[AnnMarie]

I've been thinking about the thread "Rush's announcement" and I just can't believe some of the responses. I'm really disappointed to see some people's reactions. Of all places you'd think here people would be more open minded.

On the idea that pain medications change the way the body deals with pain........ Who cares? When you are in chronic pain obviously your body isn't doing a very good job of managing the pain.

Only those addicted to drugs feel there are no other options? WRONG! I'm not addicted to drugs, and I am at the point that if I were prescribed meds I would take them because I'm tired of being sick and tired.

Because you didn't need them nobody should? BS Everyone is different. I've refused pain meds more than once in my lifetime. So? I don't feel everyone should refuse them for the same reasons I did. Now I need them and I should be able to use them.

Not patient enough? OK, guess I should wait another 9 years before I ask for meds? I've tried a lot of things, including chiropractic, none have taken away my pain. I think I've been more than patient. It would be fine if I were the only one going through this, but I'm not. There are thousands of others like me that have to suffer because of the ignorance of doctors, family, and friends.

Anyway, shouldn't the bottom line be that we should choose for ourselves? Why should anyone have any say in what we choose to do to relieve our pain? Why should others get to decide that? What I do to treat my pain should be MY choice, nobody else's, and people should respect that. People with chronic pain for the most part are NOT drug abusers. They are simply trying to have a normal life. It's no different than making our own choices for other medications -- allergies, depression, high blood pressure, etc. There are other ways to treat all of the above. Why doesn't anyone react as strongly to that as they do pain medications?

Please people, support the ones you love and don't judge them for taking the medications they need. It's their choice. You are only doing more harm than good by criticizing them.

"Pain can impair every aspect of an individual's life."
http://www.hcgresources.com/PainAssessMgmt.htm

I also wanted to say thank you for all that posted in support.

I appreciate it more than you could know.

 

[Kelly71]

It's easy to judge when you've never been there. Live and let live.

 

[captain optimism]

I think there is a big difference between a person abusing drugs, as Rush Limbaugh apparently was, and a person trying to manage pain with medications.

I had to take some of the meds that Rush abused when I was recovering from a car accident. I can't imagine why anyone would abuse those drugs! The side effects were appalling. Every time I fell asleep I had a horrible dream. I was nauseated, constipated, dizzy, emotionally weird. And I developed tolerance. But, since I was in pain, I didn't get high.

So yes, I think you should take prescription drugs to manage pain if that really helps, but I hope you can avoid the drugs I had to take. (I took oxycontin, inter alia.) Whatever you need to do to get the pain under control is what you should do. I hope you will be successful and that you will post here to say so.

 

[vein]

As someone who used to take prescribed Oxycontin (3 pills a day, as prescribed) people who abuse them like Rush make me sick. Those who abuse medication prescribed to many people for very legitimate and unresolvable pain add more fuel to the fire to those who think that ALL pain medication should be banned.

Frankly, when I was on the Oxycontin I was functional. No side effects at all - no feeling "high", no muddled thinking (as it was on the Elavil), no sleeping 20 hours straight (as I did on the Duragesic patch), no migraine that was so bad I couldn't move as happened on Neurontin, and most importantly I was able to get out of bed in the morning feeling a lot less pain (no, it didn't get rid of it totally) than I had been able to in literally years.

While no one told me then that I shouldn't be taking the medication for my pain, I'd have told them where to shove it, frankly. As I will if I'm told that when I'm on it again as soon as I have insurance that'll cover it.

Currently on my worst days I take another highly abused prescription which oddly enough takes care of both pain AND swelling. It's legitimately prescribed for me. Yes, I'm breastfeeding. Yes, I've fully read everything. I thankfully didn't need to start it until Gavin was around 6 months old, because the hormones were still keeping my pain in check, but if it gets me out of bed in the morning and able to do more than sit on the sofa and cry so I can enjoy my son, I'll take it in a heartbeat, no matter what anyone says.

The worst part about being on a medication like Oxycontin? I had to go out of my way to a hospital pharmacy (Walgreens TWICE gave me too few - either the pharmacist or pharmacist tech has a little problem, CVS couldn't keep a month supply beause of insurance issues and stupid Michigan schedule II law hadn't been changed yet so the prescription had to be filled in 5 days). I felt like every time I got it filled before I got to know the pharmacist on a first name basis I was being stared at with them wondering if I was somehow stealing the prescription (via it being lying about my pain or just flat out stealing it) or was a drug addict. That's *not* a good feeling and really, it makes me think back to a time not so long ago that most people wouldn't admit to being depressed because they were ashamed.

So few people understand real pain and the people who abuse prescription drugs for any reason simply make the ones with the real need subject to more harassment and frustration.

 

[PM]

Hey! I'm not real pleased about being paraphrased here. I said some people are not patient enough to complete treatments, which often require more than 12 months, not all people.

I have had chronic pain since the age of 15 (if you want a complete list of all the various body parts, PM me), so don't try to tell me I don't understand.

I stated that I have got results with long treatments and no pain killers. But that's ME. I never said in any of my posts that people should not take prescription drugs. Go back and read through my posts. Frankly, I don't give a damn what other people do. All I did was offer that there can be alternatives painkillers - letting go of your anger might be one of them.

 

[Els' 3 Ones]

I don't think anyone of us said ppl should not use painkillers if needed................

The discussion of alternatives applied bcuz we were talking abt a man with enough money and time to avail himself to every alternative and apparently choose not to.

The vitriol was directed at Limbaugh, not at everyone who has ever needed a painkiller.

El

 

[Lucky Charm]

I didnt read the other thread, but i hope, like Els said, it was directed at Rush.

Of course people should be able to releive their pain. must someone have cancer to "justify" pain relief? i dont think so. If Paris gets relief from therapies that dont include pain pills, is she nuts? no. everyone has to do what they feel is right for them. not everyone taking oxycontin and vicodin are addicts, or become one. That said, i do see alot, too many, drug seekers in the ER for their fix. vague compliants of "back pain" or "abdominal pain" gets you a morphine/dilaudid/demerol fix in a minute. we have to, as pain is subjective. we do keep files on people who are seekers, and they pop up on the computer when they come in to be "treated", so we give them other painkillers, no narcotics.

I think a good mix of therapies and decent pain killers should be coupled. true chronic pain can devestate people, and make them depressed and unable to deal with life in general. i see it all the time.

 

[Peppermint]

I didn't read through the other thread, cause I had a feeling it would just be a bash Rush deal, so take my opinion in that context.

I am surprised in general by people who do not understand that addiction occurs with these drugs in some people. I have never been addicted to anything at all. I take darvaset (SP?) following my c-sections and I have to say, I had a hard time going off of that, it made me feel "good" and it seemed when I stopped taking it that I felt more of my emotions, which are not always good in the post pardem period.

I always feel bad for people (any people) who find themselves addicted to a drug, and prescription drug addictions seem even more sad in a way to me, b/c the person starting taking them for totally legitimate reasons, and then became addicted. Either way drug addiction is sad to me, and I think people who abused drugs, legal or not, need support and help, not criticism (not directed at anyone in particular since I didn't read the other thread).

Also, I would absolutely take prescription pain meds regularly if I ever needed it, and do not judge anyone who has had to resort to that, and those who have been caught up in addictions b/c of it.

 

[AnnMarie]

Quote:

Originally posted by ParisMaman I said some people are not patient enough to complete treatments, which often require more than 12 months, not all people.

I know what you said. I didn't say ALL people. It was a simple question.

Quote:

letting go of your anger might be one of them.

: Yeah sure, It's my anger that's causing my pain, not the anger caused by going untreated for the pain. Do you really think those comments are helpful? That was one of my points.

sweetbaby3..

Quote:

I didnt read the other thread, but i hope, like Els said, it was directed at Rush.

Part of the thread was directed to him, but the part I talked about in this thread was about people in general, not him.

captain optimism...

Quote:

So yes, I think you should take prescription drugs to manage pain if that really helps, but I hope you can avoid the drugs I had to take. (I took oxycontin, inter alia.) Whatever you need to do to get the pain under control is what you should do. I hope you will be successful and that you will post here to say so.

Thanks. I don't really want this thread to be about me personally, but about the overall issue. The problem is that for many taking the needed meds isn't an option because doctors refuse to give them. That's the position I'm in now. I believe this is directly related to the stigma attached to taking pain medications. I feel if people's attitudes change that pain relief will be easier to obtain. As long as those with chronic pain keep quiet nothing will change.

The point really is that it should be up to each person to decide for themselves if they have waited long enough, if they should choose another treatment option first, etc. WHY are pain medications looked at differently than other medications? Why can't family, friends, and doctors just be supportive instead of treating people like they are drug abusers?

 

[AnnMarie]

Quote:

Originally posted by jess7396 I am surprised in general by people who do not understand that addiction occurs with these drugs in some people.

I don't think anyone disagreed with that. The disagreement was does addiction = abuse? It does not, but some don't see it that way.

 

[oceanbaby]

I guess I had a different interpretation of the answers. I chose "only as a last resort" but that was because I always think that taking any medication - antibiotics, decongestants, pain meds, antidepressants, whatever - should be a last resort because they can be so hard on your body. But I absolutely think that any individual has the right to make the decision for themselves.

As someone who does not deal with chronic pain, I don't understand, but it doesn't really matter if I do or not. I choose when to take certain medications, and so can any other consenting adult.

My SIL has fibromyalgia, and takes vicodin on a regular basis. Her dh hates pills, and is really mean to her about it, which drives me crazy. He accuses her of being addicted, which I just don't see at all. I know her pretty well, and it just doesn't make sense. She actually sneaks her pills now. He has even hidden them from her before. I was horrified when she told me this. I mean, I encourage dh to try some teas or something before he takes a decongestant, but geez, I would never hide someone's meds or make them feel badly for taking it. I was appalled by the lack of support she has from him.

I can't imagine dealing with chronic pain. My mom has found some relief with acupuncture for her chronic neck pain, but still takes vicoprofin regularly. Do I wish she didn't have to? Yeah, it worries me that she has to take any prescription drugs because I am so wary of them, but I certainly don't want her in constant pain.

 

[AnnMarie]

Quote:

Originally posted by oceanbaby I guess I had a different interpretation of the answers. I chose "only as a last resort" but that was because I always think that taking any medication - antibiotics, decongestants, pain meds, antidepressants, whatever - should be a last resort because they can be so hard on your body. But I absolutely think that any individual has the right to make the decision for themselves.

I totall agree with this. I do use medications, for myself and my children, as a last resort in most cases. But that's the choice that I believe is right for us. I don't think everyone has to do it that way.

Quote:

My SIL has fibromyalgia, and takes vicodin on a regular basis. Her dh hates pills, and is really mean to her about it, which drives me crazy. He accuses her of being addicted, which I just don't see at all. I know her pretty well, and it just doesn't make sense. She actually sneaks her pills now. He has even hidden them from her before. I was horrified when she told me this. I mean, I encourage dh to try some teas or something before he takes a decongestant, but geez, I would never hide someone's meds or make them feel badly for taking it. I was appalled by the lack of support she has from him.

That's just terrible.

I wish I could say it doesn't happen often, but I've heard a lot of similar stories.

Quote:

I can't imagine dealing with chronic pain. My mom has found some relief with acupuncture for her chronic neck pain, but still takes vicoprofin regularly. Do I wish she didn't have to? Yeah, it worries me that she has to take any prescription drugs because I am so wary of them, but I certainly don't want her in constant pain.

Understandable. She's lucky to have you and that you understand. I hope some day she is free from pain.

To make things clear....... I'm not saying that people shouldn't share their concerns, just make sure it's done in a positive way, and with facts. Be supportive.

 

[captain optimism]

When I was recovering from this accident and taking oxycontin, I had home visiting nursing for the first few weeks after I returned from the hospital. One of the nurses told me that I shouldn't be taking oxycontin, that I should stop taking it immediately and just take tylenol. She said that my leg couldn't hurt that much. (I had a tibia/fibula fracture and was wearing an Ilizarov external fixator. It looked sort of like an erector set. If you click on that link, you'll see--it's a little gross though. It was just a silly thing to say to a patient, "it couldn't hurt that much"! You try getting hit by a Buick and see whether it hurts!) The visiting nurse said that oxycontin was addictive, and that if I took it, I would become addicted. I pressed her on this anxiously. (And started to cry!) I didn't want to become addicted and anyway, could I become addicted if I was in pain?

Well, yes and no. You develop tolerance to the medication, but you aren't taking it for a high. I had always understood addiction to involve a high, at least at some point. What difference does it make? The difference of judgement on the patient. What a bad nurse!

But I did develop a tolerance to oxycontin. I decided to find another pain med to take instead. Luckily, it was helpful. (The second drug was called Tramadol. I remember because my dp and I used to say, "Damn it all, Tramadol!" and laugh.) Some people find that oxycontin works better than anything. Even those folks experience the side effects and they have to go off and on the drug to avoid the tolerance issue...

I had a lot of emotionally hurtful experiences around the pain medication issue. Nevertheless, I wouldn't want to start taking these heavy pain meds for a chronic pain. I would want to try accupuncture and other alternatives first. Just because these drugs are gross--in both senses. Gross like disgusting, because of the side effects, and gross like using a sledgehammer to crack a flea. In fact it's a lot like getting hit with a big hammer--you are groggy. What you want is relief from a specific pain, and what you get is BAM! But I guess if that's the only thing that works, it's worth it.

You can get a referral to a pain specialist or a pain clinic. That might be helpful. Or maybe there is a doctor near you who knows a lot about fibromyalgia. If you are in a lot of pain, you need some help, and your doctor isn't helping. I know this thread wasn't meant to be about you, but I am still concerned about you, so I hope you will figure something out.

 

[AnnMarie]

Quote:

Originally posted by captain optimism You can get a referral to a pain specialist or a pain clinic. That might be helpful. Or maybe there is a doctor near you who knows a lot about fibromyalgia. If you are in a lot of pain, you need some help, and your doctor isn't helping. I know this thread wasn't meant to be about you, but I am still concerned about you, so I hope you will figure something out.

I can't right now (pain specialist). The closest one is about 2 hours away and I can't be gone from the house that long.

I've never taken that drug so I really don't know how it would make me fell. Everyone is different. I would imagine it would probably be similar to how you reacted to it though. I tend to be sensitive to most medications.

That nurse was a real jerk. It happens too often. Sorry you had to experience that.

Thank you for your concern.

I do appreciate it. I will figure something out, and hopefull soon.

 

[vein]

Quote:

Originally posted by captain optimism Well, yes and no. You develop tolerance to the medication, but you aren't taking it for a high. *snip* Even those folks experience the side effects and they have to go off and on the drug to avoid the tolerance issue... *snip* I would want to try accupuncture and other alternatives first. Just because these drugs are gross--in both senses.

Just wanted to bring up a few points - tolerance is very much a YMMV situation. And even tolerance can be debated - is tolerance when you need more medication for the same amount of pain relief or is it just when you get back to being "regular" again? In my over year of taking Oxycontin, the dosage was never adjusted because my body never grew "pain tolerant" to the amount I was on (which was microscopic in terms of what addicts or even some people with RSD take). After a few days, the only side effect I experienced (constipation, sorry, probably TMI) was over and done with and I felt like myself again. When I went off of it, I simply stopped taking it. Never had a problem aside from the increased pain I was taking it for in the first place.

That being said, I was also on two medications that are supposed to be better "tolerated" by people - the Duragesic patch (Fentanyl, slow released over 3 days) and Neurontin. The Duragesic patch would wear off in under 2 days so for usually 1.5 days I was in extreme pain and then when I'd put a new patch on, I'd feel sick if I did anything resembling activity for a day. I had to beg the pain clinic to put me on anti nausea meds because they didn't want to change the medication. So for two months I was on constant anti-nausea meds meant for cancer patients until they finally put me on the Oxycontin. Neurontin I took myself off after being told to "give it a few weeks" - I wasn't willing to do that when I couldn't form a sentence, could get up from the sofa because my head hurt so bad I thought I was going to die, and felt sick.

On alternative therapies, again it's a total YMMV thing depending on what the chronic pain is. I have RSD and in a heartbeat would go for accupuncture if there wasn't a majority of cases that got far worse after accupuncture. For almost two years of daily pain, I tried "alternatives" (especially as half a year I had it, no one knew what I had) including physical therapy, ice therapy (which was the worst thing I could do for rsd, but no one had diagnosed it and I'd never heard of it), glucosamine/condroitin (sp?) supplements, and various other nasty nerve treatments. When I do have health insurance again, I will first try months of antibiotics as some have found helpful (wow, can't wait.) and then if that doesn't work, I'll go back on the pain meds. The "other option" of a spinal cord stimulator is absolutely NOT an option for me. I'd rather be on 2395725 drugs than have a SCS.

At any rate, as far as drugs for chronic pain go, oxycontin is a LOT better of a choice than others such as vicodin, IMO. Most narcotic pain medications have acetominophen in them as a "secondary" ingredient, which can easily kill the liver. Oxycontin, on the other hand, doesn't.

 

[Greaseball]

I don't like stuff that hurts. If I feel pain, I do something to stop it. The only exception is childbirth, because I don't think I should force children to take drugs.

If I get a shot, I use EMLA first. I get put to sleep at the dentist's for a routine cleaning (not now that I'm pg). If I have leftover Vicodin from a dental procedure, I save it in case I have a bad headache or backache. There is no reason I have to be in pain.

I am a total pain wimp and don't see anything wrong with it. People should have the right to do whatever kind of drugs they want, all the time, as long as it won't affect people who don't choose to use them.

I have a friend who had to have a liver biopsy. He didn't want to take "drugs" so he did the biopsy without any medication. The usual medication is IV Demerol, and people have no memory of the procedure later. He was totally awake while they stuck a foot-long syringe into his liver and removed a chunk of it. He said it was like being shot. Just take the drugs next time!

 

[AmyB]

Moderator's Note: Post removed due to inappropriateness. Please enable your PM if you wish to be contacted to edit in future.

 

[Valerie.Qc]

Pain medication...

:

Two accidents with very very slow healing period each time proved me that pain medication IS needed sometime.

When I was 22 I felt at work and injured me left hand. DD was 15 months. I went to the hospital and the doctor put a cast and send me home telling me I could take Tylenol every four hours for the pain. They took the cast off 2 weeks later, injected cortison at the site of the pain and put another cast on

: (cortison is supposed to work better if you move!!). This doctor had the right diagnosis but didn't act on it

(I should have had surgery!!!!) instead she declared I was faking it and signed a paper stating I could go back to work

I called my family doc and she told me that she would help me! We convinced the insurance worker that the first doctor was wrong and began our search for the way to releive the pain I had.

If that injury wasn't enough I developped another problem where the nerves where acting crazy and caused a lot of pain.

First, she sent me to physiotherapy where I found some releif with the TENS (electro stimulation) but it wasn't enough, I still needed pain killers to be able to take care of my DDsleeping at night and going to school.

I saw many specialists: neurologist, rhumatologist, physiatrist(sp?)... I was depress to find a cure! I was so in pain that I was ready to be a lab rat: getting injections of salmon oil - to be done weekly in the ER because of the high risk of anaphylaxy (sp?).

I had an orthopedist telling me I had to admit I would be in pain and handicaped for the rest of my life without even a lok at my hand...

Finally, it's a plastician who told us we were looking at the wrong place, that the first diagnostic was good and we only had to get the surgery asap. This was 2 years after the accident

Should I have stayed all that time in pain???

I went for the surgery and the doctor told me we had done it just in time: all the physiotherapy and ergotherapy had made additional dommages to my tendon(sp?) and it was almost sectionated. (he gave me the example of an elastic that you would rub on an edge)

It took more than a year of physiotherapy and ergotherapy and a second surgery to gain back part of my strenght and to alleviate the pain. I'm still having things I can't do with my left hand and the pain is coming back if I overuse it (not as bad as it was... I can manage it with massages and the TENS)

Fast foward to 3 years ago: car accident

Even tho most patients with similar injuries get better by 3 to 6 months, it took 18 month for my body to heal enough for me to be able to walk more than a few feets. I refused many medications and quit those I had to take as soon as possible but I couldn't have done it without anything.

This fall is the first I can say I'm pain free. (well, almost pain free

)

I feared addiction but was told that the body doesn't get addicted when all the medicine is used against the pain... it's when the dose is more than what's needed that the body become addicted. (don't know the facts behind that statement but it made sense to me)

My osteopath did a good job; my body doesn't take forever to heal since all the work we've done

Just my personnal experience with pain killers

 

[Greaseball]

I am a recovering opiate addict and still I do not hesitate to reach for the narcotics. I'm not worried about getting addicted again, because I have a good support system, and Vicodin was not really that addictive (for me) anyway.

One thing I do is make sure someone knows I'm taking it...not having any secrets helps me. And I tell all doctors about my history of addiction, just to add to the honesty.

 

[AnnMarie]

Quote:

Originally posted by captain optimism (I had a tibia/fibula fracture and was wearing an Ilizarov external fixator. It looked sort of like an erector set. If you click on that link, you'll see--it's a little gross though.

I forgot, I wanted to respond to this part.

OUCH!! How long did you have to have that on?