will feel happy and it's similar to pain but not in the way you think pain is also a word as you all know that we associate with injury but what if you didn't know you was sopposed to be in pain you would not feel it because You don't know your in pain it was a big study on millions they were told not asked if they would be in pain and the results support the above

Pain is mostly mental the worse you THINK it is then the worse it will SEEM TO BE but it's not it's your brains tricking us don't let your brain be boss people quit the meds and do exercise lots of it I far promise the so called "pain" you all have will disappear it's your body screaming out for a good workout that's what we are made to do I've put up with some of the most painful conditions known to man but I don't let it win or get a foothold I take control of my pain! I enjoy pain!

Take control of your pain guys enjoy the pain and enjoy the burn and take control throw out the tablets and realise the truth the pains all mostly in your heads which happens when medication is abused but the hope ain't lost get out their and exercise the whole world is your gym good luck guys see you on the other side

I don't think it's as easy as you put it. I don't think one could learn to enjoy pain, that would require some kind of extreme brainwashing and I've got no idea how you could condition someone to enjoy pain. Perhaps one could somehow learn to block negative emotions produced by pain or learn to block pain perception, but the latter seems science-fiction to me. Positive emotions is what we desire, negative emotions is what we don't ever want and do everything we can to avoid them, so it's crazy at this moment to think you could use persuasion to make someone relink something they strongly associate with feeling bad to a positive emotion, for a person who associates a certain thing with negative emotions for a long time there are a whole lot of triggers that bring it up or make it worse, so we're basically talking about brain rewiring, I guess. I doubt you could still be yourself after such a process.