When is it okay to take narcotics?

[terbaer]

I have gone to several pain management clinics and have not had a huge amount of success. The last one before I went to the University's, the physician just poked me a couple of times and said I could try Cymbalta. He didn't do anything when I told him I wasn't sure it was working. Several years ago I tried oxycodone and I didn't notice anything. When I've researched it, it looks like the only thing different between oxycodone and hydrocodone is that the hydro has tylenol. I don't know what the answer is, but I just hope that my internal medicine specialist continues to provide me with hydrocodone.

I am going to try something new for my daily headaches! I had neuralgia a number of years ago. The only thing to stop the nerves from flaring was an injection of lydacane (sp) and some other concoction. My neurologist believes that getting an injection of that same concoction on both sides of the base of my head may stop them. I'm willing to try! I think if I can get rid of the daily headaches, I could maybe not have as many migraines...? Just waiting on preauthorization....

 

[cmetryme]

good luck terbaer. i have one friend 67 yrs old, been getting them for years. she says they help. i also hand one friend 78 years old had them last week.
asked me if they worked and when will the pain from where they put it in stop hurting. as im allergic lidocane ,im not aloud to have them.they also use steroids too. so not knowing anything about the treatment other than a shot in the nerves in the back of neck to dull the pain. i got them together and they talked. about one hour. i hope it works for you. make sure your doctor is very skilled at this procedure. hes working in a very dangerous area! ask to talk to some of this clients first. i pray for you.

 

[Forgetmenot]

I'd have to say tramadol is a ***** to come off of, once you been on it a long time ,I no . But it is bloody good and one of the few pills that stop the flu ache I get everyday.i lived in St Jeremy for 4 years. Not so far from you,I don't even no if we even have oxy over here I no its a hard drug to come off of .
R.chick my brother was a druggie to we lost him 5 years ago I no the worry about taking pain meds ,but like You I believe if u need it to have a live so be it.

 

[terbaer]

Cmetryme, The injections are not in the nerves. They are around the nerves. The idea is to numb them to stop the pain receptors. When I had neuralgia, it was horrible. I had pain shooting into my eye from the base of my neck. Constantly! Never stopped. My mom said she wondered if it was neuralgia. She said it was something she had heard of a long, long time ago. By the time I got to the doctor, I was ready for a nut house! The doc took one look at me and diagnosed it. Mom was proud of herself....LOL. One injection around the nerve (a big lump of meds under my skin) and it didn't take long for it to stop. I'd do that again to get rid of these daily headaches........

 

[Vellybean]

Huge hugs to you Pollen! I live in the states and the doctors here, where I live, are so against narcotics. I have been given tramadol but that does nothing and I do mean nothing. I can relate to your reaction to medications. Gabapentin helped but I was allergic! I was going to the pain clinic but felt like a guinea pig because they were giving me things they had no clue if they would help or not. I wasn't willing to put my body through that after a year of trying to find something to help. The best thing the pain specialist told me was, "You are always going to have pain. Our goal is to teach you how to live with the pain." I went into great detail with him about what he meant. He said the goal was to get the pain to a level I can deal with but not to cover it up totally. It was hard news to hear. I still have not gotten any narcotics but marijuana tincture really helps me on days that my pain is so bad I do not want to move at all even to go to the bathroom as you stated. If you haven't tried any Eastern medicine practices, I suggest you try them. They have really helped me to live with the pain I have. No one can tell you what is right for you except you. Leave the guilt behind and do what you have to so you have a quality of life you want. Again many hugs and hang in there.

 

[cmetryme]

I'm glad they work for you. Thanks for the knowledge. I wish I could try them. I'm still not sure how it works. Does it numb the whole nerve cluster in the back of the neck? The doctor told me it will numb the nerve that runs down my shoulder and left arm. As if he could pin point it. Like I say I'm not sure how this treatment works. That's why I refer this to those that have had it and can explain it to us.

 

[Ruralchick]

Well dang! My DOG is on tramadol! Medicine, like everything else is too political!

 

[Ruralchick]

terbaer, I'm taking prolo-therapy injections. They are just sugar water w/a tiny bit of lydocain. They are really working. I have to go back as often as the pain goes on but it is getting less and less. I get them for migraines and back pain. No more injections are needed when I "plateau"--when ther is no loinger pain. Some people only need a couple times, some 10. Typically I'm told after they stop, in about 6 mo. I will start feeling some pain again and go for one more round. Then you are go to go for a year. WOW I can't imagine a whole year w/o a migraine! So far I've had 5 of the series. Now when I get a headache I can feel the pounding and pressure but it doesn't hurt much. Interesting reading on the web for this.

 

[terbaer]

I've never heard of that Ruralchick! I just brought it up on Google. I'll read up on it.

I just called my neurologist's office to see if I have pre-approval yet for the injections. They told me I didn't need preauthorization and that I had an appointment in April. Well, the neurologist wanted me to get on the schedule but told me as soon as preapproval comes in they would get me in sooner because it's a quick procedure. I told her I'm dealing with daily headaches and migraines. She had the gall to tell me that many people coming to them have daily headaches. I jumped her shit and told her that if I could get in soon, I might not be in that kind of pain! I then asked if she had ever had daily headaches and migraines before? She backed off and said she'd run it by the physician to see if he was willing to let me get in sooner. What an insensitive b*&#h!

 

[cmetryme]

That's why you only deal with the doctor and not the PA.
You not at car dealer. Now you have to wait longer so she can pass on your info to the doctor. If you don't need pre authorization then you don't need a referral. Just make an appointment with one that takes your insurance and can get u in right away. Make a call.

 

[Ruralchick]

True! My insurance is the same; no referral needed so I just make an appointment. There is another procedure my doc told me about, In this procedure, they burn the nerves, the nerves regenerate, but until they regenerate, about a year, there is no pain. I don't remember the name of it. My doc says it is very safe.

As for me, as long as the prolo is working I'll stick with it. By the by, there is a really good explanation ,(of the prolo) by a pain spec. in Scottsdale. For me, it gave the best explanation

 

[cmetryme]

Ruralchick, they burn the nerves, the nerves regenerate? now that sounds cool. its like getting new nerves. i want to use that in my wrist first. i wonder if they do one spot at a time or do them all at once. "but until they regenerate, about a year, there is no pain" does that mean i wont be able to use my hand? im already losing the use of it anyways. you got me excited and im bouncing in my seat. thus raising my anxiety level and raising my pain level.

Please can you call your doctor and find the name of it. he might have put it in your records.

i dont want to call mine and say burn my nerves please. i need to do research on it so i dont look the fool to my doctor. he knows how i am with research and answers.

i also saw the new post with Addisons something.low cortisol levels? i was going to ask if he checked me for this in the $70,000 i spent with him checking everything he could think of.

thanks for the help..... you folks are great! hugs to all of you.... now i have to calm down!

 

[cmetryme]

Terbear, you know i love you! but please remember these two things. dont "jump the PA or the Doctors shit" and you are in control of the treatment you receive. if you jump folks it says your not in control and im not going to help you. the PA doesn't care if you have anything wrong with you. she only cares that you came in and didnt have to see the doctor. thats bottom line her job. with what you have, you should have never been seeing her at all. your doctor should know that and only have you schedule appointments with him. so to speak your jumping the choir when u do that to her.

i jumped mine and she told the doctor and he stopped the refill on my meds. so i stopped using him. major withdrawals! he showed me!

 

[moe1959]

IF you have found a Dr. Willing to treat you with Narcotics......your blessed my friend! Because of their Nation wide crackdown on Narcotics. I guess if you can't get to the bathroom without that help, dear Lord!
My personal experience is take them as prescribed, yes they can be Addictive. But if you have found a good dr. That will work with you, do it.
Lock all your narcotics up, and don't let outsiders know you have them. You may have to see your pain dr. Once a month, but ya have to do what's needed for you. Good luck, and keep on keeping on.
Hope that helped.

 

[Vellybean]

Lol oh my Terbaer! I agree with cmetryme that being calm (yes, I know it is hard when we are dealing with the medical establishment) is best. Hugs to you though because I know what it is like to want to choke the crap out of your doctor. It took me a while to find one who cares. I am fortunate because I can email my doctor with questions or suggestions of things I would like to try. I have to remember she is a GP and not a specialist. She is pretty much willing to work with me because I have stayed calm and she knows I do my research. She has explained to me she is just as frustrated as I am about why certain things do not help me which helps me to know she does care even though she can't do much to help. Just knowing someone is in my corner really helps me. I hope you are able to find some relief. Constant pain is not fun as we all know. Hugs!