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Posted 9/19/2009 6:50 PM (GMT 0)
I've been pursuing a variety of approaches to help with my chronic pain. I do not like the idea of taking strong narcotics (perococet, etc.) because of hang-over effects and immune suppression issues as a result of these meds. I've also tried alternative approaches (acupuncture, gua sha, massage, etc). Any other suggestions? It is very important to me that I stay functional. I've worked very hard with my career (medical science) and I don't want my efforts to be in vain. I really want to continue at all costs. Thoughts or other ideas are appreciated.

Post Edited By Moderator (CajunGrl) : 9/19/2009 6:49:04 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/20/2009 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
For some reason, klonazapam used for anxiety has an effect on pain from lyme--probably because lyme is neurological.

It is addicting, so I use just the minimum. It's long-lasting so if I take one .50 mg tablet before bed it lasts through most of the next day. It took more than a year after my LLMD prescribed it before I used it, but was reassured when I read others took it without becoming addicted.

Lyrica is also helpful for sleep since pain wakes me up in the night, but I break open a 50 mg capsule and take just 1/2 of the capsule also before bed.

Occasionally, I'll take another half of the klonazapam during the afternoon if I need it. But the lyrica leaves me a little off balance throughout the day, so I don't use any more than that.
Posted 9/20/2009 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
Needshelp,

Hey hun. Please watch what you talk about. I know that the pain gets bad and we sometimes feel desperate but posting about drugs is against the rules.


 
2. No discussion of medical marijuana use.
Posted 9/20/2009 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
I'd still like to tell you what helps me if that's okay. I take Tramadol(Ultram) for pain. I do not like that sedated feeling that pain pills give me and I need to be able to function. Tramadol doesn't give me that high or sedated feeling. It doesn't take all of the pain away but it does take the edge off. I take 3-4 50mg tablets a day. You can take up to 400mg a day but I like where I am and don't want to go that high. I was told the extended release Tramadol was alot better because you take 1 tablet a day and it works for 24 hours. You don't get that "dip" in pain like the regular tablets give you. Tramadol is supposed to be less addictive too. Here is some great information on it:

While Ultram is technically a narcotic or opioid pain medication, it is different from typical narcotics in that patients do not build up a tolerance with extended usage and there is a very low incidence of addiction. With other narcotics there is a general tendency to escalate the dosage of the medicine with time and a chance of addiction. The narcotic effect of Ultram is not as strong as the narcotic agents in other common pain medications, such as Vicodin
(hydrocodone) and Oxycontin and Percocet (Oxycodone).

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/pain-medication/ultram-pain-reliever
Posted 9/20/2009 5:34 AM (GMT 0)
Nettles (an herb recommended by Stephen Harod Buhner in his book, "Healing Lyme") help me with joint pain. Antihistamines also have helped me with nerve pain caused by RSD/CRPS (severe nerve pain) - histamines function as neurotransmitters in addition to their more well-known role in allergies.

Also, periodic chiropractic adjustments can help keep the structure of your body in alignment to reduce unnecessary wear and tear on joints and reduce chances of nerve compression (& damage).

Proper footwear that support your feet's natural structure can also reduce pain. I had terrible foot pain until I got a good pair of walking shoes plus an arch-supporting insert to put in the shoes.

Vitamin B12 is necessary for nerve repair; deficiency of Vitamin B12 is associated with nerve pain. Some medications (acid blockers such as prilosec, some diabetes medications, etc.) can hinder absorption of Vitamin B12 from your food and thus make taking a supplement helpful.

Take care,
Posted 9/20/2009 7:08 AM (GMT 0)
opps. My fault. I read the rules awhile ago.....guess I didn't recall that one. My sincere apologies. I still appreciate your responses and input. It won't happen again. Thanks for editing my post.

CanjunGrl, several years ago I was taking tramadol for chronic tension headaches. It really helped. I still use it at times while I'm at work because it doesn't 'impair' me in any way. Tramadol is really an excellent drug. My tolerance for pain is quite high and I can usually tough it out during the day while I'm working. I just feel like I need to find something to ease my suffering during non-working hours. I just can't seem to (logically) justify using the stronger narcotics because of the side-effects (immunosuppression and hang-overs). I was really hoping that some of the alternative approaches would be helpful. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case (and they are quite expensive). Oh well. Guess I'll just have to deal.....
Posted 9/20/2009 7:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hey hun,

No worries:) We all make mistakes.

Have you tried taking Tramadol at night? I find it helps me sleep better. I'm more relaxed. I used to take an alternative approach to pain management but found that it really didn't ease the pain as much as I'd hoped. I tried the natural way for about 3 months until I just couldn't take it anymore and decided that I needed something stronger. I really hate that I'm on pain pills but I guess that's just how it has to be right now.

I sure hope you find something that helps.
Posted 9/20/2009 7:50 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks again CajunGrl. By the way, I really dig your 'signature' line.
Posted 9/20/2009 8:31 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you hunny:)
Posted 9/20/2009 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi! I have been having very much trouble in this pain dept. My LLMD suggested a natural enzyme called serrapeptase. I have yet to try it but the information I have read about it, is so encouraging. If you want to have me send you the site just email me so u can read about it. It must be enteric coated so that it passes through the stomach unharmed so it can do its work at full power. So there is a brand my LLMD suggested that is enteric coated. Email me (by clicking my name u cn get my email) if you want the information site.
Oh and it is supposed to be pain blocking , biofilm degrading, removes dead tissues and does not harm living tissues, anti-inflammatory, and some other things...

(It says it cures vericose veins.)
Posted 9/21/2009 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
Tramadol has helped me a great deal also - the lowest dosage (50 mg). Any stronger than that and I don't feel right. It does give me terrible headaches though, so have to take it with Tylenol or ibuprofen. Nothing else seems to work for me without intolerable side-effects.
Posted 9/21/2009 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Tala,

Welcome to the forum!
Posted 9/21/2009 5:34 AM (GMT 0)
I wonder if physical therapy or a chiropractor would be beneficial. Although, I'm not sure if insurance would cover it.

CanjunGrl, you have any experience with this or knowledge of others that have tried these routes?
Posted 9/21/2009 6:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hey hun,

I have never done physical therapy. Sometimes I wish I could. I don't think I could get out right just yet.

I used to work for a Chiropractor and their techniques are very beneficial. I'm not sure if it would stop the pain completely though. Maybe give one a call and explain to them what's going on. Alot of them deal with chronic illnesses.
Posted 9/21/2009 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
Why can't we discuss medical marijuana, since it is legal in some states, and also available in the pill form of Marinol?
Posted 9/21/2009 6:35 PM (GMT 0)

Not sure the reasoning behind the rule set forth by Admin...

However, if you read the Forum Rules...#2 clearly states No discussion of medical marijuana.


Posted 9/21/2009 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry - missed it when I scanned thru them.
Posted 9/21/2009 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
I'm assuming that the state where the owner is from, it's illegal. It's illegal here in my state too so if I start talking about it with someone on here and wind up buying it, then I can go to jail for that. It doesn't matter if I bought it in a legal state or not. See what I mean? The owner needs to protect himmself and the members here too.
Posted 9/22/2009 12:53 PM (GMT 0)
I'll stick with the rules.  However, one could argumue (easily) that many other topics and posters discuss treatments that aren't approved/legal (ex. ozone).  That being said, lets confine this topic to pain management options that are legal in ALL states.

 

Posted 9/23/2009 12:30 AM (GMT 0)

needshelp said...
I've been pursuing a variety of approaches to help with my chronic pain. I do not like the idea of taking strong narcotics (perococet, etc.) because of hang-over effects and immune suppression issues as a result of these meds. I've also tried alternative approaches (acupuncture, gua sha, massage, etc). Any other suggestions? It is very important to me that I stay functional. I've worked very hard with my career (medical science) and I don't want my efforts to be in vain. I really want to continue at all costs. Thoughts or other ideas are appreciated.

I really congratulate you on staying with your career... my career went down the toilet as my LD progressed.  I have tried almost everything.  I used so much Tylenol, my liver hurt and I couldn't stand up straight and was in constat pain for weeks.... until my pain mngmt. dr. realized it was all the Tylenol I was taking.  So no Tylenol.... no Darvocet (because of the Tylenol).  Lyrica worked wonders and then turned on me and made me severely depressed.  Once I went off the Lyrica, the depression just lifted away.  Recently I was put on Oxycodone and immediately turned into a dope fiend... After 1 week I just wanted more and more... finally flushed the remainders down the toilet (which I now know, you're NOT supposed to do! smhair - oh well).  And went through a 5 day "withdrawal" that COMPLETELY SUCKED!  So, for the past 3-4 weeks, I've been off all pain meds. (except low dose aspirin) and I've been off all antibiotics... and I have really slid downhill.  I'm in pain, I'm in bed, I'm exhausted.  It feels like it did in the beginning... it's really bad.  I also spent a lot of time trying different remedies, like accupuncture and massage, etc. but got to the point where I was in so much pain it hurt to be touched.  Xanax REALLY helped me for almost 9 years, but I feel I've been on it so long that it's not really helping as much and I don't want to increase the doseage.  But if you haven't tried an anti-anxiety or a muscle relaxant type Rx, it might be worth looking into.  Even a very small amount was very effective for years... I've just built up a tolerance, but I don't know what I would've done without it.

Hope this helps.  rolleyes rolleyes cool cool shocked cool rolleyes rolleyes

Posted 9/23/2009 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
needshelp,

We don't make the rules. We just enforce them. If there was a rule about Ozone therapy, it would have gotten deleted too. You're welcome to let admin know how you feel though.

Btw, I was just giving Jelaine an example on what I thought might happen.
Posted 9/24/2009 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
CajunGrl,

It's really not a big deal. I'm a scientist.....by nature we debate anything and everything for no logical reason. Just trying to make a point. I'm gonna give acupucture one last shot tomorrow. Who knows? The pain might magically disappear overnight. It amazes me how this disease can change so much from one day to the next. All I know is that I'm due for some better days. Hehe. :)
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