Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Tuesday, July 22, 2008 Leslie asks

Q: what pain medication should be taken by someone who has sufferd from chronic pancreatitis

this person has taken oxycontin methadone. The oxycontin has helped but its not enough. She is perscribed 40mg of oxycontin 3 times a day, but the pain is still severe her doctor tells her its mostly mental. This is not true as i have watched this person suffer. I think the doctor is scared to write more than this, which is not fare to the patient. I know there is break through pain medications this person also suffers from Cystic Fibrosis and has since she was a child .If there is anything we can do please let us know.  

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7/22/08 7:06pm

Given that the doctor says it's 'mental' has he suggested anything that would help her? Is he suggesting psychotherapy? How about alternative therapies like massage, meditaiton, etc. that have proven helpful with pain. Many hospitals have what's called mindfulness based stress reduction classes that can help people for whom traditional therapies have not been successful.

 

Physicians get frustrated when they can't help but too often they go right to the 'mental card' when they've either run out of options or have stopped looking for them. 

 

Is this her primary physician or is she seeing a pain specialist? If she's not seeing a pain specialist - someone who's knowledgeable in the many different ways to treat pain - she should  probably try to find one. Living in pain is not an acceptable option. 

 

Good luck!

 

 

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