pain meds

I would like to know what people are taking for pain and how long they have been on it.

I've been taking oxycontin ER 20mg pills 2x a day for close to a year now, with occasional (average 30 a month) 5mg ocycodone pills for breakthrough pain. My tolerance is such that I have no side effects of the oxy at my current dose, but the pain relief is still substantial.

I had to switch to the long acting stuff because I couldn't move in the morning when using the instant release versions (you wake up with nothing in your system). I would have to wake up an hour before I wanted to get out of bed to take a pill, then just wait. Even now with the 12 hour medicine if I miss a dose by more than a few hours all of my joints and muscles start to lock up and I just kind of fold.

vicodin & cyclobenzaprine. I used to only take the vicodin which helped immensely, but combined with a muscle relaxer (very low dose-they make me sleepy) make the pain of a flare-up SO much more bearable. (Likely because the muscle aches are my most intense symptom) Sometimes just a simple cup of ginger tea helps me immensely, so I always try that first. Going on a walk, detox baths, yadda yadda- you know the drill. The pills are always my last resort as we all know how dangerously addicting they can be.

Nettle leaf powder enables me to use my hands (stiffness/pain gone). Without it, I can't do anything.

I cannot take NSAIDs or asprin or prescription pain meds due to allergies to them.

I also find homeopathic Arnica helpful for muscle pain, homeopathic Causticum helpful for the wandering leg pains and restless legs sensations, and homeopathic Hypericum helpful for nerve related pain.