Meditation vs medication?

Hi all,

Yesterday my Dr told me I have gone as far as I can with medications and that he suggests now the best thing is meditation! I have been visiting him for weeks trying to sort break through pain. I am on Norspan (bupenorphine) 10mg Cymbalta 60mg and 2 x Gabapentine 800mg daily.

The dr said that I am on the maiximum dose of everything and that if I go up on my dose of bupenorphine then it will be a constant cycle of going up and getting used to it and going up again. I know that's true.

But it was quite disheartening to hear him say there is nothing more to do and that the rest is up to my mind. I have syringomyelia and consequently central neuropathic pain. It's been getting worse lately.

Any thoughts??

 

I really think that it's time for a Physician change. This doctor has you on a medication (Buprenorphine) that it used as a substitute for people trying to kick Heroin and a very good pain medication and he wants you to meditate??? I would really consider your options...Take care Randy

Hi Cass, well I would have to find myself another dr, sounds like the one you are seeing is just plain tired of messing with you and it not interested any longer.

I do not think you are maxed out on the Gabapentin, my husband has neuropathy in his feet & hands due to diabetes and he takes 2400mg a day. You ca go to Drugs.com and see if you are maxed out on these meds, it gives the max dosage a day.

Not knowing what pain meds you have tried in the past or anything, I am sure there are other pain meds available to you. Granted narcotics do not have that much affect on nerve pain and getting the nerve meds right can be a bit of a test but its possible. I just think your dr is dumping on you.

Take care......Susie

I agree that it's time to seek out another Dr..

While Buprenorphine is very commonly used these days for chronic pain management in many forms like your Norspan as there is Suboxone and Butrans patch. It is dosed differently to those in pain than it is for people who are prescribed it for addiction recovery.

As mentioned...Gabapentin (Neurontin) can be dosed all the way up to 3600mg for a therapeutic level...So...another Dr. should be able to tirate up your dosage to hopefully give you better coverage on your nerve pain.

It also sounds like this Dr. doesn't want to help you find other things besides medication to help with your chronic pain. A good PM Dr. will use every possible modality as each thing adds up a bit to get a patient to a level 5 or so on the pain scale. So I do agree that medication is just a small part of the puzzle here...but there is a lot more than meditation to help.

There is daily exercise, yoga/stretching, aqua therapy, massage, acupuncture, ice, heat, injections, steroids, TENS unit, cognitive behavioral therapy, counseling, eating healthy, not smoking, etc...

So..it seems like this Dr. is just "done"..and hopefully you can find another Dr. who will be willing to take over and work with you on finding the best comprehensive program to keep your pain levels at a manageable level.

I think we're going to the same doctor, mine wanted me to meditate, take anti-depressants and do the "Alexander" technique rather than consider a medication change.

Hi Cass, I was on 60mg Cymbalta and my Rheumatologist advised me that studies show pain improves when a patient takes 120mg. I do recommend meditation as a means of pain relief and other natural therapies like acupuncture as well. Good luck and I hope your pain improves :)

Thanks again,
My Dr said that there's no benefit in increasing my Cymbalta from 60mg- I suspect this is out of date information now though as many people have been saying try 120mg.
Thanks for the advice evrybody. I am certainly not writing-off meditation, I undertsand it's a tool that can be used along side other tools.
It's a tricky process, trying to figure out pain management!