Thank you Karen. Finally one positive view on long term opioid. I am taking morphine since 2000 hoping for something better one day, it has not been here for me yet. I am on the same dosage for many years now and doing quite well. Without it my quality of life was poor, now I can do my part in sociaty.
This is refreshing THANK YOU.
Marie
Dear Karen, Thank you so much for this information. Why can't the majority of Drs. understand this? I had this wonderful Dr. who prescibed Vicodin for my bulging discs, fibro and arthritic joints, then sadly for me he retired. So I went to my Primary Doc. and asked him to continue the therapy, (mind you I've been on the same dosage for years , never increased it ) and this Dr. acted like I'd just crawled out from under something , he went on and on about how opiates are not the way to treat my problems in avery disparageing way, so I asked him "what am I supposed to do about all this pain? He said " I'll send you to a pain mgt. practice ", so I thought good that's what I need. So off I went to the pain mgt. clinic only to be told that "Fibro is all in peoples head" and that you can train your brain to not have Fibromyalgia pain " this is such BS, I've never heard of such a thing, and as far as my other pain problems, this Dr. says I just need shots in my back, and in my joints. Why?? because he cannot make near the money off me by writing a Prescription, I was taking about 4 Vicodin per day and it kept ,me functioning fairly well and it also kept my pain tolerable. Needless to say I'm going to look for a different Primary care Dr. and I'm NOT going back to this pain mgt. guy either. I 've never been treated so badly by Drs. I.m 62 yrs. old and I believe I know my own body by now. Thank you Karen for letting me vent about this and also for all the great support and info. you provide for us here on this site. Pie.
Dear Pie.
There are still medical professionals who BELIEVE that fibro is all in our head
. I just wish them to feel the pain just for one day, not 24/7/365.
I did go to pain management clinic years back and received epidurales, I was scare of those, except making me nervous they did not help at all and got an major hadhache from them. I had to sign me out of the clinic because of my refusal to such invasive act.A lady in my town died from result of epidurale for birth labour, I know it is not exactly the same medication but it is invasive and dangerous, if not why do we have to sign a paper saying that we won't sue them in case of accident. My gp then was a great guy. He had lived with pain as a teenager for years. He knew. He told me That morphine is safer than NSAID's (stomach bleeding) and acetaminophen for liver toxicity. I am on a large dose for a a long time and the same dosage for quite a while. I can function well. Wish you to find a dr. who will help you.
Take care. Mariepi
The article about the use of long term opiods was very encouraging, however, as you agreed, with a group of only 24 people studied, and having no control group, where placebos were given, how can the studied be justified scientifically. My biggest fear after over ten years on different opiods, is what damage it is doing to my liver. What non-invasive testing is available that shows that long-term opiod use does not affect your liver, and kidneys and brain.
I have been using Fentanyl patches for 10 years as well as well as taking methadone and diluadid for break through meds. Even though I have a terminal illness, my parents still don't understand why I take pain medications. My father told me when he saw my Methadone bottle that I'd better get off of that or I was going to end up like Anna Nicole Smith. I've tried to explain to my parents for years that I am under treatment from a top rated doctor at a well known medical pain and palliative care center but they just won't listen. Thanks for this artlicle.
I just had my back oprated on 1-06-10 and they messed me up worst i was lowered on my meds I 2 use the same pain patches,and oxycotion 4 breakthrough.I've tried there shots.If they would have listerned 2 what i was telling them 5 years ago.I feel like my life is over after being on the meds so long what i,m allowed 2 take hardly takes the sharpest away.my 16 year has a lymses n it took them 2 years 2 figure that out.each time I go back or her the never belive us.your lucky 2 have a dr. that listerns 2 u.If u or ne1 u talk 2 no of a good dr near or round harrisburg pa
Thank you for your
just want my life back
in PA Jamie
If I ever read about a good doctor in your area I will let you know. It took me 6 years to find a good pain management doctor so don't give up hope. I am lucky that he will still see me even though I am 4 or 5 hours away from him in distance. We communicate through telephone, internet, etc. monthly and I don't have to go see him in person very often anymore. He does this because people from all over the U.S. go to see the doctors at that clinic, I saw him for several years every month so I am an established patient.
There are fewer and fewer doctors who want to work with chronic pain patients. Unfortunately, people who have chronic pain syndromes are rarely diagnosed within the short period of time in which a specialist in able to reverse the process. Other doctors and surgeons know little about pain management. Also, if you have developed CRPS due to a surgical complication, the surgeon is likely to want you to be under his or her care for the shortest amount of time possible. Then most patients go back to the primary physician who has no idea what is going on then it is specialist somba time (dancing from doctor to doctor to try to find out what is wrong.) By the time a patient sees a pain specialist, the small window of opportunity to stop the progession of CRPS/RSD is long gone.
I will pray for you. Take care of yourself.
I have been on opiods for over 6 years untill last month when I had to cold turkey! I was on Endocet;10/325, 7 times a day, Percocet;5mg. 4-5 rimes a day, in addition to an interthecral pump containning delaudid and bipricane. 9/27 I had to have a pump revision, after surgery I had 2 strokes, minor, but from that day on it was like I had narcolepsy, I would fall asleep while eating dinner, face down into plate, fell of the toilet several times, broke ribs, have severe rickets/scoliosis also. Dr. decresed pump meds and I cut back on orals, I had 3 more decreases and am now lower than before the surgery, I can get away taking 2 5mg. percocets, but then I start to crash, needless to say my pain level is off the charts, with all the meds I was on I never got below a 10, that was normal for me! They are totally frustrated, like how do they think I feel, my pain dr. doesn't even want me as a patient anymore because there is nothing else he can come up with, I am allergic to every drug I have been given, and I mean the convulsive, tongue swelling reaction. The pharm. who makes the solution for the [ump suggested to pain dr. I do a drug holiday, which is basically what I am trying to do with the decreases, but I don't know if I can handle the pain if I still cannot eat the orals, I am out of my mind now.
Has anuone ever gone thru this before or heard of it? Pain dr. said I am probably on the same orals too long and they r no longer working, but here it says people have been on them for up to 30 years, I printed this out to show him!
Would really like to hear from anyone or some opinions/suggestions
Thanks
Anna Daley
This is in reply to the sleep deprivation, the less sleep, the more pain, more sleep less pain, no I did not look into that because I already know, I do not sleep because my pain is at a constant 10+++++++ level, so how can u sleep with that? There is not a postition u can think of that I get any comfort from. My main problem, as I believe I have mentioned before is that I am severly allergic to just about all pain meds, I mean convulsive reactions, not your normal hives, so Dr.'s are very leary to try mr on any thing new.
Since the post that I mentioned my surgeruy on 9/25 and my health spiraling downward since, well it is now at an all time low. Since Xmas Eve I started a colitus/gastritus attack, so have been on liquid diet with maybe an egg over easy, I have been to the e.r 3 times, the gastro, now I have been told that because myperipheral neuropathy/rsd is so severe that they vbelieve it has all the nerves in my stomach in an attack mode, or it is also possible I have rsd all around my pump. I have never heard of this before--any one? Since the surgery my pancreas has stopped making the enzymes that break down fatty foods, which means when I finally come out of this attack there are allot of foods I will no longer be able to eat.
I am now wondering tho, since i have been on the percocets and endocets for so long, is it the tylenol that is causing the stomach problems, as I just read here, news to me, I knew it effected your liver, but not the stomach itself.
Also going on at the same time, and if any severe rsd people have gone thru this, I would love to hear from u, I have open wounds or ulcers all over my ankles, this is my 4th bout w these since I have rsd, but this time I also have them on the top of my foot, making it impossible to get even a slipper on, plus they have never been this large before, always the size of a penny, these are like a large cap from a vitamin bottle, what concerns me most about this is the fact that the leg wounds started in Nov. and the stomach started Dec., so r they tied together in any way? Is it because I have no immune system, was diagnosed malnutriation in Nov. also, there is not one nutrient/vitamin that shows on any blood work. I was given all kinds of supplemental pills to help w this, some to even try and kick start the pancreas, and yes, they all made me dealthy ill, now if a Dr. knows what kind of stomach problems u have, why do they prescribe pills that all have side effects of; nausua, vomitting, gas, constipation, diahhrea, everything I already suffer from, so that only intensifies what I am already sufering from! Then when I call them and tell them, this is going on, it is?, stop taking them asap,- well do u think?
All I know is I never should have had that surgery, norging has been right, since, something in my metabolism definately get off kilter, how else do u explain being in one condition before and totally the opposite after?
AnnMarie
AnnMarie,
I'm so sorry to hear all you've been going through. It sure does sound like that surgery has caused a mountain of problems for you. It seems like they should be giving you nutrients through an IV since it's obvious your digestive system is messed up and not processing your food properly. I'm not a doctor, but it seems to me that getting your nutrient levels up should be a top priority. Your body is not going to be able to heal itself if it has nothing to work with.
As for the open wounds on your ankles, I don't know if they could be related to your stomach problems, but they can be a part of RSD. Here's a link to an article about that: Wounds That Won't Heal
It sounds like you need to find a doctor who will be determined to figure out what is causing your problems and how they might be inter-related. Maybe try an Internist if you haven't already.
I wish there was more I could offer you. I do wish you the best and will keep you in my prayers. – Karen
Hi, I also have RSD, and I went though the same!
the best thing I have found is that you go to "what is rsd.com" this site tells the hole detail of what rsd is and what it does to a person. made copys to take.
I took it to the Dr. to let him know I did homework on my dig. and also confurmed that I know what is going on! I also mailed a copy to the State offices, all of them, I got emails of many and they were so consern's and sadness for us to have to live with this, this did help me, and I spoke to the Dr. as though I new alot, (even thought I didnt know everything) he took me very serious! now I dont have much trouble.
I have a atterny, he got L and I to acecpt my condition, thus this helped too. with dr.'s.
I hope this helps you, and I will pray that you are not tost back and forth. So stay tough, let them know its not a joke, and ask them try living with rsd for a week!! they could not handle it eather hu! Blessings Sheri
Hi Sheri.. I thank you so much for taking the time to share with me your experience. I am not so sure this dr doesnt think its RSD, but others have. I am so tired of this doctor hunt. Its not to find what I want to hear its finding a doctor who puts things in prospective and really gives a darn ya know, and can come up with some sort of diagnosis and treat it! I could care less any more what they call this, just help me live a little less painful life. Is that asking too much any more...geez...lol.. I guess I still have my sense of humor, no dr will take that... Again thank you for your response and I pray your life is full of gentle hugs and tolerable pain! Many blessings for a wonderful holiday!
Donna
Hi Sheri.. I thank you so much for taking the time to share with me your experience. I am not so sure this dr doesnt think its RSD, but others have. I am so tired of this doctor hunt. Its not to find what I want to hear its finding a doctor who puts things in prospective and really gives a darn ya know, and can come up with some sort of diagnosis and treat it! I could care less any more what they call this, just help me live a little less painful life. Is that asking too much any more...geez...lol.. I guess I still have my sense of humor, no dr will take that... Again thank you for your response and I pray your life is full of gentle hugs and tolerable pain! Many blessings for a wonderful holiday!
Donna
Thank-you for sharing a balanced perspective through your journalism, Karen. I am pleased to see the focus on the gains of having the most optimal life while managing chronic pain with opioid medication. I am enjoying a full time career in a profession that is demanding and stressful (supervising a team of child protection workers), as well as being committed to my children and husband and extended family while not working. I would not be able to talk or chew without my pain meds., as I have been in that disabling position in the past and am so thankful to have pain meds that will get me sucessfully through each day. I worry regularly about how the medication will affect my body and also whether or not I will need to increase my dose, however, I am well aware of life witout the medicne and that is not the life I want to live.
Thank you for this article! I have had 4 back operations, have spinal arachoiditis, and FMS, neck, arms,legs, right side of head.
Where do live? In a town where no doctor will prescribe anything opiod. However, I am near NYC and there is a great doc here.
BUT:
my teeth are in NYC! The only vain thing I am doing to
this body.
I had a nervous breakdown for my (now former) sister tossed all my
VIP items and all art work, no clothing etc. I was a teacher and had
enough, I had no real mother and I think I will shut up at this
point.
I`ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis along with a few other things(unrelated to constant pain). I`ve been through the proverbial ringer on the pain med trip, everything from being made to feel like a junky to a dope dealer and then some.... I`m subject to a urine test at any time so my doctor can tell if I`m taking my meds the way I`m supposed to or selling them (yeah, right!). This (My medications) is only so I can function like a normal person. However the meds (prescriptions) that doctors give to pain patients are lased(contaminated) with other drugs like tylenol and advil that have MORE side effects than the opioids that are prescribed. I was taking Neproxen for about 6 months and I was feeling alot better until I noticed that I was "passing" digested blood in my stool. I was going to bleed to death from the inside if I hadn`t noticed it!
I have NO choice but to take opioids for my pain! I wish I could say something different. I have more to say but I`ll save it for later, this topic makes me angry and I shouldn`t speak when I`m angry........
Karen, I'm glad to get your emails regarding long term pain sufferers. It's good to know that someone actually cares. I've an osteoarthritis paitent and it began in my spine sometime around 1998, but I didn't know it, only that I was in pain a lot. In the spring of 2005, it really hit me. My doctor gave me steroid injections in my back, as well as prescribed me Vicodin and gave me samples of Lidoderm patches to keep me working, but I rapidly deterioated to where in January 2006, I could no longer work and have not since worked. After going on medical leave, I went to a spine specialist and his only option for me was a four level lumbar fusion, using bone grafts from a cadaver, and many rods, screws and cages. By that time I was on 80mg oxycontin every 8 hours along with 10mg percocet 2 every 6 hours. It took some time for my wounds to heal, as during the surgery the doctors cut open my back and abdomen to place all the hardware. I went through a year of pure hell during the healing process. The pain prior to surgery was relieved, but the surgical pain that I was left with was almost unbearable. Finally, the surgeon told me that he had done all he could and allowed my primary care doctor to take over. He changed my medication to Opana ER 40mg every 12 hours and 10mg percocet every 4 hours. This improved my pain a lot. After a year or so, my COBRA insurance was running out, so he switched me to two 10mg methadone tablets every eight hours and immediate release 15mg oxycodone (1 tablet every 4 hours). He suggested the plain oxycodone because after years of tylenol (generic) consumption, I may at some point have liver problems. This was actually before tylenol was being discussed in the media, so my doctor was looking after me and not bowing to pressure. A few months later, I was approved for SSDI, at the hearing as my attorney was questioning me, the judge stopped the hearing and awarded me an immediate bench decision, fully favorable. After 30 months, someone at the SSA finally listened to and believed me, stating the medical evidence and my credible testimony. Today, 15 months after my SSDI checks started, I'm still on methadone, although not as much. I'm taking 10mg methadone every 6 hours and 15mg oxycodone (two upon waking, then one every 4 hours). However, my osteoarthitis has spread to my hips and during my last doctor visit, he gave me a steriod injection into my right hip (the worst one) and the pain from that side is relieved for now. But I have a feeling that more surgery will be needed. He can't keep on giving me these shots every month. He also told me that if the injection did relieve the pain, Xrays will be taken this month to determine the problem. But as far as the meds that I've taken long time, there is no damage to my vital organs. I'm tested every three months for that, as well as an EKG to make sure that the methadone is not affecting my heart. I also take 40mg Nexium daily, 2mg alprazolam every 6 hours and 30mg mirtazapine at bedtime. These meds, I was taking before my spine diagnosis for a few years. Sometimes I wake up feeling like I was coming off a drunk, but there is no damage from long term opioid use.
Thank you for the post regarding long term opiod use. I have Duragesic 50 mcg patches, and my physician has constantly stressed to me that my liver will not be effected by these patches. I have worried because I thought that there could be other organs damaged by this use. In fact, I went to one of the top pain centers ( supposedly in the world ). I asked for a recommendation where to go. After I spent two weeks inpatient and two weeks outpatient of coming off the Duragesic ( which was not pleasant at times ) I was taking the other medications they were giving me because they had a pharmacologist prescribing them along with the pain specialists. I did not ask to see my charts, and I did not know until I was released and got my records and also my scripts for the next month how much medication they actually had me on. They had prescribed 10 mg. of Klonopin , 375 mg. of Desyrel, Xxanax, and maybe additional ones. I thought that the scripts were wrong. When I looked at my records, they were indeed correct. I trusted the pain clinic because of it's reputation and the physician's completely. My doctors could not believe the meds they had me on. They agreed that they were as bad or worse than the Duragesic. Then I had to reduce the amounts of those meds. I knew that I could not function. I stayed off everything for over a year until I fell and damaged my back even more. I had to go back on the Duragesic to have a quality of life. This was the thing that my doc kept pounding into my head that I had no quality of life. I have futher damage now, but I still do not want to increase dosage even though he has recommended it. I say this to warn any of you not to have to suffer as I did. I was so trusting and failed to ask the questions that I should have. I would not have wasted that month or suffered as I did. In my case, the opiod usage turned out so far to be the best for my situation. Every person is different. Please understand that I am not against Pain Clinics. I needed to have been more pro -active. I take all blame, but I just wanted to mention this so no one would have to experience this.
I couldn't even finish reading this article! My boyfriend has been on an opiod since 2001 and is severely ADDICTED to it!!! He can't get off it for the life of him!! He is suffering from neurologic symptoms and has had 2 seizures. I strongly DISAGREE that opiods should be taken long-term.
Hi Jen , I understand where you're coming from,my ex husband was addicted to both booze and many different forms of drugs and he was hell to live with. As in all the ways of the world, there are so many things you can become addicted too if you take too much if it including , food and booze along with the opioids. I've been on this medication long enough to know I would indeed get addiced myself if I took more medication than recommended by my doctor or just took it to sometimes make me feel good on a bad day.Now I can't say that's what happened to your boyfriend I don't know him.I do know however that I've been able to both increase my medication when needed ( with a flare -up) under the instructions of my doctor that is and I've also been able to drecrease my meciation by half at times when my body just didn't need as much medication( like in the warm summer months). I went through 1 day of withdraw with very mild symptoms at the time and I was on a very, very high dose of Morphine .If your boyfriend really wants to get off the med's then he will do so , under the supervision if his doctor and will go through the withdraw that we all do when decreasing our med's to any large degree.I guess it all depends on how bad he wants to get off the med's( or you want him too) will determine if he actually does it or not.This might make you pretty angry but it's the honest truth as told by a long time opioid user who as never abused the medication to save my life. In all the years on the medications I have never heard of anyone getting addicted to any kind of pain medication as long as they were taking enough to suppress the pain, nothing more.Anyone with chroinc pain knows that you cannot kill the pain completely no matter how much medication you do take and if you do take in more than your body needs to relieve that pain then your body is just going to use it for another reason and nothing good can come from that.I'm sure all the other people who have replied to this form will agree with me on this one.
Hi Colleen - Thank you for responding. I completely agree with you that if medication, regardless of what family it comes from, is taken AS PRESCRIBED by your doctor there is no issue. Though some doctors overprescribe - particularly the drug he is on - and I know this for a fact. I blame the doctor's who do this over prescribing to a degree; but also believe that it is the patient who needs to take the responsibility and see what the side effects are, addictive rate.
Unfortunately he became psychologically addicted - his doctor prescribed too much - and did not realize he had an addiction until I bluntly asked him. I am thankful he admitted it. You are right that it is HIS choice to get off. He has a great doctor who is helping him as an outpatient and he says he is going to follow the doctor's regimen. Unfortunately, I do not believe him...due to him showing the "addict" personality.
I am glad to hear that you are able to cut back when you need to, that is when you know you are not an addict. I also suffer from chronic pain, though I have never taken any type of narcotic because I am extremely medication sensitive and I think in the back of my head I've been scared of the possibility of addiction.
Hi Everyone, I've been on both Morphine and Oxycotion for over 4 1/2 years from a buldging disk that did major damage while it was out pinching all the nerves etc.Believe me when I say there isn't a drug in modern medicine my pain specialists hasn't tried with me and everyone of them hurt me in one way or another.I had severe side effects with every single thing. From getting a hole punctured in my spine while doing a routine spinal block to stop the nerve pain ,to having the entire lining of my stomach burned out while taking all the antiflamatories, you name it I've had it.The only thing that's even come close to controlling the pain are the 2 opioids.I have as normal a life as I can dealing with chronic pain but would not have this life if I didn't take these med's. One problem I've had with both medications is the huge weight gain and my teeth a pretty much rotted out of my mouth in the last year. 13 cavaties and I take care of my teeth.I was 37 when I got injured and had never had a weight issue in my life and didn't until I had to take the higher amounts of both medications. I have always taken really good care of my body and always watched what I eat and still do.So the only thing that could have caused both of my problems are the medications.I know that to be true from the bottom of my heart.So I'm spending a small fortune keeping my teeth in my head ( not an easy task ) as they rot so easily and I'm trying my best to exercise my ass off to try to lose my extra 50 pounds I'm carrying. I will however say if I have to put up with these problems I would rather do so than live such as rotten life in constant pain.I certainly wouldn't have a life if I didn't take my pain med's everyday, I can't even walk without them. My liver or any other internal organ haven't been affected by my 4 and a half year use. Not like any of us who suffer from chronic pain really have any other choice anyway if we want some kind of a life.For all you out there who suffer like I do, I know where you're coming from and wish you all the best. You were good people before the pain and are still good people on the pain med's and don't let anyone tell you differently.Only the ones who deal with our constant pain truely know what we deal with on a daily basis and know were we are coming from. Good luck to you all. Coleen ( Chronic pain suffer )
Coleen.
Your story resemble mine, been there, done it. Round and around. My former Gp told me that he would take care of my pain. He did not mind what it was called, pain is pain.
I know what it is to put extra weight because of pain or meds. I am on opioid since 2000 I am at the same dosage for quite a while. I too see my beloved teeth wasted away but if it takes that to have 1/2 of my life back, so be it.
I see red when ple who do not walk in our shoes tells us that we should QUIT getting high.....Have you got high ? Me neither. At least, I feel I am on the safest med, no more blood in my stools, no more pain in my guts with all the ANSAID's. My liver and kidneys function normally, not so for many painers. Enough of being a guinea pig for the pharma, I am going to stick with what works best for me : Morphine. And I never take more than Rx'ed, at times I take less if my pain let me, Then I try to built a stash " hush" just in case.....we never know these days what "they " will put us too. Problems will be the day drug stores don't sell it anymore because of those druggies who give us a bad name and robb them, it happened again this week at mine.
We should get together to try to find a way to loose these extra pounds.......fasting do not work, I get hungers.
I have RA and Fibro and I am 28 years old. I have been on vicodin for about 16 months. My doctor started me out at 120 pills per month, now I am down to 45 pills per month. My condition has not gotten any better over time, it has actually gotten worse. The pain medication helps a lot, but I fear taking more than 2 a day because I am going to run out. I believe that my doctor thinks the vicodin is the only thing I want. All I want is to feel half ways normal, and function in the world like I used to. My doctor hasn't even seen me in 6 months, or ran any tests, and has no idea what my day to day life is like. The pain is agonizing, I hurt from head to toe! I wanted to state that doctors need to realize that chronic pain makes you depressed-IT'S NOT ALWAYS DEPRESSION THAT CAUSES PAIN!! I think that's a way a doctor blows off a patient who says they have pain. Also NOT ALL PATIENTS WHO TAKE OPIODS ARE DRUG ADDICTS!! They just want relief, it is not the patients fault that opiods are a form of relief for pain!! If doctors feel so strongly about that they should have their patients come in for drug tests to monitor their levels of opiods INSTEAD of treating their patient like an addict.... I JUST WANT TO FEEL GOOD AGAIN.......
Go see your dr. It's not your job to look good for him,taking less pills, it's his job to help you. if you need pain meds ask for them. You have a right to a "normal " life . Vicodin has acetaminophen it can hurt you guts in the long run it did for me with Thylenol # 3 so try to go on a safer one.
Take care. No one will remember you as a saint because you had so much pain.
Marie
I am a registered nurse and disabled over 10 years with Chronic Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia, degenerative joint disease and a few more goodies causing me incredible pain. Spent aver 2 solid years in bed barely able to even feed myself. The large amount of different meds prescribed to treat the pain but not any actual pain medications until they tried everything else in the book first, and then more meds to treat the side effects from the meds, all became so toxic and I really felt no better for taking them all. I had awful symptoms like vomiting, passing out, unable to think or speak clearly, vision and hearing problems and many more. It has taken a very long time but I gradually weaned myself off most meds witht he exception of 4 Norco a day and occasional as needed muscle relaxer. My original problems remain but to a much lesser degree and the weird extra symptoms from too many meds are mostly gone now. Lost over 40 pounds which helped a lot! I am now functioning at 70% most days. I feel that if my pain had just been treated properly to begin with and I had not had to do the "dance' we all seem to be put through and stigmatized for needing pain medication, believed that we were truly in pain as we tell the docs we are, the complications and negative outcomes could be so much less.
As a pediatric nurse I never under dosed pain medication after a child had surgery and they recovered quicker and needed fewer doses than the patients of the nurses that thought kids should have less than amount prescribed so they were underdosed and suffered more and stayed longer in the hospital. Criminal in my opinion!!!!
My pont is Pain is Pain is Pain- treat the pain correctly to begin with as any other condition would be! I believe it is wrong that any person should have to suffer when there is something that will ease the pain!!! Why Pain deserves less or looked upon as if it were some monster to torture and not feed and care for it as it requires in order to tame the little four letter beast .... total nonsense and oh my, I get so angry about this and so will end here. Thanks for allowing me to vent and Thank you Karen Lee Richards for your work here!!!
Yes, sister.
I understand Docs make mistakes or have their own specialities that they are good at, but over the years with many mistakes being made in the treatment of my pain, it is the humiliation I most deeply resent. The constant insistence that all pain patients are problematic and drug seeking. The doc in Colorado are the worst. No one will treat chronic pain. They all seem terrified and avoid the issues completely, and tell me to go to a pain clinic. All the "Pain Clinics" do is injections or surgery. An absolute racket. I too have dealing with this for years. I have Lupus, Fibro, and EDS and I'm in alot of pain a lot of the time. When the pain got out of control 8 years ago my life turned into a nightmare that just dosen't end....and the doctors are one of the biggest part od it.
Wish you well
Hi! Although I'm sure my question has been addressed, I don't recall seeing it. I have been on opioid pain meds for 3-1/2 years, as well as other meds, including Cymbalta and Lyrica, for many pain-causing conditions including fibromyalgia. My rheumatologist is encouraging me to discontinue the opioid meds. He says that long-term opioid use can actually cause diffuse pain in fibro patients. I'd like to know your opinion on this position. Thanks so much!
I posted earlier on this topic. I'm the one who had the four level lumbar fusion in 2006, and the problem is spreading to my hips. I noticed a large amount of you are taking Percocet. The Tylenol in the drug is more damaging than the oxycodone it contains. If you have been taking this drug for a long time (I did), talk to your doctor about prescribing plain oxycodone without the Tylenol in it. It is safer (as long as you follow your doctor's instructions). Long term use of Tylenol (or it's generic equivalent) is just as bad as drinking, as far as your liver is concerned. Also, the plain oxycodone costs less, so those who have to be concerned with medicine costs or the "donut hole" (my case) will pay less. If the Tylenol is doing you no good, then you don't need it to be mixed in your medication.
After years of Thylenol # 3, trying different NSAID's , Percocet. My family dr. took me off all these with acetaminophen. He was worried about the effects on my liver and kidneys and the start of bleeding in my stomach. he put me on morphine I am doing well on it, and no more stomach pain. I tried the new "MARVELS" for fibro with real bad side effects so now I stick with what's work.
Just hope that the opiate doesn't turn around and bit me, then there is nothing else left for me.
You and your doctor(s) did the right thing. For a lot of long term pain sufferers, the Tylenol does no good at all. I'm glad that my doctor removed it from my prescription. The only time that I use Tylenol is when I have a cold or fever. That's it's intended purpose, not to take it daily for years and years. I hope that your new medications are working well for you. Take care of yourself.
Long term use of anything can have it's drawbacks. What's preventing a simple scenario of a person consuming "bottled" water for a period of 10 years. And...after 10 years "someone" has found cause to investigate the product/company; resultant being fraudulent. You may not have been drinking pure water...
That's a pretty far fetched idea, but never the less one of simplicity. The use of opiods, used in a controlled environment, on controlled patients, and dispensed and monitored in a professional manner in many cases mean the difference between life and death. I myself have been using opiods for over 25 years, and it's not because i want to; but, because if I didn't the pain I live with would probably kill me in short order...either through the shear physical effects, or the mental pressures brought about by the immense chronic tension, fear, and pain...
Are some meds better than others? Yes...obviously. A person dealing with such pain needs to find and put their trust into a reputable pain management doctor. And, if that doctor is not realistic, is not helping, is not making the difference...then get another doctor. Don't...don't go to a doctor who ask's "what would you like"? That is on the ridiculous side, and you don't want to go there. Working with a doctor whom is a specialist in the field can set up a program for you, monitor your progress, and then make adjustments as they are needed. Also; it would be a good idea to coordinate medical care between "all" your doctors...and you will find a greater continuity of care. Pain medications have to be changed when they stop working, and the patient is the one who provides the feedback to the doctor. Also...doctors more often than not...can just look at you and see in your face what kind of pain you are in.
Some people go to doctors saying that their pain level is a ten out of ten. That is a bunch of bologna. In most cases, patients that do that don't even know what real pain is. True pain, and chronic pain effect the entire body and the entire body needs to be treated as a "unity".
Use pain meds for their benefits, and be wary that it is easy...very easy to abuse the drugs...and sometimes not intentionally. Those close to you...loved one's, etc...are a good source of input and can help you along. Chronic pain can't be handled alone, nor without support.
"Doc"...
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Dear Karen,
First I would like to Thank you for all that you do for us who suffer chronic widespread pain from Fibromyalgia,chronic fatigue and other painful conditions.The information that you post helps me get through the days easier. Just like this article, I as a long term opioid user because of chronic fatigue,fibromyalgia, bulging disc and 2 messed up vertebra am so releived because of this article that you posted. I have always worried about long term use affecting my liver and such and now to find out that it does not, you don't know how releived i am and when my husband gets home I will show him the article also as he worries about me all the time and at least this will be one less thing he has to worry about. I also agree that i was willing to take the risk of what long term could do to my body because at least now all my meds are working and this allows me to get through the day almost normal.So once again Thank You ,
I take percocet for hernations and other problems in my back.I have been on them for about 4-5 yrs now.What I dont understand is the article is saying that these pills dont do nothing to your liver.Well I too was concern about the liver and I had my liver tested.My enzymes came back high and Dr said It could be from the percocets. I backed down on them and had my liver checked again and it was normal.So who should one believe.There are 2 answers here.If you want to get back to me,my email is DEB44M@AOL.COM.
Deb,
Percocet is not JUST an opioid, which is what this study covered. PERCOCET is OXYCODONE (the opioid) and ACETAMINOPHEN which is NOT an opioid but the generic analgesicform of Tylenol. A study came out earlier this year SHOWING how dangerous ACETAMINOPHEN was for the body and how much it damaged the liver. This is why your results are different than this study. This is why short term compounds like Percocet should not be usedfor long term use. I'm so sorry that your doctors did not change that for you.
first of all, your liver enzymes could come back high from having what is known as a fatty liver and people who are overweight can suffer from the problems that heavy drinkers can. if thjey take of the weight, the liver goes back down to normal. they told me i had a fatty liver alomst 2 years ago which leads to cirrohus of the liver the same way drinking causes that.
so pure narcotics do not casue liver prolbems mostly it is from the tyleonol in the percs
i was on dilaudid which is a pure form of narcotic to get off all the tylenonl i was taking. it helped but i clogs your digestive tract and then you cano poop, well that was ok since i lost 45 pounds.
so now i am ssuming my liver is no longer considered Fatty.
but i have been on an off nacotics since 2003. and probably be on them for the rest of my life. how muhc you take makes a difference.
"All were taking a long-acting form of either morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl or methadone and one or more short-acting opioids for breakthrough pain or pain flares. They all also took additional medications such as muscle relaxants, sleep aids, hormone replacements and dietary supplements.'
my understanding is long acting opioids for chronic pain, percocet, vicodin, etc. is used for break through pain.
Percocet and Vicodin are both short-acting (also called immediate-release) opioids. They are generally effective for approximately four to six hours. You're correct, they are used for breakthrough pain.
I live in Bellevue , Wa and in 1992 a car accident left me with chronic pain due to injuries suffered. I now need to find a new doctor as our car was broken into with my purse stolden with all my meds. I've been taking oxycontin for over 10 years no problems, but a early refill even under what happened made my doctor stop prescr. anyone have any suggestions on finding new doctor?
I don't personally know any doctors in your area, but here is a link to a directory of doctors who treat pain that may help: Doctors for Pain Good luck!