Pain

[ppms]

I have Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, which was diagnosed at Mayo Clinic in 2006 at age 68. Today I am 76, and since my diagnosis, my pain has gotten increasingly worse. I currently take Oxycontin and Oxycodone and I use Medical Marijuana. Nothing seems to control this pain that I have. It runs across my shoulders, down my arms, and down my legs.

Any suggestions as how to control or lessen this immense pain would be appreciated.

[essdipity]

If you have nerve pain, which is likely if there is nothing actually wrong with the areas in question, I am surprised they've put you on narcotics. In general, narcotics are not effective in MS. Our nerves can fire because they themselves are damaged, and if it's pain nerves, the result can be really bad, as you are a testament to.

Most of us with significant pain take Neurontin (Gabapentin) or Lyrica (Pregabalin). These do work for nerve pain, though doses have to be titered up and down when we start or stop them. Hefty doses may be needed, and sometimes they need supplementation with a small dose of an antidepressant such as Cymbalta or Amiltryptiline--someone correct me please if I don't have these drugs right. But some antidepressants do have pain-relieving properties as well.

Narcotic drugs do work on 'real' pain, meaning that pain nerves are firing because of an actually injury. But of course they are addictive for many and cause at least dependency for virtually everyone on them more than briefly. They also seem to make pain worse over time, so that the patient winds up on heavier doses, but the same problem continues. Withdrawal can be brutal too.

I urge you to talk to your neuro about this, asking why you've been prescribed narcotics and asking for a change.

Good luck with this, and let us know.

ess

[PeninaD]

You have your drugs right!
Even if the doctors felt narcotics were warranted for this patient, I don't understand why they were given without also giving a nerve pain med such as you listed... giving narcotics causes so many other problems, especially in the older population, such as constipation.  Dulling the nerve sensations as much as possible should be done before as well a alongside narcotics.