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The leap to narcotic pain relievers...

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Posted 4/22/2008 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
I've got to say after reading so many of these posts that it sort of scares me to make the leap from Tylonel to a narcotic pain reliever.  Why? Because of what I have read about dependency, tolerances and doctors that want to take them away.  What is it that finally made you make that leap from non narcotic to narcotic?  How extensive was your pain that you decided that enough is enough?  I am at that stage right now.  Tylonel is not really helping anymore and I may have to call my PD for a prescription, so I'm thinking Ultram?  Is this a safe med? I'm talking very low doses here because I don't want to upset my GI system any because of my UC.  I had to call my GI to confirm my med choices and he said that I can take Darvocet, Vicodin, Ultram, or T3's.  Any suggestions as to what is better for a beginner? Oh forgot to mention that T3's are out for me since I'm allergic to codeine
Posted 4/22/2008 4:17 AM (GMT 0)
Sherry,

Desperation led me to pain killers! I have a high pain tolerance, but it's kinda like torture; no one can hold out forever. There has to be some period of relief to retain any quality of life. I personally don't have any problem taking narcotic meds for a chronic pain condition, but, unfortunately, it seems most doctors DO have a problem with anyone using them long-term. I'm still on Oxycontin, but have reduced my dosage by 75% over the last 6 months, pretty much totally due to the fact I hate being dependent on my doctors, which have proven to be less than accomodative at times. I'm now scheduled for another surgery, rather than trying to manage this pain with medication. It has become obvious to me that I will never be able to rely on the medical community to medicate my chronic pain problem properly.

Back to the meds, Ultram is worth a try before you start on the narcotics. It helped me a bit, but just wasn't strong enough for my particular condition. As to the narcotics, I personally prefer Oxycontin (extended-release oxycodone), as the longer duration of the analgesia works better for around-the-clock pain. It's much easier to control pain if you prevent it from becoming bad, rather than waiting for the pain to become unbearable before you take something. Good luck and God Bless.

Anon
Posted 4/22/2008 4:25 AM (GMT 0)
In my case I should have been prescribed narcotics long before I was. I was sleep deprived and in pain much longer than I needed to be, and finally my PCP gave me a limited amount of vicodin (enough for two/day - one at bedtime, and the other to ration out for the rest of the day). At least I started getting a little sleep, although still woke up. I think what moves most of us to the level of narcotics is the pain, plain and simple - and related things like chronic sleep deprivation. I'm not sure what med for you to start on; sometimes it is trial and error. I think the biggest problem most of us face is doctors who either aren't willing to prescribe, and/or who don't know enough about pm to prescribe the right meds.

My cousin is a pharmacist with a large VA and she said she sees lots of pain patients and finds that in most cases once a therapeutic dose is found, people often stay at the same dose for a long time. We don't get high off our drugs (wish I did!); we're just looking for relief with the fewest side effects possible. And opiates are really safer than many other drugs, especially on the liver. Gramps posted an article about this awhile back, so if you search the threads you may find it. Sure, it's not what most of us want. I hate taking drugs, but after a long, long time in pain, with lots of your life being lost to you, I'd rather get some relief no matter what it takes. It's taken me 4 years and a failed back surgery to arrive at this, but there's little choice now.

I wish you all the best as you make your decisions.

PaLady
Posted 4/22/2008 11:21 AM (GMT 0)
I have a VERY high pain tolerance so I know, at least for me, that it must be getting bad if I am thinking about jumping to something stronger. But you're right A. Nonymous, it IS bit like torture!

Thank you everyone :)
Posted 4/22/2008 12:18 PM (GMT 0)
Sherry
For me it was having the need to be able to at least function at a level where I could still get things done and look after parents and cait and not have to be in PAIN all the time
I was on percocets but then as the sores from PG got worse was switched to OXYCONTIN and percocets for breakthru pain

I was on very high dose..........weaned self off of the Oxy's ( with doc's knowledge) and I am now taking the Morphine 60 mgs every 8 hrs ....am still allowed or RX the percocets for BT pain but rarely do use them .......

I am so sorry your pain has gotten this out of control
Dont let it rule your life at least it sounds like you have a great doc willing to help you out

Take care and keep us posted

LYN
Posted 4/22/2008 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
I called my PD and I believe he is going to call in a prescription of Ultram for me. I'm not sure what dosage though. I'm hoping this will help because boy, I sure am tired of these sharp shooting pains going down my legs and that it feels like someone is taking a pry bar to my hips!

Gramps, thanks for that info about Ultram. I don't know if it will work either but at least it's a start right?

Lyn, yes my PD is great! And it doesn't hurt that he's pretty good looking either LOL ;0)
Posted 4/22/2008 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sherry,

Like the others, when the pain gets so bad you can't function you'll do what it takes to get some relief and have a bit of quality to your life. I've been on opioids for a couple of years now and am doing fine. And about addiction...research done by the Arthritis foundation show that less than 1/2% who take narcotic pain meds get addicted to them. You'll be fine....

Chutz
Posted 4/22/2008 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck with whatever you decide is best for you.  We all understand here.  Yes, my quality of life has suffered and that and not being able to sleep is what made me pursue another doctor and trying some different meds.  So far amitriptyline (especially at bedtime) and hydrocodone 10/325mg seem to be alright for right now.  I, too worried about being labeled 'a user' and getting hooked but I did not have the quality of life I needed.  I've never been called a user or been addicted.  I am just thankful that it didn't get this bad until after my boys were raised. 
Posted 4/23/2008 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
I really had no say about taking morphine because I woke up in post-op screaming in pain with my pelvic floor in spasm and my legs thrashing around under the straps.The Dr.'s just kept pumping morphine into me until I stopped screaming and everything settled down.I was released requiring 90 mgs. of extended realease morphine, twice a day.That was almost 9 years ago.Since then ,I've had to get it increased over the years so that now I'm taking over 400mgs. per day. I've never had problems with Dr.'s to get my medication because it's in my file that I have an incurable spinal cord injury that is very painfull and causes pelvic floor spasms and that I will require morphine for life.I wish that I didn't need it to function but there it is and I have to live with it. Red , I think that if you have reached the point that you need a serious pain killer to FUNCTION, then it's time to have a serious talk to your Dr. about your pain control options.God Bless............Rod
Posted 4/23/2008 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
Ok, change of plan for the moment. My PD called me this evening and wants to see me tomorrow or Thursday before he will start prescribing me something. He is getting frustrated because he doesn't know what can be causing my pain. The MRI showed no inflammation or abnormalities but yet my EMG showed spinal stenosis. He's confused! lol So I will see him soon and see what he has to say.
Posted 4/23/2008 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
Gramps, no it was at the EMG that the doctor that was doing it said spinal stenosis based on the symptoms, nerve and muscle reactions to the shocks or whatever it is that they do. My MRI showed absolutely nothing. But here's an update - now the same doc that did the EMG is saying that it's not conclusively spinal stenosis but I do have nerve delay in my legs. The pain doctor doesn't know what to do with me, so he is referring me out the same doc that did the EMG to try and help ease the pain with accupuncture or some other form of injections - forgot what they were called but not the steroid ones. I have an appt with that doc on May 1st.

Agh! I sometimes feel like I'm losing my mind! But the doc gave me a script for 50mgs of Ultram and I took my first one. And it seems to be helping with my back pain a little as well as my thoracic pain - I can still feel the simmering of pain underneath it though.
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