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Narcotics for Crohns pain

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Posted 11/4/2010 11:28 PM (GMT 0)
Is this a rediculous use of opioids? Just curious I was just thinking of it now since I'm in pretty bad pain :( how many of you guys are prescribed pain killers for crohns specifically?
Posted 11/4/2010 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
My doc gave me lortab for crohn's but not to use daily just as needed for bad pain. I have a sister that is addicted to them so I only take them when i really need them. Like right now with this pain I have not taken any yet but I think I might take one soon becuase Im so uncomfortable. anyway I posted another question for you on the back pain. What did the doctor find out about the pain with you and is it in your lower front and back? They just upped my dose of Humira so I dont have a clue what is going on. what do you take for your pain? dont be scared to use a narcotic for your pain if you are in pain just only take when in pain.
Posted 11/5/2010 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
I take percoset for my Crohns pain. I also have Hyomax if it is cramping more than "pain" and for my joints from the CD I use Lidoderm pain patches and I try tylenol too and when all else fails I take the Percoset
Posted 11/5/2010 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
Well I posted in the other thread about what the docs found...but no I don't take a narcotic...it's bad now so my dad let me take some of his vicodin (I know your not supposed to do that but w/e). I'm only 17 so docs never offer...my GI doctor thinks i use drug so asking him is out of the question...I think I'd sound rediculous but Tylenol doesn't do Jack crap for me, and I'm not exactly sure if this justifies a pain doc. It's not everyday it just happens and when it does I'm usually left to just laying down...

*Sorry its against forum rules to discuss mj*

Post Edited By Moderator (Nanners) : 11/4/2010 6:39:27 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 11/5/2010 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
I use them - they improve my quality of life tremendously! Tylenol does not cut it and the NSAIDS (which don't cut it either) are bad for us! My GI will not give them out though. I see my primary care for them,
Posted 11/5/2010 12:27 AM (GMT 0)
My GI also will not prescribe pain meds. My PCP and orthopedic both prescribe pain meds if I need them.

I try not to take them unless I can't stand it anymore. I also try to keep a few on hand just in case I need something but don't think it warrants a trip to the ER.
Posted 11/5/2010 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
I hate the ER..it's like a freak show and the doctors always send me home with no reason behind my pain. Oh yeah and you get the "on a scale of 1/10 how much pain are you in?" next time they ask I'm going to say >9000...I'm glad I took a vicodin though feeling much less in pain.
Posted 11/5/2010 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
My family doc prescribes Percoset for my pain. I am older than you and the pain isn't from Crohns, but more for the Chronic pain issues I have.
Posted 11/5/2010 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
I got some Vicodin back before my surgery, but never ended up using very many. Seemed to work okay, though.
Posted 11/5/2010 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
I see a pain management doc...my GI also knows that opiates works well in my case, and in many of his other patients(but personally he doesn't like rx'ing them due to DEA issues and paperwork)...actually tincture of opium is still considered to help quiet/slow down the GI tract...actually I had a standing rx for phenergan with codeine liquid that worked quite well, until the pain got quite bad...which necessitated me seeing the PM doc...
Me, I'm on Fentanyl patch, otherwise it goes through my system a bit too fast...
Posted 11/5/2010 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
Yes I have to get mine from the primary care doctor to. And I would ask your doctor for some if it helped you and if they dont want to give them to you then maybe you need to find a different doctor who will understand what you are going through and help you out. Good Luck with this. it is not a easy road and you are so young to be going through so much.
Posted 11/5/2010 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
If my primary care MD didnt want to prescribe I'd understand...I'm already on allot but the truth is I need it. If she doesn't prescribe I might consider seeing a pain doc. Seriously no one understands the pain when it hits...I get the "just take some Tylenol" I. Don't feel like doing anything..not that narcotics are the pure answer but pain is pain I'm hoping you guys understand what I mean :/
Posted 11/5/2010 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
My doctor prescribes hydrocodone, to be used for pain at my discretion. In deference both to my CD and 6MP, I haven't had an alcoholic drink in 11 years, so I hoard my hydrocodone--since it's the only buzz I can ever get. I take one about every 10 days to 2 weeks, when I'm just feeling worn out by the endless diarrhea and muscle aches. He expected me to take them more often, so he laughs and teases me about being a "big junkie." I don't know what I'd do without them.
Posted 11/5/2010 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
I'm on narcotics and I'm 18. They really help with my quality of life. A lot of times, I think they're the only things that keep me from failing my classes.
If you ask for anything, maybe you should start with Tramadol. It's a low-dose narcotic, and it's what I started with. It was more than enough for me since I didn't have any experience with narcotics prior to Tramadol. Most doctors are okay with perscribing it too, because it isn't nearly as addictive as Percocet or Vicodin.
Posted 11/5/2010 5:41 AM (GMT 0)
Vicodin and Norco here. I've been going to the same doctors for almost 15 years, so they've figured out I'm not abusing or selling them. I rarely need them, but when I do, I need them NOW.
Posted 11/5/2010 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
I kind of don't understand about gi's prescribing pain med's but I'm the same way, I've never asked my gi for pain med's just my primary care, my gi wants to up my rem to keep me from taking pain med's, but my cd doesn't work like that, it seems that I respond better to opiate's than anything else. I don't know about anybody else, but I can't get to remission with med's, surgery is the only thing that has ever given me anything close to remission, I think med's keep my cd in check, but if I want to be pain free temporairilly than for me pain med's unfortunatly is what works. I've had cd for 40 years and I can't take much pain anymore, way too many years of pain, I don't evan try to tough it out when I get those horrible cramping at my resection site, i just take a few vic's and lay down until subsides, can be 3-4 hr episode or it can be 48 hr of miserable cramping pain.

Posted 11/5/2010 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
Tsitodog,

I take 40mg of Prozac (for anxiety) which completely blocks the metabolism of codeine to morphine which yields no results.
Posted 11/5/2010 7:20 PM (GMT 0)
All of the above I have taken: Darvoset, Percoset, Vicodin and Tramadol.

Pain killers, as you go up the scale, tend to freeze pelistalsis in the bowel, so they tend to give you the milder ones (Darvoset, Tramadol).

The stronger ones, dilaudil (makes me hallucinate) and morphine are only given at the hospital.

Now, if you want to ferrari of pain killers, Fentanyl intravenously is unbelievable, the patch is OK, but straight in is something else.

They did it when they had to insert a needle into my stomach while I was awake to put in a drain after surgery, believe-you-me, this stuff is from the beyond beyond state...

If you want to see how they compare see this link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opiate_comparison

So I was wondering, what is this CarFentanyl that is 100,000 times more powerful than morphine ?

Well, it is what they give a 6,000 pound elephant to knock them out.

I think I will skip that one for now !
Posted 11/5/2010 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
I've had just about every pain killer...oh yeah and tramadol plus antidepressants is bad, especially if you have a history of seizures like I do. I had fentanyl during my colonoscopy...as for slowing down bowel movements...when I was on oxycodone for a short bit my bowels felt excellent. Zero pain or cramps and I felt "normal" again, pain free. Now my joints hurt, I'm in pain and my doctors are probably thinking how much of a pain in the ass I am along with my insurance company (which is amazing they cover EVERYTHING). just got my blood tests faxed over everything is normal except high levels of bilirubin which is to be expected when using aspirin based meds like pentasa :( .... This pretty much sucks because I probably sound crazy. My joints are even going to hell...

EDIT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZhfak4uqiw&feature=youtube_gdata_player found this video when I google searched crohns...

Post Edited (Medicalkid2) : 11/5/2010 2:38:23 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 11/5/2010 8:56 PM (GMT 0)
I never even knew pain meds were prescribed for Crohn's pain. Honest to goodness - I had NO clue until I read it on this site about 3 years ago. Here I've been the last 20 years with SEVERE crohn's and sucking it up all this time. That being said, even though I could ask for them, I personally won't take pain meds. I think (to quote you), "It's a ridiculous use of opioids". IMO it's not worth the trade off for the other problems they can cause. Living with the pain can SUCK, but I'm not willing to trade it for a crutch. Everyone can disagree with me if they want, but I personally have seen too many people use it as a crutch and it slowly turns into addiction (even if they deny it). I know how excrutiating my pain has been/and is and I still don't believe it requires narcotics to get through it. Only you know what the best decision for you is. I would caution you to seriously consider whether or not you need it. If you decide that you do, then get the meds.

P.S. - my stance may be deemed harsh, but I've known way too many addicts. I don't mean to offend. I just think well-controlled disease eliminates the need for those kinds of meds.

Posted 11/5/2010 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
@stef17,

That's cool I totally get that. My mom was like that with severe nerve pain...eventually it got really bad. She takes a low dose of vicodin if it's really really bad otherwise it's naproxen. I wouldn't ask to be put on narcotics everyday because i'm not in pallative care, none the less as I type this I'm in pretty bad pain laying down. Once again had to call into work and get more than likely dirty looks. If pain isn't preventing you from doing things you want to do or it's not significantly changing your quality of life I don't think you need pain killers like lortab, oxycontin whatever. However it is warping my attitude by the minute. I don't let anyone know I'm in pain, or sick and try and live but lately vie just been getting pissed at doing simple things, and I feel like people really don't give a crap about my pain. I do understand the addiction aspect though, I know someone with chronic pain that's been on oxycontin since 12... For the time being I will just suck it up tell I end up exploding at my primary care doctor and go see a pain doctor which I'm not looking forward to because they will more than likely perform every test which will be inconclusive, expensive, a waste of my darn time, stressful, painful, and more doctors thinking I'm crazy. I don't enjoy colonoscopys that look fine, barium tests that yield nothing but radiologists and GIs looking at me like I have "fybromyalgia" or mythecal pain aka on the hunt for narcotics. I don't like crutches either, in fact until about a month ago I was on allot less medication for everything but then I realized that "sucking it up" starts to chip at your sanity... Anyways that was a vent..I'm just going lay here attempt to think while imaging what my GI doctor, and internist (who are neighbors btw) think I'm "after"...I seriously don't think I'd ever wish this illness on hitler himself...
Posted 11/5/2010 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
Medicalkid- you make MANY valid points. And pain truly can chip away at your sanity. Pain meds are a lifesaver for all of the reasons YOU listed above. At such a young age, you are wise in your thinking. I know I sounded all "anti-pain meds" and I generally am because I have seen too many people "wimp out" and use them when they really could get by and be ok. I've been jaded by knowing addicts so I'm always ultra cautious when I see someone like yourself ask about it.

I hope you can go to your doctor and explain 1)how severe the pain is - do NOT down play it (we crohnies are used to sucking it up and saying "I'm fine") and 2)explain how it limits you, destroys your quality of life, etc. I think if you make a well-thought out case for yourself, your doc will help you. And... crying always helps. :) I'm sorry you're in pain. I hope you feel better soon.

Stef
Posted 11/5/2010 10:32 PM (GMT 0)
Steph-

I have to say I totally agree with you.  Trust me there have been times when I was laying on the floor screaming in pain and all I wanted was pain meds. When I actually got narcotics I took them like I should for a while...then I'd slowly start to take 2 before bed...then 2 in the morning because I liked the way it made me feel. I know not everyone does this, but it IS a slippery slope.  My GI won't prescribe pain meds, his thoughts are that if you hurt that much you should be in the hospital.  Of course there are always special circumstances.

Posted 11/6/2010 12:39 AM (GMT 0)

Somebody said...
Medicalkid- you make MANY valid points. And pain truly can chip away at your sanity. Pain meds are a lifesaver for all of the reasons YOU listed above. At such a young age, you are wise in your thinking. I know I sounded all "anti-pain meds" and I generally am because I have seen too many people "wimp out" and use them when they really could get by and be ok. I've been jaded by knowing addicts so I'm always ultra cautious when I see someone like yourself ask about it.

I hope you can go to your doctor and explain 1)how severe the pain is - do NOT down play it (we crohnies are used to sucking it up and saying "I'm fine") and 2)explain how it limits you, destroys your quality of life, etc. I think if you make a well-thought out case for yourself, your doc will help you. And... crying always helps. :) I'm sorry you're in pain. I hope you feel better soon.

Stef


My doctor is pretty conservative with treatment hence when I asked why she was so hesitant to prescribing me Ativan for insomnia related to anxiety she said "there aren't any kids your age on lorazepam..." i'm already on three controlled substances that are helping with other issues...sigh I wish doctors knew what chronic illnesses/pain feels like....that's why I really want to be a doctor because I feel like you have to experience some of these things before you can write them off as definitions in a medical book.
Posted 11/6/2010 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry I have had to edit your post because it is against forum rules to discuss mj.

2. No discussion of medical marijuana use.

 

Post Edited By Moderator (Nanners) : 11/6/2010 8:57:28 AM (GMT-6)

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