What is Chronic Pain
Chronic pain becomes chronic when it persists longer than 6 months and is resistant to medical management. Millions of Americans are chronic pain patients and some exper...
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I NEED HELP W/PAIN MEDS!!
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I have Chronic nerve pain(throbbing, aching pain & muscle spams & muscle cramps) due to Multiple Sclerosis. I have had MS since 1994. I didn't have pain until 97. It started out mild and by 98 I needed meds. My neuro at that time gave me Clonapin, and a few other pain meds that helped; but, she retired and I was absolutely devastated because she took a real interest in the pain and tried to help me with it. My pcp at the time, did not want me on opioids. She told my primary that it did not matter if I was on opioids because I have a chronic illness and I was taking the meds under a dr's care and not abusing them. Anyway, since then, all my other neuro's have placed me on just nerve blockers. My first one after the one that retired put me on Neurontin and kept increasing the dosage as the pain got worse. The he finally sent me to a pain clinic where I was given, methadone, then oxycontin, then morphine, and etc. They tried everything to see which one worked for me. Well, once they found one( I don't remember which one) he pulled me out of the clinic saying that he did not want me addicted. So there I was back in pain again w/o any helpful meds. So since then, I have changed neuros. I love this one because he is very understanding and caring about the pain; however, he says that opioids do not treat nerve pain, because It is hard to treat nerve pain. So, he has me on all types of nerve blockers,trileptal, keppra, and lamictal. I was already on the baclofen and flurbiprofen. He added tramadol and just recently dantrolene. Now, I am taking all these meds and I am still suffering so badly with pain all over my body and I also have migraines. They had gotten better and even they have been very bad lately. I am taking treximet for them. He gave me a month supply of vicodin which helped some; however, he would not refill it. My husband told me to change neuro's again. Does anyone have any meds that work for them that I can mention to my Neuro.? I will see him on Wed. I don't know if he really understands how badly I am suffering!! I would appreciate any help I can get!!! Thanks for listening and thanks for caring!!
God bless u all! Chris Posted on 08/08/09, 02:08 pm |
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Hello Cri ~
What an ordeal you have been through! Is there any way you could find the name of the one medication that did help while you were at the pain clinic? Have you tried explaining to your current Neuro that while he is trying to block the nerves, you are still in pain? Did you tell him about the medication at the pain clinic that helped? Maybe he isn't aware of this because he wasn't your Neuro at the time. I hope you find some relief..soon! Crafty 
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I have severe, intractable nerve pain. The pain is so severe opiates don't seem to touch it. I no longer walk, and as of two weeks ago, have great difficulty getting dressed or even brushing my teeth. (Nerve damage in both feet due to a minor surgery 6 years ago).
Anyway, the thing that helps me MOST is Xanax. There are two major "bosses" at the pain clinic. One is sarcastic about Xanax, telling me it coulnd't possibly help, while the other one will prescribe it. However, they will only give me 1mg cap a day. It is by far the most helpful drug, as I'm in so much pain it affects my blood pressure and heart rate, and have cold sweats. The tranquilizer DOES work on calming my nerve pain, and I don't know why they won't believe me. I refused their opiates time and again, only to have them offer more, but decline the xanax.
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You Neuro is right, opiods are for chronic and/or intractable mechanical pain not for nerve pain. Has he ever treated you with Lyrica? I have a good friend with MS and Lyrica is working quite well for her.
Another thing that her NS is going to try is a Spinal Cord Stimulator. The SCS has been shown to be effective on patients with MS, so you need to talk to your NS and ask him about spinal cord stimulation. I have seen several studies on line while I do research that says that SCS'a are becoming the most effective tool to treat MS, so is worth a try! My GF goes for her SCS trial on Tuesday. I had an SCS installed for my nerve pain on the left leg after a botched spinal fusion, and thanks to my SCS I can walk now! So if this NS does not believe in trying the latest medical advances on you (like the SCS), maybe is time to look at one that will give you a fighting chance. Good luck to you and keep us posted.
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I think you should be on muscle relaxers as well! If your having spasms then they might help you at least. Sounds like your dealing with alot of pain right now. Wow, I'm so sorry.
~hugs
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Dear crj,
I am so sorry for the terrible pain that you are suffering. While I do not have MS, I do have chronic, intractable pain 24/7 in my back and also have severe nerve pain in my legs and feet. I also have RSD in both of my arms and hands and suffer terrible dehabilitating migraines as well. I currently take Ms Contin for the back pain and Neurontin for the nerve pain. The Neurontin does help but not as much as a former medicine. You mentioned you were taking Neurontin but didn't say if it helped you or not. The previous medicine I was referring to is Topamax. I took it for 5 yrs and it did a great job keeping my nerve pain under control. Before being prescribed this medicine, the nerve pain in my legs was so bad, I would curl up in a fetal position, and would repeatedly hit my legs with my fists. I only had to stop taking it in Jan 09' because it became too expensive for me, so I had to find an alternative that wasn't as costly. I really wish I could have the Topamax back, that's how well it worked for me. I currently take Imitrex for my migraines. It does a good job if I take one at the "onset" of the migraine. I also tried Treximet but didn't think it was as good as the Imitrex. I hope this helps in some way and hope that you find the relief you deserve! I also agree with Tipper, that if your current doctor doesn't believe in trying other medical avenues that are available to treat you, then it's time to find another doctor! Hugs & Blessings! ~Carrie
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I'm not sure what med you need but just some advice, you don't really want to go to a Neuro or any doc for that matter and ask for a specific med, they're think you are a med seeker right off the bat. Good luck with your appt. and I hope you are able to get some relief. I would take a detailed written list of what you''ve taken in the past and whether or not you got relief from it or not and give it to the doctor.
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Kathryn,
That is true if you go to a Doctor and ask for Opiods or controlled substances, they do immediately think that you are a drug seeker or a drug user. But not with medications for muscle spasms, like Zanaflex, Diazepam, Slelaxin, etc.... And specially talking about a device like an SCS, that will not make it her look like a drug abuser, that will make her look like a inform patient.
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Greetings,
I am really sorry to hear that you are in so much pain. I know from my own experience with pain medication that sometimes docotor's are reluctant to prescripe opiates, and they can take you off of them at any time they feel you could become addicted (which you know). I personally have chronic pain in my ankle and recently went through my second surgery, and for me Tramadol combined with Oxycodone did help, or Oxy combined with hydromorphine. Once again, I am sorry about the pain, it is a frustrating and disheartening experience, especially when you don't know where to turn next. Hope this has helped in some small way, and good luck with your appointment. Amanda
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I agree with KMiller & Tridural/Zyprex and,
Emtec 30 mg. work for me and Flexeral, among other things and you can check my profile to see what else I use, if U want!
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