I don't know; but that's what I am facing too. So, please know that you're not alone.
I should have added, that I am a newbie here too; just registered tonight.
On 26 Sept. I was tentatively diagnosed as having NON-Classic Reflex Sympathetic Dystraphy Syndrome also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome 1 (RSDS / CRPS 1). There is no cure, but if I am very lucky there is a very small chance that I might go into remission. No such luck, yet.
I have never been able to swallow pills; so, I am stuck with yucky tasting liquids, or some tablets that I can crush and take with applesauce. For the RSDS I was perscribed Hydrocodone Bitartrate - 2.5 mg / Acetaminophen - 167 mg Oral Solution / 5 ml, with a dosage of 10 ml 5 times daily if needed for pain; that's a total of 25 mg of hydrocodone per day. Trouble is, the perscription was only for one bottle with NO refills. I am nearly out. I didn't take any on Saturday or Sunday. Monday I had bad diarrhea. I stumbled across some archived threads of this forum while I was trying to find out if the runs were a withdrawal syptom. Yep, they are. Monday I took 2 half doses. Tuesday none.
So, when the meds are gone and the pain is still here what do becka0410 and I do.
I've tried accupuncture for my migraines and it HELPED SO MUCH, its helps a bit for my TMJ...
I have EDS, a genetic disorder. I have hypermobility. My joints slip out of place all the time and it is very painful. I have just accepted that I will hurt everyday. I would rather be here to hurt than lose my life to addiction. I quit taking hydrocodone and oxycodone and started taking ultram. It takes the edge off, at least that's something.
Can you use any braces or straps to hold your joints together?
The RSDS is a neuro-vascular complication of the fractured left distal radius I got when I fell over on July 24. Some people with RSDS have burning sensations, but I just ache all the time and the skin on the under side of my left wrist is sensitive to touch - especially to clothing sleeves. I still have some swelling and my hand and wrist joints are stiff.
The hydrocodone took the edge off, so that I could do some physical therapy.
I would use Ibuprofen (for the swelling), except that when I tried it for Cervical Spondylosis (a real pain in the neck - still hurts), all it did was give me rebound headaches with no pain relief.
On the archieved threads, I read that ultram is harder to kick than hydrocodone. I have never used ultram.
Besides the RSDS, and Cervical Spondylosis, I also get migraines. Saturday morning I had a migraine and took 1 fioracet, which contains butalbital - a barbiturate. That is why (besides running low), I didn't take any hydrocodone on Saturday or Sunday. I did NOT want to be mixing opiates and barbiturates. The fioracet is a tablet that I crush, and take with applesauce.
I also have a triptan - Zomig that I can take for migraines, but triptans constrict blood vessels and with the RSDS I need to keep my blood vessels open.
I am afraid that accupuncture would cause more pain than it relieves.