Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

Posted by Kelsey Mohring @kelseydm, Apr 27, 2016

Welcome to the new Chronic Pain group.

I’m Kelsey and I’m the moderator of the group. I look forwarding to welcoming you and introducing you to other members. Feel free to browse the topics or start a new one.

Why not take a minute and introduce yourself.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

@bustrbrwn22

@lioness yes. It came with a pouch I have hanging from an old necklace around my neck. The problem is the wires from the module itself are way too long so I try to tape them up as best I can. I look like a crazy lady hobbling around so I don’t trip.

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@busterbrown Mine aren't that long sorry can you tie them in a knot to shorten them?

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@faithwalker007

You can tell the potency of the opioids by looking at MME chart. It’s what we (pharmacists) use to calculate equivalencies between the drugs when figuring out equal doses when advising doctors about changing from one drug to another.

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Thx Renee, have used this chart many times. Have been on so many kinds but believe it or not, I have an aversion to drugs of any kind, especially opiates! They really do have their place for people like me who have so many diseases and conditions that will not likely go away which are painful in nature. I 'm the patient who is always trying to taper down to avoid the brutal post-op pain for upcoming surgeries that I've suffered and have textbook PTSD Sxs from. Add cross-tolerance to the picture rendering the post-op pain meds ineffective. Due to tolerance, they add another opiate but often ineffective for the degree of pain. Drilling through muscle and bone doesn't make for a happy camper nor does complicated abdominal/pelvic multiple organ surgery. Thank you for your info. Have a blessed day, Sunnyflower @jimhd

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@faithwalker007

Dilaudid is a 1:5 Ratio of morphine. I can’t take morphine either. My pain receptors don’t even blink at it. I may as well be tossing water on them. Never have but then I’ve had severe migraines since I was 14.
I only respond to Demerol or Dilaudid IV if I’m on the hospital for pain.

Oral Dilaudid takes 1/5 of the dose of Morphine and 1/10 of it by IV of that helps understand the potency difference.
Liquid morphine on the other hand is extremely more concentrated and requires a very small dose. It is the cause of many overdoses and fatalities in the elderly, end of life patients, and weak.

The highest in potency is the pain patches, Fentanyl, etc. These have a 1:500-750 potency ratio and can be lethal if not dosed or titrated correctly.
OR DISPOSED OF IN THE RIGHT MANNER.

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Absolutely! 😊

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@faithwalker007

Dilaudid is a 1:5 Ratio of morphine. I can’t take morphine either. My pain receptors don’t even blink at it. I may as well be tossing water on them. Never have but then I’ve had severe migraines since I was 14.
I only respond to Demerol or Dilaudid IV if I’m on the hospital for pain.

Oral Dilaudid takes 1/5 of the dose of Morphine and 1/10 of it by IV of that helps understand the potency difference.
Liquid morphine on the other hand is extremely more concentrated and requires a very small dose. It is the cause of many overdoses and fatalities in the elderly, end of life patients, and weak.

The highest in potency is the pain patches, Fentanyl, etc. These have a 1:500-750 potency ratio and can be lethal if not dosed or titrated correctly.
OR DISPOSED OF IN THE RIGHT MANNER.

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Renee, Once I tried to give back an unopened box of 240 Dilaudid (can't recall if they were 2 or 4mg) for the Haiti disaster. I was tapering off Methadone at the time. It took my rheumatologist, my PCP and my husband about 3 years to talk me into taking pain meds. I didn't want the stigma nor to feel any altered consciousness. I really like my acuity. I was surprised to learn that patients who have legit pain, don't get high on opiates. Nor do they take away pain rather help tolerate it and improve functionality and quality of life. Still hate the stigma which is really everywhere! Thx again, Sunnyflower

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@faithwalker007

Tolerance is tolerance when it comes to opioids. They all work in the same receptors. The issue is Strength of effect and how much mme’s you are using in a day. The more you use up, the more pain receptors you are flooding.
Eventually they will be “numb” to the opioids and you will need what’s called a “vacation” to “reset” them.
This is done with NALOXONE. There are pain meds you can take during this period.
Methadone is one. It’s got a narrow dosage range. There’s also Talwin NX, and a combo Buprenorphine with NX. This is how you clean the receptors and can still get the relief you need.
It’s not easy, they aren’t as efficient as opioids but they do help.
Whoever said it was easy being a chronic pain patient has never been one.

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Hi Renee, I 've never heard about the "vacation" or "reset" but went straight to morphine fron the oxys with no problem. I think that was a reset?? Agree with your last statement!!! Warmest wishes, Sunnyflower

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@lioness

@sunyflower I could.nt take Cymbalta one dose and I forgot groceries at store . lol

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LOLOLOLOL!!! 🤣. That would be me! Gabapentin does that to me all the time!! Thx for the laugh! Take care, Sunnyflower

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@skhagen

Hello all. My therapist sent me this link to help me deal with chronic pain.
I was diagnosed with OA when I was just 35 years old. I am now 53 and have underwent multiple bone surgeries and four cervical spine ablation’s.
Trying to deal with chronic pain daily has caused me anxiety, stress and depression. It affects my relationships with my family and friends. Mostly because I’m exhausted, drained mentally and physically.
I try extremely hard to push forward!
As there are no treatments for OA other than surgery on the affected joints. I tend to obsess about what my future looks like. I remember my great grandmother was crippled from OA. Those memories have created an overwhelming fear for myself.
My hope is that this group will help me deal with chronic pain better.
Thank you

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Dear skhagen, my heart is heavy hearing about your suffering. Although my situation isn't exactly the same as yours, I can relate to pretty much everything you've said here. The only thing that gets me through is my relationship with Christ and His peace that surpasses human understanding. Also His presence and comfort in my life. We all walk through many fires in this temporary life. I never lose the joy and assurance of the promises we have for our eternal life in Christ, no matter how hard it gets. Until then I keep pushing through like you do. I will uphold you in prayer asking God to relieve your pain permanently! Warmest wishes, Sunnyflower. 😊🙏💐

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@jesfactsmon

@faithwalker007
Since you mention drug disposal I have a question for you (or anyone who knows). My wife went through the fridge yesterday and cleaned out some old junk that's been in there forever. Among it all there were some old bottles of pain meds prescribed for one thing or another over the years. As an example, there was an old bottle filled with hydrocodone (looked like about a dozen pills at least) for a minor surgery I had in 2010. I never took a single one. So what do we do with these? We've heard your not supposed to throw them in the garbage, and CERTAINLY not the toilet. So what do we do with it? Thx. Hank

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@jesfactsmon Check with your local law enforcement agency, or hospital. Most of them have a drug drop-off receptacle, to get rid of old and expired drugs. The sheriff in our county keeps one in their main lobby. Keep everything in their original bottles. Good for her to have cleaned things out. Let us know what you find out.
Ginger

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@sunnyflower

Hi Renee, I 've never heard about the "vacation" or "reset" but went straight to morphine fron the oxys with no problem. I think that was a reset?? Agree with your last statement!!! Warmest wishes, Sunnyflower

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No, morphine is an Opioid and activates the Opioid receptors as well. Reducing you overall MMEs per day and staying at that amount overall a longer period of time will give the Opioid receptors a break but will not completely wash them clean and help prepare the body for pain management after a major surgery.
For example, if you are using morphine sr 30mg twice a day and you have surgery, you will need OxyContin 40mg twice a day for real relief afterwards and for acute pain relief, nothing will work but Demerol, straight oxycodone ir 5-10mg, or intense pain—dilaudid.

Only a vacation prior to surgery will allow someone to use the doses that are actually taking prior to surgery.

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@gingerw

@jesfactsmon Check with your local law enforcement agency, or hospital. Most of them have a drug drop-off receptacle, to get rid of old and expired drugs. The sheriff in our county keeps one in their main lobby. Keep everything in their original bottles. Good for her to have cleaned things out. Let us know what you find out.
Ginger

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@jesfactsmon Hi Hank, I am pretty sure your pharmacist will get rid of them for you! Lori

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