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Do opiates/muscle relaxants kill brain?
How does long-term opiate, muscle relaxant, tranquilizer, and antidepressant usage affect the brain? References to peer-reviewed studies would be appreciated. What does one do when the mind/body therapy (physical therapy, functional restoration, psychological/psychiatric counseling, stress management, surgery....) does not provide pain relief? Why do doctors refuse to send patients to massage therapists?
Thanks. I got my info ftom a medical site. Unfortunatly I cant find it right now.
So in lay mans terms it said that pain generates from the area that is damaged, by an accident, surgery or whatever. Pain killers deaden the pain. but they don't just effect the nerve cells that are damaged, they effect your entire nervous system. The opiates mask your pain.When you stop, the nerves have to regenerate. In my case I feel tingling and electric impulses in my legs, arms, and feet It lessens daily.
My doc said "you don't even know what your pain is until you stop taking the oxys and see". I finally agreed (after months of him telling me and the adverse effects I was expiring). So far I have no pain from the original injury area, just the very uncomfortable effects of the withdrawals.
Peace to you too
MK
So in lay mans terms it said that pain generates from the area that is damaged, by an accident, surgery or whatever. Pain killers deaden the pain. but they don't just effect the nerve cells that are damaged, they effect your entire nervous system. The opiates mask your pain.When you stop, the nerves have to regenerate. In my case I feel tingling and electric impulses in my legs, arms, and feet It lessens daily.
My doc said "you don't even know what your pain is until you stop taking the oxys and see". I finally agreed (after months of him telling me and the adverse effects I was expiring). So far I have no pain from the original injury area, just the very uncomfortable effects of the withdrawals.
Peace to you too
MK
Hi Oxysufferer,
This is an old thread and the original person that posted I doubt is still active and won't see your comment. You may wish to begin a new thread.
You are correct to a degree. But I don't want our members to be concerned or confused by your statement that opiates "take over," "replace" or "kill nerves cells." As Mollyrae said, "Long term opiate use changes the way nerve cells in the brain work."
Opioid receptors are a group of G-protein coupled receptors with opioids as ligands. There are five known major categories of opiate receptors. I won't bore you with a lot of medical language but it is these receptors that opiates target in pain reduction. Opiates do not kill, take over or replace nerves.
It is true that once you stop taking opiates you may experience what is know as rebound pain as your system is "use to these opiates. This will clear in time, it may take days, or weeks and you pain will subside IF you do not suffer from chronic pain. If you have true chronic pain you will still have pain.
Apparently you are coming from an addicts point of view. Unfortunately for Chronic Pain sufferers we cannot stop taking opiates and in a few weeks or even months we will have no pain or even much less pain. If that were the case all of us would do it. In fact many of us have actually tried that route.
And your statement that, "You may actually be healed after a few months but you don't know because the pills wont let you" is very misleading. Prior to having CP as I (as most patients) healed from surgery my physician or surgeon reduced the opiates and soon they were no longer needed. That is the normal and appropriate usage and pattern for ppl that do not suffer from addiction. Those that abuse opiates will linger on an opiate post-op for as long as their physician will prescribe them, even though they have no pain.
The symptoms that you describe are those of withdrawal and I am sorry that you have to experience them it. I hope you will soon feel better.
Peace,
Tuck
This is an old thread and the original person that posted I doubt is still active and won't see your comment. You may wish to begin a new thread.
You are correct to a degree. But I don't want our members to be concerned or confused by your statement that opiates "take over," "replace" or "kill nerves cells." As Mollyrae said, "Long term opiate use changes the way nerve cells in the brain work."
Opioid receptors are a group of G-protein coupled receptors with opioids as ligands. There are five known major categories of opiate receptors. I won't bore you with a lot of medical language but it is these receptors that opiates target in pain reduction. Opiates do not kill, take over or replace nerves.
It is true that once you stop taking opiates you may experience what is know as rebound pain as your system is "use to these opiates. This will clear in time, it may take days, or weeks and you pain will subside IF you do not suffer from chronic pain. If you have true chronic pain you will still have pain.
Apparently you are coming from an addicts point of view. Unfortunately for Chronic Pain sufferers we cannot stop taking opiates and in a few weeks or even months we will have no pain or even much less pain. If that were the case all of us would do it. In fact many of us have actually tried that route.
And your statement that, "You may actually be healed after a few months but you don't know because the pills wont let you" is very misleading. Prior to having CP as I (as most patients) healed from surgery my physician or surgeon reduced the opiates and soon they were no longer needed. That is the normal and appropriate usage and pattern for ppl that do not suffer from addiction. Those that abuse opiates will linger on an opiate post-op for as long as their physician will prescribe them, even though they have no pain.
The symptoms that you describe are those of withdrawal and I am sorry that you have to experience them it. I hope you will soon feel better.
Peace,
Tuck
I am going through withdrawals as I write. Opiates don't kill nerve cells but they do make them go dormant. The nerves that cause your pain are "killed" as in "pain killers". The opiates take over and replace the nerves that cause the pain. When you withdraw your nerves soon start to regenerate. causing tingling sensation and electric like zings through your body especially in the legs. To me it feels like they are frost bit. It is very uncomfortable. Eventually they will regenerate and become normal again. If you are on opiates like Oxycontin for pain or surgery. You may actually be healed after a few months but you don't know because the pills wont let you.
Long term opiate use changes the way nerve cells in the brain work. These cells grow so used to having the opiate around that they actually need it to work normally.
If opiates are taken away from dependent nerve cells, many cells become overactive. Eventually, these cells will work normally again, but in the meantime, they cause a wide range of symptoms in the brain and body. These are known as withdrawal symptoms.
As for the Massage Therapist and Doctors, I think that Doctors do use a form of Massage Therapists...It's called Physical Therapy...
Take care,
Mollyrae
If opiates are taken away from dependent nerve cells, many cells become overactive. Eventually, these cells will work normally again, but in the meantime, they cause a wide range of symptoms in the brain and body. These are known as withdrawal symptoms.
As for the Massage Therapist and Doctors, I think that Doctors do use a form of Massage Therapists...It's called Physical Therapy...
Take care,
Mollyrae
I would be really stupid if narcotics and muscle relaxers killed brain cells! I have been on both for years. I do know they do change your personality somewhat, but taken correctly can be the difference to having a life, and having an absolutely horrible life (quality of life!). Just my "2-cents"!
Hello Sinta,
Welcome to the pain management forum of MedHelp. You have posed some good questions. I have done a lot of reading on opiates and antidepressants, no where did it list brain damage or "loss" as a side effect.
And your other question was what to do when nothing works, you learn to except and deal with the pain. Nothing works for me either. I do get some relief when my SI Joint goes out and my DO puts it back in place. But the usual nasty pain never goes away. I have learned to do things that will ease it a bit for short periods when I am having a bad flare. I invested in a message chair and I sit in that, I sit in my jacuzzi,take warm baths, apply heating pads and sit or lie in yogi type positions. I put on some of my favorite classical music and let my mind drift to my favorite places. Sometimes I take on a project I love to do to get my mind off the pain, sometimes one of them works, or a selection of the above mentioned works and some times just plain nothing works, nothing. Everyone has to make an effort to find the things that work for them.
I wish you the very best. Please keep us updated and let us know how you are coping. And as always, take care, rejoice in everyday. Tuck
Welcome to the pain management forum of MedHelp. You have posed some good questions. I have done a lot of reading on opiates and antidepressants, no where did it list brain damage or "loss" as a side effect.
And your other question was what to do when nothing works, you learn to except and deal with the pain. Nothing works for me either. I do get some relief when my SI Joint goes out and my DO puts it back in place. But the usual nasty pain never goes away. I have learned to do things that will ease it a bit for short periods when I am having a bad flare. I invested in a message chair and I sit in that, I sit in my jacuzzi,take warm baths, apply heating pads and sit or lie in yogi type positions. I put on some of my favorite classical music and let my mind drift to my favorite places. Sometimes I take on a project I love to do to get my mind off the pain, sometimes one of them works, or a selection of the above mentioned works and some times just plain nothing works, nothing. Everyone has to make an effort to find the things that work for them.
I wish you the very best. Please keep us updated and let us know how you are coping. And as always, take care, rejoice in everyday. Tuck
Hmmm, I don't think it kills your brain by using narcotics (ie. vicodin, oxycontin, etc.) As for massage therapists... it depends. I can't see Chiro or Message Therapist because it will make it worse due to what I have is L5/S1 (herniated discs).
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