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Dealing with longterm pain
Are they any better ways to deal with chronic pain then pain killers or tranquilizers. I lost most of my calf and achilles roughly 4 years ago and since then am in constant pain almost 24/7. Especially at night. Enough i only sleep 2 to 3 hours at a time. If you have ever seen house md thats me. I took darvecet or vicodin for alongtime but hate the effects of pain killers. Then I my old doctor switched me to tranquilizers but I sleep for 16 hours at a wack and can't take that either. Emotionally I have accepted it as a part of life but would like to know if anyone has any ideas has life gets pretty unbearable at times
The problem with use of illegal drugs is that if you intend to use an opiate for pain relief, you might get tested at random for drugs in your system. If some cannabis was detected - and THC takes some weeks to leach out of the fat cells and to be flushed out - the powers that be might cut you off from your opiate pain relief, or worse. Best to stick to the prescribed meds Of course, if legal cannabinoids are prescribed then by all means try it...
My experience has been that a combination of drugs that are "acceptable" to you, and a level of adaptation and stabilisation with regards to your new circumstances, is the best path forward. Adaptation and stabilisation is about learning what you are capable of doing day after day, not just what you are capable of doing for just one day. The idea is to find a sweet spot between today's mental, physical, and emotional activities and how that amount of activitiy affects your capacity to do the necessary activities on the next day, and the days after that. Failure to do this may leave you exposed to rush-and-crash, rush-and-crash episodes, where you attempt to get all the shopping done while feeling good enough, only to set up a crash into severe pain a bit later on. It may turn out that like many of us you find that the level of daily activity you can undertake is too little to manage everything you need/want to do. Most of us here have probably gone through this stage; it is one where the stronger your social/family/friends support is, the better for you.
Adaptation and stabilisation does not preclude trying to improve your capability over time; in fact, that is the next step if it is realistic to expect some prospect of recovery of function. Improvement won't happen though if you are in the rush-and-crash cycle that is so easy to get trapped in. It is worth stating that often improvement is not the next step, but rather it is about slowing down any decline in function, age related or otherwise.
As for meds, I've found some value in the anti-convulsants which affect neuropathic pain (nerve-related pain, usually from damage to the nerves themselves). Gabapentin (aka neurontin) and Pregabalin (aka Lyrica) are probably the best ones to try. I've used lyrica for extended periods and eventually got used to the major side-effects. I've recently started using neurontin too, and I''ve found it to be side-effect free so far, but not as effective.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
OtisDaMan
My experience has been that a combination of drugs that are "acceptable" to you, and a level of adaptation and stabilisation with regards to your new circumstances, is the best path forward. Adaptation and stabilisation is about learning what you are capable of doing day after day, not just what you are capable of doing for just one day. The idea is to find a sweet spot between today's mental, physical, and emotional activities and how that amount of activitiy affects your capacity to do the necessary activities on the next day, and the days after that. Failure to do this may leave you exposed to rush-and-crash, rush-and-crash episodes, where you attempt to get all the shopping done while feeling good enough, only to set up a crash into severe pain a bit later on. It may turn out that like many of us you find that the level of daily activity you can undertake is too little to manage everything you need/want to do. Most of us here have probably gone through this stage; it is one where the stronger your social/family/friends support is, the better for you.
Adaptation and stabilisation does not preclude trying to improve your capability over time; in fact, that is the next step if it is realistic to expect some prospect of recovery of function. Improvement won't happen though if you are in the rush-and-crash cycle that is so easy to get trapped in. It is worth stating that often improvement is not the next step, but rather it is about slowing down any decline in function, age related or otherwise.
As for meds, I've found some value in the anti-convulsants which affect neuropathic pain (nerve-related pain, usually from damage to the nerves themselves). Gabapentin (aka neurontin) and Pregabalin (aka Lyrica) are probably the best ones to try. I've used lyrica for extended periods and eventually got used to the major side-effects. I've recently started using neurontin too, and I''ve found it to be side-effect free so far, but not as effective.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
OtisDaMan
Exactly what I said to somebody else on here. The person asked about relaxlation techniques...Cannabis can also be effective for Pain. SWIM agrees that it is VERY good for easing pain as well. But keeping in mind the Legal factor, of course. That being dependent upon which state you live in obviously...
Medical marijuana has been in the media alot lately and does seem to help some people but it is also a narcotic. It is also still illegal in some states even though it is medicinal. I do not know of any physicians that does prescibe this for pain control though I am sure their are some. This is a tricky drug as I said it is still illegal in some sates and the last thing you need is legal trouble as there are many other options for pain control.
I just watched a special on medical pot for chronic pain. I personally don't think I could go that route but it does seem to help so many people. It can be taken in the form of pills or in foods. There are medical collectives once you have a prescription you can get the prescription from these collectives. I have a cousin, his wife has severe arthritis and that's the medication she takes instead of narcotics.
I have used acupuncture for pain, immune boosting, energy balancing and found it to be so helpful.
I really don't think you are on enough or the right pain meds for the amount of pain you are in. I am not a doctor but I have pretty severe chronic pain myself and don't sleep much either without the right medication.
If you don't take anything for sleep perhaps talking to your doctor would be a good thing.
I take Trazadone 50mg at bedtime minimal side effects but everyone is different
I take 40 mg oxycontin daily to control the pain 1 in the am 1 in the evening
percocet for breakthrough pain
Another very helpful prescription is Ativan, it helps anxiety but it is amazing for spasms and severe muscle pain.
If you are experiencing any depression Cymbalta is excellent not only for depression but they have found it helps with pain.
A natural supplement that has been through many clinical trials in the naturopathic world is DPLA, for pain. Google it and check it out.
I am a huge believe in natural supplements for our health needs but I do believe some pain and mine personally is best managed with a combination of natural supplements and pain medication.
I also take:
enzymes - helps you digest foods
CQ10
Fish Oil, great for pain, heart
B complex excellent for balancing the body
I hope this helps.
I have used acupuncture for pain, immune boosting, energy balancing and found it to be so helpful.
I really don't think you are on enough or the right pain meds for the amount of pain you are in. I am not a doctor but I have pretty severe chronic pain myself and don't sleep much either without the right medication.
If you don't take anything for sleep perhaps talking to your doctor would be a good thing.
I take Trazadone 50mg at bedtime minimal side effects but everyone is different
I take 40 mg oxycontin daily to control the pain 1 in the am 1 in the evening
percocet for breakthrough pain
Another very helpful prescription is Ativan, it helps anxiety but it is amazing for spasms and severe muscle pain.
If you are experiencing any depression Cymbalta is excellent not only for depression but they have found it helps with pain.
A natural supplement that has been through many clinical trials in the naturopathic world is DPLA, for pain. Google it and check it out.
I am a huge believe in natural supplements for our health needs but I do believe some pain and mine personally is best managed with a combination of natural supplements and pain medication.
I also take:
enzymes - helps you digest foods
CQ10
Fish Oil, great for pain, heart
B complex excellent for balancing the body
I hope this helps.
Tuck has given you some great suggestions. I would definatly check into getting fiited with a brace that would help support you calf and achilles. I believe this would help your pain levels. There are many differnt alternative therapies as well as non narcotic medicaions that may help.
I am going to list some here for you.....
If analgesic tablets or prescription painkillers aren't helping you manage your discomfort, it may be time to explore a more natural type of pain relief.
There exists a range of therapies known as either complementary medicine
(used in addition to traditional Western therapies)
or alternative medicine (used in place of traditional Western therapies),
and devotees have used them for conditions as minor as a headache and as
major as cancer.
Studies suggest that a low-fat, high-fiber diet may help to stave off aches and pains. In addition, certain anti-inflammatory spices, such as ginger, cinnamon, and cilantro, may have therapeutic effects
and play an important role in chronic pain management.
The National Pain Foundation endorses a comprehensive list of nontraditional remedies, below. See which ones work for you:
Acupuncture.
This ancient Chinese practice involves inserting long, thin needles into various points on the body. The idea behind this is that optimal health is achieved when energy flows freely through
the body, and the needles remove any blockages of this energy.
Acupuncture has been used successfully to alleviate pain from musculoskeletal issues as well as headaches.
Massage.
Not just a perk for wealthy spa-goers, massage has in recent years come to be recognized as important to overall health.
It reduces muscle tension and stress, can relieve soreness, and may
even boost your immune system.
Biofeedback.
This teaches you to focus on your body's response to pain and stress via a monitoring system that gives off sounds or visual cues whenever your muscles tense.
Eventually you become able to use nothing more t
than conscious thought to change your physiological response to a particular type of stress on your body.
Hypnosis.
Popular as a cure for smoking as well as overeating, hypnosis can also be used to manage pain.
A trained clinician induces an altered state of consciousness, making you more receptive to suggestions of behavioral changes that can reduce your pain.
For instance, if you suffer from chronic lower back pain,
under hypnosis you might be taught to visualize your back muscles opening up. Some people can even learn to hypnotize themselves.
Guided imagery.
This involves imagining yourself in a peaceful setting.
The more detailed the scene, the more your mind can truly transport you out of your discomfort and into the soothing scene.
Are there any questionable pain-relief remedies?
Yes. Think twice before relying on herbs.
Health-food stores are full of herbal supplements purported to reduce pain, but be careful.
The FDA does not regulate these supplements, and some of them have negative side effects, particularly when combined with over-the-counter pain medications.
I am going to list some here for you.....
If analgesic tablets or prescription painkillers aren't helping you manage your discomfort, it may be time to explore a more natural type of pain relief.
There exists a range of therapies known as either complementary medicine
(used in addition to traditional Western therapies)
or alternative medicine (used in place of traditional Western therapies),
and devotees have used them for conditions as minor as a headache and as
major as cancer.
Studies suggest that a low-fat, high-fiber diet may help to stave off aches and pains. In addition, certain anti-inflammatory spices, such as ginger, cinnamon, and cilantro, may have therapeutic effects
and play an important role in chronic pain management.
The National Pain Foundation endorses a comprehensive list of nontraditional remedies, below. See which ones work for you:
Acupuncture.
This ancient Chinese practice involves inserting long, thin needles into various points on the body. The idea behind this is that optimal health is achieved when energy flows freely through
the body, and the needles remove any blockages of this energy.
Acupuncture has been used successfully to alleviate pain from musculoskeletal issues as well as headaches.
Massage.
Not just a perk for wealthy spa-goers, massage has in recent years come to be recognized as important to overall health.
It reduces muscle tension and stress, can relieve soreness, and may
even boost your immune system.
Biofeedback.
This teaches you to focus on your body's response to pain and stress via a monitoring system that gives off sounds or visual cues whenever your muscles tense.
Eventually you become able to use nothing more t
than conscious thought to change your physiological response to a particular type of stress on your body.
Hypnosis.
Popular as a cure for smoking as well as overeating, hypnosis can also be used to manage pain.
A trained clinician induces an altered state of consciousness, making you more receptive to suggestions of behavioral changes that can reduce your pain.
For instance, if you suffer from chronic lower back pain,
under hypnosis you might be taught to visualize your back muscles opening up. Some people can even learn to hypnotize themselves.
Guided imagery.
This involves imagining yourself in a peaceful setting.
The more detailed the scene, the more your mind can truly transport you out of your discomfort and into the soothing scene.
Are there any questionable pain-relief remedies?
Yes. Think twice before relying on herbs.
Health-food stores are full of herbal supplements purported to reduce pain, but be careful.
The FDA does not regulate these supplements, and some of them have negative side effects, particularly when combined with over-the-counter pain medications.
Hello Globemaster,
Welcome to the Pain Mangement Forum. Thank you for serving our country and protecting us.I am glad that you found us at MedHelp and posted. I am very sorry to hear about your injury and chronic pain. I have read both of your posts and understand this injury is due to a gunshot wound.
The pain and problems from and injury can become worse over time. I am the victum of a very traumatic MVA that caused life threatening injuries and left me hospitalized for nearly six months some years ago. An Orthopedic surgeon told me shortly after the accident, "This is as good as it gets. As time passes your pain and limitations will increase." I didn't know how right he was at the time.
In my opinion the supporting and remaining structures in your limb have been working hard to try to accommodate for the your injury over the years. They may now be over-worked. The swelling and pain that you report may be the reaction to the over use or the demands that you have placed upon those structures.
Your search for pain management without narcotics or medications is a frequent quest heard here. Some approaches that I and others have tried are acupuncture, TENS unit, Bio-feedback, Massage, Heat/Ice and NSAIDs to name a few. None have been very effective for me though I do know that some ppl have found releif with one of more of them. Our members may offer additional suggestions.
The fact that you have emotionally accepted your pain puts you ahead of the game. A traumatic injury and loss of previous function/capabilities often places us in the grieving process. Acceptance being the final stage of that process.
I don't know what tranquiler your physician prescribed for you. You may want to consider trying another brand or a lesser dose. Several times a month when my muscle spams and pain becomes unbearable I add diazepam to my routine medications. I had tried three other muscle relaxants that were not effective and left me feeling "hung over" and groggy. I was very reluctant to try another especially diazepam as it gets a lot of bad press. But as my PCP assured me it is a great medication when used appropriately and not abused. It stops the spams this easing the pain and allowing me some rest. Don't give up after undesirable results from one medication.
I noted that you said in your other post that a boot and support device to your leg helps but wearing regular shoes increases your pain. You may want to look into some kind of brace or support that you can wear without your boots.
I hope you are able to discover a solution to your pain control. Please keep us updated and stop by our forum often. I will look forward to your updates.
Take Care,
Tuck
Welcome to the Pain Mangement Forum. Thank you for serving our country and protecting us.I am glad that you found us at MedHelp and posted. I am very sorry to hear about your injury and chronic pain. I have read both of your posts and understand this injury is due to a gunshot wound.
The pain and problems from and injury can become worse over time. I am the victum of a very traumatic MVA that caused life threatening injuries and left me hospitalized for nearly six months some years ago. An Orthopedic surgeon told me shortly after the accident, "This is as good as it gets. As time passes your pain and limitations will increase." I didn't know how right he was at the time.
In my opinion the supporting and remaining structures in your limb have been working hard to try to accommodate for the your injury over the years. They may now be over-worked. The swelling and pain that you report may be the reaction to the over use or the demands that you have placed upon those structures.
Your search for pain management without narcotics or medications is a frequent quest heard here. Some approaches that I and others have tried are acupuncture, TENS unit, Bio-feedback, Massage, Heat/Ice and NSAIDs to name a few. None have been very effective for me though I do know that some ppl have found releif with one of more of them. Our members may offer additional suggestions.
The fact that you have emotionally accepted your pain puts you ahead of the game. A traumatic injury and loss of previous function/capabilities often places us in the grieving process. Acceptance being the final stage of that process.
I don't know what tranquiler your physician prescribed for you. You may want to consider trying another brand or a lesser dose. Several times a month when my muscle spams and pain becomes unbearable I add diazepam to my routine medications. I had tried three other muscle relaxants that were not effective and left me feeling "hung over" and groggy. I was very reluctant to try another especially diazepam as it gets a lot of bad press. But as my PCP assured me it is a great medication when used appropriately and not abused. It stops the spams this easing the pain and allowing me some rest. Don't give up after undesirable results from one medication.
I noted that you said in your other post that a boot and support device to your leg helps but wearing regular shoes increases your pain. You may want to look into some kind of brace or support that you can wear without your boots.
I hope you are able to discover a solution to your pain control. Please keep us updated and stop by our forum often. I will look forward to your updates.
Take Care,
Tuck
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