what are the best non opiate pain medacations to take for addicts.

[hippy]

i am an addict and have been clean for 13 months , with
help from the folks here at this fourm, and my involvement
with N.A. meetings.
i have  painfull arthritis in both knees, and have rotator
cuff operation on both shoulders, these problems flare up with pain now and then.
right now i am suffering from severe pain in my elbow ,
do to possible tennis elbow, this started last augest.
At that time i got a steroid injection which seemed to deal with the problem, except all the pain came back about 2 months
ago i have had to take off from my union construction painting
job for the last 3 weeks . Hopeing that rest would help, it has not. I have been prescribed celebrex, it has done nothing for the paini have tried motrin , it has been no help.
i go to see the ortho doctor friday morning. i was wondering
if there is any pain medacation i should ask for .
My sister inlaw is a doctor and has told me i should have it put in a cast, , because the doctor is probly going to just give me another injection.
at age 43  it seem i do not heal as well as i used to,
i was thinking of asking for some kind of therapy program to
streng then the arm.
The pain has been very bad in the morning, i cannot even hold a cup of coffee, or the phone.
any suggestions, about a good medacation would be helpfull,
along with any other helpfull ideas.

peace!!!!!!!!hippy

[SarpyJesse]

Hey--

I'd say to you to take Ultram (Being the most effective non-opiate pain reliever) --However, we all know what tramadol turns into in the hands of the likes of us.

Even though it's not suggested, I've had to take mega-doses of ibuprofen before, and it seems to work in those high doses. I'm talking about 1000-1600 milligrams. I know that it is far less toxic than taking tons of tylenol, and the "Prescription" version of Ibuprofen comes in 800 milligram pills- So I can't imagine that doctors would be worried if someone were to take 1600 milligrams in one dose. THAT was the ONLY drug I found (Non-Opiate) that could even touch pain. I've tried big doses of Bextra, and a couple other of the "New" pain relievers mixed with muscle relaxers, and they just don't work for intense pain.

Hope that helps....... And I still don't trust a hippy who's only 40. (they never trusted anyone over 30-- remember?) Just kidding, longhair. I probably had longer hair than you ever did, and I'm only thirtysomething.

Jess

[hippy]

thanks jess,
i have taken ultram , did not abuse it , it worked
a little.
being a hippy is about love, sorta like the good samaritin

peace ! and love  !hippy

[Expillman]

Hippy, Ultram is an opioid and the package insert states that it should not be used in individuals who have had previous opioid dependency.

Have you exhausted therapeutic doses of several NSAID drugs?  

These are drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen and they work surprisingly well, as well as codeine in some cases if they are dosed properly and dosed to effect.  There are many, many alternatives and [don't throw things at me] but I am knowledgeable about this class of drugs.  They do not cause dependency and tolerance does not build up with this class of drugs.  There are even alternatives if you have active peptic ulcer disease.

Let me know.

[Huiler]

What are the "many alternatives" that you refer to (what you said right after saying that Aspirin and Ibuprophen are good)?
Thanks

[hippy]

i have had some small results with aceamtaphine extra strength,
i have had no results with asprin.
i have used ultram and ultracet,  the only thing i found it good for  was withdrawls from vikes and perc's.
i really don't like the way ultram makes me feel.
so i never got hooked on it.
thanks for your input.

peace  hippy

[lisabet]

Hi, my peaceful hippee boy.  Have you ever tried "Aleve" (naproxen)?  You take one every 12 hours.  My girlfriend swears by it; says it's the only thing that helps her back pain. I also remember reading on the DA forum that Judy (Dancin') tried Advil gel-tabs and was surprized how effective they are.  Hope you can find something to help.  Love, Lisabet

[Expillman]

OK, acetaminophen is not a NSAID and can damage your liver in high enough doses.  

I'm talking about a good, round the clock dose of ibuprofen 2400-3200 mg. or equivalent.  Have you ever tried this sort of regimen.  In the cancer clinic we used NSAIDs a lot in conjunction with oral morphine, especially Trilisate (choline magnesium trisalicylate) because it did not affect blood platelet aggregation.

Work with your doctor on this.  Do you have any GI problems?

[Chezz2]

Sorry to hear you are still having pain with your arm. I remember when you went and got the shot last time.
Motrin or ibuprofen has shown not to be therapudic after 800mg x3 a day. I take it constantly for my back pain in conjunction with the narcotics. I also switched it out with naproxen every couple of months to see if helps. It seems to do a little. So it might be a good choice.
My doc and I just talked on Monday about other meds to add to my regimen since I won't go up on the narcotic pain meds, yet my tolerance has gone up and they aren't working as well. He suggested something called Depokote. I am not sure about it. Might be something to look up.
I think Vioxx is another alternative like celebrex.
Sorry, but that is all I can think of in terms of Non-narcotic stuff. You might have to take some vicodin or eq. for a little bit to help on the real bad days.
Don't EVER force yourself to live with pain. It just isn't right.

Expillman - I heard you had a website, I was wondering if you could post it, I wanted to check it out.

Thanks,
Chezz

[AmberHunter]

having chronic pain and exhausting every drug known to man and a few only known to women i have to say my vote is for a good dose of ibuprophen... 800 mg. is motrin, i haven't exceeded that amount myself...

i have a chronic pain condition but i won't bore you with all the details... pain is pain... i am on a SSRI which helps how i perceive the pain, at least i believe it does...

other than that i just don't know... narcotics do have there place but i think i know you better than that the short time i have been here...

peace,

amber

[Chezz2]

Sorry to hear you are still having pain with your arm. I remember when you went and got the shot last time.
Motrin or ibuprofen has shown not to be therapudic after 800mg x3 a day. I take it constantly for my back pain in conjunction with the narcotics. I also switched it out with naproxen every couple of months to see if helps. It seems to do a little. So it might be a good choice.
My doc and I just talked on Monday about other meds to add to my regimen since I won't go up on the narcotic pain meds, yet my tolerance has gone up and they aren't working as well. He suggested something called Depokote. I am not sure about it. Might be something to look up.
I think Vioxx is another alternative like celebrex.
Sorry, but that is all I can think of in terms of Non-narcotic stuff. You might have to take some vicodin or eq. for a little bit to help on the real bad days.
Don't EVER force yourself to live with pain. It just isn't right.

Expillman - I heard you had a website, I was wondering if you could post it, I wanted to check it out.
You also said you were very familiar with NSAIDS, is there any NAMES you can give Hippee so he can tell his doc. NSAIDS is kind of general and coveralls all the drugs I have listed and more. Thanks for your help here. That is what is great about having someone with 20 years medical experience here.

Thanks,
Chezz

[Chezz2]

Hippee,

BTW - The Depokote is the in the same field as Neurontin. It has some pain effective side effects. Just like topamax and another my doc said cost an arm and a leg (which doesn't matter to me cause I don't pay a dime for any meds - otherwise I would have been broke from the $500 every 2 weeks just for the oxycontin!!!).
Anyway, they are anti-seizure meds with pain suppressing qualities.
Just another thought.

I hope you find something Buddy! I hate to hear it when friends are having to deal with pain.
Chezz

[Susie B]

I have some background in Physical Therapy. If you can get your Dr to order therapy (go to a Sports Therapy Center,) you may get some help. You have to walk a fine line between rest and strengthening. Use ice-frequently, to the point of numbness, several times a day. This is probably the wrong place to point out that sometimes a pill is not the best answer :) Good Luck

[Huiler]

Well, even if you guys don't answer me, God bless you all and I'll just keep listening and learning.

[AmberHunter]

depakote, good drug for bipolar disorder but those are the only patients i worked with that took depakote... when i got out of treatment three years ago my Pdoc wanted me to take depakote but there was such a stigma to me about taking it that i would not even try it! lol, now i take seroquel, an antipsychotic for sleep, go figure!!

amber

[mrmichael67]

Go to google and put "cosmicstargoat" in there and you will find the site.

[mrmichael67]

Actually, I will save you the time.....www.cosmicstargoat.com.

[vikequeen]

Shhhhhhhhhh!, Listen can you hear that? No one is arguing, unbelievable. Can we keep it that way? I get a lot of good info from this site, mainly I am a reader not a speaker, I get so frustrated when the focus is taken off the original purpose of this forum. Thanks for all smoking the peace pipe and getting back to what we are all here for. Baddgirl

[motox4fun01]

I was wondering if taking 10mgs of methadone for the next couple of days would help me out as I am in day 3 of C/T oxy withdrawls. Or would I be just prolonging the oxy detox or even getting addicted to the methadone in just a couple if days?
James

[Chezz2]

Thanks MrM for the site. I have some serious ?s as to this guy and his miracle detox. I posted on the second thread.

Motox,

I am so sorry to hear you got sucked back in buddy! How much oxy where you taking and for how long?

Chezz

[AmberHunter]

it is sooooooooooooooooo normal to get to a point in w/d to hope that by taking a "smidgen" of a narcotic will help take the edge off... and it will, for a minute... but if at all possible try and hang in there and don't do it... it only helps for a minute, and then you still have to get through the bad part all over again i.e. just delaying the inevitable... i know it is hard, it is, but there is no way "around" it just "through" it...

and goat, cool website, very cool... don't ask me ya'll, i just found it a little too interesting! maybe stopping narcotics isn't  that good of an idea??

peace,

amber

[motox4fun01]

Only taking about 40 and sometimes 80mg a day (IV though)for about a month now.
Seriously Chezz, don't get pillman started again Please .
Thanks for your concern :)
James

[MethMan]

Hey, I think they did answer you (if I am not mistaken).  You were asking for alternatives to opiates?  Please correct me if I'm wrong.

MoTox,
I don't believe you could get hooked on methadone if used for a week only.  Matter of fact, if oxy detox is hammering you, a SMALL dose of methadone may be just what the doctor ordered (So to speak) as it has a long halflife. Just be careful and don't extend your stay at Club Methadone any longer than necessary.  The bastards at the front desk take FOREVER to let you go.

Peace,
Methman

[motox4fun01]

Is methadone completely cross addictive to oxy ?

[Chezz2]

James,

I posted to you about the pillman thing below. Thanks for the reminder. We have had enough. My bad...

As to the cross addictive thing, Michael will know. I don't think it is.

I have no idea how you take oxycontin IV. But I would assume that a little methadone like you stated 10mg, for a few days would be "just what the Dr. ordered", like Mike said.

It would be just like a little taper before the big bang. I think it would work great and save you a little pain.
The best thing that has ever worked for me was valium. I have always gotten meds for my back from my doc, but have never asked for help when I stopped when the pain went away. After I found this site, I asked my doc for some valium to help detox because I just wanted a week free of the pain meds. He gave me some and I quit the percs CT (12aday what he Rxed) and I had NO PROBLEMS at all stopping. I thought it was a miracle. I had no problems with it. It was unreal. When I stop again when my back gets better, or after surgery, I will not do it without Valium, it made it sooooooooo easy and comfortable, it was unbelievable. I never thought there was anything that you were supposed to take when you stopped, I was naive, I just stopped and dealt with the withdrawal pains and was happy my back didn't hurt anymore.
Enough with my book. I suggest the Methadone for a couple days and Valium if you can get it. If you need help ordering some email me. (***@****)

I hope for an easy detox for you buddy, sorry to hear you have to go through it again,

Chezz