Medication for Pain Management

[Salene]

I am asking this for my grandmother who is 72 with debilitating rheumatoid arthritis.  She has lived with severe pain for as long as I can remember.  Her arthritis medicine helps but after years of taking it has about damaged her stomach completely (it's very hard on the stomach) and most pain meds don't phase her hurting.  Anyway, her doctor put her on Oxycontin 2 days ago after I begged her to ask him for it when I heard it was good for her kind of pain.  She could finally walk without her cane just after 2 hours of taking the first pill and was overjoyed to finally be pain free.  It was amazing!! BUT, she is highly allergic to Oxycontin.  She swelled up like a balloon soon after and itched like crazy all day and last night.  She is asthmatic and highly allergic to many medications and we never know which ones until she takes them.  Anyway, she cannot take Oxycontin anymore at all and is very discouraged about it since she is so tired of the pain and enjoyed her few hours yesterday of being able to get around the house.  Do any of you know of anything else that is used in pain management for this type of disease that would help her?  She is afraid now to ask for anything else but I want to find out if there is anything else she can take and try to get her to try something else again.  It hurts me to see her lying on the floor crying because she hurts so badly.  THANKS for any advice or help.
Salene

[life is a journey]

Help!  I am in recovery from alcohol and drugs since 2001, I am in need of a root canal which is not scheduled until this thursday and am in constant pain and agony from my tooth hurting.  i told my dentist that i am in recovery and he refuses to give me anything for pain for my tooth stating "he can't because I am in recovery"  I am sooooo very frustrated and upset and resentful.  Do addicts in recovery not have pain?

[oh please already]

hi everyone.mrmike i found dr delucas site and it was thought provoking for  me at least,youd also enjoy it i think,just type his name as on the top of article.    groovy,i think i am just behind you-im tired of lying and just dont see wht i should continue to be punshished for things out of my hands so for now I am going to do like so many suggested,figive myself and move on.You cant see it for all my typos but I consider myself not too much of a idiot and i know that i can read as well as the next one,so i think that I will try to do what i think is best,instead of always just blindly following(I have a BIG bag of bandaides for all the crashes surly to soon follow)but hey thats living and what I am looking for.I forgot who pointed out to me that becoming sober doesnt mean that life will always be rosy but it like admitting even with the drugs i felt like ****-so if i feel like **** without them at least i will have a few more dollors and some self respect.I dont know,but I think your right,maybe something in my brain chemistry need something to make it whole,or maybe Im just needy,I have abuse issues,abandoment issues,health issues and more issues then i can name.I could like many, spend my days trying to get self valadation and a pat on my back and a poor you,but I am a private person and just cant follow that path.This forum saved my life,it was there when I needed it.and i thank so many but i am finding it confusing too now.Maybe because im feeling stronger,I feel up to answering some of my own questions that you all have been so kind in helping me with.I dont want my own searching of answers to be taken by anyone as a flame,or a putdown of their ideas because its not.I am truly thankful .

[angst]

Good luck, you are an intelligent person.  You will make the right decision.  I would not wish my addiction on anyone.  That is why I've always said that I do not reccomend my way.  You must have found your way.  Hats off to you.  You seem more independent.  That is really good.  Luck to you always, ava

[angst]

To us with chronic pain,  that is why there are the pain clinics around.  If you cannot get help there, you can always try the buprenex thing.  I do not know much about how long they will treat someone.  The methadone saved my life this time.  But like I've said I take responsibility for my dosage.  I have detoxed from methadone before about 3 years ago.  What many people fail to acknowledge is that methadone is as strong as my drug of choice (dilaudid) and heroin.  It was started to get the heroin addicts off the needle.  You can get hooked for life, but you do not have to unless you want.  I am walking proof of that.  
I had 6 months of clean time after I detoxed the first time.  I made NA meetings everyday.  When I got a job that curtailed my meetings, I started relapsing.  When you get mean and strong with the drugs, things start to change.  You take charge of what you do and where you go.  I had to change people, places, and  things.  I've held on to my money this time.  It is not for drugs.  I am not proud to be on methadone.  I do not think it is for most addicts.  However, the NIDA, gives high dose methadone plus counselling a 75% rate of non-relapse.  I get counselling and group therapy at the methadone clinic.  It is a healthy environment, if you avoid the pushers.  They are everywhere, including the methadone clinic.

[mrmichael67]

If you have pain, you shouldn't feel guilty if you take something for it.  If that means being on methadone for the rest of your life, so be it.  That doc hit the nail on the head, imho.  Did you have any luck getting to the other site?  And, the first line of your post.  Were you asking if ms contin was comparable to duragesic or was that part of the doctors words?  If it was a question from you then I do know that morphine has a high rate of histamine release and nausea.  Going back to the being on meds for life, I have read where it is lawful for the medical community to treat addicts in pain with opioids. They are just advised to be very very careful.  Nobody should have to live in pain if they don't choose to.  Addict or not.

[groovygirl]

hi - i wondered if you have begun to see an addiction specialist?  i think they might be able to help you make some decisions.  personally, i've come to a decision.  i've done the counseling, been going to the meetings and have fallen off the wagon more times than i can count.  if it turns out that i need to be on some sort of "maintenance" medication like bup for awhile, then so be it.  i am not going to beat myself up any more. i will not live like before...dr. hopping, counting pills, lying etc.  but, i can live with taking bup for awhile under a dr's supervision - being honest.  in some ways it really makes sense to me that some of us addicts are missing something chemically which makes us need to self-medicate.  even tho i'm still on bup, i am living a much healthier lifestyle - i eat well, drink tons of water and am back to excercising on a regular basis. i too cannot fathom the thought of living with these excruciating migraines - i remember this song "pain makes you beautiful" - well i can honestly say it does the complete opposite for me - hahahah! i don't think anyone, even addicts, should be expected to live with pain.

methadone has been a lifesaver for many people - talk to a professional about all this...we're not drs here, but it couldn't hurt to talk to one right?

[oh please already]

comparable to MS Contin? "

Alexander DeLuca, M.D., FASAM  -  8/8/2001


"The truth about oxy-contin from a medical point of view"

1) it is just another long acting opiate.
2) long acting opiates are good for a lot of reasons including that they are far less abusable if used properly.
3) if you lock yourself in a refrigerator, you will suffocate. This is an example of the improper use of a technology.
4) there is no significant difference between MS-contin, Kadian, Oxy-contin and methadone as far as the brain is concerned.
5) if you spill hot mcdonalds coffee on your hand under the sign that says, "watch out, hot coffee," you will get burned. This is an example of the improper use of a technology.
6) we need short, quick-acting opiates, and slow, long-acting opiates. One size does not fit all. We have both endoscopic surgery for gallbladder disease, and open laparotomy for gallbladder disease. We need both.
7) if you park on a hill, leave the car in neutral, and fail to engage the parking brake, the car will run randomly down the hill and perhaps run a small child over. This is an example of the misuse of a technology.
8) it does not make any medical sense to punish the millions of pain patients to prevent what is, really, a comparatively trivial problem of prescription drug diversion. This is a media, police feeding frenzy. It is senseless. They will regret that they behaved this way.
9) all God's children hurt or will hurt; nobody gets out alive.
10) they will regret they behaved this way.
11) it is possible to get 95% of all people with chronic pain down to pain levels of 0-3 using all the technologies we have, one of which is opioid medications. We should not rest until this is accomplished.
12) if you stick a small metal object into an electrical wall outlet, you will get a shock. This is an example of the misuse of a technology.
13) you cannot treat chronic pain in cancer patients without treating chronic non-cancer pain. This is a medical truth.
14) drug addiction can be treated. It is a minor problem, from a public health point of view, compared to chronic, untreated or under treated, pain in this society.
15) you or your brother or your parents or your children or your nieces and nephews will get seriously injured, or develop a chronic painful illness, or will get cancer.
17) making sick people jump through hoops is damaging to the souls of those who hold up the hoops.
18) opiate medications are our friends. We need them.
19) they will regret they behaved this way.
20) we all need to show up and get back to work now.


someone sent me this-it made me think-like many here on this forum i have honest pain issues,why am i guilty ,and why am i made to feel like a failure for asking for relief-In my life,right now drugs are taking too much of my time and the side effects are destoying me and my family and i know that i must quit-but part of the difficulty I am having is wondering how i will live with the pain-the pain also was driving me insane before the pills.I know I am a drug addict  and there is no justifing my continuing to take what i take but what is the answer,and is it really wrong to be on burp or meth for life if thats what you need to have a good life without physical pain?I know the mental issues have to be dealt with,and i dont think that i will ever be able to control the monster,hell i know it,I think this what they say-stuck between a hard spot and a rock.Now i didnt post this here for anyone else to take it and run with it but it made me just stop and look  laura

[tlk]

Angst, your post was inspiring. To know that when we feel horrible and share, it might help all of us. Guess I'm philosophical today. tlk

[angst]

Since no one is posting, I'll get out of here for a while.  I'll be back later on today.  Hope everyone has a good one today.  I hope mine is just as good.  Hang in there.  Like another said,  the whole of this forum is greater than any one of us alone.
Thanks to all of you.  You have my life more livable.

[angst]

The pumps usually have a high success rate if the chronic pain is in the back or a specific area where they can implant it to shoot the fentanyl or morphine or bacofen (sic) to the exact area affected.  Good Post

[Francoise]

Sorry, I haven't read all the posts above so didn't realize that someone had already mentioned it.

There's also the pump, but I don't think the time for consideration of that has arrived as yet.

Frank

[Francoise]

How 'bout getting her on a Fentanyl (sp) patch?

[GOD]

Huh............. Nobody's here at 2:30 in the morning!

Hey, Everybody: Have a great new day!

There is always tomorrow

[angst]

the duragestic patch is fentanyl.

[mrmichael67]

Here is a link for you to read and if you can print it, you can bring it to the doctor with you:  http://www.pharmacology2000.com/General/Pharmacokinetics/kinobj6.htm

Any information about the subject that you would want to read can be found by going to google and typing 'fentanyl histamine' and clicking 'google search'.  I hope this has been helpful for you.

[mrmichael67]

I agree with Meagain.  One drug used for chronic pain which isn't known to cause much of (if any) of a histamine reaction is the Duragesic patch.  It is applied every 3 days (some people require every 2 day dosing) and is every bit as strong as Oxycontin when the proper dose is used.  I have personally been prescribed it and it does work nicely.  Ask her doctor to try it.

[oh please already]

i too have a form of ra and it sucks but i cant help putting my nose in here   first was your grandmother actully treated for an allergic reaction or does she feel she had one? many times people suffer from adverse reactions from drugs but those are undesriable side effects while begin allrgic is lifethreathing.  I question this because you say she took percocet,oxycodone and oxycotin are the same exact drug,just differt release mechanism-like tabets vs liqurd caps-one releases at different rate other then that same narcotic. so if she got releif from oxycotin and didnt have a problem with percocet she might of had advrse reaction not allergic,important for 2 reasons,1 if shes allergic she should have amedalert barlet because if she is ever in a addident and unable to speak 4 herself,she might be given this common drug,2nd-if oxycotin works well she might need a antihistimine and dose ajustment

[Salene]

Thanks for all of your responses.  Strange because she has taken Ultram like m&ms for years with absolutely no relief.  She got off of them with no problem also.  I didn't realize they were that dangerous!   She has also taken percocet, demeral and darvocet like crazy.  2 darvocets do nothing for her pain.  She's been on Vicodin(sp?), Lortab, Oxycodone (which did nothing either) and some other kind....all of these for years and years trying to find something to ease the pain.  Doc finally tried the oxycontin and it's just a shame that she is allergic because it helped so bad.  We called the doc today and he said to wait 3 days and try taking the oxy again.. but she doesn't want to go through all that itching again.  
Well, we are going to give her a mepergan tonight. she's never taken that.  Thanks so much for your advice!  
Salene

[Witchywoman]

Ultram is a dangerous med to get started on, but if she is allergic to everything else, it may be a good option for her, as long as she is careful with it and doesn't run out, as others have said.

I had a script for Ultram once, and I when I brought it to the pharmacy to get filled, the pharmacist warned me to be careful, that once people get on it they never seem to be able to get off "it's worse than vicodin" he told me. I threw the script out after taking one. It made me feel very sick.

By the way...I just cancelled my aol account. I got sick to death of the spam email. So I now have a yahoo account, for anyone who wants to write me.
It is ***@****  (souldancer@yahoo was already taken by someone else...oi!)

Now I just have to remember to check the account! lol
love,
WW

[tlk]

Ultram can be effective but also dangerous. I had my first seizure on it and my doctor thinks that's what triggered it. Of course, that's just in my case. I didn't suffer withdrawal from it, however, but it did make me depressed. Just another option...

[hippy]

when i had my operations i was allergic to the morphine so they gave me demarol  instead and it worked wonders

[GOD]

That's too bad about the allergy to Oxycontin... there is, in fact, a viable alternative. the medication's generic name is tramadol Hcl and it is called Ultram in the United States. Ultram is touted to be as effective as morphine for pain relief, and Ultram is Non-Narcotic. However, and this is a BIG "however":  This particular drug is the most addicting drug I have ever tried. If your Grandmother is able to take Ultram, it is VERY CRUCIAL that she has enough to never run out! I was on a trip to Kansas city, and I ran out-- after about 18 hours without, I was experiencing full "balls to the wall" withdrawl symptoms. Needless to say, I ended up in the emergency room where I told the Doctors there that I was on Ultram. Even the ER Docs were shaking thier heads and telling me NOT to run out of my prescription. If you are going to STOP taking Ultram, you need to taper down your dose slowly just as you would have to for Narcotic Opium Derivatives or the whole Benzo. class of drugs.

I hope this helps you out!

Jess

[tlk]

People respond differently to different kinds of opiates. I get terribly itchy at high doses of codeine and even used to with vicodin, but that passed. She should discuss this with her doctor and tell him exactly what helped and what hurt. Instead of starting her on OxyContin they could try a shorter acting med that she can tolerate and gradually up the dose until she gets good relief. She should not have to suffer. My mother-in-law almost died from blood problems after using arthritis meds for years, because of the stomach problems. In that respect, I think opiates are actually much safer. They can find something for her. If the Oxy was good she can try percocet or OxyCodone (same drug but not long-acting like OxyContin) in smaller doses to get used to it, and try taking an anti-histamine with it to control the itching. Her doctor can help with this. Good luck. tlk

[angst]

Is she allergic to morphine?  MS Contin is morphine in a time released pill.  You can get morphine liquid for breakthrough pain.  From what I've heard Oxycontin is pretty strong, so do not be scared of the morphine.  Her histamine reaction could have been because of a too high dose.  Most opiates, at high doses, release histamine into the bloodstream which causes the swelling and itching.  But if she is truly allergic, the next dose of oxy could put her in anaphylactic shock.  So maybe it is safer for her at her age to stay away from oxycontin.