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Posted 5/19/2010 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
anyone need to take pain meds for their Crohn's?

from time to time I have severe pain when i have to go to he bathroom- doubled over and puking on the can...like today at work- great!

i have not wanted to bring up painkillers with my doc since he made a comment a while back that he doesn't really prescribe them...

any strategies for having doc work with me on this one?

i don't need them all the time but on days like today man they would be helpful!

Posted 5/19/2010 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on pain meds alot, most of the time I can not function with out some form of pain med. My GI doesnt like prescribing them, so I ususaly get them from my surgeon.
Posted 5/19/2010 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
I'm the reverse my GI doesn't prescribe them I get them from my family DR. (GP). I am on a low continuos low dose of morphine Extended release (12hr) daily and take more immediate release daily as needed.
Posted 5/19/2010 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
FYI I sure didn't start at morphine. I started with tylenol with codine (t3's) about 5 years ago and as my tolerance increased so did the narcotics get higher in dose and higher in strength.
Posted 5/19/2010 5:40 AM (GMT 0)
I see a pain specialist...they usually have the most up to date info regarding the best med to use for what type of pain and when...for instance, due to my fast transit times, I cannot get the full effect of many of the time-release medications...due to nightmares, I can't usually take anything like percoset...also my pain seems to be constant in my bum and gut...so taking this into consideration suggestion a medication that works very, very well for me...

Oh, btw, my gi doesn't like messing with these either...there are a lot of different forms and records, etc that are required...a pain specialist would fill out these papers and documents easily since that is their primary job...
Posted 5/19/2010 6:39 AM (GMT 0)
As you have probably noticed most of us that use pain medication do not get it from our G.I.s. Many G.I.s feel more comfortable with using antispasmotic drugs such as levsin, bentyl, or librax. This does not necessarily mean they are against pain meds but more that they don't like to deal with them or the monitoring that needs to take place. If you have a great Primary Care doctor that can monitor you, they will usually help you but if not go and see a pain specialist.
I personally have found that hydrocodone 10's up to 3 x daily works for me and my situation but this disease is a personal disease and you will need to find out what works best for you. The best is to use the smallest strength and quanity of pain meds that works to control your pain but don't suffer either. Don't be put off because of all the stuff that you read or hear about on the news. I put off pain medication for a long time because of what others would think and I was afraid of addiction. Finally I reached a point that I did not care what people thought of me because I was in so much pain and these medications made it possible for me to function. I do not get a high because the medication is actually doing it's job and it is similar to tylenol for me. That is why it is crucial that you have a doctor that is very personal and will monitor you closely to make sure that you are taking it for the reason prescribed.
Posted 5/19/2010 1:27 PM (GMT 0)
My GI never prescribes pain meds, I get them from my family doctor. I take 1/2 tab of Percoset 3 times a day as needed. Mine is not so much Crohns pains, but more from my Fibromylagia and Osteoarthritis pain. Hugs!
Posted 5/19/2010 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
My GI also does not prescribe pain meds...every doc at the practice claims they treat inflammation not pain. I finally went to a pain specialist and it has done wonders for me. I am allergic to tylenol and drugs with codeine are way too harsh on my stomach. They prescribe me tramadol for mild pain and nucynta for more severe pain. Nucynta is a new drug and has worked SO well for me. Not only does it control my pain but slowing down the gut is an added bonus!
Posted 5/19/2010 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
I also did not take any form of pain med for a long time.  I actually was always against them in general and even refused them post foot surgey several times.  Once I got sick with what we now know is Crohn's I started taking them on and off and I would consent to them in the hospital / ER. 

 I have had several different GI docs and a few of them have willingly prescribed pain meds and said that they don't want to see their patients suffer while others (most of them) have not wanted to manage pain or prescribe any type of narcotic.  The common argument is that this is a lifelong disease and that we need to learn how to cope and manage it without adding the potential for more meds and an addiction. They also say that we don't want to mask the symptoms since we need to listen to our bodies and pain is an indicator taht something is going on.

 I currently also see a pain management specialist who monitors me closely.  I do still have pain most of the time, even on the meds.....I would say that I am typically around a 3-4 on the pain scale.......most of the time after I eat, I will get a lot worse. I  thought a lot about what other people would think of me if I started taking narcotics on a daily basis and I was really afraid of the possibility of addiction.  The decision to see a pain doc and take the meds was a big one for me.  That said, I function a lot better with them..........it is hard to function when the pain is not controlled and I have the added benefit of slowing my motility.  My pain doc keeps talking about upping my meds again and I hate to do that......the pain is never gone for me, just a little more tolerable, it basically takes the edge off.

One thing to remember is this:  Pain trumps additcion.  If you are truly in pain then the chance of getting addicted is minimal. Addiction typically occurs when people like the high or continue to take the meds after the pain is gone.  We don't want to mask the symptoms since we have to listen closely to our bodies, however, there is no reason to continually suffer if we don't have to.  This is a lifelong disease and we need to focus on our quality of life.

Good luck!

Posted 5/19/2010 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
I have to take 4 or 5 Vicadin a day and that makes a big difference in whether I choose to participate in the day. I have some crohn's pain but for now fistulas are drilling into my urinary system and infecting that. That is probably what is causing most of the pain. I got them from my Primary, but I might go to a pain specialist someday soon to really see what would work best. I hope I won't have any pain in the future.
Posted 5/19/2010 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
Pain management is one of my hot button issues. I see a pain management doctor for pain control. Most GI's are unwilling to RX pain meds and most GP's are not as familiar with what the best meds to RX are. The point I would like to make here is that Addiction is not the word that should be thrown around. What happens to most of us is Tolerance. We build up a tolerance to the medication and need a stronger dose. In order for it to be an Addiction, we would have to be taking the medication to get a high and at levels and purposes that were not prescribed. I have a Tolerance, but I do not have an Addiction. Unfortunately, most doctors and society in general do not make that distinction.
Posted 5/19/2010 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
DCS54B
you made a very good point with the pain trumps addiction, I have been to the point of needing one of the pumps and it was at a high miligram dilaudid every 10 mins or so and i was still in alot of pain and the nurses tried to accuse me of being an addict looking for a high, called my surgeon and came down and yelled at them and let them know how severe crohns pain can actually be, needless to say they cut it down to every 5 mins. My point being (sorry started rambling) that if you need it take it, I had no problem going home from the hospital with a limited amount of percs just in case the pain returned.
Posted 5/19/2010 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
I see a pain specialist, who is also a psychiatrist. He really understands pain, he also understands anxiety, and depression. I am very happy with him.

I use morphine sulfate, instant, and time released versions.

When I am doing well, taking pred. every other day, pain levels are low, then I can lower my dose, which also lowers my tolerance.
(This helps keep me at the same dose for many years)

When I am not doing well, then I may use up to my max dose per day.

They help a great deal.
Posted 5/19/2010 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
Zanne: excellent post! I've told my GI, my primary internist and my rheumatologist that in the year 2010 I refuse to be in pain for any reason. The attitude some doctors (including everyone's GI who's responded to this post) have on this topic is moronic. People genuinely in pain don't get addicted; it's the idiots who keep taking the meds when they don't need them that get addicted.
Posted 5/20/2010 7:21 AM (GMT 0)
Here's a link from The American Pain Society that really explains the differences between addiction, dependance and tolerance. It's worth the read.
http://www.ampainsoc.org/advocacy/opioids2.htm
Looks like it didn't link you'll need to copy and paste.

*activated your link*

Post Edited By Moderator (Nanners) : 5/20/2010 7:09:04 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/21/2010 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
thanks for all the advice- sounds like i need a pain doc in addition...i'm not worried about addiction at all- i've had to take percocets numerous times for kidney stones- OUCH!! i take them and then don't think about the drugs at all- most of the time the only thing i notice is the pain gone- no narcotic feeling at all...but there are definitely times i would like to have something for the Crohn's!
Posted 5/21/2010 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
My GI won't prescribe them to me, and I really don't feel like going to my other doctors for them. As much as I would like to have them at times, I worry about becoming dependent, or the physical side effects. Plus, I have to be alert for my job, and I tend to get a bit sleepy and bubbly-headed from nearly every pain pill out there!
Posted 5/22/2010 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
My previous GI flat-out refused to prescribe anything. My primary care doctor would, however, and gave me Darvocet. My new GI doctor is a firm believer in pain relief (thank GOD) and has made sure I'm taken care of in case I need things. I rarely take any of the meds I have, but it's certainly nice to know they're there if things get bad.
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