The Problem with Pain Pills

My neurologist said that she doesn't like to prescribe pain meds for fibro because when they wear off, it usually increases the pain. I've found that to be true with any pain (whether for my Crohn's, etc.). I think that my fibro has come from 30 hospitalizations in 3 years, each time with IV dilaudid throughout the hospitalization.

Hi Sherrine
I am not sure how I feel about my name being used in connection with this work, pleased or called out. I believe your intention was to be helpful :). I find it even more interesting g as I just had a heart to heart with my daughter, who also suffers from fibro and lower back pain/spondilolitis (sp). The result was that she fought over two months to decrease her Norco from 3 a day to 1 in the am; however, she replaced hers with the use of non psychoactive CBD products. I just spent two days drastically changing amount and frequency of taking my Norco. I also increased my CBD use. Combined with doing physical chores and walking despite medium pain. The result? Mixed.
Ok, sorry, my iPad won't scroll if I go up when writing so beginning last sentence over: less pain right away everywhere. But today I awoke with flare and raging headache. My initial conclusion is I moved to detox to quickly and moved muscles to much at first. I also believe some of my flare today is also due to increasing the meds causing a effect known as rebound pain.
Do I agree that we should not use pain meds, no. I do agree that a multidisciplinary approach is always best, I am a therapist :). I would have to read the studies in the book cited to truly agree or disagree.
Right now what I know is this coincidence posting is on target "for me". I had a toolkit of multidisciplinary tools and knew my triggers. I am fighting to find my way back again. I am not sure that it is all about pain meds though. There are many pyscho social physical factors involved. I would like to stress that we are currently in the market of anti opiates. Pro SSRI SSNRI new meds market is in vogue. I can't tolerate those and know many other Peers who can't either. This includes my aged father with daily cluster headaches.
I attended university for 10 years prior to this current multiple pain point. I did that on opiates. It is about balance and we all have to journey to discover our own, changing landscapes.

Conclusion, read the article! Create a toolkit and find what is right for you.
I noticed almost immeaditly that I experienced less pain! However

Sherrine
I hope you read my entire post as I basically agreed with you I appreciate it I just wasn't sure of if there was an agenda.
I know there was not, didn't really think there was. Please, sometimes my writing or texting seems to offend people. I am better in person :)
Don't stop trying to assist me or others! As you know so many new items have raised their pain heads, but, I don't beleive I should be so much pain pills. I wrOte about this above.
As someone who has understands empirical research I look for bias. Hope this helps you to not feel frustrated with me
Blessings

I think a second opinion or recheck w rheumy might not be a bad idea. I am having new headache issues since being rear ended and new cervogenic pain in in neck and shoulders. I have had all this Checked by multiple new drs ad nasuaseum !!!!!
I feel like since surgery it's just snowballed.
I am not sure any more drs can assist with this. I won't take the Cymbaltas etc as stated above they do not work for me.
I think my approach of trying to decrease opiate meds and increase a natural pain medicine that does less harm to inside of body is sound idea. It does work, for me. I need my daily life plan revamped, heck, I need a life!
Blessings

I'll tell you, personally, I'm spacier and more scattered on Tramadol than I was on Hydrocodone, even though it's supposed to be weaker. I really wish my doctor would keep giving me H, but he won't ("because it's addicting" - well yeah, I know (!) but my dose went DOWN in the 3 years I was on it) and I've dropped the issue, because I don't want to lose him as a doctor...bottom line, I trust him and I know he cares. That's hard to find.

I agree with Lucinda - I do think it's largely political, and docs are being strongly encouraged to give some drugs as opposed to others. My doctor, who was always in practice by himself, recently joined a big clinic, and I just think he has to tow the party line.

So - I just go around in more pain, and consequently also get less accomplished. I truly wish I didn't need any drugs at all on a daily basis, but with my chronic bad Sciatica that just ain't reality, at least at this point....

When I think of what all of us could do if we could harness all the energy we expend trying to fight pain - it boggles the mind!!

Debbie

It seems like it would be differant to have been on the stronger meds and step back to the less strong...

Achey, how do you take it? Some of the generics of tramadol made me very tired and a couple did not add to my fatigue..the best one is no longer carried here...it was a canadian form ..

Your right it can be so complex to get things worked out.once we find a good personal balance , we certainly do not want anything to change..ot should still be between you and your dr.

Interesting post, Sherrine. Thanks for starting it. I see prescriptions meds as band aids at times. They can have so many side effects. I think it's best that we do all that we can on our own to help the situation and not rely so heavily on our doctors.

But I know if I had a physically demanding job, I would have to take prescription meds just to help me get through it.

So there should be a healthy balance. I think that we need to do the best that we can by using as little meds as possible.

Thank you to Rockon for ringing the glial bell! :)

Folks, I personally keep on a lookout to be on the XT-101 clinical trials this year (I don't think they've been approved yet, their 'news' section doesn't mention it anyways.) I think the low dose naltrexone (sp) is similar to how glial fighting medication is 'supposed' to work. A great video to compliment Rockon's article: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KYyvEyroDgk

I've learned that I actually have to take my dosage down once a month because after a while I begin to have withdrawal symptoms when I wake up; my tolerance gets used to my max over 7 days or so (my tolerance seems to get stuck after 3). I hate opioids. They are a bandaid but they are no longer working for me and appear to increase my toxin load meaning i end up in basically an ill-flare until I bring them down to about half the max dose.

That said, I prefer opioids over Nucynta any day of the week. *shudder*

Oh and I too must use anti inflammatory meds everyday. Tylenol does nothing. While fibro isn't an 'inflammatory illness', our immune systems do react with inflammatory markers. This is especially true if you have continued 'leaky gut' type symptoms (I am not saying that I am a leaky gut bandwagon supporter, but the symptoms do match my experience). Darn those interleukins! ;) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/10341365/

Ljm - yes, they sure are! My doctor even says, "We don't really know how the body works. We're just guessing." :( At least he's honest. Sometimes I don't know how I take it! (We can all say that, eh?) I'm not sure which form of Tramadol I have, I should check.

What's driving me batty these days is not only the pain...it's the weak, trembly feeling that comes over me out of the blue. I'm getting more blood tests done soon, and maybe that will tell something. It feels very wrong, and it's worse than it used to be.

Donna, I'm on quite a cocktail myself - Gabapentin, Tramadol, Effexor, Nortriptyline, Klonopin - oh boy!

Klonopin is the first I'm trying to wean off of...got way down last year, then increased stress and lousy sleep pushed it back up. My doc says (and I've read) that it can contribute to Alzheimer's in the elderly (which I am.) Gulp. I've been on it for about 10 years.

Hope to get it down this summer, while I don't have to get up early to sub. Hubby's business is way down again, so I have to push myself when school is in.

Have a good day, all.

Debbie

I have found that, its better for me to take tramadol at lower levels but steadily.

So i take 1/4 pill every 2 or 3 hours, usually 1 and 1/2 pills per day

Taking more makes me spacey, taking less makes me tired..and i am generic sensitive, some make me tired, others energize...

He sounds good jenni, let us know how it goes

This turned out to be a great thread, lots of information.
Rockon,
If gila sends out "pro" or yes inflammatory messages to out Gray matter nuerons, why as fibro suffers is that good? While it is not a inflammatory syndrome many aspects are similar. For instance many state they must take anti inflammatory meds.
If opiod analgesics in our PAG are involved in dependence and withdrawal of opiodsthe, is there some reason to suppress this? There are many other reasons that Gila are needed and Seratonine along with Norepinephrine are our bodies natural transmitters for pain, couldn't suppressing them potentially interfere with their functioning?
This is a complex biological study that has subjective answers but is there furthering questioning to be done. I bring up T4 and the newer Tryclics (sp) as a example; Lyrica etc vs Nuerontin. These meds are being used in treating a wide range of medical issues, in my opion, too quickly. However, the side effects can be as horrible as suicide. I know many many with various medical issues who don't tolerate these. It majestic no actual claim in assisting T4 but instead, depression. I certainly want a assister that isn't opiate but I am pointing out my questioning in being truly unclear about what this means and if is the right connection.
Blessings