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Pain meds and muscle relaxers, more harm than good?

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Posted 2/21/2013 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I know that it would be best not to be taking these things, but right now I don't feel like I have much of a choice. I just feel relieved to have them when needed. I have a toddler to chase around all day so I can't "not function".

Anyway, I can't take NSAIDs b/c of bad reactions to all of them...same goes for anti-depressants, and some other meds (and some supplements such as Resveratrol).

But I have MCS, so I guess I'm just wondering...will the chemicals/toxins from these meds slow down the healing process?

This is kind of a pointless question to ask at this point b/c I basically rely on them to get by (especially during this crazy herx that won't go the heck away!!!)

Anyway, knowledge is power so I thought I would ask!

I tried supplements, magnesium, Tumeric, etc. They just weren't doing the job so I'm back to the old Rx meds...for now anyway.

I know this is personal for some people but if anyone wants to share I'd love to hear what others think!
Posted 2/21/2013 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
Btw I still take the magnesium and Tumeric, among others, just thought I would mention that as well :-)
Posted 2/21/2013 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Lymer,

I know I could not have made it without Vicodin during this treatment. Although I wonder how much less the pain would have been if I was only diagnosed with the MTHFR mutations much earlier, as the toxins are a huge source of the pain and inflammation. Maybe when you methylate, you will feel better, although go slow because when those toxins come out too fast and too hard, that is painful too, although it wasn't as bad as my worst herxes.

Did you try alka seltzer gold? That works for a lot of lyme patients. Make sure it is the gold version. It does take the edge off.
Posted 2/21/2013 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
I've heard about that, and I need to look online to find it. It keeps coming up lately so I certainly need to try it!

It makes me feel a little better that I'm not the only one who needs the stronger stuff to get through :)

I'm hoping my LLMD will address the MTHFR issue at my next appt!
Thanks samjones!!
Posted 2/21/2013 8:29 AM (GMT 0)
I take muscle relaxers, not every day though (about 3 days a week). It makes me sleep better, it's that or no sleep at all...

But every now and then I take one before going to bed, I then sleep 1 hour, and that's all for the rest of the night.

Like this past night mad

Posted 2/21/2013 1:04 PM (GMT 0)
I say take whatever you have to , to get through the pain. I have tried different things like tremedol, it did not work for me, the only thing so far is heat, heat relieves my pain. I have been trying to find something for the pain, when it gets really bad, I would almost try anything, and I have always been the type of person to find a natural approach.

There have been nights recently when I couldn't sleep because of the pain, and no one should have to go through it, and for all of us with Lyme, I say we have to give up everything else, we should try to get out of pain if we can.

justme
Posted 2/21/2013 10:11 PM (GMT 0)
Oh man, Lymer, if you saw all the things I've been on 'just to get through the day', your hair would stand on end!!! LOL!! I don't have a toddler to chase around all day, and I'm an all-natural type of gal so it was hard for me to "give in" and use all those pharma drugs - but I just wouldn't have made it without them and that's all there is to it.

Here's how my Acupuncture doc explained it to me - when your body is struggling to handle the pain and other symptoms, it really doesn't leave much energy for healing. So if you can find the natural stuff to help, good, but don't suffer if you can't.

Sometimes we have to call in the "bug guns" - it's as simple as that. If we had something equally as devastating to our lives as these infections, we would have all the pain meds and other things we need at the drop of a hat!!

So please, use what you need to in order to make it through the day right now!!! You can work on reducing your dose and getting off of them once the infections are under better control.

Here's hoping that you feel a bit better soon!!
Posted 2/21/2013 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you, so much...all of you! I have years into eyes, I really feel so relieved...

I'm considering pain management, so long as I can find a Dr that understands and believes that I have Lyme disease, and that its painful.

My rheumy basically just "cut me off", so I have to start over. I'm not out of meds...yet...but I need to get on the ball or I will be soon.

Thanks again. You guys have no idea how relieved I feel!

Who do you all see for pain medication, btw? Anyone who's LLMD Rx'es it? I'm assuming that's too risky for them, which is why I haven't asked. It's sad that their the only ones who really "get it", yet their the ones that stick their necks out to help us.
Posted 2/21/2013 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
too much pain can set up a negative feedback loop... hence the syndrome of chronic pain ... for some... it needs to be managed before it gets worse, and ingrained or habitual.
Posted 2/21/2013 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
Lotusrising agreed!!! The problem is, how do we get doctors to understand the levels of pain we experience? Especially when they won't even believe we have Lyme?

Ugh sorry I don't mean to rant but I am truly at a loss here. I just need to be able to take care of my son, yet I'm terrified to ask a doctor for pain meds, I've been called a pill seeker/doctor shopper/ what have you before...idk if I can handle it again!! :-/
Posted 4/11/2013 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
I know it is terrible to be made to feel like a criminal because you want some relief and to function in your life. I believe that we deserve to use what we need to get through. I had a bad experience with a stand in doc today who basically told me I need to exercise to deal with this pain. I almost laughed in his face. When you can hardly get out of bed- exercising is the last thing you think you can do. I hate the attitude that we should live with such excrutiating pain whereas others with other conditions deserve relief- as if this disease isn't bad enough, we have to fight for adequate pain relief. It makes me so angry.. I say take what you need in addition to all the other techniques you use for pain relief. I don't know anyone who just jumps to the big guns,, we all use multiple modalities. Don't feel bad for wanting relief either.
Posted 4/11/2013 4:31 AM (GMT 0)
Lymer,

Your question is definitely a valid one- will it slow down the healing process? The answer is- It depends. Each person has a unique sum total of assets, as well as a unique sum total of liabilities. Yes, narcotic pharmaceuticals definitely can be an asset in that they may help with pain relief. If the pain relief is substantial, it may reduce your Autonomic Nervous System's "fight or flight" status. This may actually free up some energy resources for the Immune System. This improvement may be viewed as an asset.

On the other hand, the pharmaceuticals usually do not bear any correspondence to anything bio-chemically or energetically in the body. They are not neutral, but rather, they are toxic to the body. They place an additional burden upon an already overworked kidneys or liver, or both. This negative feature also indirectly and negatively impacts the immune system. This effect may be viewed as a liability.

If you absolutely MUST have pain relief, then I say, by all means do it. It may buy you time, but just remember that the balance sheet cannot be fudged. I wish that I could suggest a way that you could fudge the assets and liabilities balance sheet so that you could get away with it. However that won't help you in the long run.

My poor daughter suffered unendurable pain. Her LLMD would not prescribe anything for her. I wonder if that LLMD already knew what I am suggesting to you now? I confess to you that I would have allowed her to to take a narcotic if it would have helped her pain at that time. Knowing what I know now, I don't know what I would do. It was hard to watch her rolling around her bed in hysterical pain.

My opinion is that nobody on this forum is qualified to dispense advice as to what the best course of action is. We can definitely dispense advice for the short term benefit, but none of us can clearly see the bigger picture for you. You would have to be the best judge of that.

Don
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