opiates or no opiates

[NandayConyer]

How many people with chronic pain
are being treated with opiates??
for me there are no side effects
with opiates... the usual meds
like lyrica, nonstreriod ect.
give me stomach problems..
and other side effects.plus
they really dont work all that well.
Opiates are easy to predict and no bad
suprises down the road.
So how many others use opiates???

[mommy52]

I have been on opiates since '98. Pain has worsened since last surgery 9/11/09. Last was on Roxicodone 30mg and Zanaflex 4 mg.  This past tues., PM doc. changeged Roxi. from 5 to 3 a day of the 300mg. After doing this he also placed me on Duragesic 50 and change every 3 days. Hopefully I can better keep meds from up and walking away. Back to the opiates..... only problem I have is... my B/P bottoms out bad. I don't like to take pain meds, but my husband reminds me it is ok. On 7/16/11. I was blessed to celebrate 28 years. I do not brag. I know I am 1 drink or drug away from some one that has taken their last drink or pill. As long as I know why I take the meds, that's all that matters. I know the pain is there. The opiates make the pain bearable.     Madlyn

[Tuckamore]

Hi Nancy,

It's impossible to guess how many ppl with Chronic Pain require opiates to manage it. My guess would be the majority of our members.

I think most of us struggle with controling our pain through other treatments and methods before we went to opiate therapy. Many of us still use other therapies/procedures in our total pain management but an actual number would be difficult to produce.

I certianly cannot function without opiates but I did so for about 14 years. I have been told there will never be a time that I could do so. Hope this helps answer your question.

Peace,
~Tuck

[atonicat]

Up until February, I had been on opiates for a few years. Norco along with Celebrex and Robaxin (muscle relaxer). I had more side effects from all the NSAID's I was on before my insurance would finally approve Celebrex, than I did with the Norco. The only side effect I had with Norco was nausea with vomiting only when it got really bad. But that was only if I took it on an empty stomach. But the pain relief outweighed the nausea because I took an anti histamine to counter act it.

I haven't had to use opiates since February because I had radio frequency ablation and it took away 90% of my pain. Now when I have a flare I just take a Celebrex and it handles it. If my pain comes back I will for sure go back on opiates.