MUST READ FOR EVERYONE ON OPIATES

[opus88]

I was directed to this info site by the pain clinic that I attend....and I was astounded to find this info on the site
www.spine-health.com
HOW PAIN KILLERS MAY SOMETIMES INCREASE CHRONIC PAIN
the write up reads:
the body will stop producing endorphins(body's natural painkiller) when it is  receiving chemical painkillers(opiates)
A little know fact that painkillers over a long period of time may INCREASE a persons sensitivity to pain (HYPERCLGESIA) this happens because long term use of opiates causes a decrease in ability to tolerate pain, when pain INCREASES people are led to believe they need to increase doses.

Has anyone else heard anything llike this?
SO JUST WHAT ARE WE TO DO???  We are caught between a rock and a hard place here.

Our increase in pain causes us to need more pain control
and more pain control increases out pain.......

[Red931]

Like Chronic Pain, I also have three seperate sources of pain, with one that has gotten worse but there has been more damage found in that area.

The extended release medications do work better in my opinion also. I have found that they do not last as long as they are suppossed to over time however and that is probably due to tolerance as Ryder said.. I guess that is why most of us are also prescribed something for breakthrough pain.

[ChronicPain1]

ER meds do seem to take longer for tolerance buildup.

I understand this condition but I haven't experienced it, I have 3 seperate sources of pain and 2 have remained the same while one got worse.

[Ryder_1]

From my experiences the ER medications seem to take longer to build tolerances to as to say vicodin, percocet, etc.......while I was taking those meds I noticed my tolerance seemed to build quickly and my pain was coming back sooner and stonger as time passed. Once I started ER meds I noticed I could stay on the same dose for much longer without much pain or without having to up the dose. I'm not a doctor or anything, but my thoughts on it are that when you are taking short acting meds there is just to much of a roller coaster affect going on and your body has to adjust to much to the ups and downs of high dosages of medications every day and things such as tolerance begin to happen too fast because of the constant changes. I think that when you are on a long acting medication, there is more stability allowing your body to become adjusted to and used to that same even dose, it just seems easier and more routine for the body. But of course, after a while your going to build tolerance to the ER meds as well and have to up your dosage eventually. Like I said though, I'm not a doctor and I could be completely wrong, but these have just been my experiences.

[opus88]

thks for the comments, why are ER medications better for this?

[Ryder_1]

I too have to agree on this. When I was first injured my PCP explained this to me and I thought he was just trying to give me an excuse to not prescribe me opiates for my pain, saying in the long run they will cause more pain than relief. When your body is getting its pain relieving chemicals for "free" it feels like it doesnt have to do its job and make its own. Once your medications are wearing off, your body is no longer getting the "free" outside chemicals nor is it getting your natural chemicals to fight pain so your hit with a double whammy, causing pain to be more severe than it was in the first place. Your basically left with no pain fighting abilities..... neither natural or from an outside source. This is why extended release medications are very important to chronic pain sufferers.

[sandee1818]

This a a true fact that most long term CP Pt's know.
I agree it is very alarming to say the least but in fact true.