Aa
Advice needed
OK guys im from over on the addiction forum, and i need your help, I cant take pain meds i eat em like candy. Im in chronic pain, i have 4 disc fussed togather in my neck c5 and 6 were replaced, i have 2 herniated disc in back t11 & t12 also spurs, im waiting on approval from ins. for test but in the mean time any thoughts on how to relieve the pain at home something that might last, 800 mortrins dont phase the pain. believe me ive tried everything OTC and ice you name it ive tried it. Pain pills out of the question.
I can appreciate the desperation of wanting to escape from pain, and having tolerance to some of the more common pain analgesics. While it is unfortunate to have difficulties with opiates (for whatever reason), there are a number of other medications available for pain treatment.
Two lines of enquiry that you may explore involve the use of some of the older antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (a tricyclic I think), anticonvulsants, such as neurontin (aka gabapentin) and lyrica (aka pregabalin), and combinations thereof. It is hit and miss but at least these alternatives tend to be less of a problem concerning addiction. Be aware though that they do have side-effects in many cases and that they do have some withdrawal effects when coming off of them.
Some antidepressants have analgesic properties, although exactly how they work is an incomplete story as yet. Aimtriptyline is also a known local anaesthetic - I once got one stuck under my tongue without realising it, and it went numb much like the effect of a dentist's local anaethestic.
Topical analgesics may also be helpful: again, there are quite a few options.
Away from medication some forms of basic exercise may assist in at least reducing pain related to excessive muscle tension and/or weak supporting muscles. My personal experience is that simple walking at a relaxed but reasonable pace can help to free up some of the muscles and joints in the upper back. Some simple warm up stretches and movements from Tai Chi and Pilates (grab a book from the local library, no need to do a whole course) are good for getting some initial blood flow and relaxing of tense muscles, without endangering your body unnecessarily. Also, regular massage by someone with a medical understanding of the body (eg a physiotherapist) can assist in reducing muscle and joint stiffness, for a few days at least. Finally, hydrotherapy may also be an avenue to explore.
Regards,
OtisDaMan
Two lines of enquiry that you may explore involve the use of some of the older antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (a tricyclic I think), anticonvulsants, such as neurontin (aka gabapentin) and lyrica (aka pregabalin), and combinations thereof. It is hit and miss but at least these alternatives tend to be less of a problem concerning addiction. Be aware though that they do have side-effects in many cases and that they do have some withdrawal effects when coming off of them.
Some antidepressants have analgesic properties, although exactly how they work is an incomplete story as yet. Aimtriptyline is also a known local anaesthetic - I once got one stuck under my tongue without realising it, and it went numb much like the effect of a dentist's local anaethestic.
Topical analgesics may also be helpful: again, there are quite a few options.
Away from medication some forms of basic exercise may assist in at least reducing pain related to excessive muscle tension and/or weak supporting muscles. My personal experience is that simple walking at a relaxed but reasonable pace can help to free up some of the muscles and joints in the upper back. Some simple warm up stretches and movements from Tai Chi and Pilates (grab a book from the local library, no need to do a whole course) are good for getting some initial blood flow and relaxing of tense muscles, without endangering your body unnecessarily. Also, regular massage by someone with a medical understanding of the body (eg a physiotherapist) can assist in reducing muscle and joint stiffness, for a few days at least. Finally, hydrotherapy may also be an avenue to explore.
Regards,
OtisDaMan
I want to thank everyone for thier input, im going to speak with my Dr about perscrition meds that are not narco.s she does know about my addiction and is trying to help find a solution. I already know I need surgery but I have very limited ins. coverage and there fighting everything saying it is prexcisting, thank all of you for your replies. and I now have a few more things to try. I just dont know when I can have my surgery, and my Dr knows that I will be put on pain meds after I have it so I dont want to be on any before I have to.
Hi outotown:
I use a medication now and then called Relafen and it's a NSAID but with stronger properties than your Motrin. It really help with the pain. There are many other drugs on the market that are not opiates. Have you discussed the options with your Doctor?
Sometimes even nerve medications can prove effective in reducing pain. I'm wondering if you've had a recent MRI? It may be that things are going south and surgical intervention may be nessecary.
I'm sorry that I don't have further advise for you. Please take care and good luck with the pain management.
Mollyrae
I use a medication now and then called Relafen and it's a NSAID but with stronger properties than your Motrin. It really help with the pain. There are many other drugs on the market that are not opiates. Have you discussed the options with your Doctor?
Sometimes even nerve medications can prove effective in reducing pain. I'm wondering if you've had a recent MRI? It may be that things are going south and surgical intervention may be nessecary.
I'm sorry that I don't have further advise for you. Please take care and good luck with the pain management.
Mollyrae
just a short comment on acupunture....I went(until recently) for 3 years regularly...and when I could 'afford' to go once a week it DID help alot with the pain, than for financial reasons had to wean off to once a month.....the relief was than only minimal.
good luck have no advice on OTC meds.
good luck have no advice on OTC meds.
I will deff ask my Dr about the creams and rubs, I have thought about the nedle thing, and I dont have very good ins. but im working now was laid off for awhile and should be able to afford it in a month or so, i would like to try it. Thanx for your respons and take care Aaron
Hi
I am in the UK so dont know what you can get in the US. But over here there are whole load of prescription only analgesic creams and gels. They have different types of active ingredients. I have found them to be exceptionally good for taking the edge of the pain but you have to use them as stated and regularly or else they do not work.
I dont like just relying on pills and since the start of this year have beeen on a sofa based quest for alternate methods for pain control. Arnica is available from health food stores either in tablet form or a gel. It can be good for bruising, swelling and can promote healing. I find it good to control swelling, it's not an instant fix but can help over time. Again it needs to be used regularly to gain benift it wont actually lower your pain but might address some of the issuses causing the pain.
Have you thought of seeing an accupunchturists (chinese needle thing) or a homeopath?
I am in the UK so dont know what you can get in the US. But over here there are whole load of prescription only analgesic creams and gels. They have different types of active ingredients. I have found them to be exceptionally good for taking the edge of the pain but you have to use them as stated and regularly or else they do not work.
I dont like just relying on pills and since the start of this year have beeen on a sofa based quest for alternate methods for pain control. Arnica is available from health food stores either in tablet form or a gel. It can be good for bruising, swelling and can promote healing. I find it good to control swelling, it's not an instant fix but can help over time. Again it needs to be used regularly to gain benift it wont actually lower your pain but might address some of the issuses causing the pain.
Have you thought of seeing an accupunchturists (chinese needle thing) or a homeopath?
yes i hope we do!!!! like i said im sick of the pain.. sometimes it is so bad and when im crying and cant stand it sometimes i feel like i can take a handful of pills just to see if it helps the pain go away for awhile!! it never goes away!! thats what makes me so mad no matter what i take and how much (doctor approved) i still hurt! i can handle alot of pain but it gets to be pathetic sometimes!! i just dont know what to do anymore. and when i see a few people that i know of getting pain pills and selling every one of them i get so mad.. its people like that that hurts people like us and it makes me sick. i hate taking pills and before all this pain started i wouldnt even take a tylenol for a headache or anything! so hopefully we will get some good suggestions.........take care
Hey catwoman pain sux and addiction sux to, may be we can get some help with this keep you fringers crossed
you took the words right out of my mouth or question i should say.... i was going to ask the same thing .. i ran out of morphine about 5-6 days ago and i was on 800mg. a day and i know that is alot and im proud of myself for cutting down to 400 mg. and then i cut down to200 mg a day till i ran out. i only have a few oxycodone 5 mg left and ive been in alot of pain and its getting so bad that im depressed and i would also like to know what else can u do besides take pain medcine?!?!?! ive tried ice packs heating pads ive been rubbing bio freeze gel on my legs and lower back and it doesnt do anything. ive been trying to find my battery for my tens unit and i cant find it cause i wore it about 2 years ago and it helped me for awhille but then it quit working so i stopped usingt it but ive been thinking lately that it might work now since i havent wore it for a while. but im interested also if anyone can help us in finding something besides pain pills... i also have a high tolerance to them or something. my doctor actually told me that my pain was so bad and thats why i could take such a high dosage and it not make me feel funny or sleepy ... nothing! i felt straight as a bored. but im like you i can eat it like candy especially things like ultram and oxycodone and hydrocodone and a few others i was even on fenthyl patches and got up to wearing 225 mcg!! thats alot! and i would still be in pain. i get tired of taking pain pills all the time and getting actually sick of swallowing them everyday and would love to know what else can i do?!?!?!?!?!?!?
members ... help if u can... any suggestions are very much appreciated!! im going nuts with this pain 24-7!!!! im so depressed lately..; i cant take it!
thanks to everyone... you all have helped meout so much lately in more ways then one!!!
god bless u all and take care! CATWOMAN
members ... help if u can... any suggestions are very much appreciated!! im going nuts with this pain 24-7!!!! im so depressed lately..; i cant take it!
thanks to everyone... you all have helped meout so much lately in more ways then one!!!
god bless u all and take care! CATWOMAN
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