Pain Medications
This is a thread posted in category: Treatments / Symptoms / Products . . View All Heel Pain CategoriesPosted by John H on 10/20/03 at 18:25
What I want to know is what do these people now do for their PAIN?????
If you are at a pain level of 10 or 9 or 8 on a chronic basis who really cares about getting hooked at that point. It is sort of like winning the battle but losing the war. I would think many people with rehumotoid arthrits are on some dangerous drugs for a lifetime as are some cancer survivors. I would like to hear the media address the initial problem all these people began with and that is chronic pain. I do not think they were in it for a high. One lady on the news tonight was taking 2-4 Vicodin a day for back pain. Her daughter then developed cancer and she upped her dose and became addicted. She finished her detox but she still has back pain and her daughter still has cancer. What does she do now?
Posted by marie on 10/20/03 at 19:25
marie
Posted by BrianG on 10/20/03 at 20:27
I listened to Rush's speech the other night. He glossed over one important item, but I really think it should have been the main topic of his talk. Sure, he had originally taken the pain meds, for a legitimate reason. For whatever reason, he turned to the streets, to get more and more. Could it have been the celebrity lifestyle? I don't know, but many studies have been done, and LESS than 5% of the patients on legal pain medication, go on to want more and more (chase the buzz). Thats 95% of the people in pain control programs that do not have the problems that Rush had !!!! Not to mention he'll still have chronic pain when he gets out of the clinic.
I can see him starting pain meds again, but hopefully he will follow his doctors directions, and not his own greed. It's people like Rush that give pain patients a bad name !!
Regards
BrianG
PS: I wish you would read up on the subject, you would use the word "addicted" a lot less if you knew what was really going on. Your sounding a lot like the Feds when you talk about people getting "addicted" on 2-4 Vicodan a day.
This is a good web site, for JohnH, or anyone else that wants to read more about proper pain relief:
http://www.painfoundation.org/
Posted by nancy s. on 10/21/03 at 06:17
nancy
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Posted by john h on 10/21/03 at 09:53
The only pain med I use is Ultram 50mg. This is a non narcotic non addicting medication. I may take 1-2 on some days. My family Doctor was even hesitant in prescribing this and when I asked him why since it was not even in the same class as a narcotic he said that it did have a street value. Apparently if you take a very large quantity of these you may feel something. My specialist says she has no problem prescribing them for long term use and does. Our Doctors do not even agree Drugist now report Doctors who they think are over prescribing particular medications One Drugist on TV this week said he refuses to sell Oxy even if the person has a prescription, if he thinks the person buying it looks like they may be using it for the wrong purpose. He said the street value of one Oxy pill is $40. Four years ago when I had a kidney stone and went to the emergency room at midnight I was given a prescription for Oxy. Never heard of it but was in so much pain would have taken anything. Actually it did not touch the pain. My experience is that when you are in major pain these drugs that give the street people highs do not do the same thing for you. You are pumping so much adrenlin and your mind is so focused on pain you are not looking for a high
Posted by marie on 10/21/03 at 14:14
Posted by BrianG on 10/21/03 at 21:04
I know that you think that your Tramadol is non-addicting, but I've heard differently many times. One specific instance was another forum dedicated to chronic pain. An American living in the Phillipines was in terrible back pain, but could not find any doctors to treat his pain accordingly. He was finally put on Tramadol, and he thought he had died and gone to heaven. To make a long story short, he soon developed a larger tolerance to the drug, which soon failed to work as well as it had been. His doctor was more than willing to raise his dosage, as it was supposedly non-addicting. Within a year, he could no longer tolerate the Tramadol's side effects (he was on a large dosage) and he had to be taken off them. At first he stopped cold turkey, and very soon developed full blown withdrawal symptoms. He then had to taper off the med, just like any other opiate. I did a little cut and paste for you. I'd suggest you look into Tramadol a little closer, if you think it's totally non-addicting. The small amount you are on may negate any sytmptoms you might feel if you suddenly stoped taking it. Please check out the section for "How to Use". I think you'll be surprsed.
Regards,
BrianG
Cut & Pasted:
ULTRAM DRUG INFO
IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before using this drug.
TRAMADOL - ORAL (TRAH-muh-dall)
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Ultram
USES: Tramadol is used for pain relief.
HOW TO USE: Take this medication by mouth as prescribed. It is usually taken every 4 to 6 hours as needed. Use this medication exactly as prescribed. Do not increase your dose, use it more frequently or use it for a longer period of time than prescribed because this drug can be habit-forming. Also, if used for an extended period of time, do not suddenly stop using this drug without your doctor's approval. When used for extended periods, this medication may not work as well and may require different dosing. Consult your doctor if the medication stops working well.
SIDE EFFECTS: This medication may cause dizziness, weakness, incoordination, nausea or vomiting, stomach upset, constipation, headache, drowsiness, anxiety, irritability, dry mouth, or increased sweating. If any of these effects persist or worsen, inform your doctor. Notify your doctor if you develop any of these serious effects while taking this medication: chest pain, rapid heart rate, skin rash or itching, mental confusion, disorientation, seizures, tingling of the hands or feet, trouble breathing. In the unlikely event you have an allergic reaction to this drug, seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, breathing trouble. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, liver disease, seizure disorder, lung disease, history of drug or alcohol dependency, any allergies you may have. Limit alcohol as it may add to the dizziness or drowsiness effects caused by the medication. Because this drug may make you dizzy/drowsy, use caution performing tasks requiring alertness such as driving. This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Tramadol is excreted into breast milk. Because the effects on a nursing infant are not known, consult your doctor before breast- feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Tell your doctor of all prescription and nonprescription medications you may use, especially of: carbamazepine, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), drugs used to aid sleep, antidepressants (e.g., SSRI-types such as fluoxetine or fluvoxamine), MAO inhibitors (e.g., furazolidone, linezolid, phenelzine, procarbazine, selegiline, tranylcypromine), psychiatric medicine (e.g., nefazodone), "triptan"-type drugs, anti-anxiety drugs (e.g., diazepam), sibutramine. Also, report use of certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine) which are also present in many cough-and-cold products. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include cold and clammy skin, low body temperature, slowed breathing, slowed heartbeat, drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, deep sleep, loss of consciousness, or seizures.
NOTES: Do not share this medication with others.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as remembered; do not take it if it is near the time for the next dose, instead, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.
STORAGE: Store this medication at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 to 30 degrees C) away from heat and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.
Posted by BrianG on 10/21/03 at 21:06
BrianG
Posted by John H on 10/21/03 at 22:19
Posted by Carole C in NOLA on 10/22/03 at 00:10
When I got PF, I was already on Celebrex for my osteoarthritis. It really, really helped for the first year or two. I was a veritable "poster child" for Celebrex, since it made a big difference in my mobility.
It really didn't seem to touch my PF pain, though. In fact, by the time I got PF, Celebrex didn't seem to be helping much with my arthritis. After a while I stopped taking it. Most pain medications seem to have possible dangers so if I'm not getting much good out of it, why take it?
With my level of pain, the last thing I would want is one of the more powerful drugs you've been discussing in this thread. I really dislike feeling "stoned" or mentally hazy. I sometimes take over the counter Motrin, but not more than one or two a week because I have heard horror stories about stomach bleeding. It seems to take the edge off my arthritis pain, and if I dared take about four it would probably make a big difference. Pain meds never seem to help my minor foot pain.
Well, you can tell I'm rambling on but I just wanted to say that the pain thread is interesting, and that pain medications can be puzzling even when you aren't in enough pain to need the more addictive pain meds.
One of these days I might try self hypnosis or some kind of meditation to see if I can lower my pain level more naturally.
Carole C
Posted by BrianG on 10/22/03 at 08:10
I realize that you are taking a small amount of Tramadol, and you will most likely never have any problems. The only reason I brought it up is because you had said it was non-addicting. Who knows how many people are reading these posts, most of which probably realize that you know what your talking about. It was really for everyone that I posted the information about the non-addicting info. It could very well make a difference in someone's else's life down the line
Since I don't have a copy of the PDR, could you take a look and see what it has to say about addiction. I'd be interested to know if all the various precautions mention it, or just some of them. I agree that the PDR is the Gold Standard and would be the most likely source to contain the correct info.
No pheasants yet, but the season has only been open for less than a week, and I can only go out in the woods for about an hour a day. The fishing rods have been put away for the last month
(Regards,
BrianG
Posted by BrianG on 10/22/03 at 09:55
I think that if you take your Motrin with food, you won't have much to worry about. Myself, I take 800mg, 3 times a day, with food. Once a year, I have a whole battery of lab tests, including fecal / blood tests. So far, so good! It doesn't do a whole lot for my heels, but helps quite a bit with the pain in my knees.
My doctor did change me to Vioxx for about a year, but my insurance company decided that the Ibu's would be better for me. It had nothing to do with cost. Ya right, want to buy a bridge!!
Regards
BrianG
PS: Nice to see you posting more
Posted by john h on 10/22/03 at 11:11
Approximately 5 million people have taken or are taking Ultram for moderate to severe pain. There have been approximately 115 or 185 reported cases that might be considered dependancy. Former drug abusers are more likely to experience this type of symptom..You are correct in that it could be addictive but the odds are very small and one would need to measure that risk against say a NASID which with long term use can cause ulcers or stomach problems and kidney or liver problems with long term use
Ultram is typically prescribed 1-2 50mg tablets up to 4 times a day not to exceed 400mg on any one day. One should just not quit taking 8 tablets a day but should taper off if you are on that large a dose.
Ultam does not effect the stomach or kidneys and is why it is often prescribed for people with stomach or kidney problems and also used in older patients. As with all drugs both over the counter and prescribed we need to be informed. By the way I never took Ultram for foot pain as it did not help. I used it for back pain. I have never taken a pain medication that helped my foot pain and I tried a lot of them. If you ever find one that helps your foot pain let me know about it.
..
Posted by Carole C in NOLA on 10/22/03 at 11:22
I could try Motrin with food, but I've heard that you can't tell sometimes if it's eating up your stomach. You feel fine and them end up dying of GI bleeding in an emergency room. A doctor told me that, and though I'm skeptical it definitely got my attention. Good thing you are having the fecal/blood tests; that would at least let you know what's happening inside.
Motrin doesn't do much for my feet either. LOL
Carole C
Posted by john h on 10/22/03 at 12:33
Posted by Carole C in NOLA on 10/22/03 at 18:47
On one of the network TV news programs, there's going to be an investigation as to why drugs are cheaper in foreign countries (and with the premise that they shouldn't be, since they are made here!). Luckily, I can afford any foot pain medicine that I need to get since I have BC/BS. But not everybody can.
We have the lowest gas prices in the city on the news here too, and usually they are at the Spur stores (that's a convenience store). But often they mention SAMS too. I get my gas at a high cost Chevron, since I only fill the tank once or twice a month, but I should stop that and go to the Spur store.
I just let my SAMs membership expire last month. I had it for a year, since I moved into my new home, but hadn't used it at all. I am just not enough of a consumer to benefit from buying their card. I saw a beautiful and unique set of patio furniture there last spring, but by the time I had saved up enough to buy it, SAMs didn't have any more left. Oh well! I saved some money. Besides, bringing it home and assembling it probably would have done in one of my feet or the other one.
Carole C
Posted by Ron B on 10/22/03 at 20:12
did the vioxx help heel pain ???
Posted by marie on 10/22/03 at 20:58
Posted by nancy s. on 10/22/03 at 23:01
now that the worst is over on both fronts (or should i say the four fronts), i still have foot pain if i've overdone time on them and the shoulders almost always are painful in the evening. the combo is just enough to keep me awake some nights -- maybe three times a week. my doc has been very willing to continue prescribing the tylox, and i do use it about three times a week. is this really an "addictive" med? (the pharmacy always acts a little suspicious, even though my doc doesn't.) it does help me, but sometimes i get a bit nervous about taking it after all this time (it's been two and a half years).
any info/opinions will be appreciated.
nancy
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Posted by BrianG on 10/23/03 at 08:18
Posted by BrianG on 10/23/03 at 08:26
Regards
BrianG
Posted by Kathy G on 10/23/03 at 09:28
I don't know if the Vioxx helps my feet. I know that last year I went on vacation for a week and forgot it. We went to Florida and it rained all week so since we couldn't swim, we did more sight-seeing and I was on my feet a great deal. My feet were awful and I attributed it to the lack of Vioxx but it may have been just the over-use. Now that I've found out that I have OA in so many places, I hesitate to stop taking it and the doctors look at me like I have two heads when I suggest it. One other consideration is that my insurance company has been filling it for years and if I stop, I will have to fight to get back on it. Kind of a sad commentary on the world of medicine, huh?
My Rheumy gave me a prescription for Ultram, which I filled, but only tried a couple of times. It didn't seem to help. The last few days, since everywhere on my body seems to hurt, I've been trying it 3-4 times a day and I really think it helps take the edge off the pain in my feet. It also helps the tendonitis in my hands and shoulders but I don't think it helps the arthritis that much. Hard to say, as it seems the arthritis seems to dramatically flare-up and then calms down for a while. I'm typing right now because my hands aren't that bad, in fact. And I have no idea why but I do know the Ultram has something to do with it. But I have to take it regularly.
From what I've read, Ultram should, in fact, be taken on a regular basis and it's considered to be very effective in the treatment of chronic pain. It usually doesn't bring about the unfavorable side-effects of drowsiness, etc. and that's why so many doctors prescribe in instead of the opioids. Like any drug, with long-term use, it could become addictive but I don't think it's as much of a problem with Ultram as it is with most painkillers. And as Brian said in one of his above posts, people with chronic pain are not the people who usually become addicted to these drugs.
One of the things I like about it is that it doesn't make me spacey. Not any more than usual anyhow
Posted by john h on 10/23/03 at 10:07
Posted by john h on 10/23/03 at 10:12
Posted by john h on 10/23/03 at 10:21
Posted by Kathy G on 10/23/03 at 10:21
You're so right, John. Actually, long before the days of frequent law suits, the FDA required that every drug company must list every side effect to a drug. That means that if a million people took the drug, and one person developed that side effect, it goes into the list. I get a severe headache from all the NSAID's except for Vioxx. You should see the paperwork that my doctor and I would have had to make out in order to document it. I have the time; he doesn't, so I didn't bother.
Posted by john h on 10/23/03 at 10:24
http://www.ortho-mcneil.com/products/info/tylox.htm
Posted by nancy s. on 10/23/03 at 10:43
nancy
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Posted by JudyS on 10/23/03 at 11:02
yep, a Freudian slip I think
Posted by Sher A on 10/23/03 at 19:51
I blame a lot of it on the media. Like someone said, the major newspapers are focusing on oxycontin and "rogue internet websites". Rush probably was the straw that broke the camel's back and got them all started. When anything negative happens to a public figure, you bet they will run that into the ground and the rest of us will pay for it with our own pain. I've read all of the recent articles in The Washington Post and Orlando Sentinel. They are having a ball bringing out all the horror stories, statistics, and adding their own negative adjectives, etc. Just one line in the Post was devoted to telling a bit of the reason WHY people are going to all these means - saying that people go to these internet sites because doctors are not treating pain adequately. I'd just love to see a story or two about the other side of the coin.
The reason why a lot of the meds don't work is because the doctors want to rush you in and out as quickly as possible and won't work with you on a decent dose. Believe me, 10mgs of Oxycontin 2 times a day isn't going to do a thing for some of us! So what do we do? Suffer. I tried Oxy-IR (oxycodone, no tylenol) and it was a joke. I had to sign and explain my life away, yet it did absolutely nothing. It did nothing for a friend with a similar problem. 10mgs is not enough. But when they give you 60 tablets and you are allowed to take 6 at a time, well those aren't going to last too long, are they? Then you get labeled.
Like most of you, Celebrex and Vioxx didn't do diddly for heel pain for me either. So why do they keep trying to push it on us? I am now trying something called Bextra (20mgs once a day), which is in that same family, but the strange thing is that it is actually helping. Has anyone else tried this yet?
Virtually anything we do, and foot pain seems to be in for the long term, is going to destroy some vital organ. Acetomophen (SP?), the liver, so why do they insist on mixing it with every single thing then? Aspirin - stomach bleeding. Ibuprofen - the kidneys. Vioxx, Celebrex, the rest of the NSAIDS - the stomach. I mean, give me a break. If everything is this terrible, then why don't they make the opiate or anything else without the aspirin, tylenol, or motrin????
This is a HUGE problem right now. For some of us, the opiates don't even seem to work anymore. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. So, as someone asked, now what? I wish I knew. If herbs and homeopathic and alternative means helped me, I'd be thrilled, but like about everything else, they do nothing.
I see lots of websites devoted to chronic pain. But is anything actually getting done? Probably not as long as big public movie stars, etc. continue to have drug problems, and not as long as lawyers are salivating for lawsuits, and not as long as doctors avoid the issue like the plague. If I offended anyone, I'm am extremely sorry, but I'm also extremely frustrated, and physically hurt. It is utterly exhausting, frustrating, and maddening when even a pod won't treat the pain. Now that my nerves are also frayed from all of it, plus the pain, I also take xanax, and since that helps relax me, that also helps with the pain. Right now I'm holding out hope for this Bextra.
Posted by nancy s. on 10/23/03 at 22:40
i could hardly believe what i read: the doc that said to you "if you're out looking for narcotics . . . [forget it]." that stuff strikes me as part afraid-of-lawsuits and part big-time-power-trip.
nothing like vioxx or celebrex ever helped me either. i know some people have posted that these meds have helped them, but i think i've read more from people here who haven't been helped by them. if hardly anyone is getting relief from them, something ought to be done, because those meds cost a fortune and someone is getting very rich off the desperate.
i do hope the bextra helps you. and xanax *is* good for stress and anxiety, which can only help you deal better with the pain and frustration, which in turn equals help-for-healing in the larger sense.
please, don't be sorry for anything in your post. people here understand the anger and frustration, believe me.
nancy
p.s. birks are downstairs as of tonight, email on its way tomorrow!
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Posted by Tammie on 10/24/03 at 18:48
About the pain meds and the feelings of narcotics, I was one of those who did not believe in taking a pill for anything not even headaches.Just thought they were bad.I must say now that after a very long time dealing with foot problems and the dx of RSD I have very much changed how I feel about them.
I have to say that there comes a time in lives that things have to change be it do to maybe a heart attack or some sort of operation or cancer , "something" that requires some sort of medication for pain or for treating a dx. I lucked out as you see Brian here had alot of knowledge about meds and pain and he actually taught me alot that I had never considered.I then found the RIGHT Dr. who knew "how" to treat my pain at least they understood it and worked with me on many different things to get my pain in some form of control. My Dr. was very aware of my fear of addiction and He put it this way" If you were ill and needed a heart medication or cancer and needed a treatment would I hesitate to take the medication to stay alive? Of course I answered no and he said then why wont you allow yourself to take medication to help you with the pain.
He had a point I begged him to not let me become a junkie and a street druggie, lol and be out going nuts for Oxy . He told me if I did exactly as he asked and followed his instructions I would be fine and if and when the time came to stop it we would do it together. I must add that I am on a cocktail of meds several different ones that are supposed to work in different ways but all work together in treating the pain and the symptoms of RSD.We have by no means got it perfect, In fact I had the spinal stimulator put in and I am to have yet another surgery in a few weeks for a revision of it the lead broke and I have had spreadage of the RSD so he wants to add a other lead or so.But we are working together on it and there is still hope that somedayI may again have pain free nights and perhaps days.
I just wanted to say to those who fear the narcotics and meds , that yes they are a serious CHOICE and one that should NOT be decided with out a good Dr. who knows what they are and how they work. But when they are needed that is what they are really there for. We dont have to feel pain 24x7 I have also found Pain management Dr.s seem to be the best with the meds and they know how they work as many are anesthesias and that is there special( stopping pain) so I would urge any of you that are having unberable pain and not sleeping ,not living, to look and find a pain management Dr. and let them help you with the pain.Also be known also that Pain generally has depression with it as it is the visious cycle, pain causes depression and depression causes pain, on and on. I must add that i am on a few different antidepressants along with differeent pain meds.But I feel safe with my Dr. II trust him and I know he knows where I am at, he knows the pain he has seen me and we know together that it might not cure this but we can control it somewhat.
Also I did have to sign contracts and there are stringent rules about taking narcotics and if you should lose one or be short beware THEY WILL not give you any more till it is the time for your next script. My doc only goes one month at a time and we talk each month or at least the nurse and I . So please if you think it may help dont fear finding a Dr. who will help you. It beats the long long nights and the days and days that it seems you would like to just leave this earth you hurt and tired of it. Its ok to need help just dont find it on the street ! Get a good DR.!
Sher good Luck to you and any others in there search for help with pain! If any ? that I can help with feel free to ask.
Posted by dle1237@yahoo.com on 8/11/08 at 05:59
Posted by dena g on 9/29/08 at 20:10
Now.... I've been on pain med for 8yrs... hip/facet joint leg what have you... I'd just started a new career, thought injections would fix me. It didn't and the started the road of drugs, but I have to work, I am sole supporter of myself, without med? I hurt too bad, been on 40mg 3xs , Oxycontin for 5yrs, so sick of control,worse,I feel like I'm going nuts, or its too late and I am nuts LOL. I feel so dead, zero quality of life, cant act at work hardly anymore, pain med not really helping, but I can't afford to feel worse, work is misery i cant think straight. The fear now a reality,I'm going to see pain mgmt doc Wed, as I can't take it, new primary doc pointed at that, and I'm putting myself in a bad bad position, to tell him I need to try something else and hopefully it is the oxycontin, i've been to so many doctors, they all see pain med and point to it, I feel like a limp noodle,and don't feel up to do ANYTHING... Im so scared I'm risking him just pulling me off it, I would give anything to get detox, but no time off job? If I knew it was OXY for sure, I'd take the chance, but sure can't look for job like this, miracle I've kept this one. I am so sorry this got so long. Any advise, what to do?
Posted by dle1237@yahoo.com on 11/06/08 at 07:07
