Tolerance to pain meds

For those of you who have to take pain meds every day, did you build up a tolerance and need to take more to work on your pain?

My PCP gave me tramadol for my joint pain and aches. It's not working. I am going to have to ask for something stronger. I am afraid that if I have to resort to pain meds like loritab, I'll get tolerant over time. I am hoping that the plaquenil will kick in and I won't need the pain meds but until then, I can't suffer like this. Of course, I am not supposed to take NSAIDS and I am allergic to celebrex-:) Doesn't leave much for pain control.

I have built up a tolerance but I use every last resort before I use my Percoset for pain. My joint pain is helped by my HUmira now which I use weekly (went on if for my gut but it has helped my joints more than any other med so far...I still do get the occassional joint flare up too though) For the joint pain I use Lidoderm patches (they are a water based pain patch that you leave on for 12 hrs and you can cut to size...They actually allow me to sleep when the joint pain gets severe. As for the percoset I am on for gut pain but if cramping I try to 1st use tylenol then try Hyomax in the last case I will use the narcotic meds.

just like you i use tramadol , this doesnt do the job its like taking a placebo, but i also take dilaudid 4mg strongest outthere next to the fantanyl patches but maybe you would be fine with percoset 5mg its not that bad but it doesnt do justice for me and as for the lidoderm patches they are awesome but its a hit or miss with me, even with the dilaudid its like this , the body is just weird fascinating piece of art ......

also dont be afraid there is a diference between using them recreationally and medicanally, if you need some comfort by all means speak up dont be scared someone will understand and give you the neccesary treatment.....dont suffer speak up, live a normal life

that is the problem with pain meds, they're really the only thing that gives me relief when I need it. when they upped my rem just on dec.24th, I went from 4-6 vicodins per day, now I'm down to 1 a day which to me is a miracle, I usually take it around noon, i have gut pain when I eat, but I also have lower back pain from rem, so it helps that as well, but I won't hesitate to take more if I have those god awful cramping pain that border mini obstruction, then I refuse to tough those out, it is not worth it. those are the ones that put us in fetal position until gas passes or bm happens, for me it eases up after gas passes, but htat can take anywhere from 2-48 hrs, then it feels lik i have been kicked in the gut after I'm able to pass gas. then I just pray that I can rip one for 60 seconds without stopping, anything to have things move again. also when I'm really bloated and really need to get rid of gas, I will take pain med and serax(anxiety) and that combo breaks the gas up so I can get rid of it. my philosophy is whatever it takes to be comfortable, I've suffered for 40 years with this, I've had years of remission, but in remisssion i still came up with occassional bowel and gas problem.

I like Zanne have been on pain meds for years. I do not see a pain doc, but get them from my family doc. My first pain med used was Vicodin (Lortab), but I am now on Percoset. I only use 1/2 tab as needed for pain. If I am not in pain, I don't take them. But because of years of having this disease, multiple surgeries etc., I pretty much need them everyday, but do have good times during the day occasionally. BUT....I have never used a whole tab unless I just had surgery, always only use 1/2 tab.

I only use the 1/2 tab so I don't become tolerant. I have been on Vicodin or Percoset at 1/2 tab 3 x's a day for 8 years or so. But I also have Fibro and Osteoarthritis and really use it more for joint issues than anything else. JMHO

Thank you so much for the information. Doctors are so reluctant to hand out pain meds! I might go to see a new rheumatologist. It's tough for anybody whose had colitis issues b/c NSAIDS are a no-no for us! The tramadol does a little bit but 1/2 a loritab at night and I feel like a new person the next day. Truthfully, a doc shouldn't have a problem giving someone 15 pain pills a month. A person is not going to get addicted with that small number. I used to be so active and fit. I'd love to be able to do that again but that might be a pipe dream. I am no spring chicken.

you have received some really good advice...you really shouldn't have to live with all that pain...I'm another who sees a pain specialist as many docs (my GI, Rheumy and PCP) are uncomfortable with long-term prescribing...but my PM doc knows about all the rules, the paperwork needed, the different tests (ie, I've had a urine sample once in my 4+ years of seeing her, as it came out okay, meaning my meds were within normal limits and nothing illicit was found, it may not be required)...I take in my medications on every visit (so she can document for the DEA)...I don't have to do this every visit, but I want to be open, and have full disclosure...

I'm on the patch(fentanyl) for over 4 years now...and it helps to make me more "normal"...alas I have noted that my body (only in the last year) has become "dependent" on it(meaning I have a physiological response at the end of the patch), I haven't become all that "tolerant"...when my illnesses are controlled, I need less of my breakthrough...

For me, these have the added benefit of controlling my BM's and making them a bit more "normal"...but if you tend more to C than the D, this is something you may need to watch out for...

I was thinking maybe 50 mg of the tramadol wasn't enough. But actually, today, I've been feeling better with the joint pain issues. I am grateful for that. Maybe the plaquenil is starting to kick in as well.

That's interesting about the husks of fresh corn! I've heard of herbal remedies for joint pain such as boswellin.

I have the same feeling as vicki, I just want the vicodin nothing stronger, I would prefer to use stronger if I started flareing bad enough, I don't get a buzz on my med's at all, just takes pain away, but unfortunatly opiates are the only thing that works for me. I have broke lots of bones and the gut pain is by far worse, all the bones that I broke, yes hurt like hell when it happens, but our body produces natural pain killer, so when I would be laying waiting for ambulance to pick me up, the pain would kinda stop, until I was moved onto gurney, then bad pain. but gut pain will not go away like that. not until med's kick in.