Hi everyone its been a little bit since i was here last.... I have a question.... My RA will only give an RX for max 3 tramadol a day and a 5/325 hydrocodone for when the pain is bad 1 a day. So i have to pick pain in the morning or pain in the evening. I'm always in pain, it never fully stops. In a bad mood most of the day. And I don't want to do anything. She has said i should see a pain management dr. Now here's my problem: i don't know if they would be any good to go to... I have at times taken 2 of the hydro not at the same time but maybe an hour later... and an hour later i feel better, I can play with my girls and do things with them. I smile, sing, pat my hand on the steering with the music on the radio and i am mostly out of pain. My problem is i don't want to get addicted to higher pain meds i feel like it would in the long run take more and more to relieve my pain. I had all my upper teeth pulled at one time the dds gave me percocet to help with the pain and believe me it was painful. I started with 20 and stopped at 4 left. I have horded them like gold.... There are times when I talk to myself... is the pain enough for one of them little golden pills?? usually i answer no and take the hydro... I don't know what to do, I would like to be out of pain but scared of the side effects: mostly addiction. I have a high stress job. But I have to keep working. What to do?
Hi . I was thinking that it wouldn’t hurt ( no pun intended ) to see a pain management doctor as they also deal with other methods to deal and maintain pain in addition to drugs or not .
I read an article some years ago about drug ‘addiction’ and drug 'dependence 'as I , too was concerned about the same thing . Many drugs not just opiods can not be stopped abruptly as the body will have a dependance to them such as opiods , anti seizure meds and anti depressants to name a few . So one can have a dependance to such drugs but a person can taper off them if desired or necessary . People that use drugs for pain for example do not become 'drug addicts ’ as my research and personal experience shows. Drugs when used for the purposes intended will be perceived by the brain and body for such . An addict seeks euphoria ( getting high) and will seek these drugs for that reason .
Certainly no one has to agree with this . As I said I have come to my opinions about addiction and dependance from my personal experience and my own research on the subject . I hope this has been helpful to you on your journey and I wish you all the best
HUGGGGGGGGGGGS
Suzie
Hello Sandiekay,
In my opinion it is good that you are questioning your pain meds, and worrying about their addictive nature. For me it was about the side effects, so I don't take any. I do not advocate this, as I know it works for some, with their different conditions. I would just say if you can access a pain management clinic that would be good. I did and it taught me to have a different relationship with my pain and I now practise mindfulness techniques, as well as gentle excercise and tai chi. Have a look at the groups on here, they might help also. If you are able to keep working, that is amazing, but remember to be kind to yourself, also. I wish you well.
Take care, Anne
I know that you do not want to quit working...but...you might have to! I was the primary bread winner in our family. Due to Fibromyalgia/Polyarthralgia/Chronic Pain Disorder, I had to quit....my body could take no more! I am still reeling!! My symptoms are completely out of control....I am dealing with the frustration of specialists that do not believe in Fibromyalgia.
I do not take pain meds for my Fibro pain....I am just "dealing" with it....it is all I can do. I am so sensitive to medications that it has made a mess of any idea any specialist has had in mind for assisting me in living with pain!
To be frank....it sounds to me that the pain meds allow you to live "outside of your envelope"! This means that you are overdoing.....that the medications are allowing you to do more than your body is really to deal with.
Stop and take a moment...remember....you do not have to be hugely actively physical with your kids......that takes a TON of energy! I could NEVER do what you describe! (I wish I could!!!)
Please do not take this the wrong way....just take this as someone on the outside....living with Fibro.....without the option of medication.....
Hello,
I was wondering what other medications your taking besides pain pills. I started out like you I just could not get enough for pain. Then I switched doctors and she knew much more about the illness, maybe because she was just out of school.
She decided to cut the pain Med’s to one Norco 5-325mg three times a day and I freaked out. She added 300mg Cymbalta in the morning along with one Ganapentin three times a day and Trazodone 100mg at night for sleep. It made a Huge difference. I got enough for two weeks and met with her again. Cutting back on the pain medications and adding the other drugs she said made the pain Med’s do their job in releaving the pain considerable more than just take the pain medications. She really knew what she was talking about.
I have added water therapy classes at the local YMCA 2-3 times a week for an hour. I was skeptical that it would not do anything but it has helped with my core and stability. I had lost balance previously several times where the pain would just get the best of me and take me down to the floor. I look forward to this Arthritic class and met many more folks dealing with much more severe situations than mine. It’s also a nice time to chat with others who have Fibro (6 Fibro folks attend each week) about the different treatments we are all getting from different health care providers.
Wishing you the best and just wanted to add the roller coaster I had to ride to get the right combination to improve my quality of life. I am never pain free, but my Med’s definately have helped me cope much better with this awful condition. Hopefully you will find the right combination for you.
Have a great holiday!
Ron
Thank you for all the wonderful replies. I also take gabapentin 2xs a day and 1 viibryd. I have tried cymbalta it made my head sweat. Lycra no luck. It seems like no meds really work.. lol right now im layed up with hip pain. I also take ambien to sleep.
I don’t know, I don’t take pain meds and I’m in what I would call extreme pain on a pretty regular basis. I’m on my feet all day for work and have a physical job as well as young kids and animals that keep me busy. There is no way that I could ever stop working. We would lose our house and our animals for sure and bills just don’t go away. So I just push through and every once in awhile I have a break down about it. But I know that when I have days off and I do nothing, i’m in heat as much pain as a full day of work. I think it’s about finding balance and what works for you personally. Good luck!