Pain medication?

Hello again, everyone!

I was wondering how many of you use pain medication to manage Crohn's related pain. In Dec 2010 I began experiencing upper back pain that did not have any easy explanation. I was just recovering from endocarditis that resulted from the incision and drainage of an abscess (likely caused by Humira) and my doctors suspected the worst. After several MRIs, a nuclear study, and a CT, we discovered that I had a renal "abscess." I use the term "abscess" loosely because it wasn't actually purulent matter, but likely blood clots left over from the endocarditis. Sorry, if this is too technical! I'm an RN and thrive on details. To get to the point, after the "abscess" resolved, the back pain persisted and it appeared that my jejunum had become so dilated that it was causing referred pain to back. I have been taking Percocet or Oxycodone (Percocet minus the Tylenol) since December. I have never taken more then prescribed and I don't worry about becoming addicted, BUT my husband seems to worry about this.

How do you all deal with pain? Do you feel comfortable taking opiates/narcotics to manage your pain? If so, do your family members have concerns about this? As a healthcare professional I feel like I have a healthy respect for these drugs and their addictive potential, however, I also know that the risk of addiction is relatively low, and especially unlikely when taken for actual pain! I am having my first resection surgery this coming Monday, so I anticipate that I'll be able to taper off pain meds very soon and I look forward to it.

If you have any experiences with pain meds to share, I'd really appreciate hearing them!

Thank you!

-Jenna

I take Percoset 1/2 tab 3 times a day. I am not addicted, and actually not dependent. I found that out the other day, when I didn't take the mid day dose, and had no issues at all. I have been on this dose for years, and before that it was always 1/2 tab of Vicodin 3 times a day.

You are NOT going to become addicted to this med, dependent maybe, but not addicted. There is a big difference between the two. Addicts take the med to get high, and take more and more to get that high, I get no high, nothing except pain relief and never abuse it. Why should you have to suffer??? Thats why so many of us are on pain meds, it so we can maintain a life.

lady1012 you really should limit the Toradol. It is a NSAID and not good for us Crohnies. I have gotten Toradol via shot before, and I heard to use it that way on occasion is okay, but not something you should be using daily. And its even worse to take the oral as it goes thru the digestive system and cause problems with your Crohns.

Thank you for letting me know about that Nanners!! I had no idea...all I know is that it takes away the pain. I will talk to my doctor next time I see him about a different pain med. Its just hard to get anything for pain here as they seem to think your a pusher or something if you need pain meds.

I usually don't take any pain meds stronger then Tylenol. Before my surgery, when I had my abscess I would only take Vicodin (which makes me jittery) and Percocet (which makes me itchy) only at night/after work. I'm a dentist so anything that impairs my practicing ability is really, really bad. So I just dealt with the pain when I would be at work.

Maybe your husband might be concerned about how long you've been taking them because over time they'll lose their effectiveness and you'd need a higher dosage to combat the pain?

I wish you all the best with the resection on Monday. It was the best thing that's happened to me this year!!

After my last surgery my surgeon was reluctant to have me discharged from the hospital while I still needed percocet around the clock for the severe pain I was having. (I had a very difficult recovery). He said he was concerned about my getting dependent or addicted to the drug. I told him that "when the pain was gone, I would stop taking them". There was no medical reason for staying in the hospital, so I was discharged with a prescription for the percocets.

In order to have any relief i needed to take them around the clock for about 2 weeks. I was able to gradually taper them off and stop when I didn't need them any longer. I don't know how I would have managed without them.

I'm not someone that pops a pill for every single discomfort or ailment. I take what I need for my Chrohns, an occasional tylenol for a bad headache, and any other necessary meds when needed. When it comes to pain from the Chrohn's I do have my percocets available. My GI understand the need for pain meds and has no hesitation in prescibing them for me. I always have them available: but, luckily, only need them occasionally.

No one should have to suffer with pain, and taken responsibly, pain meds can make a big difference in the ability to function.

Wishing you a speedy recovery from your surgery.

Potty Pooper

LordWood, I do NOT take my pain meds becuz of Crohns pain. I also suffer with osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, so thats why I take the pain med. I think that is what most of us are taking our pain meds for. Many Crohnies (and I can see from your signature, you do too) suffer with other conditions related to their CD. Levsin works okay for when I got the crampies, but sometimes even that is not enough and I have to take the stronger meds. I have also had two resections, and because of the scar tissue and adhesions I now have, I have to use stronger pain meds too. I wish Levsin was all I needed, but thats not always the case. Good luck!

Tara28 I am the same way. I take the largest dose in the morning. I usually only take 1/2 tab of Percoset 3 times a day. But in the morning I use 3/4 to 1 just to get my day started. I am surprised with you having PG too, that thats all you take. Hugs!

Nanners- No where in my post does it say that you took pain meds for your crohns solely or any other person directly for that matter. I was responding to the original posters question regarding the use of medications specifically for crohns directly. Which as my post focused on the issue of pain meds that are used for crohns only! I also noted in my post my use of pain meds which were because of other health issues.

I do not appreciate your out lash. Also my pain medications are because of my RSD which is not related to my CD, only the osteoporosis and arthritis are.

Lordwood- perhaps i misconstrued your post. I got the vibe that being on narcotics for CD was not a good idea and it 'd be advisable to "suck it up".
My post was to illustrate that some people do need stronger pain management and shouldnt be judged for that. Sorry if thats not what you meant...but we get that a lot and it gets frustating as everyone with CD has their own reality, their own pain threshold, etc.

Nanners, PG sucks so bad! Sometimes the pain is crazy..and with 2 peeps it seems like someone's always bumping into a sore spot. Then it leaves these gross deep purple craters in my skin. Im going on vacay in two weeks and people will be staring at my legs.. Oh well, comfort first. I remember pre- CD whn it was fashion first. Those were the days.

Post Edited (Tara28) : 9/25/2011 4:01:08 PM (GMT-6)

I had a small bowel resection and appendix removal in 2009 and I have basically been on pain meds ever since. Recently I had 3 vaginal infections in a row including PID right after being taken off of fentanyl 25 mcg patch, (which I had been on for about 4 months). I was also decreasing Effexor from 150 mg/day to 112.5/day at the same time. During a month period I was probably taking on average about 60 mg/oxycodone (with/without tylenol).

Well, I also tried to switch pain management clinics at this time at the advice of my NEW GI Dr. She wanted me to switch so that my pain management was at the same hospital as her practice. Well, I got discharged from my old pain management clinic because they said I saw the new one and the new one said I was discharged for taking my pills to quickly and getting some from the emergency room. I was in a lot of pain. I have never taken the pills that rapidly before, but there was a lot going on during this time (still is) and it was really over the course of a month.

I was told by my new pain management that they will prescribe me non-narcotic medication now because I have basically abused the narcotic medication and broke their contract. I have been off the pain pills since Sunday (today is Wed) and ended on Sunday at 20mg of percoset. All week I have felt like crap (nauseous, aching, headache, body chills and feeling hot). I don't know if this is withdrawal (there were days I was ok too like yesterday I felt a lot better than today). Basically I am scared as hell to be without the pain medication because I have been taking it since my resection and it has allowed me to work and live a normal life and now they are taking it away from me. I don't know if i go to the Dr tomorrow and plead my case to get back on the narcotics and have a second chance given the circumstances, or if I just succumb to a non-narcotic med and hope it works, and if so, which one? I tried Ultram before being on the narcotics years ago and it did NOTHING for me. I have been off work 3 weeks now (went in 1 day each week) and I need to get back. I need some advice on an effective non narcotic medicine or if I should try to get back on the percoset and basically beg and plead. I feel like they think I am a drug addict now.

All advice appreciated! Any non-narcotic meds that work for others please let me know!

Been on 1 10/325 Vicoden in the AM and in the PM 1 more. If I am having a particularly bad time 1 more in the afternoon. That's the way I have been doing it 10 years. If you are of an addictive personality just stay away. I am very weary of those they are my salvation. I am on Hysiclo and Dycsiclomine for those 10 years also. I have been through 8 surgeries In 4 years for fistulas. In 2004 after the surgeries I began to notice the Chron's disappeared when I was getting opiate based pain reliever. My Doctor had the faith in me to try it and we did. First if you’re insured you will be questioned on any large quantity. I count my Vicoden. I NEVER take more than one every six hours. If you can’t do this it’s a shame. You lose the vertigo after a few weeks and that will be that. If you like the feeling I don't understand you. Ruin your ability to get this much Vicoden by "getting' High" and you just burned the only bridge I know to stop the madness of this awful disease. 1 Vicoden and have a nice meal or plane ride or whatever you would like to do. Don't ruin it for yourself. For a high that feels like your motion sick.
Bob

My son is 17, he was diagnosed at the age of 12 with moderate to severe chrons. He gets remicade treatments every 6-8 weeks and for the most part is managing well. But, there are occasions when he gets a flare up in between appts and is out of school today because of pain. What would you recommend he take to manage pain until his next appt. in 2 weeks?